1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Housing, Employment, and Living
Programs for Veterans Act of 2010
or the
HELP Veterans Act of
2010
.
(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.
Sec. 3. Modification of standard of visual acuity required for
eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 4. Authorities regarding housing loans guaranteed by the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 5. Reauthorization and improvement of Department of
Veterans Affairs small business loan program.
Sec. 6. Assistance for flight training.
Sec. 7. Seven-year increase in amount of assistance for
individuals pursuing apprenticeships or on-job training.
Sec. 8. Extension of authority for certain qualifying
work-study activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs of
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 9. Expansion of work-study allowance to include certain
outreach services conducted through congressional offices.
Sec. 10. Temporary reduction of required amount of wages for
on-the-job training programs.
Sec. 11. Reauthorization of Veterans’ Advisory Committee on
Education.
Sec. 12. Homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with
children reintegration grant program.
Sec. 13. Technology review and grant program.
Sec. 14. Child care; President’s Budget.
Sec. 15. Increase in amount of reporting fee payable to
educational institutions that enroll veterans receiving educational
assistance.
Sec. 16. Modification of advance payment of initial educational
assistance or subsistence allowance.
Sec. 17. Increase in amount of subsistence allowance payable to
veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation program.
Sec. 18. Expansion of availability of employment assistance
allowance for veterans using employment services.
Sec. 19. Promoting jobs for veterans teaching in rural
areas.
Sec. 20. Promoting jobs for veterans through the establishment
of an internship program.
Sec. 21. Veterans entrepreneurial development
summit.
Sec. 22. Increase in the maximum amount of specially adapted
housing assistance authorized to be provided by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs.
Sec. 23. Department of Veterans Affairs housing loans for
construction of energy efficient dwellings.
Sec. 24. Pilot program on specially adapted housing assistance
for veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family
member.
Sec. 25. Compliance with Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of
2010.
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 a 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.
3.Modification of
standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for specially adapted
housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
(a)Section
2101(b)(2)(A) is amended by striking with 5/200
and all that follows through the period and inserting the following:
with central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the
use of standard correcting lenses (for purposes of this subparagraph, an eye
which is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the
widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20
degrees shall be treated as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or
less).
.
(b)The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with
respect to specially adapted housing assistance provided on or after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
4.Authorities
regarding housing loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans
Affairs
(a)Covenants and
liens in response to disaster-relief assistanceParagraph (3) of
section
3703(d) is amended to read as follows:
(3)(A)Any real estate housing
loan (other than for repairs, alterations, or improvements) shall be secured by
a first lien on the realty. In determining whether a loan is so secured, the
Secretary may either disregard or allow for subordination to a superior lien
that—
(i)is created by a duly recorded covenant
running with the realty in favor of—
(I)a public entity that provides assistance in
response to a major disaster as determined by the President under the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); or
(II)a private entity to secure an
obligation to such entity for the homeowner’s share of the costs of the
management, operation, or maintenance of property, services, or programs within
and for the benefit of the development or community in which the veteran’s
realty is located; and
(ii)the Secretary determines will not prejudice
the interests of the veteran borrower and of the Government by the operation of
such a covenant.
(B)In respect to a superior lien
described by subparagraph (A) that is created after June 6, 1969, the
Secretary’s determination must have been made prior to the recordation of the
covenant.
.
(b)Extension of
authority to pool loansParagraph (2) of
section
3720(h) is amended by striking 2011
and
inserting 2016
.
5.Reauthorization and
improvement of Department of Veterans Affairs small business loan
program
(a)
(1)Chapter 37 is amended by
striking section 3751.
(2)The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by striking the item relating to section 3751.
(b)Expansion of
eligibility for small business loansChapter 37 is further
amended—
(1)in section 3741,
by striking paragraph (2); and
(2)in section
3742(a)(3)(A), by striking veterans of the Vietnam era
or
.
(c)Repeal of
authority to make direct loansChapter 37, as amended by
subsections (a) and (b), is further amended—
(1)in section
3742—
(A)in subsection
(a)—
(i)in
paragraph (2), by striking (A) loan guaranties, or (B) direct
loans
and inserting loan guaranties
; and
(ii)in
paragraph (3)(A), by striking and that at least 51 percent of a business
concern must be owned by disabled veterans in order for such concern to qualify
for a direct loan
;
(B)in subsection
(b)—
(i)by
striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as
paragraphs (1) through (3), respectively; and
(ii)in
paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by striking make or
;
(C)in subsection (c),
by striking made or
;
(D)in subsection
(d)—
(i)by striking paragraph (2);
(ii)by
striking (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection,
the
and inserting The
; and
(iii)by
striking make or
; and
(E)in subsection
(e)—
(i)in
paragraph (1)—
(I)in the first
sentence, by striking or, if the loan was a direct loan made by the
Secretary, may suspend such obligation
; and
(II)in the second
sentence, by striking or while such obligation is
suspended
;
(ii)by
striking or suspend
each place it appears;
(iii)by
striking or suspension
each place it appears;
(iv)by
striking or suspends
each place it appears; and
(v)in
paragraph (4), by striking or suspended
each place it
appears;
(2)in section
3743—
(A)by striking
that is provided a direct loan under this subchapter, or
;
(B)by striking the
comma between subchapter
and shall
;
(C)by striking
direct or
; and
(D)by striking
for the amount of such direct loan or, in the case of a guaranteed
loan,
;
(3)in section
3745—
(A)by striking
(a)
; and
(B)by striking
subsection (b);
(4)in section 3746,
by striking made or
both places it appears; and
(5)in section 3750, by striking made
or
.
(d)Authority to
enter into a contractSection 3742, as amended by subsection (c),
is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(f)The Secretary shall enter into a contract
with an appropriate entity for the purpose of carrying out the program under
this
subchapter.
.
(e)Section
3742(b), as amended by subsection (c), is further amended by adding at the end
the following new paragraph:
(4)The Secretary may only guarantee a loan
under this subchapter to the extent that a limitation commitment to guarantee
loans for a fiscal year has been provided in advance in an appropriations
Act.
.
(f)Authorization of
appropriations
(1)Section 3749 is amended to read as
follows:
3749.Authorization
of appropriationsThere are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter such sums as may be
necessary.
.
(2)The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 37 is amended by
striking the item relating to section 3749 and inserting the following new
item:
3749. Authorization of
appropriations.
.
(g)
(1)Chapter 37 is further amended by inserting after section
3749 the following new section:
3749A.
(a)(1)The Secretary shall collect a fee from each
veterans’ small business concern obtaining a loan guaranteed under this
subchapter.
(2)No loan may be guaranteed under this
subchapter until the fee payable under this section has been remitted to the
Secretary.
(3)The fee may be included in the loan
guaranteed under this subchapter and paid from the proceeds thereof.
(b)The amount of the fee shall be the full cost of the loan
guarantee plus an additional amount determined by the Secretary as sufficient
to cover applicable administrative expenses.
.
(2)The table of
sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 3749 the following new item:
3749A. Loan
fee.
.
(h)Section 3741 is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
(2)The term cost
has the
meaning given the term cost of a loan guarantee
within the
meaning of section 502(5)(C) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990
(2 U.S.C.
661a(5)(C)).
(3)The term guarantee
—
(A)has the meaning
given the term loan guarantee
in section 502 of the Federal
Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a); and
(B)includes a loan guarantee commitment (as
defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C.
661a)).
(4)The term obligation
means
the loan or other debt obligation that is guaranteed under this
subchapter.
.
6.Assistance for
flight trainingSubsection
(e)(1) of section
3032 is amended by striking 60 percent
and
inserting 75 percent
.
7.Seven-year
increase in amount of assistance for individuals pursuing apprenticeships or
on-job trainingDuring the
seven-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall apply—
(1)section 3032(c)(1)
of title 38, United States Code—
(A)in subparagraph
(A), by substituting 80 percent
for 75
percent
;
(B)in subparagraph
(B), by substituting 60 percent
for 55 percent
;
and
(C)in subparagraph
(C), by substituting 40 percent
for 35
percent
;
(2)section 3233(a) of
such title—
(A)in paragraph (1),
by substituting 80 percent
for 75 percent
;
(B)in paragraph (2),
by substituting 60 percent
for 55 percent
;
and
(C)in paragraph (3),
by substituting 40 percent
for 35 percent
;
(3)section 3687(b)(2)
of such title—
(A)by substituting
$603
for $574
;
(B)by substituting
$450
for $429
; and
(C)by substituting
$299
for $285
; and
(4)section
16131(d)(1) of title 10, United States Code—
(A)in subparagraph
(A), by substituting 80 percent
for 75
percent
;
(B)in subparagraph
(B), by substituting 60 percent
for 55 percent
;
and
(C)in subparagraph
(C), by substituting 40 percent
for 35
percent
.
8.Extension of
authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for purposes of the
educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans
AffairsParagraph (4) of
section
3485(a) is amended by striking June 30, 2010
each place it appears and inserting June 30, 2020
.
9.Expansion of
work-study allowance to include certain outreach services conducted through
congressional officesSection 3485(a)(4)
is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(G)The following activities carried out
at the offices of Members of Congress for such Members:
(i)The distribution of information to
members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their dependents about the benefits
and services under laws administered by the Secretary and other appropriate
governmental and non-governmental programs.
(ii)The provision of assistance in ascertaining
the status of claims (including appeals) for benefits under laws administered
by the Secretary, as well as other constituent services for veterans as the
Secretary determines
appropriate.
.
10.Temporary reduction
of required amount of wages for on-the-job training programs
(a)
(1)Section
3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) is amended by striking 85 per
centum
and inserting 60 percent
.
(2)The amendment made by
paragraph (1) shall take effect on October 1, 2010, and shall apply to a
veteran who enrolls in a program of training on the job approved under
section
3677 of title 38, United States Code, on or after such
date.
(b)
(1)Effective October 1, 2013,
section
3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) of such title, as amended by subsection (a)
of this section, is amended by striking 60 percent
and inserting
85 percent
.
(2)The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall
apply to a veteran who enrolls in a program of training on the job approved
under section
3677 of title 38, United States Code, on or after October 1,
2013.
(c)Not later than October
1, 2013, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
of the Senate a report on the effects of eliminating the requirement under
section
3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) of title 38, United States Code, for a
private employer to provide wage increases to veterans enrolled in a program of
training on the job approved under
section
3677 of such title.
11.Reauthorization
of Veterans’ Advisory Committee on EducationSection 3692(c) is
amended by striking December 31, 2009
and inserting
December 31, 2020
.
12.Homeless women
veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration grant
program
(a)Chapter 20 is
amended by inserting after section 2021 the following new section:
2021A.Homeless
women veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration grant
program
(a)Subject to the availability of
appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary of Labor shall make
grants to programs and facilities that the Secretary determines provide
dedicated services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with
children.
(b)Grants under this section shall be used to provide job
training, counseling, placement services (including job readiness and literacy
and skills training) and child care services to expedite the reintegration of
homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children into the labor
force.
(c)Requirement To
Monitor Expenditures of Funds(1)The Secretary of Labor
shall collect such information as that Secretary considers appropriate to
monitor and evaluate the distribution and expenditure of funds appropriated to
carry out this section. The information shall include data with respect to the
results or outcomes of the services provided to each homeless veteran under
this section.
(2)Information under paragraph (1) shall
be furnished in such form and manner as the Secretary of Labor may
specify.
(d) Administration
Through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and
TrainingThe Secretary of Labor shall carry out this section
through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and
Training.
(e)Biennial Report
to CongressThe Secretary of Labor shall include as part of the
report required under
section
2021(d) of this title an evaluation of the grant program under
this section, which shall include an evaluation of services furnished to
veterans under this section and an analysis of the information collected under
subsection (c).
(f)(1)In
addition to any amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out
section
2021 of this title, there is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through
2016.
(2)Funds appropriated to carry out this
section shall remain available until expended. Funds obligated in any fiscal
year to carry out this section may be expended in that fiscal year and the
succeeding fiscal
year.
.
(b)The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2021 the following
new item:
2021A. Homeless women veterans and
homeless veterans with children reintegration grant
program.
.
13.Technology review and
grant program
(a)Review and
evaluation of new technologyThe Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a team of individuals from appropriate disciplines to be responsible
for reviewing new technologies, processes, and products and for determining
which such technologies, processes, and products may be beneficial to the
Department of Veterans Affairs or to the veterans served by the Department.
Upon completion of the review under this subsection, the team shall submit the
review to the Secretary, who shall disseminate the review within the
Department, as appropriate.
(b)Specially
adapted housing assistive technology grant program
(1)Chapter 21 is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
2108.Specially
adapted housing assistive technology grant program
(a)The Secretary
shall make grants to encourage the development of new assistive technologies
for specially adapted housing.
(b)A person or entity seeking a grant under
this section shall submit to the Secretary an application for the grant in such
form and manner as the Secretary shall specify.
(c)Each grant awarded
under this section shall be in an amount of not more than $250,000 per
year.
(d)The recipient of a
grant under this section shall use the grant to develop assistive technologies
for use in specially adapted housing.
(e)Not later than March 1 of each year
following a year in which the Secretary makes a grant, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report containing information related to each grant
awarded under this section during the preceding calendar year,
including—
(1)the name of the
grant recipient;
(2)the amount of the
grant; and
(3)the goal of the
grant.
(f)From amounts authorized to be appropriated
to the Department for each fiscal year for which the Secretary is authorized to
make a grant under this section, $1,500,000 shall be available for that fiscal
year for the purposes of the program under this section.
(g)The
authority to make a grant under this section shall terminate on the date that
is five years after the date of the enactment of this
section.
.
(2)The table of
sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the
following new item:
2108. Specially adapted housing assistive
technology grant
program.
.
(3)The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall begin making grants under
section
2108 of title 38, United States Code, as added by paragraph
(1), by not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
14.Child care;
President’s Budget
(a)Chapter 31 is amended by
adding at the end the following new sections:
3123.Child care
assistance for single parents
(a)Pursuant to
regulations prescribed by the Secretary to carry out this section, the
Secretary shall provide reimbursements for the actual cost of child care
provided by a licensed provider to a veteran who—
(1)is participating in a vocational
rehabilitation program under this chapter;
(2)is the sole caretaker of a child;
and
(3)would not otherwise be able to afford such
child care.
(b)The amount of the
reimbursement for the actual cost for child care under this section shall be
not more than $2,000 per month for each month the veteran is participating in a
vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter.
3124.Information
included in support of President’s budgetThe Secretary shall include in documents
submitted to Congress by the Secretary in support of the President’s budget for
each fiscal year submitted under
section
1105 of title 31, United States Code, the following:
(1)For the calendar
year preceding the submission—
(A)the percentage of veterans receiving
assistance under this chapter who became employed; and
(B)the percentage of veterans receiving
assistance under this chapter who achieved independence in daily living.
(2)Any changes made by the Secretary in
measuring or calculating the performance of the department under this
chapter.
.
(b)The table of
sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the
following:
3123. Child care assistance for single
parents.
3124. Information included in support of
President’s
budget.
.
15.Increase in amount of
reporting fee payable to educational institutions that enroll veterans
receiving educational assistance
(a)Increase in
amount of feeSubsection (c)
of section
3684 is amended—
(1)by striking
$7
and inserting $16
; and
(2)by striking
$11
and inserting $16
.
(b)Subsection (a) of such section is amended by striking
the second comma after 34
.
(c)The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take
effect on January 1, 2011.
16.Modification of
advance payment of initial educational assistance or subsistence
allowance
(a)Section 3680(d)(2) is amended by
inserting after the third sentence the following new sentence: For
purposes of the entitlement to educational assistance of the veteran or person
receiving an advance payment under this subsection, the advance payment shall
be charged against the final month of the entitlement of the person or veteran
and, if necessary, the penultimate such month. In no event may any veteran or
person receive more than one advance payment under this subsection during any
academic year.
.
(b)The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an advance payment of educational
assistance made on or after January 1, 2011.
17.Increase in amount of
subsistence allowance payable to veterans participating in vocational
rehabilitation program
(a)Increase in
subsistence allowanceSection 3108(b)(1) is amended by
striking the table and inserting the following new table:
Column IColumn IIColumn
IIIColumn IVColumn V
Type of programNo dependentsOne
dependentTwo dependentsMore
than two dependents
The amount in column IV, plus the following
for each dependent in excess of two:
Full-time$585.87$726.72$856.39$62.42
Three-quarter time$440.21$545.83$640.27$48.00
Half-time$294.55$364.94$428.98$32.03
.
(b)The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with
respect to a payment made for the third month beginning after the date of the
enactment of this Act and each subsequent month.
18.Expansion of
availability of employment assistance allowance for veterans using employment
servicesParagraph (2) of
section
3108(a) is amended to read as follows:
(2)In the case of a veteran with a
service-connected disability who the Secretary determines has reached a point
of employability and who is participating only in a program of employment
services provided under
section
3104(a)(5) of this title, the Secretary shall pay the veteran a
subsistence allowance as prescribed in this section for three months while the
veteran is satisfactorily pursuing such
program.
.
19.Promoting jobs
for veterans teaching in rural areas
(a)Part III is amended
by adding at the end the following new chapter:
44
Sec.
4401. Assistance allowance for rural
veteran teachers.
4401.Assistance
allowance for rural veteran teachers
(a)Reducing
administrative burdenThe
Secretary may pay to a rural veteran teacher a monthly assistance allowance of
$500.
(b)The aggregate period for which the
Secretary may pay a rural veteran teacher a monthly assistance allowance under
subsection (a) may not exceed 24 months.
(c)Rural veteran
teacher definedIn this section, the term rural veteran
teacher means a veteran who—
(1)is discharged from service in the Armed
Forces under honorable conditions;
(2)has not been
employed as a teacher prior to receiving assistance under this section;
(3)is employed to
teach full-time at an accredited elementary or secondary school that is located
in a rural area (as determined by the Bureau of the Census); and
(4)on the date on which the veteran applies
for a monthly assistance allowance under subsection (a), is enrolled in a
State-approved course leading to certification as a teacher.
(d)Authorization of
appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year
thereafter.
.
(b)The tables of
chapters at the beginning of title 38, United States Code, and of part III, are
each amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 43 the following
new item:
44.
Assistance allowance for rural veteran
teachers4401
.
20.Promoting jobs
for veterans through the establishment of an internship program
(a)Chapter 7 is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
712.
(a)From amounts
available in the General operating expenses
account of the
Department, the Secretary may carry out an internship program through which the
Secretary shall award internships to up to 2,000 veterans each year in
accordance with this section. The recipient of an internship under this section
shall be employed in the Veterans Benefits Administration for the duration of
the internship.
(b)To be eligible to receive an internship
under this section a veteran shall have completed a rehabilitation program
under chapter 31 of this title. In
awarding internships under this section, the Secretary shall give a preference
to a veteran who has completed a program of long-term education or training, as
determined by the Secretary.
(c)(1)Each recipient of an internship under this
section shall be paid at a rate determined by the Secretary, except that such
rate shall be at least the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for grade
GS–3 of the General Schedule under
section
5332 of title 5, United States Code, and shall not exceed the
maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS–5 of such schedule.
Payments under this paragraph shall be derived from amounts available in the
General operating expenses
account of the Department.
(2)Each such recipient shall be entitled to
leave on the same basis as employees of the Department who are paid at the same
annual rate, except that such recipient may not be reimbursed for any unused
leave at the end of the internship.
(3)The Secretary shall furnish hospital care,
medical services, and nursing home care to each recipient of an internship
under this section on the same basis as a veteran described in subsection (B)
of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of
section
1710 of this title unless the recipient is eligible for such
care and services under subparagraph (A) of such paragraph or under paragraph
(1) of such subsection.
(4)The recipient of an internship under
this section may receive an allowance under
section
3108 of this title if such recipient is entitled to such an
allowance.
(d)No
internship under this section shall exceed 12 months in duration.
(e)The
Secretary shall notify each participant in a rehabilitation program under
chapter 31 of this title of
the internship program under this
section.
.
(b)The table of
sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 711 the following new item:
712. Internship
program.
.
21.Veterans
entrepreneurial development summit
(a)Subchapter II of
chapter 81 is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
8129.Veterans
entrepreneurial development summit
(a)Veterans
entrepreneurial development summitThe Secretary may hold an event, once every
year, to provide networking opportunities, outreach, education, training, and
support to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, veterans
service organizations, and other entities as determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
(b)Authorization of
appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this subsection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and
2021.
.
(b)The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subchapter II the
following:
8129. Veterans entrepreneurial development
summit.
.
22.Increase in the
maximum amount of specially adapted housing assistance authorized to be
provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
(a)Section 2102 is
amended—
(1)in subsection
(b)(2), by striking $12,000
and inserting
$13,756
; and
(2)in subsection
(d)—
(A)in paragraph (1),
by striking $60,000
and inserting $65,780
;
and
(B)in paragraph (2), by striking
$12,000
and inserting $13,756
.
(b)The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with
respect to assistance furnished after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
23.Department of
Veterans Affairs housing loans for construction of energy efficient
dwellings
(a)Section 3710(d) is
amended—
(1)in paragraph (1)—
(A)by striking
The Secretary
and inserting (A) The
Secretary
;
(B)by striking
for the acquisition of
and all that follows through the end and
inserting for any of the following purposes:
;
(C)by adding at the
end the following new clauses:
(i)The acquisition of an existing dwelling and
the cost of making energy efficiency improvements to the dwelling.
(ii)The construction of a new dwelling
and the cost of making energy efficiency improvements to the dwelling.
(iii)Energy efficiency improvements to a
dwelling owned and occupied by a
veteran.
;
and
(D)by adding at the
end the following new subparagraphs:
(B)Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, a loan may be guaranteed under this subsection only if it meets the
requirements of this chapter.
(C)The Secretary shall determine
appropriate energy efficiency standards for purposes of this subsection and
shall require that dwellings purchased, constructed, or improved using a loan
guaranteed under this subsection meet such
standards.
;
and
(2)in paragraph (2),
by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following new
subparagraphs (A) and (B):
(A)five percent of the total established value
of the property, dwelling, and improvements; or
(B)$6,000, or a higher amount
specifically provided by the
Secretary.
.
(b)Not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall issue guidance on appraising the value of energy efficiency improvements
for purposes of section 3710(d) of title 38, United
States Code, as amended by this Act.
(c)
(1)Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe interim policy
guidance on energy efficiency audits and the conditions under which the
performance of such audits may be included in the amount guaranteed by the
Secretary under section 3710(d) of title 38, United
States Code, as amended by subsection (a).
(2)Not
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall prescribe regulations to carry out the amendments made by subsection
(a).
(3)Energy
efficiency audit definedFor purposes of this subsection, the
term energy efficiency audit
means a measurement of the effects
of an improvement made to a dwelling for the purpose of reducing energy
consumption or increasing energy efficiency that is carried out by a certified
professional auditor, as determined by the Secretary.
(d)The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply
with respect to a loan secured on or after January 1, 2011.
24.Pilot program on
specially adapted housing assistance for veterans residing temporarily in
housing owned by a family member
(a)Treatment of
Certain LimitationsNotwithstanding subsection (d) of
section
2102 of title 38, United States Code, and subject to subsection
(b), a grant under section 2102A of such title shall
not count toward the dollar amount limitations specified in that
subsection.
(b)Subsection
(a) shall apply only to the first 25 grants made during fiscal year
2011.
25.Compliance with
Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010The budgetary effects of this Act, for the
purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be
determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects
of PAYGO Legislation
for this Act, submitted for printing in the
Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided
that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Passed the House of
Representatives September 28, 2010.
Lorraine C. Miller,
Clerk.