1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the
Veterans’ Small Business Assistance
and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009
.
(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—SMALL BUSINESS
AND EDUCATION MATTERS
Sec. 101. Clarification of responsibility of Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to verify small business ownership.
Sec. 102. Reauthorization of Veterans’ Advisory Committee on
Education.
Title II—SERVICEMEMBERS
CIVIL RELIEF ACT MATTERS
Sec. 201. Termination
of service contracts.
Sec. 202. Residential
and motor vehicle leases.
Sec. 203. Enforcement
by the Attorney General and by private right of action.
Title III—OTHER
BENEFITS MATTERS
Sec. 301. Improvement
of outreach activities within Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 302. Visual
impairment and orientation and mobility professionals education assistance
program.
Sec. 303. Interment
in national cemeteries of parents of certain deceased veterans.
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>I</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">SMALL BUSINESS AND EDUCATION
MATTERS</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF3CA5C5AE92C4F72958F8255D70A32AE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clarification of responsibility of
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to verify small business ownership</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H527ACD0E0A684081B97F973D21A892CA"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Short title</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This section may be cited as the
<quote><short-title>Veterans Small Business Verification
Act</short-title></quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBB4557E68E234CEE9C8F69B06231C007"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clarification of responsibility of
Secretary of Veterans Affairs To verify small business ownership</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCB14D94542604C5CA814BD0703E7FE73"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clarification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 8127(f) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H69182A50901B46ACABFC7A98F123D22E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBABCA48A37AB4CF8B704A56C66C3C9F9"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>(A)</quote> before
<quote>To be eligible</quote>;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB4E2075CCA984740B468E3D17D32C0FD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after <quote>or the
veteran.</quote> the following new sentence: <quote>Application for inclusion
in the database shall constitute permission under section 552a of title 5
(commonly referred to as the Privacy Act) for the Secretary to access such
personal information maintained by the Secretary as may be necessary to verify
the information contained in the application.</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H808A2BE6D9E64BCDB4CDB4C7293F4AF3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after the sentence added by
subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF131EE8D6A2B4AF581421E7B48FC4292" style="OLC">
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H192FDB511F194916AF36AA2A3A48C833" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary receives an application
for inclusion in the database from an individual whose status as a veteran
cannot be verified because the Secretary does not maintain information with
respect to the veteran status of the individual, the Secretary may not include
the small business concern owned or controlled by the individual in the
database maintained by the Secretary until the Secretary receives such
information as may be necessary to verify that the individual is a
veteran.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCA8379EB23394957BAFEABFB319D4443"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the
following new paragraph (4):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H54E0E6032AAB4F44B191A96EC206CEC1" style="USC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF29602F309DD49FCAAA5778ACB3A1046" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No small business concern may be listed in
the database until the Secretary has verified that—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H13754EA827F14EBDA9E560B3F2CA8DFA"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the small business concern is owned and
controlled by veterans; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H40BFD45936714D9295D98857EF70437D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of a small business concern for
which the person who owns or controls the concern indicates that the person is
a veteran with a service-connected disability, that the person is a veteran
with a service-connected
disability.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5FDCA7A89082406C945E2DD359A53308"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Applicability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a small business concern
included in the database as of the date of the enactment of this Act for which,
as of such date, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has not verified the status
of such concern in accordance with paragraph (4) of subsection (f) of section
8127 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), not later
than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
notify the person who owns or controls the concern that—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H34594CE57BC64259B99053CCE2D017B0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary is required to verify the
status of the concern in accordance with such paragraph;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H146F4C59C6444BA8BCEFBD69DC7F42DA"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">verification of such status shall require
that the person who owns or controls the concern apply for inclusion in the
database in accordance with such subsection, as so amended;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H187A48E5827445E0BDAA3EDEEF95AABA"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">application for inclusion in the database
shall constitute permission under section 552a of title 5, United States Code
(commonly referred to as the Privacy Act), for the Secretary to access such
personal information maintained by the Secretary as may be necessary to verify
the information contained in the application; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE744AE1C9A044F9E9339A6C25F87D5F7"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the person who owns or controls the concern
must submit to the Secretary an affirmative acknowledgment of the requirement
under paragraph (3) within 90 days of receiving the Secretary’s notice of such
requirement or the concern shall be removed from the database.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFEC545C76FE84814AC59A2F98B4DBDD2" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reauthorization of Veterans’ Advisory
Committee on Education</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
3692(c) is amended by striking <quote>December 31, 2009</quote> and inserting
<quote>December 31, 2015</quote>.</text>
</section><enum>II</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT
MATTERS</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE7D3373F7B704263B4239B2B80557F0D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination of service contracts</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3F6B01480EE34ADC8EF85679AB66C56B"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 305A of the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 535a) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H60D542140A9C4EC6BC5FB6A8256AED4B" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H323D5FDB1E384FE7A974C17B12FD3C33" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>305A.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination of service contracts</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDFEB23CEF01F40568880599CDA67A3B9"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination by servicemember</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A servicemember may terminate a contract
described in subsection (c) at any time after the date the servicemember
receives military orders—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBBDB16AC0CD04A8582674C28B940C771"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to deploy with a military unit, or as an
individual, in support of a contingency operation for a period of not less than
90 days; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD1D975F660FB4911ABAB5FB73CFB9F95"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for a change of permanent station to a
location that does not support the contract.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HABAC4A945E904D32A98FF57EDBAA565A"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Special rule for cellular or telephone
exchange service</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In any case
in which a contract being terminated under subsection (a) or (d) is for
cellular telephone service or telephone exchange service, the servicemember may
keep, to the extent practicable and in accordance with applicable law, the
telephone number the servicemember has under the contract for a period not to
exceed 90 days after the period of deployment or change of permanent station
has concluded.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H365265E0F18D4A4586B1769F9CD563CB"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Covered contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This section applies to a contract for
cellular telephone service, telephone exchange service, multichannel video
programming service, Internet access service, or residential utility service
involving the provision of water, electricity, home heating oil, or natural
gas.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6244D323248D41C1B18744BA27911D9A"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Family plans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a contract for cellular
telephone service entered into by any individual in which a servicemember is a
designated beneficiary of such contract, the individual may terminate such
contract—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H296088F9D2DB48B98A46905D8AD86B71"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to the servicemember if the
servicemember is eligible to terminate contracts pursuant to subsection (a);
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8C60DDFC0C274E028774737620CCABC5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to all of the designated
beneficiaries of such contract if all such beneficiaries accompany the
servicemember in a change of permanent station to a location that does not
support the contract.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0B7311E6381C4FC2A4F34A78F74ABBA5"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Manner of termination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination of a contract under subsection
(a) or (d) shall be made by delivery of a written notice of such termination
and a copy of the servicemember’s military orders to the service provider,
delivered—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H59F6E3851EBE4994826E44FB65FA1C08"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by hand delivery;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA53807C695F242D48B154B796A458A30"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by private business carrier;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA043F8DD69E945D5A7EABBACD5E14789"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by facsimile; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDB9815AAD11A471381797074C0466D3D"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by United States mail, addressed as
designated by the service provider, return receipt requested, with sufficient
postage.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2F0E1DB324DF4307AE039B248C11B977"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Date of contract termination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination of a contract under subsection
(a) or (d) is effective as of the date on which the notice under subsection (e)
is delivered.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBC5FE53C0B3742EC8D28EA8792D3A244"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other obligations and
liabilities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The service
provider under the contract may not impose an early termination charge, but any
tax or any other obligation or liability of the servicemember that, in
accordance with the terms of the contract, is due and unpaid or unperformed at
the time of termination of the contract shall be paid or performed by the
servicemember. If the servicemember re-subscribes to the service provided under
a covered contract in the 90-day period after the period of deployment or
change of permanent station has concluded, the service provider may not impose
a charge for reinstating service, other than a charge to cover any cost of
installing or acquiring new equipment that existing customers received, and for
which such customers paid a similar charge, during such period.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3B33C95399C241AE97CDF998733D5D24"><enum>(h)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Return of advance payments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the effective
date of the termination of the contract, the service provider shall refund to
the servicemember any fee or other amount to the extent paid for a period
extending after such date, except for the remainder of the monthly or similar
billing period in which the termination occurs if it is not reasonably possible
to determine a pro-rata amount for such remainder.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBD33AFB858F24C5E97D853E4E2DA2F6E"><enum>(i)</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="H16C1B4FC694B4BECA0C090BDA61FB63F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>cellular telephone
service</quote> means commercial mobile service, as that term is defined in
section 332(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCA1F916C134B4B92A430F946CE0D8024"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>contingency
operation</quote> has the meaning given that term by section 101(a)(13) of
title 10, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB14FD31D128F47B283A08B7AA0BAE890"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>Internet access
service</quote> has the meaning given that term under section 231(e)(4) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 231(e)(4)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1652E376D49248E89CAFCB3DCE55CDE0"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>multichannel video
programming service</quote> means video programming service provided by a
multichannel video programming distributor, as such term is defined in section
602(13) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522(13)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD4F411F8782A4032AC778A82AE9AAC35"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>telephone exchange
service</quote> has the meaning given that term under section 3 of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
153).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBD5BE03E777A409BA723BC8052B9B983"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Technical amendment To conform heading of
title III to the contents of the title</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The heading for title III of such Act is
amended by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="title" style="OLC">, service
contracts</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="title" style="OLC">leases</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC1C6C38E871A4245B62227EACA01DD7B"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents in section 1(b) of
such Act is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H53F4FCC75368419F9B9E0337225E6DAF"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking the item relating to title III
and inserting the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0D096234F9C44501BBC2C11C6E699732" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="title">TITLE III—RENT, INSTALLMENT
CONTRACTS, MORTGAGES, LIENS, ASSIGNMENT, LEASES, SERVICE
CONTRACTS</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF13DF1BC8E2412F917BE63AF0B45C0B"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking the item relating to section
305A and inserting the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC5004B7F6DDA4698929E9E2B5B704822" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 305A. Termination of
service
contracts.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2105F8C19280437D892F36101D69759D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Residential and motor vehicle
leases</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subsection (e) of
section 305 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 535) is
amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC06DACBECE9C4D5E93CE6FA87EBA8977" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBE996DFD158941F08CF830E82B9C2AFD"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Arrearages and other obligations and
liabilities</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBEAD48643F5045988EE1C3A7957F9196"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Leases of premises</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rent amounts for a lease described in
subsection (b)(1) that are unpaid for the period preceding the effective date
of the lease termination shall be paid on a prorated basis. The lessor may not
impose an early termination charge, but any taxes, summonses, or other
obligations and liabilities of the lessee in accordance with the terms of the
lease, including reasonable charges to the lessee for excess wear, that are due
and unpaid at the time of termination of the lease shall be paid by the
lessee.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66B00BCF9BBC47E1B92364ED281FEB42"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Leases of motor vehicles</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Lease amounts for a lease described in
subsection (b)(2) that are unpaid for the period preceding the effective date
of the lease termination shall be paid on a prorated basis. The lessor may not
impose an early termination charge, but any taxes, summonses, title and
registration fees, or other obligations and liabilities of the lessee in
accordance with the terms of the lease, including reasonable charges to the
lessee for excess wear or use and mileage, that are due and unpaid at the time
of termination of the lease shall be paid by the
lessee.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H82A06BC15A724DF3BDAAD02693392FD1" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Enforcement by the Attorney General and by
private right of action</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9CE46B73848A41A4BD7E0C1EE20DECB3"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50
U.S.C. App. 501 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
title:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE3D674AD23764EF08DD895FCB87EDF84" style="OLC">
<title commented="no" id="HFAB1248734F142E1975BC9CA21426D87" level-type="subsequent"><enum>VIII</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">CIVIL LIABILITY </header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFC2AB1A7BEF148E18FF92D2CF1A2CE54" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>801.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Enforcement by the Attorney
General</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H503D8F9606964074A0C1244712D5F7A5"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Civil action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Attorney General may commence a civil
action in any appropriate United States district court against any person
who—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4884DB1A56F646F6A4CF1C8002EF2C30"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">engages in a pattern or practice of
violating this Act; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAB7570018E86417499B5287C87408ADD"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">engages in a violation of this Act that
raises an issue of significant public importance.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC3D742BE546E4304B768E448FF59F84E"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Relief</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In a civil action commenced under
subsection (a), the court may—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H713613228F614C32859DD7F3902FA7FC"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">grant any appropriate equitable or
declaratory relief with respect to the violation;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0E6D16433FAB4D4E81FB82996D23C6E9"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">award all other appropriate relief,
including monetary damages, to any person aggrieved by the violation;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC59A01D8F9CA44618DAD21B05FC4CC9E"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may, to vindicate the public interest,
assess a civil penalty—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1597AA58F43E4E3F9214078288AC002C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in an amount not exceeding $55,000 for a
first violation; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3FCC9506E89943238D5F6039B0989374"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in an amount not exceeding $110,000 for any
subsequent violation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC29383F922F44A119778ED5B8A788DB5"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Intervention</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon timely application, a person aggrieved
by a violation with respect to which the civil action is commenced may
intervene in such action, and may obtain such appropriate relief as the person
could obtain in a civil action under section 802 with respect to that
violation, along with costs and a reasonable attorney fee.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDF644F2E0EC84288BD5DA66DFEC8A9E2" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>802.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Private right of action</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8AB95A3D46B34129A4EBF961830E247B"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any person aggrieved by a violation of this
Act may in a civil action—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3172A9B3F03C4127B27BDD1BB1E9829F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">obtain any appropriate equitable or
declaratory relief with respect to the violation; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H81A71C94A35E4C3BA4AA56F40E3C95BD"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">recover all other appropriate relief,
including monetary damages.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H11C19786CB9843E5848F38848F801DDB"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Costs and attorney fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The court may award to a servicemember who
prevails in an action brought under subsection (a) the costs of the action,
including a reasonable attorney fee.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE6B674162FD54B54A280CE601AB90FFE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>803.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Preservation of remedies</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Nothing in section 801 or 802 shall be
construed to preclude or limit any remedy otherwise available under other law,
including consequential and punitive
damages.</text>
</section>.
(b)Such Act is further amended as
follows:
(1)Section 207 (50 U.S.C. App. 527) is amended
by striking subsection (f).
(2)Section 301(c) (50 U.S.C. App. 531(c)) is
amended to read as follows:
(c)Except as provided in subsection (a), a
person who knowingly takes part in an eviction or distress described in
subsection (a), or who knowingly attempts to do so, shall be fined as provided
in title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or
both.
.
(3)Section 302(b) (50 U.S.C. App. 532(b)) is
amended to read as follows:
(b)A person who knowingly resumes possession
of property in violation of subsection (a), or in violation of section 107 of
this Act, or who knowingly attempts to do so, shall be fined as provided in
title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or
both.
.
(4)Section 303(d) (50 U.S.C. App. 533(d)) is
amended to read as follows:
(d)A person who knowingly makes or causes to
be made a sale, foreclosure, or seizure of property that is prohibited by
subsection (c), or who knowingly attempts to do so, shall be fined as provided
in title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or
both.
.
(5)Section 305(h) (50 U.S.C. App. 535(h)) is
amended to read as follows:
(h)Any person who knowingly seizes, holds, or
detains the personal effects, security deposit, or other property of a
servicemember or a servicemember’s dependent who lawfully terminates a lease
covered by this section, or who knowingly interferes with the removal of such
property from premises covered by such lease, for the purpose of subjecting or
attempting to subject any of such property to a claim for rent accruing
subsequent to the date of termination of such lease, or attempts to do so,
shall be fined as provided in title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for
not more than one year, or
both.
.
(6)Section 306(e) (50 U.S.C. App. 536(e)) is
amended to read as follows:
(e)A person who knowingly takes an action
contrary to this section, or attempts to do so, shall be fined as provided in
title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or
both.
.
(7)Section 307(c) (50 U.S.C. App. 537(c)) is
amended to read as follows:
(c)A person who knowingly takes an action
contrary to this section, or attempts to do so, shall be fined as provided in
title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or
both.
.
(c)The table of contents in section 1(b) of
such Act is amended by adding at the end the following new items:
Title VIII—CIVIL
LIABILITY
Sec. 801. Enforcement
by the Attorney General.
Sec. 802. Private
right of action.
Sec. 803. Preservation of
remedies.
.
<enum>III</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">OTHER BENEFITS MATTERS</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCC3BDCD2B291463997AD61CEE68AF717" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improvement of outreach activities within
Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H90834078FCFE442EBA89D33DA70CCBC0"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 5 is amended by adding at the end
the following new subchapter:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H256C30239A6747138B2F47C1BF7ED002" style="USC">
<subchapter commented="no" id="HCE5B4D1E3ED949AB8AC744B3AE627D6E" level-type="subsequent"><enum>IV</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Outreach Activities</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H179D1D335BFE41BBAC395C6CE5C461D4" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>561.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Outreach activities: coordination of
activities within the Department</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6E38C1173C824303B5571D01619ED72F"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall establish and maintain
procedures for ensuring the effective coordination of the outreach activities
of the Department between and among the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5B508A08E70845D8B181AEFF52ADC626"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office of the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0D034DC8EB2B4D819F2554122EDFE070"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office of Public Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA54CD0181C234DE2B36985259AABEB02"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Veterans Health Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC11CFB86EC6B4AE58B83DD2AB691D1E4"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Veterans Benefits
Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC3B7563D550A4F8087B234C85672B0F3"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The National Cemetery
Administration.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1E6805D975B84BABA1C8CE66FB12B805"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual review of procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8938482421AD429C9C0542584EF39A91"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">annually review the procedures in effect
under subsection (a) for the purpose of ensuring that those procedures meet the
requirements of that subsection; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5CC75B3FF7F24DB08DEF26F4263D351F"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">make such modifications to those procedures
as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of such review in order to
better achieve that purpose.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1D82696EF9F24D128E93039829046693" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>562.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Outreach activities: cooperative activities
with States; grants to States for improvement of outreach</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF0B78F53580F45F3AD8AF8DAED8CDD76"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Purpose</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the purpose of this section to
provide for assistance by the Secretary to State and county veterans agencies
to carry out programs in locations within the respective jurisdictions of such
agencies that offer a high probability of improving outreach and assistance to
veterans, and to the spouses, children, and parents of veterans, to ensure that
such individuals are fully informed about, and assisted in applying for, any
veterans’ and veterans-related benefits and programs (including State veterans’
programs) for which they may be eligible.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBE77F119785F4573A66E38A793E8A4BC"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Priority for areas with high concentration
of eligible individuals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In
providing assistance under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to
State and county veteran agencies in locations—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE5818B0C95EA4469A45361CE1672BC06"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that have relatively large concentrations
of populations of veterans and other individuals referred to in subsection (a);
or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD71AF9A535DD4025859CECC568C7F76C"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that are experiencing growth in the
population of veterans and other individuals referred to in subsection
(a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H47B61B195C9D43419C75C797F627FE1A"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contracts for outreach
services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
enter into a contract with a State or county veterans agency in order to carry
out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise enhance outreach by the Department and
the State or county (including outreach with respect to a State or county
veterans program). As a condition of entering into any such contract, the
Secretary shall require the agency to submit annually to the Secretary a
three-year plan for the use of any funds provided to the agency pursuant to the
contract and to meet the annual outcome measures developed by the Secretary
under subsection (d)(4).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDBCE455CF3524D839C4E59002B6648CE"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grants</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H1775349212AE484A9F11F3F68E963733"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may make a grant to a State
or county veterans agency to be used to carry out, coordinate, improve, or
otherwise enhance—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA1B37D08532E40BE97BD14763A5A4EB6" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">outreach activities, including activities
carried out pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection (c);
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA610B0AEFC5B499693E6DE6D4052C841" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">activities to assist in the development and
submittal of claims for veterans and veterans-related benefits, including
activities carried out pursuant to a contract entered into under subsection
(c).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDA19EA470ABD418DA307DD69A6564C7B" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A
State veterans agency that receives a grant under this subsection may award all
or a portion of the grant to county veterans agencies within the State to
provide outreach services for veterans, on the basis of the number of veterans
residing in the jurisdiction of each county.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA7E68518489A4FAD8E49A5F27842A46B" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To be eligible for a grant under this
subsection, a State or county veterans agency shall submit to the Secretary an
application containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may
require. The Secretary shall require a State or county veterans agency to
include, as part of the agency’s application—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF0ECFFB3103E487C8EC4BC4554D59850"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a three-year plan for the use of the grant;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB26053773B8F4712B37CB69ADC5CAADF"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a description of the programs through which
the agency will meet the annual outcome measures developed by the Secretary
under paragraph (4).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H73D1E38DDD0944D3B02A7EBB0615A051" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H64E34B3B1B2743F0ABDC8CD3308D4C49"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall develop and provide to
the recipient of a grant under this subsection written guidance on annual
outcome measures, Department policies, and procedures for applying for grants
under this section.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H542E133F243840FE8DEC8BA00CA9FF63" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall annually review the
performance of each State or county veterans agency that receives a grant under
this section.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB0D84F1F8C234D43B8552ED3CEC3223C" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a State or county veterans
agency that is a recipient of a grant under this subsection that does not meet
the annual outcome measures developed by the Secretary, the Secretary shall
require the agency to submit a remediation plan under which the agency shall
describe how and when it plans to meet such outcome measures. The Secretary
must approve such plan before the Secretary may make a subsequent grant to that
agency under this subsection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9D66B08556AC484986A946F4C3CDDA71" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No portion of any grant awarded under this
subsection may be used for the purposes of administering the grant funds or to
subsidize the salaries of State or county veterans service officers or other
employees of a State or county veterans agency that receives a grant under this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD2F1FEC24DD04F06BE939E01D227FFB1" indent="up1"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Federal funds provided to a State or county
veterans agency under this subsection may not be used to provide more than 50
percent of the total cost of the State or county government activities
described in paragraph (1) and shall be used to expand existing outreach
programs and services and not to supplant State and local funding that is
otherwise available.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7C08821C98C3471085E6996BE2056FA0" indent="up1"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In awarding grants under this subsection,
the Secretary shall give priority to State and county veterans agencies that
serve the largest populations of veterans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9A7FA42DD55E447484CC975F176DFB2B" indent="up1"><enum>(8)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HB010565DE3444017B4E318BBDB65F3A7"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In a case in which a county government does
not have a county veterans agency, the county government may be awarded a grant
under this subsection to establish such an agency.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5097D758144048D2BE25E50E16F1BD45" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In a case in which a county government does
not have a county veterans agency and does not seek to establish such an agency
through the use of a grant under this subsection, the State veterans agency for
the State in which the county is located may use a grant under this section to
provide outreach services for that county.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3CE4AD1583F8417AB678703B78ED5B83" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a State in which no State or
county veterans agency seeks to receive a grant under this subsection, the
funds that would otherwise be allocated for that State shall be reallocated to
those States in which county veterans agencies exist and have sought grants
under this subsection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H594AC6A4BD4F47AA9254800B76977202" indent="up1"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A
grant under this subsection may be used to provide education and training,
including on-the-job training, for State, county, and local government
employees who provide (or when trained will provide) veterans outreach services
in order for those employees to obtain accreditation in accordance with
procedures approved by the Secretary and, for employees so accredited, for
purposes of continuing education.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE4966ED09ACF403DAED927D376ED5BFF"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purposes of this section:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9E4BC28A5A474CE795775C682E85C971" indent="up1"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>State veterans
agency</quote> means the element of the government of a State that has
responsibility for programs and activities of that State government relating to
veterans benefits.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7FD6A74B0501414EBBE07EC92741D0C4" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>county veterans
agency</quote> means the element of the government of a county or municipality
that has responsibility for programs and activities of that county or municipal
government relating to veterans benefits.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB023AC2A6DC849D692A76792EC1176EB" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>563.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Outreach activities: funding</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD4B0D72CA8864096B06380A9796480E0"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Separate account</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts for the outreach activities of the
Department under this subchapter shall be budgeted and appropriated through a
separate appropriation account.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H36F693455226406C80101473FA399247"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Separate statement of amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the budget justification materials
submitted to Congress in support of the Department budget for any fiscal year
(as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title
31), the Secretary shall include a separate statement of the amount requested
to be appropriated for that fiscal year for the account specified in subsection
(a).</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF2C4E9CD68E54579A9ADB5EDFB1BB56D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>564.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of outreach</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">For purposes of this subchapter, the term
<term>outreach</term> means the act or process of taking steps in a systematic
manner to provide information, services, and benefits counseling to veterans,
and the survivors of veterans, who may be eligible to receive benefits under
the laws administered by the Secretary to ensure that those individuals are
fully informed about, and assisted in applying for, any benefits and programs
under such laws for which they may be eligible.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBABD6714B0F5407DBB2C58207578F635" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>565.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 2011,
2012, and 2013, $25,000,000 to carry out this subchapter, including making
grants under section 562(d) of this
title.</text>
</section></subchapter><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H410C8091056240E895AF89A32702DF65"><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
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new items:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7651CE8F39B94A20B39394B53443B64F" style="OLC">
<toc container-level="quoted-block-container" idref="H256C30239A6747138B2F47C1BF7ED002" lowest-bolded-level="division-lowest-bolded" lowest-level="section" quoted-block="no-quoted-block" regeneration="yes-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="HCE5B4D1E3ED949AB8AC744B3AE627D6E" level="subchapter">Subchapter IV—Outreach Activities</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="H179D1D335BFE41BBAC395C6CE5C461D4" level="section">561. Outreach
activities: coordination of activities within the Department.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="H1D82696EF9F24D128E93039829046693" level="section">562. Outreach
activities: cooperative activities with States; grants to States for
improvement of outreach.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="HB023AC2A6DC849D692A76792EC1176EB" level="section">563. Outreach
activities: funding.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="HF2C4E9CD68E54579A9ADB5EDFB1BB56D" level="section">564. Definition of
outreach.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="HBABD6714B0F5407DBB2C58207578F635" level="section">565. Authorization of
appropriations.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC9D6DAC4984248EBACCFFFE4B62FDB7D"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deadline for implementation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
implement the outreach activities required under subchapter IV of chapter 5 of
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by not later than 120
days after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE6F4D9D3FA5240348C26EFAFF2172FC8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>302.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Visual impairment and orientation and
mobility professionals education assistance program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE58C87CAB14B4A6C9B432476993A2BB5"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment of program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Part V is amended by adding at the end the
following new chapter:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H232A3C0B6F244FAD955EBE7737052022" style="USC">
<chapter commented="no" id="H43A3209DDA5B407A97ACB29D4A093822" level-type="subsequent"><enum>80</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Visual Impairment and Orientation and
Mobility Professionals Education Assistance Program</header>
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">8001. Establishment of
scholarship program; purpose.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">8002. Application and
acceptance.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">8003. Amount of assistance;
duration.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">8004. Agreement.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">8005. Repayment for failure
to satisfy requirements of agreement.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9929809144194A7F82EC14147AC5892D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>8001.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment of scholarship program;
purpose</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4394068132E24C6C9421DE190846F20B"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary shall establish and carry out a scholarship
program to provide financial assistance in accordance with this chapter to an
individual—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H67CAD15D383B41CF98C9A6426E288977"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">who is accepted for enrollment or currently
enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certificate in visual
impairment or orientation and mobility, or a dual degree or certification in
both such areas, at an accredited (as determined by the Secretary) educational
institution that is in a State; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3C7DF9B7B2FF427184E98BBCD827BDA1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">who enters into an agreement with the
Secretary as described in section 8004 of this chapter.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6E1454CD94DB437186F78108AB1D3E02"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Purpose</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The purpose of the scholarship program
established under this chapter is to increase the supply of qualified blind
rehabilitation specialists for the Department and the Nation.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H139712E02E1A4884847D1D2A1E841B7D"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Outreach</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall publicize the
scholarship program established under this chapter to educational institutions
throughout the United States, with an emphasis on disseminating information to
such institutions with high numbers of Hispanic students and to Historically
Black Colleges and Universities.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H079F4D7DAA4C4F349E0A11A5C5876039" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>8002.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Application and acceptance</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H39D7231AAF674E7F8D9C0C6063295C6F"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Application</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HABC11B1E98214F3D94CAC4B0EAEA642C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To apply and participate in the scholarship
program under this chapter, an individual shall submit to the Secretary an
application for such participation together with an agreement described in
section 8004 of this chapter under which the participant agrees to serve a
period of obligated service in the Department as provided in the agreement in
return for payment of educational assistance as provided in the
agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD350C488E01241D2918FEC1BF54C8BA7" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In distributing application forms and
agreement forms to individuals desiring to participate in the scholarship
program, the Secretary shall include with such forms the following:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEBFF966305374D25BADE7FDDDFA227ED"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A fair summary of the rights and
liabilities of an individual whose application is approved (and whose agreement
is accepted) by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF4C8F27C432E4077A12436F9FA805299"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A full description of the terms and
conditions that apply to participation in the scholarship program and service
in the Department.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H04FAC24ABE004D5B9CD938646D54A0C8"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Approval</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H38731D6F77F04D9DAFB41FE47D26827C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon the Secretary’s approval of an
individual’s participation in the scholarship program, the Secretary shall, in
writing, promptly notify the individual of that acceptance.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H22B215876EE74F819F5F88EFD49B5B47" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An individual becomes a participant in the
scholarship program upon such approval by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H752E0F889FF249B5B447AAB1D8A1FD3C" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>8003.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amount of assistance; duration</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H62FE83FEB25D48F88BE6EAB6ED29E0E1"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amount of assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amount of the financial assistance
provided for an individual under this chapter shall be the amount determined by
the Secretary as being necessary to pay the tuition and fees of the individual.
In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of study leading to a dual
degree or certification in both the areas of study described in section
8001(a)(1) of this chapter, the tuition and fees shall not exceed the amounts
necessary for the minimum number of credit hours to achieve such dual
certification or degree.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE7595569EF9947859550223FA4E87B7B"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Relationship to other
assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Financial
assistance may be provided to an individual under this chapter to supplement
other educational assistance to the extent that the total amount of educational
assistance received by the individual during an academic year does not exceed
the total tuition and fees for such academic year.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9DAAE25C3DED48F58649E5B399B0DDFC"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Maximum amount of assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HB84FD8E574724F41A1FEA7CE9E9CB01D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In no case may the total amount of
assistance provided under this chapter for an academic year to an individual
who is a full-time student exceed $15,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9313D1E1FEA844FBBC130A75F2CD0D1B" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of an individual who is a
part-time student, the total amount of assistance provided under this chapter
shall bear the same ratio to the amount that would be paid under paragraph (1)
if the participant were a full-time student in the program of study being
pursued by the individual as the coursework carried by the individual to
full-time coursework in that program of study.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5A1DC74DABDF4CFB92FE1572596AD1F7" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In no case may the total amount of
assistance provided to an individual under this chapter exceed $45,000.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0DF5202FE2664553B9A53515F0BE16B2"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Maximum duration of
assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
provide financial assistance to an individual under this chapter for not more
than six years.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H707C855581714B76BE78C4C9ED7E0FDF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>8004.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agreement</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">An agreement between the Secretary and a
participant in the scholarship program under this chapter shall be in writing,
shall be signed by the participant, and shall include—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0559DA3DB8434B6287AA8F8219C2FA57"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary’s agreement to provide the
participant with financial assistance as authorized under this chapter;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H44A01E1051DF47BBA20C316C7E8A6E2A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the participant’s agreement—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF94A06D9D7D448DCBADBA68ADB72EEA6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to accept such financial assistance;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H18BA2EB66AA24909B84D1630832B522F"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to maintain enrollment and attendance in
the program of study described in section 8001(a)(1) of this chapter;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H54C2ECD644B041C2816A9C6364F4B4D6"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">while enrolled in such program, to maintain
an acceptable level of academic standing (as determined by the educational
institution offering such program under regulations prescribed by the
Secretary); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC0F2CDDFA62E4618BEC34A6C0B051773"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">after completion of the program, to serve
as a full-time employee in the Department for a period of three years, to be
served within the first six years after the participant has completed such
program and received a degree or certificate described in section 8001(a)(1) of
this chapter; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5B52EADC4D8841E29E8AE89F3104FD0B"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other terms and conditions that the
Secretary determines appropriate for carrying out this chapter.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4C9D09A4CF2343EB95F475A4688988B0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>8005.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Repayment for failure to satisfy
requirements of agreement</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA78DD1C1EF194C2D80A1E9FCE95AFB4F"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An individual who receives educational
assistance under this chapter shall repay to the Secretary an amount equal to
the unearned portion of such assistance if the individual fails to satisfy the
requirements of the agreement entered into under section 8004 of this chapter,
except in circumstances authorized by the Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66A0E4D1C1BC400A8D715CD13A8EE6A3"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amount of repayment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall establish, by
regulations, procedures for determining the amount of the repayment required
under this subsection and the circumstances under which an exception to the
required repayment may be granted.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC1ACD3F5F4E24E61BB9F40E6507DA18A"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Waiver or suspension of
compliance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
shall prescribe regulations providing for the waiver or suspension of any
obligation of an individual for service or payment under this chapter (or an
agreement under this chapter) whenever noncompliance by the individual is due
to circumstances beyond the control of the individual or whenever the Secretary
determines that the waiver or suspension of compliance is in the best interest
of the United States.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H444262E06EDB41148F8586F8D4EC01A9"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Obligation as debt to United
States</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An obligation to repay
the Secretary under this section is, for all purposes, a debt owed the United
States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 does not discharge a person
from such debt if the discharge order is entered less than five years after the
date of the termination of the agreement or contract on which the debt is
based.</text>
</subsection></section></chapter><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H40753CFCB5784EECBB540ADD0D4F538C"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The tables of chapters at the beginning of
title 38, United States Code, and of part V of such title, are each amended by
inserting after the item relating to chapter 79 the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFBCFCF393B584F4DAB33655AAF791E3F" style="USC">
<toc>
<multi-column-toc-entry bold="off" level="section"><toc-enum>80.</toc-enum><level-header bold="off" level="section">Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professionals
Education Assistance
Program</level-header><target>8001</target></multi-column-toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H007E020979DE4054823E912005522270"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall implement chapter 80 of title 38, United States Code, as
added by subsection (a), not later than six months after the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0BA587B0CD3A4FFCA9BB8B0734CEFF01" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>303.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Interment in national cemeteries of parents
of certain deceased veterans</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H106509C0B3F042AF8CF407302BFC0181"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Short title</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This section may be cited as the
<quote>Corey Shea Act</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3B92D82CFD614808A098E95A6BC8F850"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Interment of parents of certain deceased
veterans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2402 is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2E476034549F414DA8B28575EDE261F8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking <quote>Under such regulations</quote> and inserting <quote>(a) Under
such regulations</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6639DD5801104B39AF1E66931AE90318"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by moving the margins of paragraphs (1)
through (8) two ems to the right;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5FA979CA860C4AF8AC2AB0F05614F3AA"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (8) the
following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H73C1C6792CA54894845B175164970D03" style="USC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3B7FB04D968846289D84145E4DFC8BED"><enum>(9)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H4F4C4CF9FD3F4F6A997F9064C45EF78B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The parent of a person described in
subparagraph (B), if the Secretary determines that there is available space at
the gravesite where the person described in subparagraph (B) is
interred.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H04011545CD8B4971B7FD73436BC1FB20" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A person described in this subparagraph is
a person described in paragraph (1) who—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3543BF31529545C6844912C1460F17EE"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is a hostile casualty or died from a
training-related injury;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H120A8520E3F8470F80EA5EFFAE4DB5EF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is interred in a national cemetery;
and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB2DF2DFFB58A41C69F9ACC226EC96F26"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at the time of the person’s parent’s death,
did not have a spouse, surviving spouse, or child who is buried or who, upon
death, may be eligible for burial in a national cemetery pursuant to paragraph
(5).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCA81DA8591074BFBBE4B4FD8172C1DBE"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following new
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9E0119565F7448EC9A9CD9145B92202E" style="traditional">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF66A19B7E16B4F47BAC5FEF926A815B4"><enum>(b)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of subsection (a)(9) of this
section:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC3C21585018144DE9A89902C62660F2E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>parent</quote> means a
biological father or a biological mother or, in the case of adoption, a father
through adoption or a mother through adoption.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H10A7F8708E5C4752952EAA63E4091C03"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>hostile casualty</quote>
means a person who, as a member of the Armed Forces, dies as the direct result
of hostile action with the enemy, while in combat, while going to or returning
from a combat mission if the cause of death was directly related to hostile
action, or while hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the expense of the
United States for injury incurred during combat, and includes a person killed
mistakenly or accidentally by friendly fire directed at a hostile force or what
is thought to be a hostile force, but does not include a person who dies due to
the elements, a self-inflicted wound, combat fatigue, or a friendly force while
the person was in an absent-without-leave, deserter, or dropped-from-rolls
status or was voluntarily absent from a place of duty.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7667A00EA51F496084F2AF8689FE24F5"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>training-related
injury</quote> means an injury incurred by a member of the Armed Forces while
performing authorized training activities in preparation for a combat
mission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4E0AD922DFFE46C295B5F2A8A2BE30C1"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Guidance required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall develop guidance under which
the parent of a person described in paragraph (9)(B) of subsection (a) of
section 2402 of title 38, United States Code, may be designated for interment
in a national cemetery under that section.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9D1B1477060C4909A4F983D4B72A6C84"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Conforming amendments</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H47CC5A68C44E485C83F99DB3F4FCEE58"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cross-reference correction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 107 is amended by striking
<quote>section 2402(8)</quote> both places it appears and inserting
<quote>section 2402(a)(8)</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9A318160A8E44A81AEE5A48A6478AABE"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cross-reference correction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2301(e) is amended by striking
<quote>section 2402(6)</quote> and inserting <quote>section
2402(a)(6)</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2C6A2B42A4F846CE94081F322AD2FE1B"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cross-reference correction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2306(a) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA1C7C269300040DD8009B10C859A1E0B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by striking
<quote>section 2402(4)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 2402(a)(4)</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H16F37AF7FD3B4C858AADAE53A6474CE1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (4), by striking
<quote>section 2402(5)</quote> and inserting <quote>section
2402(a)(5)</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H197AC18C199F43BE8C4D41F93905B2C4"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by
this section shall apply with respect to the death, on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act, of the parent of a person described in section
2402(a)(9)(B) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), who
dies on or after October 7, 2001.</text>
</subsection></section>
Passed the House of
Representatives November 3, 2009.
Lorraine C. Miller,
Clerk.