[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1627 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.1627

                      One Hundred Twelfth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
            the third day of January, two thousand and twelve


                                 An Act


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care and 
 medical services to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North 
 Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, to improve 
the provision of housing assistance to veterans and their families, and 
                           for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Honoring America's 
Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--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. Scoring of budgetary effects.

                      TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Hospital care and medical services for veterans stationed at 
          Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Sec. 103. Authority to waive collection of copayments for telehealth and 
          telemedicine visits of veterans.
Sec. 104. Temporary expansion of payments and allowances for beneficiary 
          travel in connection with veterans receiving care from Vet 
          Centers.
Sec. 105. Contracts and agreements for nursing home care.
Sec. 106. Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault 
          incidents and other safety incidents.
Sec. 107. Rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain 
          injury.
Sec. 108. Teleconsultation and telemedicine.
Sec. 109. Use of service dogs on property of the Department of Veterans 
          Affairs.
Sec. 110. Recognition of rural health resource centers in Office of 
          Rural Health.
Sec. 111. Improvements for recovery and collection of amounts for 
          Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections Fund.
Sec. 112. Extension of authority for copayments.
Sec. 113. Extension of authority for recovery of cost of certain care 
          and services.

                        TITLE II--HOUSING MATTERS

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Temporary expansion of eligibility for specially adapted 
          housing assistance for certain veterans with disabilities 
          causing difficulty with ambulating.
Sec. 203. Expansion of eligibility for specially adapted housing 
          assistance for veterans with vision impairment.
Sec. 204. Revised limitations on assistance furnished for acquisition 
          and adaptation of housing for disabled veterans.
Sec. 205. Improvements to assistance for disabled veterans residing in 
          housing owned by a family member.
Sec. 206. Department of Veterans Affairs housing loan guarantees for 
          surviving spouses of certain totally disabled veterans.
Sec. 207. Occupancy of property by dependent child of veteran for 
          purposes of meeting occupancy requirement for Department of 
          Veterans Affairs housing loans.
Sec. 208. Making permanent project for guaranteeing of adjustable rate 
          mortgages.
Sec. 209. Making permanent project for insuring hybrid adjustable rate 
          mortgages.
Sec. 210. Waiver of loan fee for individuals with disability ratings 
          issued during pre-discharge programs.
Sec. 211. Modification of authorities for enhanced-use leases of real 
          property.

                       TITLE III--HOMELESS MATTERS

Sec. 301. Enhancement of comprehensive service programs.
Sec. 302. Modification of authority for provision of treatment and 
          rehabilitation to certain veterans to include provision of 
          treatment and rehabilitation to homeless veterans who are not 
          seriously mentally ill.
Sec. 303. Modification of grant program for homeless veterans with 
          special needs.
Sec. 304. Collaboration in provision of case management services to 
          homeless veterans in supported housing program.
Sec. 305. Extensions of previously fully funded authorities affecting 
          homeless veterans.

                       TITLE IV--EDUCATION MATTERS

Sec. 401. Aggregate amount of educational assistance available to 
          individuals who receive both survivors' and dependents' 
          educational assistance and other veterans and related 
          educational assistance.
Sec. 402. Annual reports on Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program and 
          Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program.

                        TITLE V--BENEFITS MATTERS

Sec. 501. Automatic waiver of agency of original jurisdiction review of 
          new evidence.
Sec. 502. Authority for certain persons to sign claims filed with 
          Secretary of Veterans Affairs on behalf of claimants.
Sec. 503. Improvement of process for filing jointly for social security 
          and dependency and indemnity compensation.
Sec. 504. Authorization of use of electronic communication to provide 
          notice to claimants for benefits under laws administered by 
          the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 505. Duty to assist claimants in obtaining private records.
Sec. 506. Authority for retroactive effective date for awards of 
          disability compensation in connection with applications that 
          are fully-developed at submittal.
Sec. 507. Modification of month of death benefit for surviving spouses 
          of veterans who die while entitled to compensation or pension.
Sec. 508. Increase in rate of pension for disabled veterans married to 
          one another and both of whom require regular aid and 
          attendance.
Sec. 509. Exclusion of certain reimbursements of expenses from 
          determination of annual income with respect to pensions for 
          veterans and surviving spouses and children of veterans.

            TITLE VI--MEMORIAL, BURIAL, AND CEMETERY MATTERS

Sec. 601. Prohibition on disruptions of funerals of members or former 
          members of the Armed Forces.
Sec. 602. Codification of prohibition against reservation of gravesites 
          at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sec. 603. Expansion of eligibility for presidential memorial 
          certificates to persons who died in the active military, 
          naval, or air service.
Sec. 604. Requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington 
          National Cemetery.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 701. Assistance to veterans affected by natural disasters.
Sec. 702. Extension of certain expiring provisions of law.
Sec. 703. Requirement for plan for regular assessment of employees of 
          Veterans Benefits Administration who handle processing of 
          claims for compensation and pension.
Sec. 704. Modification of provision relating to reimbursement rate for 
          ambulance services.
Sec. 705. Change in collection and verification of veteran income.
Sec. 706. Department of Veterans Affairs enforcement penalties for 
          misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business 
          concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small 
          business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled 
          veterans.
Sec. 707. Quarterly reports to Congress on conferences sponsored by the 
          Department.
Sec. 708. Publication of data on employment of certain veterans by 
          Federal contractors.
Sec. 709. VetStar Award Program.
Sec. 710. Extended period of protections for members of uniformed 
          services relating to mortgages, mortgage foreclosure, and 
          eviction.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.
    Except 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.
SEC. 3. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
    The 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 Senate Budget Committee, provided that 
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

                      TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

    SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
    This title may be cited as the ``Janey Ensminger Act''.
    SEC. 102. HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR VETERANS STATIONED 
      AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA.
    (a) Hospital Care and Medical Services for Veterans.--
        (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 1710(e) is amended by 
    adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(F) Subject to paragraph (2), a veteran who served on active duty 
in the Armed Forces at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for not fewer than 
30 days during the period beginning on January 1, 1957, and ending on 
December 31, 1987, is eligible for hospital care and medical services 
under subsection (a)(2)(F) for any of the following illnesses or 
conditions, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence 
to conclude that such illnesses or conditions are attributable to such 
service:
        ``(i) Esophageal cancer.
        ``(ii) Lung cancer.
        ``(iii) Breast cancer.
        ``(iv) Bladder cancer.
        ``(v) Kidney cancer.
        ``(vi) Leukemia.
        ``(vii) Multiple myeloma.
        ``(viii) Myleodysplasic syndromes.
        ``(ix) Renal toxicity.
        ``(x) Hepatic steatosis.
        ``(xi) Female infertility.
        ``(xii) Miscarriage.
        ``(xiii) Scleroderma.
        ``(xiv) Neurobehavioral effects.
        ``(xv) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.''.
        (2) Limitation.--Paragraph (2)(B) of such section is amended by 
    striking ``or (E)'' and inserting ``(E), or (F)''.
    (b) Family Members.--
        (1) In general.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 is amended by 
    adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1787. Health care of family members of veterans stationed at 
    Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), a family member of a 
veteran described in subparagraph (F) of section 1710(e)(1) of this 
title who resided at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for not fewer than 
30 days during the period described in such subparagraph or who was in 
utero during such period while the mother of such family member resided 
at such location shall be eligible for hospital care and medical 
services furnished by the Secretary for any of the illnesses or 
conditions described in such subparagraph, notwithstanding that there 
is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such illnesses or 
conditions are attributable to such residence.
    ``(b) Limitations.--(1) The Secretary may only furnish hospital 
care and medical services under subsection (a) to the extent and in the 
amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts for such purpose.
    ``(2) Hospital care and medical services may not be furnished under 
subsection (a) for an illness or condition of a family member that is 
found, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Under Secretary for 
Health, to have resulted from a cause other than the residence of the 
family member described in that subsection.
    ``(3) The Secretary may provide reimbursement for hospital care or 
medical services provided to a family member under this section only 
after the family member or the provider of such care or services has 
exhausted without success all claims and remedies reasonably available 
to the family member or provider against a third party (as defined in 
section 1725(f) of this title) for payment of such care or services, 
including with respect to health-plan contracts (as defined in such 
section).''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
    section 1786 the following new item:

``1787. Health care of family members of veterans stationed at Camp 
          Lejeune, North Carolina.''.

    (c) Annual Reports.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than December 31 of each of 2013, 
    2014, and 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
    the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
    on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on 
    the care and services provided under sections 1710(e)(1)(F) and 
    1787 of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsections (a) 
    and (b)(1), respectively).
        (2) Elements.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall set forth 
    the following:
            (A) The number of veterans and family members provided 
        hospital care and medical services under the provisions of law 
        specified in paragraph (1) during the period beginning on 
        October 1, 2012, and ending on the date of such report.
            (B) The illnesses, conditions, and disabilities for which 
        care and services have been provided such veterans and family 
        members under such provisions of law during that period.
            (C) The number of veterans and family members who applied 
        for care and services under such provisions of law during that 
        period but were denied, including information on the reasons 
        for such denials.
            (D) The number of veterans and family members who applied 
        for care and services under such provisions of law and are 
        awaiting a decision from the Secretary on eligibility for such 
        care and services as of the date of such report.
    (d) Effective Date.--
        (1) In general.--The provisions of this section and the 
    amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of 
    the enactment of this Act.
        (2) Applicability.--Subparagraph (F) of section 1710(e)(1) of 
    such title, as added by subsection (a), and section 1787 of title 
    38, United States Code, as added by subsection (b)(1), shall apply 
    with respect to hospital care and medical services provided on or 
    after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    SEC. 103. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR 
      TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDICINE VISITS OF VETERANS.
    (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 17 is amended by 
inserting after section 1722A the following new section:
``Sec. 1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for 
     telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans
    ``The Secretary may waive the imposition or collection of 
copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans under the 
laws administered by the Secretary.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1722A the following new item:

``1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for telehealth 
          and telemedicine visits of veterans.''.
    SEC. 104. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF PAYMENTS AND ALLOWANCES FOR 
      BENEFICIARY TRAVEL IN CONNECTION WITH VETERANS RECEIVING CARE 
      FROM VET CENTERS.
    (a) In General.--Beginning one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence a three-
year initiative to assess the feasibility and advisability of paying 
under section 111(a) of title 38, United States Code, the actual 
necessary expenses of travel or allowances for travel from a residence 
located in an area that is designated by the Secretary as highly rural 
to the nearest Vet Center and from such Vet Center to such residence.
    (b) Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
    completion of the initiative, the Secretary shall submit to 
    Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to 
    the initiative required by subsection (a).
        (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
    include the following:
            (A) A description of the individuals who benefitted from 
        payment under the initiative.
            (B) A description of any impediments to the Secretary in 
        paying expenses or allowances under the initiative.
            (C) A description of any impediments encountered by 
        individuals in receiving such payments.
            (D) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 
        paying such expenses or allowances.
            (E) An assessment of any fraudulent receipt of payment 
        under the initiative and the recommendations of the Secretary 
        for legislative or administrative action to reduce such fraud.
            (F) Such recommendations for legislative or administrative 
        action as the Secretary considers appropriate with respect to 
        the payment of expenses or allowances as described in 
        subsection (a).
    (c) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term ``Vet Center'' 
means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health 
services for veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States 
Code.
    SEC. 105. CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS FOR NURSING HOME CARE.
    (a) Contracts.--Section 1745(a) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``The Secretary shall pay 
    each State home for nursing home care at the rate determined under 
    paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``The Secretary shall enter into a 
    contract (or agreement under section 1720(c)(1) of this title) with 
    each State home for payment by the Secretary for nursing home care 
    provided in the home''; and
        (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new 
    paragraph (2):
    ``(2) Payment under each contract (or agreement) between the 
Secretary and a State home under paragraph (1) shall be based on a 
methodology, developed by the Secretary in consultation with the State 
home, to adequately reimburse the State home for the care provided by 
the State home under the contract (or agreement).''.
    (b) Agreements.--Section 1720(c)(1)(A) is amended--
        (1) in clause (i), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
    semicolon;
        (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and 
    inserting ``; and''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
        ``(iii) a provider of services eligible to enter into a 
    contract pursuant to section 1745(a) of this title that is not 
    otherwise described in clause (i) or (ii).''.
    (c) Effective Date.--
        (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
    apply to care provided on or after the date that is 180 days after 
    the date of the enactment of this Act.
        (2) Maintenance of prior methodology of reimbursement for 
    certain state homes.--In the case of a State home that provided 
    nursing home care on the day before the date of the enactment of 
    this Act for which the State home was eligible for pay under 
    section 1745(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, at the request 
    of any State home, the Secretary shall offer to enter into a 
    contract (or agreement described in such section) with such State 
    home under such section, as amended by subsection (a), for payment 
    for nursing home care provided by such State home under such 
    section that reflects the overall methodology of reimbursement for 
    such care that was in effect for such State home on the day before 
    the date of the enactment of this Act.
    SEC. 106. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON REPORTING AND TRACKING SEXUAL 
      ASSAULT INCIDENTS AND OTHER SAFETY INCIDENTS.
    (a) Policy.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
``Sec. 1709. Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual 
    assault incidents and other safety incidents
    ``(a) Policy Required.--(1) Not later than September 30, 2012, the 
Secretary shall develop and implement a centralized and comprehensive 
policy on the reporting and tracking of sexual assault incidents and 
other safety incidents that occur at each medical facility of the 
Department, including--
        ``(A) suspected, alleged, attempted, or confirmed cases of 
    sexual assault, regardless of whether such assaults lead to 
    prosecution or conviction;
        ``(B) criminal and purposefully unsafe acts;
        ``(C) alcohol or substance abuse related acts (including by 
    employees of the Department); and
        ``(D) any kind of event involving alleged or suspected abuse of 
    a patient.
    ``(2) In developing and implementing a policy under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall consider the effects of such policy on--
        ``(A) the use by veterans of mental health care and substance 
    abuse treatments; and
        ``(B) the ability of the Department to refer veterans to such 
    care or treatment.
    ``(b) Scope.--The policy required by subsection (a) shall cover 
each of the following:
        ``(1) For purposes of reporting and tracking sexual assault 
    incidents and other safety incidents, definitions of the terms--
            ``(A) `safety incident';
            ``(B) `sexual assault'; and
            ``(C) `sexual assault incident'.
        ``(2)(A) The development and use of specific risk-assessment 
    tools to examine any risks related to sexual assault that a veteran 
    may pose while being treated at a medical facility of the 
    Department, including clear and consistent guidance on the 
    collection of information related to--
            ``(i) the legal history of the veteran; and
            ``(ii) the medical record of the veteran.
        ``(B) In developing and using tools under subparagraph (A), the 
    Secretary shall consider the effects of using such tools on the use 
    by veterans of health care furnished by the Department.
        ``(3) The mandatory training of employees of the Department on 
    security issues, including awareness, preparedness, precautions, 
    and police assistance.
        ``(4) The mandatory implementation, use, and regular testing of 
    appropriate physical security precautions and equipment, including 
    surveillance camera systems, computer-based panic alarm systems, 
    stationary panic alarms, and electronic portable personal panic 
    alarms.
        ``(5) Clear, consistent, and comprehensive criteria and 
    guidance with respect to an employee of the Department 
    communicating and reporting sexual assault incidents and other 
    safety incidents to--
            ``(A) supervisory personnel of the employee at--
                ``(i) a medical facility of the Department;
                ``(ii) an office of a Veterans Integrated Service 
            Network; and
                ``(iii) the central office of the Veterans Health 
            Administration; and
            ``(B) a law enforcement official of the Department.
        ``(6) Clear and consistent criteria and guidelines with respect 
    to an employee of the Department referring and reporting to the 
    Office of Inspector General of the Department sexual assault 
    incidents and other safety incidents that meet the regulatory 
    criminal threshold prescribed under sections 901 and 902 of this 
    title.
        ``(7) An accountable oversight system within the Veterans 
    Health Administration that includes--
            ``(A) systematic information sharing of reported sexual 
        assault incidents and other safety incidents among officials of 
        the Administration who have programmatic responsibility; and
            ``(B) a centralized reporting, tracking, and monitoring 
        system for such incidents.
        ``(8) Consistent procedures and systems for law enforcement 
    officials of the Department with respect to investigating, 
    tracking, and closing reported sexual assault incidents and other 
    safety incidents.
        ``(9) Clear and consistent guidance for the clinical management 
    of the treatment of sexual assaults that are reported more than 72 
    hours after the assault.
    ``(c) Updates to Policy.--The Secretary shall review and revise the 
policy required by subsection (a) on a periodic basis as the Secretary 
considers appropriate and in accordance with best practices.
    ``(d) Annual Report.--(1) Not later than 60 days after the date on 
which the Secretary develops the policy required by subsection (a) and 
not later than October 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
on the implementation of the policy.
    ``(2) The report required by paragraph (1) shall include--
        ``(A) the number and type of sexual assault incidents and other 
    safety incidents reported by each medical facility of the 
    Department;
        ``(B) a detailed description of the implementation of the 
    policy required by subsection (a), including any revisions made to 
    such policy from the previous year; and
        ``(C) the effectiveness of such policy on improving the safety 
    and security of the medical facilities of the Department, including 
    the performance measures used to evaluate such effectiveness.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 
1708 the following new item:

``1709. Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault 
          incidents and other safety incidents.''.

    (c) Interim Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the 
development of the policy required by section 1709 of title 38, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a).
    SEC. 107. REHABILITATIVE SERVICES FOR VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN 
      INJURY.
    (a) Rehabilitation Plans and Services.--Section 1710C is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting before the semicolon the 
    following: ``with the goal of maximizing the individual's 
    independence'';
        (2) in subsection (b)--
            (A) in paragraph (1)--
                (i) by inserting ``(and sustaining improvement in)'' 
            after ``improving'';
                (ii) by inserting ``behavioral,'' after ``cognitive,'';
            (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``rehabilitative 
        services and'' before ``rehabilitative components''; and
            (C) in paragraph (3)--
                (i) by striking ``treatments'' the first place it 
            appears and inserting ``services''; and
                (ii) by striking ``treatments and'' the second place it 
            appears; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Rehabilitative Services Defined.--For purposes of this 
section, and sections 1710D and 1710E of this title, the term 
`rehabilitative services' includes--
        ``(1) rehabilitative services, as defined in section 1701 of 
    this title;
        ``(2) treatment and services (which may be of ongoing duration) 
    to sustain, and prevent loss of, functional gains that have been 
    achieved; and
        ``(3) any other rehabilitative services or supports that may 
    contribute to maximizing an individual's independence.''.
    (b) Rehabilitation Services in Comprehensive Program for Long-term 
Rehabilitation.--Section 1710D(a) is amended--
        (1) by inserting ``and rehabilitative services (as defined in 
    section 1710C of this title)'' after ``long-term care''; and
        (2) by striking ``treatment''.
    (c) Rehabilitation Services in Authority for Cooperative Agreements 
for Use of Non-Department Facilities for Rehabilitation.--Section 
1710E(a) is amended by inserting ``, including rehabilitative services 
(as defined in section 1710C of this title),'' after ``medical 
services''.
    (d) Technical Amendment.--Section 1710C(c)(2)(S) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``opthamologist'' and 
inserting ``ophthalmologist''.
    SEC. 108. TELECONSULTATION AND TELEMEDICINE.
    (a) Teleconsultation.--
        (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17, as amended by 
    section 106(a), is further amended by adding at the end the 
    following new section:
``Sec. 1709A. Teleconsultation
    ``(a) Teleconsultation.--(1) The Secretary shall carry out an 
initiative of teleconsultation for the provision of remote mental 
health and traumatic brain injury assessments in facilities of the 
Department that are not otherwise able to provide such assessments 
without contracting with third-party providers or reimbursing providers 
through a fee basis system.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall, in consultation with appropriate 
professional societies, promulgate technical and clinical care 
standards for the use of teleconsultation services within facilities of 
the Department.
    ``(3) In carrying out an initiative under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall ensure that facilities of the Department are able to 
provide a mental health or traumatic brain injury assessment to a 
veteran through contracting with a third-party provider or reimbursing 
a provider through a fee basis system when--
        ``(A) such facilities are not able to provide such assessment 
    to the veteran without--
            ``(i) such contracting or reimbursement; or
            ``(ii) teleconsultation; and
        ``(B) providing such assessment with such contracting or 
    reimbursement is more clinically appropriate for the veteran than 
    providing such assessment with teleconsultation.
    ``(b) Teleconsultation Defined.--In this section, the term 
`teleconsultation' means the use by a health care specialist of 
telecommunications to assist another health care provider in rendering 
a diagnosis or treatment.''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
    section 1709, as added by section 106(b), the following new item:

``1709A. Teleconsultation.''.

    (b) Training in Telemedicine.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to 
    the extent feasible, offer medical residents opportunities in 
    training in telemedicine for medical residency programs. The 
    Secretary shall consult with the Accreditation Council for Graduate 
    Medical Education and with universities with which facilities of 
    the Department have a major affiliation to determine the 
    feasibility and advisability of making telehealth a mandatory 
    component of medical residency programs.
        (2) Telemedicine defined.--In this subsection, the term 
    ``telemedicine'' means the use by a health care provider of 
    telecommunications to assist in the diagnosis or treatment of a 
    patient's medical condition.
    SEC. 109. USE OF SERVICE DOGS ON PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
      VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    Section 901 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(f)(1) The Secretary may not prohibit the use of a covered 
service dog in any facility or on any property of the Department or in 
any facility or on any property that receives funding from the 
Secretary.
    ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered service dog is a 
service dog that has been trained by an entity that is accredited by an 
appropriate accrediting body that evaluates and accredits organizations 
which train guide or service dogs.''.
    SEC. 110. RECOGNITION OF RURAL HEALTH RESOURCE CENTERS IN OFFICE OF 
      RURAL HEALTH.
    Section 7308 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(d) Rural Health Resource Centers.--(1) There are, in the Office, 
veterans rural health resource centers that serve as satellite offices 
for the Office.
    ``(2) The veterans rural health resource centers have purposes as 
follows:
        ``(A) To improve the understanding of the Office of the 
    challenges faced by veterans living in rural areas.
        ``(B) To identify disparities in the availability of health 
    care to veterans living in rural areas.
        ``(C) To formulate practices or programs to enhance the 
    delivery of health care to veterans living in rural areas.
        ``(D) To develop special practices and products for the benefit 
    of veterans living in rural areas and for implementation of such 
    practices and products in the Department systemwide.''.
    SEC. 111. IMPROVEMENTS FOR RECOVERY AND COLLECTION OF AMOUNTS FOR 
      DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CARE COLLECTIONS FUND.
    (a) Development and Implementation of Plan for Recovery and 
Collection.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
    develop and implement a plan to ensure the recovery and collection 
    of amounts under the provisions of law described in section 
    1729A(b) of title 38, United States Code, for deposit in the 
    Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections Fund.
        (2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall include 
    the following:
            (A) An effective process to identify billable fee claims.
            (B) Effective and practicable policies and procedures that 
        ensure recovery and collection of amounts described in section 
        1729A(b) of such title.
            (C) The training of employees of the Department, on or 
        before September 30, 2013, who are responsible for the recovery 
        or collection of such amounts to enable such employees to 
        comply with the process required by subparagraph (A) and the 
        policies and procedures required by subparagraph (B).
            (D) Fee revenue goals for the Department.
            (E) An effective monitoring system to ensure achievement of 
        goals described in subparagraph (D) and compliance with the 
        policies and procedures described in subparagraph (B).
    (b) Monitoring of Third-party Collections.--The Secretary shall 
monitor the recovery and collection of amounts from third parties (as 
defined in section 1729(i) of such title) for deposit in such fund.
    SEC. 112. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COPAYMENTS.
    Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2012'' 
and inserting ``September 30, 2013''.
    SEC. 113. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY OF COST OF CERTAIN 
      CARE AND SERVICES.
    Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2012'' 
and inserting ``October 1, 2013''.

                       TITLE II--HOUSING MATTERS

    SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
    This title may be cited as the ``Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing 
Act''.
    SEC. 202. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED 
      HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES CAUSING 
      DIFFICULTY WITH AMBULATING.
    (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 2101(a) is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(2)(A) A veteran is described in this paragraph if the veteran--
        ``(i) is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this 
    title for a permanent and total service-connected disability that 
    meets any of the criteria described in subparagraph (B); or
        ``(ii) served in the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 
    2001, and is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this 
    title for a permanent service-connected disability that meets the 
    criterion described in subparagraph (C).
    ``(B) The criteria described in this subparagraph are as follows:
        ``(i) The disability is due to the loss, or loss of use, of 
    both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without the 
    aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.
        ``(ii) The disability is due to--
            ``(I) blindness in both eyes, having only light perception, 
        plus (ii) loss or loss of use of one lower extremity.
        ``(iii) The disability is due to the loss or loss of use of one 
    lower extremity together with--
            ``(I) residuals of organic disease or injury; or
            ``(II) the loss or loss of use of one upper extremity,
    which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to 
    preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or 
    a wheelchair.
        ``(iv) The disability is due to the loss, or loss of use, of 
    both upper extremities such as to preclude use of the arms at or 
    above the elbows.
        ``(v) The disability is due to a severe burn injury (as 
    determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary).
    ``(C) The criterion described in this subparagraph is that the 
disability--
        ``(i) was incurred on or after September 11, 2001; and
        ``(ii) is due to the loss or loss of use of one or more lower 
    extremities which so affects the functions of balance or propulsion 
    as to preclude ambulating without the aid of braces, crutches, 
    canes, or a wheelchair.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 2012.
    (c) Sunset.--Subsection (a) of section 2101 is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``to paragraph (3)'' and 
    inserting ``to paragraphs (3) and (4)''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(4) The Secretary's authority to furnish assistance under 
paragraph (1) to a disabled veteran described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) 
shall apply only with respect to applications for such assistance 
approved by the Secretary on or before September 30, 2013.''.
    SEC. 203. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
      ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT.
    (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 2101(b) is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(2) A veteran is described in this paragraph if the veteran is 
entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this title for a service-
connected disability that meets any of the following criteria:
        ``(A) The disability is due to blindness in both eyes, having 
    central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the 
    use of a standard correcting lens. For the purposes of this 
    subparagraph, an eye with 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 considered as having a central 
    visual acuity of 20/200 or less.
        ``(B) A permanent and total disability that includes the 
    anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands.
        ``(C) A permanent and total disability that is due to a severe 
    burn injury (as so determined).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 2012.
    SEC. 204. REVISED LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE FURNISHED FOR 
      ACQUISITION AND ADAPTATION OF HOUSING FOR DISABLED VETERANS.
    (a) In General.--Subsection (d) of section 2102 is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(d)(1) The aggregate amount of assistance available to an 
individual under section 2101(a) of this title shall be limited to 
$63,780.
    ``(2) The aggregate amount of assistance available to an individual 
under section 2101(b) of this title shall be limited to $12,756.
    ``(3) No veteran may receive more than three grants of assistance 
under this chapter.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to assistance 
provided under sections 2101(a), 2101(b), and 2102A of title 38, United 
States Code, after such date.
    (c) Maintenance of Higher Rates.--The amendment made by subsection 
(a) shall not be construed to decrease the aggregate amount of 
assistance available to an individual under the sections described in 
subsection (b), as most recently increased by the Secretary pursuant to 
section 2102(e) of such title.
    SEC. 205. IMPROVEMENTS TO ASSISTANCE FOR DISABLED VETERANS RESIDING 
      IN HOUSING OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER.
    (a) Increased Assistance.--Subsection (b) of section 2102A is 
amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$14,000'' and inserting 
    ``$28,000''; and
        (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting 
    ``$5,000''.
    (b) Indexing of Levels of Assistance.--Such subsection is further 
amended--
        (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs 
    (A) and (B), respectively;
        (2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated by 
    paragraph (1), by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph (2):
    ``(2) Effective on October 1 of each year (beginning in 2012), the 
Secretary shall use the same percentage calculated pursuant to section 
2102(e) of this title to increase the amounts described in paragraph 
(1) of this subsection.''.
    (c) Extension of Authority for Assistance.--Subsection (e) of such 
section is amended by striking ``December 31, 2012'' and inserting 
``December 31, 2022''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with 
respect to assistance furnished in accordance with section 2102A of 
title 38, United States Code, on or after that date.
    SEC. 206. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEES 
      FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES OF CERTAIN TOTALLY DISABLED VETERANS.
    (a) In General.--Section 3701(b) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph:
        ``(6) The term `veteran' also includes, for purposes of home 
    loans, the surviving spouse of a veteran who died and who was in 
    receipt of or entitled to receive (or but for the receipt of 
    retired or retirement pay was entitled to receive) compensation at 
    the time of death for a service-connected disability rated totally 
    disabling if--
            ``(A) the disability was continuously rated totally 
        disabling for a period of 10 or more years immediately 
        preceding death;
            ``(B) the disability was continuously rated totally 
        disabling for a period of not less than five years from the 
        date of such veteran's discharge or other release from active 
        duty; or
            ``(C) the veteran was a former prisoner of war who died 
        after September 30, 1999, and the disability was continuously 
        rated totally disabling for a period of not less than one year 
        immediately preceding death.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to a loan guaranteed after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
    (c) Clarification With Respect to Certain Fees.--Fees shall be 
collected under section 3729 of title 38, United States Code, from a 
person described in paragraph (6) of section 3701(b) of such title, as 
added by subsection (a) of this section, in the same manner as such 
fees are collected from a person described in paragraph (2) of section 
3701(b) of such title.
    SEC. 207. OCCUPANCY OF PROPERTY BY DEPENDENT CHILD OF VETERAN FOR 
      PURPOSES OF MEETING OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF 
      VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING LOANS.
    Paragraph (2) of section 3704(c) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(2) In any case in which a veteran is in active-duty status as a 
member of the Armed Forces and is unable to occupy a property because 
of such status, the occupancy requirements of this chapter shall be 
considered to be satisfied if--
        ``(A) the spouse of the veteran occupies or intends to occupy 
    the property as a home and the spouse makes the certification 
    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection; or
        ``(B) a dependent child of the veteran occupies or will occupy 
    the property as a home and the veteran's attorney-in-fact or legal 
    guardian of the dependent child makes the certification required by 
    paragraph (1) of this subsection.''.
    SEC. 208. MAKING PERMANENT PROJECT FOR GUARANTEEING OF ADJUSTABLE 
      RATE MORTGAGES.
    Section 3707(a) is amended by striking ``demonstration project 
under this section during fiscal years 1993 through 2012'' and 
inserting ``project under this section''.
    SEC. 209. MAKING PERMANENT PROJECT FOR INSURING HYBRID ADJUSTABLE 
      RATE MORTGAGES.
    Section 3707A(a) is amended by striking ``demonstration project 
under this section during fiscal years 2004 through 2012'' and 
inserting ``project under this section''.
    SEC. 210. WAIVER OF LOAN FEE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY 
      RATINGS ISSUED DURING PRE-DISCHARGE PROGRAMS.
    Paragraph (2) of section 3729(c) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(2)(A) A veteran described in subparagraph (B) shall be treated 
as receiving compensation for purposes of this subsection as of the 
date of the rating described in such subparagraph without regard to 
whether an effective date of the award of compensation is established 
as of that date.
    ``(B) A veteran described in this subparagraph is a veteran who is 
rated eligible to receive compensation--
        ``(i) as the result of a pre-discharge disability examination 
    and rating; or
        ``(ii) based on a pre-discharge review of existing medical 
    evidence (including service medical and treatment records) that 
    results in the issuance of a memorandum rating.''.
    SEC. 211. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES FOR ENHANCED-USE LEASES OF 
      REAL PROPERTY.
    (a) Supportive Housing Defined.--Section 8161 is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph:
        ``(3) The term `supportive housing' means housing that engages 
    tenants in on-site and community-based support services for 
    veterans or their families that are at risk of homelessness or are 
    homeless. Such term may include the following:
            ``(A) Transitional housing.
            ``(B) Single-room occupancy.
            ``(C) Permanent housing.
            ``(D) Congregate living housing.
            ``(E) Independent living housing.
            ``(F) Assisted living housing.
            ``(G) Other modalities of housing.''.
    (b) Modification of Limitations on Enhanced Use Leases.--
        (1) In general.--Paragraph (2) of section 8162(a) is amended to 
    read as follows:
    ``(2) The Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use lease only for 
the provision of supportive housing and the lease is not inconsistent 
with and will not adversely affect the mission of the Department.''.
        (2) Effective date.--
            (A) In general.--Paragraph (2) of section 8162(a) of title 
        38, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (1), shall take 
        effect on January 1, 2012, and shall apply with respect to 
        enhanced-use leases entered into on or after such date.
            (B) Previous leases.--Any enhanced-use lease that the 
        Secretary has entered into prior to the date described in 
        subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the provisions of 
        subchapter V of chapter 81 of such title, as in effect on the 
        day before the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Consideration for and Terms of Enhanced-use Leases.--
        (1) In general.--Section 8162(b) is amended--
            (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(A) If the Secretary'' 
        and all that follows through ``under subparagraph (A).'' and 
        inserting the following: ``If the Secretary has determined that 
        a property should be leased to another party through an 
        enhanced-use lease, the Secretary shall, at the Secretary's 
        discretion, select the party with whom the lease will be 
        entered into using such selection procedures as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate.'';
            (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
    ``(3)(A) For any enhanced-use lease entered into by the Secretary, 
the lease consideration provided to the Secretary shall consist solely 
of cash at fair value as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall receive no other type of consideration 
for an enhanced-use lease besides cash.
    ``(C) The Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use lease without 
receiving consideration.'';
            (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``Secretary to'' and all 
        that follows through ``use minor'' and inserting ``Secretary to 
        use minor''; and
            (D) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(5) The terms of an enhanced-use lease may not provide for any 
acquisition, contract, demonstration, exchange, grant, incentive, 
procurement, sale, other transaction authority, service agreement, use 
agreement, lease, or lease-back by the Secretary or Federal Government.
    ``(6) The Secretary may not enter into an enhanced-use lease 
without certification in advance in writing by the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget that such lease complies with the 
requirements of this subchapter.''.
        (2) Effective date.--Paragraph (3) of section 8162(b), as 
    amended by paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, shall take effect 
    on January 1, 2012, and shall apply with respect to enhanced-use 
    leases entered into on or after such date.
    (d) Prohibited Enhanced-use Leases.--Section 8162(c) is amended--
        (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
        (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1) Subject to paragraph 
    (2), the'' and inserting ``The''.
    (e) Disposition of Leased Property.--Subsection (b) of section 8164 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) A disposition under this section may be made in return for 
cash at fair value as the Secretary determines is in the best interest 
of the United States and upon such other terms and conditions as the 
Secretary considers appropriate.''.
    (f) Use of Amounts Received for Disposition of Leased Property.--
Section 8165(a)(2) is amended by striking ``in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund established under section 8118 of 
this title'' and inserting ``into the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Construction, Major Projects account or Construction, Minor Projects 
account, as the Secretary considers appropriate''.
    (g) Construction Standards.--Section 8166 is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 8166. Construction standards
    ``The construction, alteration, repair, remodeling, or improvement 
of a property that is the subject of an enhanced-use lease shall be 
carried out so as to comply with all applicable provisions of Federal, 
State, and local law relating to land use, building standards, permits, 
and inspections.''.
    (h) Exemption From State and Local Taxes.--Section 8167 is amended 
to read as follows:
``Sec. 8167. Exemption from State and local taxes
    ``(a) Improvements and Operations Not Exempted.--The improvements 
and operations on land leased by a person with an enhanced-use lease 
from the Secretary shall be subject to all applicable provisions of 
Federal, State, or local law relating to taxation, fees, and 
assessments.
    ``(b) Underlying Fee Title Interest Exempted.--The underlying fee 
title interest of the United States in any land subject to an enhanced-
use lease shall not be subject, directly or indirectly, to any 
provision of State or local law relating to taxation, fees, or 
assessments.''.
    (i) Annual Reports.--
        (1) In general.--Subchapter V of chapter 81 is amended by 
    inserting after section 8167 the following new section:
``Sec. 8168. Annual reports
    ``(a) Report on Administration of Leases.--Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of the Honoring America's Veterans and 
Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 and not less frequently 
than once each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
a report identifying the actions taken by the Secretary to implement 
and administer enhanced-use leases.
    ``(b) Report on Lease Consideration.--Each year, as part of the 
annual budget submission of the President to Congress under section 
1105(a) of title 31, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a detailed 
report of the consideration received by the Secretary for each 
enhanced-use lease under this subchapter, along with an overview of how 
the Secretary is utilizing such consideration to support veterans.''.
        (2) Elements of initial report.--The first report submitted by 
    the Secretary under section 8168(a) of title 38, United States 
    Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall include a summary of those 
    measures the Secretary is taking to address the following 
    recommendations from the February 9, 2012, audit report of the 
    Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General on 
    enhanced-use leases under subchapter V of chapter 81 of title 38, 
    United States Code:
            (A) Improve standards to ensure complete lease agreements 
        are negotiated in line with strategic goals of the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs.
            (B) Institute improved policies and procedures to govern 
        activities such as monitoring enhanced-use lease projects and 
        calculating, classifying, and reporting on enhanced-use lease 
        benefits and expenses.
            (C) Recalculate and update enhanced-use lease expenses and 
        benefits reported in the most recent Enhanced-Use Lease 
        Consideration Report of the Department.
            (D) Establish improved oversight mechanisms to ensure major 
        enhanced-use lease project decisions are documented and 
        maintained in accordance with policy.
            (E) Establish improved criteria to measure timeliness and 
        performance in enhanced-use lease project development and 
        execution.
            (F) Establish improved criteria and guidelines for 
        assessing projects to determine whether they are or remain 
        viable candidates for enhanced-use leases.
        (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of chapter 81 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
    section 8167 the following new item:

``8168. Annual reports.''.

    (j) Expiration of Authority.--Section 8169 is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2023''.
    (k) Effective Date.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, 
the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of this Act.

                      TITLE III--HOMELESS MATTERS

    SEC. 301. ENHANCEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS.
    (a) Enhancement of Grants.--Section 2011 is amended--
        (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``expansion, 
    remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings, or acquisition of 
    facilities,'' and inserting ``new construction of facilities, 
    expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing facilities, or 
    acquisition of facilities,''; and
        (2) in subsection (c)--
            (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``A grant'' and 
        inserting ``(1) A grant'';
            (B) in the second sentence of paragraph (1), as designated 
        by subparagraph (A), by striking ``The amount'' and inserting 
        the following:
    ``(2) The amount''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(3)(A) The Secretary may not deny an application from an entity 
that seeks a grant under this section to carry out a project described 
in subsection (b)(1)(A) solely on the basis that the entity proposes to 
use funding from other private or public sources, if the entity 
demonstrates that a private nonprofit organization will provide 
oversight and site control for the project.
    ``(B) In this paragraph, the term `private nonprofit organization' 
means the following:
        ``(i) An incorporated private institution, organization, or 
    foundation--
            ``(I) that has received, or has temporary clearance to 
        receive, tax-exempt status under paragraph (2), (3), or (19) of 
        section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
            ``(II) for which no part of the net earnings of the 
        institution, organization, or foundation inures to the benefit 
        of any member, founder, or contributor of the institution, 
        organization, or foundation; and
            ``(III) that the Secretary determines is financially 
        responsible.
        ``(ii) A for-profit limited partnership or limited liability 
    company, the sole general partner or manager of which is an 
    organization that is described by subclauses (I) through (III) of 
    clause (i).
        ``(iii) A corporation wholly owned and controlled by an 
    organization that is described by subclauses (I) through (III) of 
    clause (i).''.
    (b) Grant and Per Diem Payments.--
        (1) Study and development of fiscal controls and payment 
    method.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
    this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
            (A) complete a study of all matters relating to the method 
        used by the Secretary to make per diem payments under section 
        2012(a) of title 38, United States Code, including changes 
        anticipated by the Secretary in the cost of furnishing services 
        to homeless veterans and accounting for costs of providing such 
        services in various geographic areas;
            (B) develop more effective and efficient procedures for 
        fiscal control and fund accounting by recipients of grants 
        under sections 2011, 2012, and 2061 of such title; and
            (C) develop a more effective and efficient method for 
        adequately reimbursing recipients of grants under section 2011 
        of such title for services furnished to homeless veterans.
        (2) Consideration.--In developing the method required by 
    paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary may consider payments and grants 
    received by recipients of grants described in such paragraph from 
    other departments and agencies of Federal and local governments and 
    from private entities.
        (3) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
    report on--
            (A) the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study 
        required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1);
            (B) the methods developed under subparagraphs (B) and (C) 
        of such paragraph; and
            (C) any recommendations of the Secretary for revising the 
        method described in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph and any 
        legislative action the Secretary considers necessary to 
        implement such method.
    SEC. 302. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROVISION OF TREATMENT AND 
      REHABILITATION TO CERTAIN VETERANS TO INCLUDE PROVISION OF 
      TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION TO HOMELESS VETERANS WHO ARE NOT 
      SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL.
    Section 2031(a) is amended in the matter before paragraph (1) by 
striking ``, including'' and inserting ``and to''.
    SEC. 303. MODIFICATION OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH 
      SPECIAL NEEDS.
    (a) Inclusion of Entities Eligible for Comprehensive Service 
Program Grants and Per Diem Payments for Services to Homeless 
Veterans.--Subsection (a) of section 2061 is amended--
        (1) by striking ``to grant and per diem providers'' and 
    inserting ``to entities eligible for grants and per diem payments 
    under sections 2011 and 2012 of this title''; and
        (2) by striking ``by those facilities and providers'' and 
    inserting ``by those facilities and entities''.
    (b) Inclusion of Male Homeless Veterans With Minor Dependents.--
Subsection (b) of such section is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, including women who have 
    care of minor dependents'';
        (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'';
        (3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
    inserting ``; or''; and
        (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
        ``(5) individuals who have care of minor dependents.''.
    (c) Authorization of Provision of Services to Dependents.--Such 
section is further amended--
        (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
        (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
    subsection (c):
    ``(c) Provision of Services to Dependents.--A recipient of a grant 
under subsection (a) may use amounts under the grant to provide 
services directly to a dependent of a homeless veteran with special 
needs who is under the care of such homeless veteran while such 
homeless veteran receives services from the grant recipient under this 
section.''.
    SEC. 304. COLLABORATION IN PROVISION OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO 
      HOMELESS VETERANS IN SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consider 
entering into contracts or agreements, under sections 513 and 8153 of 
title 38, United States Code, with eligible entities to collaborate 
with the Secretary in the provision of case management services to 
covered veterans as part of the supported housing program carried out 
under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) to ensure that the homeless veterans facing the 
most significant difficulties in obtaining suitable housing receive the 
assistance they require to obtain such housing.
    (b) Covered Veterans.--For purposes of this section, a covered 
veteran is any veteran who, at the time of receipt of a housing voucher 
under such section 8(o)(19)--
        (1) requires the assistance of a case manager in obtaining 
    suitable housing with such voucher; and
        (2) is having difficulty obtaining the amount of such 
    assistance the veteran requires, including because--
            (A) the veteran resides in an area that has a shortage of 
        low-income housing and because of such shortage the veteran 
        requires more assistance from a case manager than the Secretary 
        otherwise provides;
            (B) the location in which the veteran resides is located at 
        such distance from facilities of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs as makes the provision of case management services by 
        the Secretary to such veteran impractical; or
            (C) the veteran resides in an area where veterans who 
        receive case management services from the Secretary under such 
        section have a significantly lower average rate of successfully 
        obtaining suitable housing than the average rate of 
        successfully obtaining suitable housing for all veterans 
        receiving such services.
    (c) Eligible Entities.--For purposes of this section, an eligible 
entity is any State or local government agency, tribal organization (as 
such term is defined in section 4 of the Indian Self Determination and 
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)), or nonprofit organization 
that--
        (1) under a contract or agreement described in subsection (a), 
    agrees--
            (A) to ensure access to case management services by covered 
        veterans on an as-needed basis;
            (B) to maintain referral networks for covered veterans for 
        purposes of assisting covered veterans in demonstrating 
        eligibility for assistance and additional services under 
        entitlement and assistance programs available for covered 
        veterans, and to otherwise aid covered veterans in obtaining 
        such assistance and services;
            (C) to ensure the confidentiality of records maintained by 
        the entity on covered veterans receiving services through the 
        supported housing program described in subsection (a);
            (D) to establish such procedures for fiscal control and 
        fund accounting as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers 
        appropriate to ensure proper disbursement and accounting of 
        funds under a contract or agreement entered into by the entity 
        as described in subsection (a);
            (E) to submit to the Secretary each year, in such form and 
        such manner as the Secretary may require, a report on the 
        collaboration undertaken by the entity under a contract or 
        agreement described in such subsection during the most recent 
        fiscal year, including a description of, for the year covered 
        by the report--
                (i) the services and assistance provided to covered 
            veterans as part of such collaboration;
                (ii) the process by which covered veterans were 
            referred to the entity for such services and assistance;
                (iii) the specific goals jointly set by the entity and 
            the Secretary for the provision of such services and 
            assistance and whether the entity achieved such goals; and
                (iv) the average length of time taken by a covered 
            veteran who received such services and assistance to 
            successfully obtain suitable housing and the average 
            retention rate of such a veteran in such housing; and
            (F) to meet such other requirements as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate for purposes of providing assistance to 
        covered veterans in obtaining suitable housing; and
        (2) has demonstrated experience in--
            (A) identifying and serving homeless veterans, especially 
        those who have the greatest difficulty obtaining suitable 
        housing;
            (B) working collaboratively with the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs or the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
            (C) conducting outreach to, and maintaining relationships 
        with, landlords to encourage and facilitate participation by 
        landlords in supported housing programs similar to the 
        supported housing program described in subsection (a);
            (D) mediating disputes between landlords and veterans 
        receiving assistance under such supported housing program; and
            (E) carrying out such other activities as the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs considers appropriate.
    (d) Consultation.--In considering entering into contracts or 
agreements as described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall consult with--
        (1) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and
        (2) third parties that provide services as part of the 
    Department of Housing and Urban Development continuum of care.
    (e) Technical Assistance for Collaborating Entities.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary may provide training and 
    technical assistance to entities with whom the Secretary 
    collaborates in the provision of case management services to 
    veterans as part of the supported housing program described in 
    subsection (a).
        (2) Grants.--The Secretary may provide training and technical 
    assistance under paragraph (1) through the award of grants or 
    contracts to appropriate public and nonprofit private entities.
        (3) Funding.--From amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
    available to the Secretary in the Medical Services account in a 
    year, $500,000 shall be available to the Secretary in that year to 
    carry out this subsection.
    (f) Annual Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 545 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once each year 
    thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
    Congress a report on the collaboration between the Secretary and 
    eligible entities in the provision of case management services as 
    described in subsection (a) during the most recently completed 
    fiscal year.
        (2) Elements.--Each report required by paragraph (1) shall 
    include, for the period covered by the report, the following:
            (A) A discussion of each case in which a contract or 
        agreement described in subsection (a) was considered by the 
        Secretary, including a description of whether or not and why 
        the Secretary chose or did not choose to enter into such 
        contract or agreement.
            (B) The number and types of eligible entities with whom the 
        Secretary has entered into a contract or agreement as described 
        in subsection (a).
            (C) A description of the geographic regions in which such 
        entities provide case management services as described in such 
        subsection.
            (D) A description of the number and types of covered 
        veterans who received case management services from such 
        entities under such contracts or agreements.
            (E) An assessment of the performance of each eligible 
        entity with whom the Secretary entered into a contract or 
        agreement as described in subsection (a).
            (F) An assessment of the benefits to covered veterans of 
        such contracts and agreements.
            (G) A discussion of the benefits of increasing the ratio of 
        case managers to recipients of vouchers under the supported 
        housing program described in such subsection to veterans who 
        reside in rural areas.
            (H) Such recommendations for legislative or administrative 
        action as the Secretary considers appropriate for the 
        improvement of collaboration in the provision of case 
        management services under such supported housing program.
    SEC. 305. EXTENSIONS OF PREVIOUSLY FULLY FUNDED AUTHORITIES 
      AFFECTING HOMELESS VETERANS.
    (a) Comprehensive Service Programs.--Section 2013 is amended by 
striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
        ``(5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
        ``(6) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each subsequent 
    fiscal year.''.
    (b) Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs.--Section 
2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking ``2012'' and inserting ``2013''.
    (c) Financial Assistance for Supportive Services for Very Low-
income Veteran Families in Permanent Housing.--Section 2044(e)(1) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
        ``(E) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.''.
    (d) Grant Program for Homeless Veterans With Special Needs.--
Section 2061(c)(1) is amended by striking ``through 2012'' and 
inserting ``through 2013''.

                      TITLE IV--EDUCATION MATTERS

    SEC. 401. AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO 
      INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE BOTH SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' 
      EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER VETERANS AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL 
      ASSISTANCE.
    (a) Aggregate Amount Available.--Section 3695 is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ``35,''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) The aggregate period for which any person may receive 
assistance under chapter 35 of this title, on the one hand, and any of 
the provisions of law referred to in subsection (a), on the other hand, 
may not exceed 81 months (or the part-time equivalent thereof).''.
    (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take 
effect on October 1, 2013, and shall not operate to revive any 
entitlement to assistance under chapter 35 of title 38, United States 
Code, or the provisions of law referred to in section 3695(a) of such 
title, as in effect on the day before such date, that was terminated by 
reason of the operation of section 3695(a) of such title, as so in 
effect, before such date.
    (c) Revival of Entitlement Reduced by Prior Utilization of Chapter 
35 Assistance.--
        (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of an 
    individual whose period of entitlement to assistance under a 
    provision of law referred to in section 3695(a) of title 38, United 
    States Code (other than chapter 35 of such title), as in effect on 
    September 30, 2013, was reduced under such section 3695(a), as so 
    in effect, by reason of the utilization of entitlement to 
    assistance under chapter 35 of such title before October 1, 2013, 
    the period of entitlement to assistance of such individual under 
    such provision shall be determined without regard to any 
    entitlement so utilized by the individual under chapter 35 of such 
    title.
        (2) Limitation.--The maximum period of entitlement to 
    assistance of an individual under paragraph (1) may not exceed 81 
    months.
    SEC. 402. ANNUAL REPORTS ON POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
      PROGRAM AND SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
      PROGRAM.
    (a) Reports Required.--
        (1) In general.--Subchapter III of chapter 33 is amended by 
    adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3325. Reporting requirement
    ``(a) In General.--For each academic year--
        ``(1) the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a 
    report on the operation of the program provided for in this 
    chapter; and
        ``(2) the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
    operation of the program provided for in this chapter and the 
    program provided for under chapter 35 of this title.
    ``(b) Contents of Secretary of Defense Reports.--The Secretary of 
Defense shall include in each report submitted under this section--
        ``(1) information--
            ``(A) indicating the extent to which the benefit levels 
        provided under this chapter are adequate to achieve the 
        purposes of inducing individuals to enter and remain in the 
        Armed Forces and of providing an adequate level of financial 
        assistance to help meet the cost of pursuing a program of 
        education;
            ``(B) indicating whether it is necessary for the purposes 
        of maintaining adequate levels of well-qualified active-duty 
        personnel in the Armed Forces to continue to offer the 
        opportunity for educational assistance under this chapter to 
        individuals who have not yet entered active-duty service; and
            ``(C) describing the efforts under section 3323(b) of this 
        title to inform members of the Armed Forces of the active duty 
        service requirements for entitlement to educational assistance 
        under this chapter and the results from such efforts; and
        ``(2) such recommendations for administrative and legislative 
    changes regarding the provision of educational assistance to 
    members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and their dependents, as 
    the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.
    ``(c) Contents of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Reports.--The 
Secretary shall include in each report submitted under this section--
        ``(1) information concerning the level of utilization of 
    educational assistance and of expenditures under this chapter and 
    under chapter 35 of this title;
        ``(2) appropriate student outcome measures, such as the number 
    of credit hours, certificates, degrees, and other qualifications 
    earned by beneficiaries under this chapter and chapter 35 of this 
    title during the academic year covered by the report; and
        ``(3) such recommendations for administrative and legislative 
    changes regarding the provision of educational assistance to 
    members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and their dependents, as 
    the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(d) Termination.--No report shall be required under this section 
after January 1, 2021.''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
    section 3324 the following new item:

``3325. Reporting requirement.''.

        (3) Deadline for submittal of first report.--The first reports 
    required under section 3325 of title 38, United States Code, as 
    added by paragraph (1), shall be submitted by not later than 
    November 1, 2013.
    (b) Repeal of Report on All Volunteer-Force Educational Assistance 
Program.--
        (1) In general.--Chapter 30 is amended by striking section 
    3036.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of such chapter is amended by striking the item relating to section 
    3036.

                       TITLE V--BENEFITS MATTERS

    SEC. 501. AUTOMATIC WAIVER OF AGENCY OF ORIGINAL JURISDICTION 
      REVIEW OF NEW EVIDENCE.
    (a) In General.--Section 7105 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(e)(1) If, either at the time or after the agency of original 
jurisdiction receives a substantive appeal, the claimant or the 
claimant's representative, if any, submits evidence to either the 
agency of original jurisdiction or the Board of Veterans' Appeals for 
consideration in connection with the issue or issues with which 
disagreement has been expressed, such evidence shall be subject to 
initial review by the Board unless the claimant or the claimant's 
representative, as the case may be, requests in writing that the agency 
of original jurisdiction initially review such evidence.
    ``(2) A request for review of evidence under paragraph (1) shall 
accompany the submittal of the evidence.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (e) of such section, as added by 
subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to 
claims for which a substantive appeal is filed on or after the date 
that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    SEC. 502. AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS TO SIGN CLAIMS FILED WITH 
      SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF CLAIMANTS.
    (a) In General.--Section 5101 is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)--
            (A) by striking ``A specific'' and inserting ``(1) A 
        specific''; and
            (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) If an individual has not attained the age of 18 years, is 
mentally incompetent, or is physically unable to sign a form, a form 
filed under paragraph (1) for the individual may be signed by a court-
appointed representative, a person who is responsible for the care of 
the individual, including a spouse or other relative, or an attorney in 
fact or agent authorized to act on behalf of the individual under a 
durable power of attorney. If the individual is in the care of an 
institution, the manager or principal officer of the institution may 
sign the form.'';
        (2) in subsection (c)--
            (A) in paragraph (1)--
                (i) by inserting ``, signs a form on behalf of an 
            individual to apply for,'' after ``who applies for'';
                (ii) by inserting ``, or TIN in the case that the 
            person is not an individual,'' after ``of such person''; 
            and
                (iii) by striking ``dependent'' and inserting 
            ``claimant, dependent,''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or TIN'' after 
        ``social security number'' each place it appears; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) In this section:
        ``(1) The term `mentally incompetent' with respect to an 
    individual means that the individual lacks the mental capacity--
            ``(A) to provide substantially accurate information needed 
        to complete a form; or
            ``(B) to certify that the statements made on a form are 
        true and complete.
        ``(2) The term `TIN' has the meaning given the term in section 
    7701(a)(41) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
    (b) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to claims filed on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    SEC. 503. IMPROVEMENT OF PROCESS FOR FILING JOINTLY FOR SOCIAL 
      SECURITY AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.
    Section 5105 is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)--
            (A) by striking ``shall'' the first place it appears and 
        inserting ``may''; and
            (B) by striking ``Each such form'' and inserting ``Such 
        forms''; and
        (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``on such a form'' and 
    inserting ``on any document indicating an intent to apply for 
    survivor benefits''.
    SEC. 504. AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION TO 
      PROVIDE NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS FOR BENEFITS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED 
      BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Section 5103 is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
            (A) by striking ``Upon receipt of a complete or 
        substantially complete application, the'' and inserting 
        ``The'';
            (B) by striking ``notify'' and inserting ``provide to''; 
        and
            (C) by inserting ``by the most effective means available, 
        including electronic communication or notification in writing, 
        notice'' before ``of any information''; and
        (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following new 
    paragraphs:
    ``(4) Nothing in this section shall require the Secretary to 
provide notice for a subsequent claim that is filed while a previous 
claim is pending if the notice previously provided for such pending 
claim--
        ``(A) provides sufficient notice of the information and 
    evidence necessary to substantiate such subsequent claim; and
        ``(B) was sent within one year of the date on which the 
    subsequent claim was filed.
    ``(5)(A) This section shall not apply to any claim or issue where 
the Secretary may award the maximum benefit in accordance with this 
title based on the evidence of record.
    ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `maximum benefit' 
means the highest evaluation assignable in accordance with the evidence 
of record, as long as such evidence is adequate for rating purposes and 
sufficient to grant the earliest possible effective date in accordance 
with section 5110 of this title.''.
    (b) Construction.--Nothing in the amendments made by subsection (a) 
shall be construed as eliminating any requirement with respect to the 
contents of a notice under section 5103 of title 38, United States 
Code, that is required under regulations prescribed pursuant to 
subsection (a)(2) of such section as of the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
    (c) Effective Date.--
        (1) In general.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
    take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to notification 
    obligations of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on or after such 
    date.
        (2) Construction regarding applicability.--Nothing in this 
    section or the amendments made by this section shall be construed 
    to require the Secretary to carry out notification procedures in 
    accordance with requirements of section 5103 of title 38, United 
    States Code, as in effect on the day before the effective date 
    established in paragraph (1) on or after such effective date.
    SEC. 505. DUTY TO ASSIST CLAIMANTS IN OBTAINING PRIVATE RECORDS.
    (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 5103A is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(b) Assistance in Obtaining Private Records.--(1) As part of the 
assistance provided under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make 
reasonable efforts to obtain relevant private records that the claimant 
adequately identifies to the Secretary.
    ``(2)(A) Whenever the Secretary, after making such reasonable 
efforts, is unable to obtain all of the relevant records sought, the 
Secretary shall notify the claimant that the Secretary is unable to 
obtain records with respect to the claim. Such a notification shall--
        ``(i) identify the records the Secretary is unable to obtain;
        ``(ii) briefly explain the efforts that the Secretary made to 
    obtain such records; and
        ``(iii) explain that the Secretary will decide the claim based 
    on the evidence of record but that this section does not prohibit 
    the submission of records at a later date if such submission is 
    otherwise allowed.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall make not less than two requests to a 
custodian of a private record in order for an effort to obtain relevant 
private records to be treated as reasonable under this section, unless 
it is made evident by the first request that a second request would be 
futile in obtaining such records.
    ``(3)(A) This section shall not apply if the evidence of record 
allows for the Secretary to award the maximum benefit in accordance 
with this title based on the evidence of record.
    ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `maximum benefit' 
means the highest evaluation assignable in accordance with the evidence 
of record, as long as such evidence is adequate for rating purposes and 
sufficient to grant the earliest possible effective date in accordance 
with section 5110 of this title.
    ``(4) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the 
Secretary--
        ``(A) shall encourage claimants to submit relevant private 
    medical records of the claimant to the Secretary if such submission 
    does not burden the claimant; and
        ``(B) in obtaining relevant private records under paragraph 
    (1), may require the claimant to authorize the Secretary to obtain 
    such records if such authorization is required to comply with 
    Federal, State, or local law.''.
    (b) Public Records.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(c) Obtaining Records for Compensation Claims.--(1) In the case 
of a claim for disability compensation, the assistance provided by the 
Secretary under this section shall include obtaining the following 
records if relevant to the claim:
        ``(A) The claimant's service medical records and, if the 
    claimant has furnished the Secretary information sufficient to 
    locate such records, other relevant records pertaining to the 
    claimant's active military, naval, or air service that are held or 
    maintained by a governmental entity.
        ``(B) Records of relevant medical treatment or examination of 
    the claimant at Department health-care facilities or at the expense 
    of the Department, if the claimant furnishes information sufficient 
    to locate those records.
        ``(C) Any other relevant records held by any Federal department 
    or agency that the claimant adequately identifies and authorizes 
    the Secretary to obtain.
    ``(2) Whenever the Secretary attempts to obtain records from a 
Federal department or agency under this subsection, the efforts to 
obtain those records shall continue until the records are obtained 
unless it is reasonably certain that such records do not exist or that 
further efforts to obtain those records would be futile.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--
        (1) In general.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
    shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of 
    the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to 
    assistance obligations of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on or 
    after such date.
        (2) Construction.--Nothing in this section or the amendments 
    made by this section shall be construed to require the Secretary to 
    carry out assistance in accordance with requirements of section 
    5103A of title 38, United States Code, as in effect on the day 
    before the effective date established in paragraph (1) on or after 
    such effective date.
    SEC. 506. AUTHORITY FOR RETROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR AWARDS OF 
      DISABILITY COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH APPLICATIONS THAT ARE 
      FULLY-DEVELOPED AT SUBMITTAL.
    Section 5110(b) is amended--
        (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) 
    and (4), respectively; and
        (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
    paragraph (2):
    ``(2)(A) The effective date of an award of disability compensation 
to a veteran who submits an application therefor that sets forth an 
original claim that is fully-developed (as determined by the Secretary) 
as of the date of submittal shall be fixed in accordance with the facts 
found, but shall not be earlier than the date that is one year before 
the date of receipt of the application.
    ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, an original claim is an 
initial claim filed by a veteran for disability compensation.
    ``(C) This paragraph shall take effect on the date that is one year 
after the date of the enactment of the Honoring America's Veterans and 
Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 and shall not apply with 
respect to claims filed after the date that is three years after the 
date of the enactment of such Act.''.
    SEC. 507. MODIFICATION OF MONTH OF DEATH BENEFIT FOR SURVIVING 
      SPOUSES OF VETERANS WHO DIE WHILE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION OR 
      PENSION.
    (a) Surviving Spouse Benefit for Month of Veteran's Death.--
Subsections (a) and (b) of section 5310 are amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--(1) A surviving spouse of a veteran is entitled 
to a benefit for the month of the veteran's death if--
        ``(A) at the time of the veteran's death, the veteran was 
    receiving compensation or pension under chapter 11 or 15 of this 
    title; or
        ``(B) the veteran is determined for purposes of section 5121 or 
    5121A of this title as having been entitled to receive compensation 
    or pension under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for the month of 
    the veteran's death.
    ``(2) The amount of the benefit under paragraph (1) is the amount 
that the veteran would have received under chapter 11 or 15 of this 
title, as the case may be, for the month of the veteran's death had the 
veteran not died.
    ``(b) Claims Pending Adjudication.--If a claim for entitlement to 
compensation or additional compensation under chapter 11 of this title 
or pension or additional pension under chapter 15 of this title is 
pending at the time of a veteran's death and the check or other payment 
issued to the veteran's surviving spouse under subsection (a) is less 
than the amount of the benefit the veteran would have been entitled to 
for the month of death pursuant to the adjudication of the pending 
claim, an amount equal to the difference between the amount to which 
the veteran would have been entitled to receive under chapter 11 or 15 
of this title for the month of the veteran's death had the veteran not 
died and the amount of the check or other payment issued to the 
surviving spouse shall be treated in the same manner as an accrued 
benefit under section 5121 of this title.''.
    (b) Month of Death Benefit Exempt From Delayed Commencement of 
Payment.--Section 5111(c)(1) is amended by striking ``apply to'' and 
all that follows through ``death occurred'' and inserting the 
following: ``not apply to payments made pursuant to section 5310 of 
this title''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with 
respect to deaths that occur on or after that date.
    SEC. 508. INCREASE IN RATE OF PENSION FOR DISABLED VETERANS MARRIED 
      TO ONE ANOTHER AND BOTH OF WHOM REQUIRE REGULAR AID AND 
      ATTENDANCE.
    (a) In General.--Section 1521(f)(2) is amended by striking 
``$30,480'' and inserting ``$32,433''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
    SEC. 509. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN REIMBURSEMENTS OF EXPENSES FROM 
      DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL INCOME WITH RESPECT TO PENSIONS FOR 
      VETERANS AND SURVIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF VETERANS.
    (a) In General.--Paragraph (5) of section 1503(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
        ``(5) payments regarding reimbursements of any kind (including 
    insurance settlement payments) for expenses related to the 
    repayment, replacement, or repair of equipment, vehicles, items, 
    money, or property resulting from--
            ``(A) any accident (as defined by the Secretary), but the 
        amount excluded under this subclause shall not exceed the 
        greater of the fair market value or reasonable replacement 
        value of the equipment or vehicle involved at the time 
        immediately preceding the accident;
            ``(B) any theft or loss (as defined by the Secretary), but 
        the amount excluded under this subclause shall not exceed the 
        greater of the fair market value or reasonable replacement 
        value of the item or the amount of the money (including legal 
        tender of the United States or of a foreign country) involved 
        at the time immediately preceding the theft or loss; or
            ``(C) any casualty loss (as defined by the Secretary), but 
        the amount excluded under this subclause shall not exceed the 
        greater of the fair market value or reasonable replacement 
        value of the property involved at the time immediately 
        preceding the casualty loss;''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

            TITLE VI--MEMORIAL, BURIAL, AND CEMETERY MATTERS

    SEC. 601. PROHIBITION ON DISRUPTIONS OF FUNERALS OF MEMBERS OR 
      FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
    (a) Purpose and Authority.--
        (1) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide 
    necessary and proper support for the recruitment and retention of 
    the Armed Forces and militia employed in the service of the United 
    States by protecting the dignity of the service of the members of 
    such Forces and militia, and by protecting the privacy of their 
    immediate family members and other attendees during funeral 
    services for such members.
        (2) Constitutional authority.--Congress finds that this section 
    is a necessary and proper exercise of its powers under the 
    Constitution, article I, section 8, paragraphs 1, 12, 13, 14, 16, 
    and 18, to provide for the common defense, raise and support 
    armies, provide and maintain a navy, make rules for the government 
    and regulation of the land and naval forces, and provide for 
    organizing and governing such part of the militia as may be 
    employed in the service of the United States.
    (b) Amendment to Title 18.--Section 1388 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 1388. Prohibition on disruptions of funerals of members or 
    former members of the Armed Forces
    ``(a) Prohibition.--For any funeral of a member or former member of 
the Armed Forces that is not located at a cemetery under the control of 
the National Cemetery Administration or part of Arlington National 
Cemetery, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in an activity 
during the period beginning 120 minutes before and ending 120 minutes 
after such funeral, any part of which activity--
        ``(1)(A) takes place within the boundaries of the location of 
    such funeral or takes place within 300 feet of the point of the 
    intersection between--
            ``(i) the boundary of the location of such funeral; and
            ``(ii) a road, pathway, or other route of ingress to or 
        egress from the location of such funeral; and
        ``(B) includes any individual willfully making or assisting in 
    the making of any noise or diversion--
            ``(i) that is not part of such funeral and that disturbs or 
        tends to disturb the peace or good order of such funeral; and
            ``(ii) with the intent of disturbing the peace or good 
        order of such funeral;
        ``(2)(A) is within 500 feet of the boundary of the location of 
    such funeral; and
        ``(B) includes any individual--
            ``(i) willfully and without proper authorization impeding 
        or tending to impede the access to or egress from such 
        location; and
            ``(ii) with the intent to impede the access to or egress 
        from such location; or
        ``(3) is on or near the boundary of the residence, home, or 
    domicile of any surviving member of the deceased person's immediate 
    family and includes any individual willfully making or assisting in 
    the making of any noise or diversion--
            ``(A) that disturbs or tends to disturb the peace of the 
        persons located at such location; and
            ``(B) with the intent of disturbing such peace.
    ``(b) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be 
fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.
    ``(c) Civil Remedies.--
        ``(1) District courts.--The district courts of the United 
    States shall have jurisdiction--
            ``(A) to prevent and restrain violations of this section; 
        and
            ``(B) for the adjudication of any claims for relief under 
        this section.
        ``(2) Attorney general.--The Attorney General may institute 
    proceedings under this section.
        ``(3) Claims.--Any person, including a surviving member of the 
    deceased person's immediate family, who suffers injury as a result 
    of conduct that violates this section may--
            ``(A) sue therefor in any appropriate United States 
        district court or in any court of competent jurisdiction; and
            ``(B) recover damages as provided in subsection (d) and the 
        cost of the suit, including reasonable attorneys' fees.
        ``(4) Estoppel.--A final judgment or decree rendered in favor 
    of the United States in any criminal proceeding brought by the 
    United States under this section shall estop the defendant from 
    denying the essential allegations of the criminal offense in any 
    subsequent civil proceeding brought by a person or by the United 
    States.
    ``(d) Actual and Statutory Damages.--
        ``(1) In general.--In addition to any penalty imposed under 
    subsection (b), a violator of this section is liable in an action 
    under subsection (c) for actual or statutory damages as provided in 
    this subsection.
        ``(2) Actions by private persons.--A person bringing an action 
    under subsection (c)(3) may elect, at any time before final 
    judgment is rendered, to recover the actual damages suffered by him 
    or her as a result of the violation or, instead of actual damages, 
    an award of statutory damages for each violation involved in the 
    action.
        ``(3) Actions by attorney general.--In any action under 
    subsection (c)(2), the Attorney General is entitled to recover an 
    award of statutory damages for each violation involved in the 
    action notwithstanding any recovery under subsection (c)(3).
        ``(4) Statutory damages.--A court may award, as the court 
    considers just, statutory damages in a sum of not less than $25,000 
    or more than $50,000 per violation.
    ``(e) Rebuttable Presumption.--It shall be a rebuttable presumption 
that the violation was committed willfully for purposes of determining 
relief under this section if the violator, or a person acting in 
concert with the violator, did not have reasonable grounds to believe, 
either from the attention or publicity sought by the violator or other 
circumstance, that the conduct of such violator or person would not 
disturb or tend to disturb the peace or good order of such funeral, 
impede or tend to impede the access to or egress from such funeral, or 
disturb or tend to disturb the peace of any surviving member of the 
deceased person's immediate family who may be found on or near the 
residence, home, or domicile of the deceased person's immediate family 
on the date of the service or ceremony.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section--
        ``(1) the term `Armed Forces' has the meaning given the term in 
    section 101 of title 10 and includes members and former members of 
    the National Guard who were employed in the service of the United 
    States; and
        ``(2) the term `immediate family' means, with respect to a 
    person, the immediate family members of such person, as such term 
    is defined in section 115 of this title.''.
    (c) Amendment to Title 38.--
        (1) In general.--Section 2413 is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 2413. Prohibition on certain demonstrations and disruptions at 
    cemeteries under control of the National Cemetery Administration 
    and at Arlington National Cemetery
    ``(a) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person--
        ``(1) to carry out a demonstration on the property of a 
    cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery Administration 
    or on the property of Arlington National Cemetery unless the 
    demonstration has been approved by the cemetery superintendent or 
    the director of the property on which the cemetery is located; or
        ``(2) with respect to such a cemetery, to engage in a 
    demonstration during the period beginning 120 minutes before and 
    ending 120 minutes after a funeral, memorial service, or ceremony 
    is held, any part of which demonstration--
            ``(A)(i) takes place within the boundaries of such cemetery 
        or takes place within 300 feet of the point of the intersection 
        between--
                ``(I) the boundary of such cemetery; and
                ``(II) a road, pathway, or other route of ingress to or 
            egress from such cemetery; and
            ``(ii) includes any individual willfully making or 
        assisting in the making of any noise or diversion--
                ``(I) that is not part of such funeral, memorial 
            service, or ceremony and that disturbs or tends to disturb 
            the peace or good order of such funeral, memorial service, 
            or ceremony; and
                ``(II) with the intent of disturbing the peace or good 
            order of such funeral, memorial service, or ceremony; or
            ``(B)(i) is within 500 feet of the boundary of such 
        cemetery; and
            ``(ii) includes any individual--
                ``(I) willfully and without proper authorization 
            impeding or tending to impede the access to or egress from 
            such cemetery; and
                ``(II) with the intent to impede the access to or 
            egress from such cemetery.
    ``(b) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be 
fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
    ``(c) Civil Remedies.--(1) The district courts of the United States 
shall have jurisdiction--
        ``(A) to prevent and restrain violations of this section; and
        ``(B) for the adjudication of any claims for relief under this 
    section.
    ``(2) The Attorney General of the United States may institute 
proceedings under this section.
    ``(3) Any person, including a surviving member of the deceased 
person's immediate family, who suffers injury as a result of conduct 
that violates this section may--
        ``(A) sue therefor in any appropriate United States district 
    court or in any court of competent jurisdiction; and
        ``(B) recover damages as provided in subsection (d) and the 
    cost of the suit, including reasonable attorneys' fees.
    ``(4) A final judgment or decree rendered in favor of the United 
States in any criminal proceeding brought by the United States under 
this section shall estop the defendant from denying the essential 
allegations of the criminal offense in any subsequent civil proceeding 
brought by a person or by the United States.
    ``(d) Actual and Statutory Damages.--(1) In addition to any penalty 
imposed under subsection (b), a violator of this section is liable in 
an action under subsection (c) for actual or statutory damages as 
provided in this subsection.
    ``(2) A person bringing an action under subsection (c)(3) may 
elect, at any time before final judgment is rendered, to recover the 
actual damages suffered by him or her as a result of the violation or, 
instead of actual damages, an award of statutory damages for each 
violation involved in the action.
    ``(3) In any action brought under subsection (c)(2), the Attorney 
General is entitled to recover an award of statutory damages for each 
violation involved in the action notwithstanding any recovery under 
subsection (c)(3).
    ``(4) A court may award, as the court considers just, statutory 
damages in a sum of not less than $25,000 or more than $50,000 per 
violation.
    ``(e) Rebuttable Presumption.--It shall be a rebuttable presumption 
that the violation of subsection (a) was committed willfully for 
purposes of determining relief under this section if the violator, or a 
person acting in concert with the violator, did not have reasonable 
grounds to believe, either from the attention or publicity sought by 
the violator or other circumstance, that the conduct of such violator 
or person would not--
        ``(1) disturb or tend to disturb the peace or good order of 
    such funeral, memorial service, or ceremony; or
        ``(2) impede or tend to impede the access to or egress from 
    such funeral, memorial service, or ceremony.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section--
        ``(1) the term `demonstration' includes--
            ``(A) any picketing or similar conduct;
            ``(B) any oration, speech, use of sound amplification 
        equipment or device, or similar conduct that is not part of a 
        funeral, memorial service, or ceremony;
            ``(C) the display of any placard, banner, flag, or similar 
        device, unless such a display is part of a funeral, memorial 
        service, or ceremony; and
            ``(D) the distribution of any handbill, pamphlet, leaflet, 
        or other written or printed matter other than a program 
        distributed as part of a funeral, memorial service, or 
        ceremony; and
        ``(2) the term `immediate family' means, with respect to a 
    person, the immediate family members of such person, as such term 
    is defined in section 115 of title 18.''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of chapter 24 is amended by striking the item relating to section 
    2413 and inserting the following new item:

``2413. Prohibition on certain demonstrations and disruptions at 
          cemeteries under control of the National Cemetery 
          Administration and at Arlington National Cemetery.''.
    SEC. 602. CODIFICATION OF PROHIBITION AGAINST RESERVATION OF 
      GRAVESITES AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
    (a) In General.--Chapter 24 is amended by inserting after section 
2410 the following new section:
``Sec. 2410A. Arlington National Cemetery: other administrative matters
    ``(a) One Gravesite.--(1) Not more than one gravesite may be 
provided at Arlington National Cemetery to a veteran or member of the 
Armed Forces who is eligible for interment or inurnment at such 
cemetery.
    ``(2) The Secretary of the Army may waive the prohibition in 
paragraph (1) as the Secretary of the Army considers appropriate.
    ``(b) Prohibition Against Reservation of Gravesites.--(1) A 
gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery may not be reserved for an 
individual before the death of such individual.
    ``(2)(A) The President may waive the prohibition in paragraph (1) 
as the President considers appropriate.
    ``(B) Upon waiving the prohibition in paragraph (1), the President 
shall submit notice of such waiver to--
        ``(i) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
    Armed Services of the Senate; and
        ``(ii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
    Armed Services of the House of Representatives.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
2410 the following new item:

``2410A. Arlington National Cemetery: other administrative matters.''.

    (c) Applicability.--
        (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), section 
    2410A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), 
    shall apply with respect to all interments at Arlington National 
    Cemetery after the date of the enactment of this Act.
        (2) Exception.--Subsection (b) of such section, as so added, 
    shall not apply with respect to the interment of an individual for 
    whom a request for a reserved gravesite was approved by the 
    Secretary of the Army before January 1, 1962.
    (d) Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to 
    Congress a report on reservations made for interment at Arlington 
    National Cemetery.
        (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
    include the following:
            (A) The number of requests for reservation of a gravesite 
        at Arlington National Cemetery that were submitted to the 
        Secretary of the Army before January 1, 1962.
            (B) The number of gravesites at such cemetery that, on the 
        day before the date of the enactment of this Act, were reserved 
        in response to such requests.
            (C) The number of such gravesites that, on the day before 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, were unoccupied.
            (D) A list of all reservations for gravesites at such 
        cemetery that were extended by individuals responsible for 
        management of such cemetery in response to requests for such 
        reservations made on or after January 1, 1962.
            (E) A description of the measures that the Secretary is 
        taking to improve the accountability and transparency of the 
        management of gravesite reservations at Arlington National 
        Cemetery.
            (F) Such recommendations as the Secretary may have for 
        legislative action as the Secretary considers necessary to 
        improve such accountability and transparency.
    SEC. 603. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL 
      CERTIFICATES TO PERSONS WHO DIED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY, NAVAL, 
      OR AIR SERVICE.
    Section 112(a) is amended--
        (1) by inserting ``and persons who died in the active military, 
    naval, or air service,'' after ``under honorable conditions,''; and
        (2) by striking ``veteran's'' and inserting ``deceased 
    individual's''.
    SEC. 604. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF MONUMENTS IN ARLINGTON 
      NATIONAL CEMETERY.
    Section 2409(b) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``Under'' and inserting ``(1) Under'';
        (2) by inserting after ``Secretary of the Army'' the following: 
    ``and subject to paragraph (2)''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(2)(A) Except for a monument containing or marking interred 
remains, no monument (or similar structure, as determined by the 
Secretary of the Army in regulations) may be placed in Arlington 
National Cemetery except pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
    ``(B) A monument may be placed in Arlington National Cemetery if 
the monument commemorates--
        ``(i) the service in the Armed Forces of the individual, or 
    group of individuals, whose memory is to be honored by the 
    monument; or
        ``(ii) a particular military event.
    ``(C) No monument may be placed in Arlington National Cemetery 
until the end of the 25-year period beginning--
        ``(i) in the case of the commemoration of service under 
    subparagraph (B)(i), on the last day of the period of service so 
    commemorated; and
        ``(ii) in the case of the commemoration of a particular 
    military event under subparagraph (B)(ii), on the last day of the 
    period of the event.
    ``(D) A monument may be placed only in those sections of Arlington 
National Cemetery designated by the Secretary of the Army for such 
placement and only on land the Secretary determines is not suitable for 
burial.
    ``(E) A monument may only be placed in Arlington National Cemetery 
if an appropriate nongovernmental entity has agreed to act as a 
sponsoring organization to coordinate the placement of the monument 
and--
        ``(i) the construction and placement of the monument are paid 
    for only using funds from private sources;
        ``(ii) the Secretary of the Army consults with the Commission 
    of Fine Arts and the Advisory Committee on Arlington National 
    Cemetery before approving the design of the monument; and
        ``(iii) the sponsoring organization provides for an independent 
    study on the availability and suitability of alternative locations 
    for the proposed monument outside of Arlington National Cemetery.
    ``(3)(A) The Secretary of the Army may waive the requirement under 
paragraph (2)(C) in a case in which the monument would commemorate a 
group of individuals who the Secretary determines--
        ``(i) has made valuable contributions to the Armed Forces that 
    have been ongoing and perpetual for longer than 25 years and are 
    expected to continue on indefinitely; and
        ``(ii) has provided service that is of such a character that 
    the failure to place a monument to the group in Arlington National 
    Cemetery would present a manifest injustice.
    ``(B) If the Secretary waives such requirement under subparagraph 
(A), the Secretary shall--
        ``(i) make available on an Internet website notification of the 
    waiver and the rationale for the waiver; and
        ``(ii) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
    Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House 
    of Representatives written notice of the waiver and the rationale 
    for the waiver.
    ``(4) The Secretary of the Army shall provide notice to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of 
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives of any monument proposed 
to be placed in Arlington National Cemetery. During the 60-day period 
beginning on the date on which such notice is received, Congress may 
pass a joint resolution of disapproval of the placement of the 
monument. The proposed monument may not be placed in Arlington National 
Cemetery until the later of--
        ``(A) if Congress does not pass a joint resolution of 
    disapproval of the placement of the monument, the date that is 60 
    days after the date on which notice is received under this 
    paragraph; or
        ``(B) if Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval of 
    the placement of the monument, and the President signs a veto of 
    such resolution, the earlier of--
            ``(i) the date on which either House of Congress votes and 
        fails to override the veto of the President; or
            ``(ii) the date that is 30 session days after the date on 
        which Congress received the veto and objections of the 
        President.''.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

    SEC. 701. ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.
    (a) Additional Grants for Disabled Veterans for Specially Adapted 
Housing.--
        (1) In general.--Chapter 21 is amended by adding at the end the 
    following new section:
``Sec. 2109. Specially adapted housing destroyed or damaged by natural 
    disasters
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2102 
and 2102A of this title, the Secretary may provide assistance to a 
veteran whose home was previously adapted with assistance of a grant 
under this chapter in the event the adapted home which was being used 
and occupied by the veteran was destroyed or substantially damaged in a 
natural or other disaster, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--Subject to subsection (c), assistance provided 
under subsection (a) shall--
        ``(1) be available to acquire a suitable housing unit with 
    special fixtures or moveable facilities made necessary by the 
    veteran's disability, and necessary land therefor;
        ``(2) be available to a veteran to the same extent as if the 
    veteran had not previously received assistance under this chapter; 
    and
        ``(3) not be deducted from the maximum uses or from the maximum 
    amount of assistance available under this chapter.
    ``(c) Limitations.--The amount of the assistance provided under 
subsection (a) may not exceed the lesser of--
        ``(1) the reasonable cost, as determined by the Secretary, of 
    repairing or replacing the damaged or destroyed home in excess of 
    the available insurance coverage on such home; or
        ``(2) the maximum amount of assistance to which the veteran 
    would have been entitled under sections 2101(a), 2101(b), and 2102A 
    of this title had the veteran not obtained previous assistance 
    under this chapter.''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
    section 2108 the following new item:

``2109. Specially adapted housing destroyed or damaged by natural 
          disasters.''.

    (b) Extension of Subsistence Allowance for Veterans Completing 
Vocational Rehabilitation Program.--Section 3108(a)(2) is amended--
        (1) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``In''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran 
described in subparagraph (A) has been displaced as the result of a 
natural or other disaster while being paid a subsistence allowance 
under that subparagraph, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary 
may extend the payment of a subsistence allowance under such 
subparagraph for up to an additional two months while the veteran is 
satisfactorily following a program of employment services described in 
such subparagraph.''.
    (c) Waiver of Limitation on Program of Independent Living Services 
and Assistance.--Section 3120(e) is amended--
        (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``Programs''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) The limitation in paragraph (1) shall not apply in any case 
in which the Secretary determines that a veteran described in 
subsection (b) has been displaced as the result of, or has otherwise 
been adversely affected in the areas covered by, a natural or other 
disaster, as determined by the Secretary.''.
    (d) Covenants and Liens Created by Public Entities in Response to 
Disaster-Relief Assistance.--Paragraph (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 created 
by a duly recorded covenant running with the realty in favor of either 
of the following:
        ``(i) A public entity that has provided or will provide 
    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.).
        ``(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, if the Secretary determines that the 
    interests of the veteran borrower and of the Government will not be 
    prejudiced by the operation of such covenant.
    ``(B) With respect to any superior lien described in subparagraph 
(A) created after June 6, 1969, the Secretary's determination under 
clause (ii) of such subparagraph shall have been made prior to the 
recordation of the covenant.''.
    (e) Automobiles and Other Conveyances for Certain Disabled Veterans 
and Members of the Armed Forces.--Section 3903(a) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``No'' and inserting ``(1) Except as provided 
    in paragraph (2), no''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) The Secretary may provide or assist in providing an eligible 
person with a second automobile or other conveyance under this chapter 
if--
        ``(A) the Secretary receives satisfactory evidence that the 
    automobile or other conveyance previously purchased with assistance 
    under this chapter was destroyed--
            ``(i) as a result of a natural or other disaster, as 
        determined by the Secretary; and
            ``(ii) through no fault of the eligible person; and
        ``(B) the eligible person does not otherwise receive from a 
    property insurer compensation for the loss.''.
    (f) Annual Report.--
        (1) In general.--Each year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
    shall submit to Congress a report on the assistance provided or 
    action taken by the Secretary in the last fiscal year pursuant to 
    the authorities added by the amendments made by this section.
        (2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
    include the following for the fiscal year covered by the report:
            (A) A description of each natural disaster for which 
        assistance was provided or action was taken as described in 
        paragraph (1).
            (B) The number of cases or individuals, as the case may be, 
        in which or to whom the Secretary provided assistance or took 
        action as described in paragraph (1).
            (C) For each such case or individual, a description of the 
        type or amount of assistance or action taken, as the case may 
        be.
    (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
    SEC. 702. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF LAW.
    (a) Pool of Mortgage Loans.--Section 3720(h)(2) is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
    (b) Loan Fees.--Section 3729(b)(2) is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (A)--
            (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
            (B) in clause (iv), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2017'';
        (2) in subparagraph (B)--
            (A) in clause (i), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
            (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2017'';
        (3) in subparagraph (C)--
            (A) in clause (i), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
            (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
        (4) in subparagraph (D)--
            (A) in clause (i), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
            (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2017''.
    (c) Temporary Adjustment of Maximum Home Loan Guaranty Amount.--
Section 501 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 (Public 
Law 110-389; 122 Stat. 4175; 38 U.S.C. 3703 note) is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2014''.
    SEC. 703. REQUIREMENT FOR PLAN FOR REGULAR ASSESSMENT OF EMPLOYEES 
      OF VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION WHO HANDLE PROCESSING OF 
      CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION AND PENSION.
    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a plan that describes how the Secretary 
will--
        (1) regularly assess the skills and competencies of appropriate 
    employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration who 
    are responsible for processing claims for compensation and pension 
    benefits administered by the Secretary;
        (2) provide training to those employees whose skills and 
    competencies are assessed as unsatisfactory by the regular 
    assessment described in paragraph (1), to remediate deficiencies in 
    such skills and competencies;
        (3) reassess the skills and competencies of employees who 
    receive training as described in paragraph (2); and
        (4) take appropriate personnel action if, following training 
    and reassessment as described in paragraphs (2) and (3), 
    respectively, skills and competencies remain unsatisfactory.
    SEC. 704. MODIFICATION OF PROVISION RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENT RATE 
      FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES.
    Section 111(b)(3)(C) is amended by striking ``under subparagraph 
(B)'' and inserting ``to or from a Department facility''.
    SEC. 705. CHANGE IN COLLECTION AND VERIFICATION OF VETERAN INCOME.
    Section 1722(f)(1) is amended by striking ``the previous year'' and 
inserting ``the most recent year for which information is available''.
    SEC. 706. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ENFORCEMENT PENALTIES FOR 
      MISREPRESENTATION OF A BUSINESS CONCERN AS A SMALL BUSINESS 
      CONCERN OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY VETERANS OR AS A SMALL BUSINESS 
      CONCERN OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS.
    Subsection (g) of section 8127 is amended--
        (1) by striking ``Any business'' and inserting ``(1) Any 
    business'';
        (2) in paragraph (1), as so designated--
            (A) by inserting ``willfully and intentionally'' before 
        ``misrepresented''; and
            (B) by striking ``a reasonable period of time, as 
        determined by the Secretary'' and inserting ``a period of not 
        less than five years''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(2) In the case of a debarment under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall commence debarment action against the business concern by not 
later than 30 days after determining that the concern willfully and 
intentionally misrepresented the status of the concern as described in 
paragraph (1) and shall complete debarment actions against such concern 
by not later than 90 days after such determination.
    ``(3) The debarment of a business concern under paragraph (1) 
includes the debarment of all principals in the business concern for a 
period of not less than five years.''.
    SEC. 707. QUARTERLY REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON CONFERENCES SPONSORED BY 
      THE DEPARTMENT.
    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 5 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section:
``Sec. 517. Quarterly reports to Congress on conferences sponsored by 
   the Department
    ``(a) Quarterly Reports Required.--Not later than 30 days after the 
end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on covered 
conferences.
    ``(b) Matters Included.--Each report under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
        ``(1) An accounting of the final costs to the Department of 
    each covered conference occurring during the fiscal quarter 
    preceding the date on which the report is submitted, including the 
    costs related to--
            ``(A) transportation and parking;
            ``(B) per diem payments;
            ``(C) lodging;
            ``(D) rental of halls, auditoriums, or other spaces;
            ``(E) rental of equipment;
            ``(F) refreshments;
            ``(G) entertainment;
            ``(H) contractors; and
            ``(I) brochures or other printed media.
        ``(2) The total estimated costs to the Department for covered 
    conferences occurring during the fiscal quarter in which the report 
    is submitted.
    ``(c) Covered Conference Defined.--In this section, the term 
`covered conference' means a conference, meeting, or other similar 
forum that is sponsored or co-sponsored by the Department and is--
        ``(1) attended by 50 or more individuals, including one or more 
    employees of the Department; or
        ``(2) estimated to cost the Department at least $20,000.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 
516 the following:

``517. Quarterly reports to Congress on conferences sponsored by the 
          Department.''.

    (c) Effective Date.--Section 517 of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1, 2012, and 
shall apply with respect to the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 and 
each quarter thereafter.
    SEC. 708. PUBLICATION OF DATA ON EMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN VETERANS BY 
      FEDERAL CONTRACTORS.
    Section 4212(d) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
    ``(3) The Secretary of Labor shall establish and maintain an 
Internet website on which the Secretary of Labor shall publicly 
disclose the information reported to the Secretary of Labor by 
contractors under paragraph (1).''.
    SEC. 709. VETSTAR AWARD PROGRAM.
    (a) In General.--Section 532 is amended--
        (1) by striking ``The Secretary may'' and inserting `` (a) 
    Advertising in National Media.--The Secretary may''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) VetStar Award Program.--(1) The Secretary shall establish an 
award program, to be known as the `VetStar Award Program', to recognize 
annually businesses for their contributions to veterans' employment.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall establish a process for the 
administration of the award program, including criteria for--
        ``(A) categories and sectors of businesses eligible for 
    recognition each year; and
        ``(B) objective measures to be used in selecting businesses to 
    receive the award.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--
        (1) Section heading.--The heading of such section is amended by 
    adding at the end the following: ``; VetStar Award Program''.
        (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of chapter 5 is amended by striking the item relating to section 
    532 and inserting the following new item:

``532. Authority to advertise in national media; VetStar Award 
          Program.''.
    SEC. 710. EXTENDED PERIOD OF PROTECTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF UNIFORMED 
      SERVICES RELATING TO MORTGAGES, MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE, AND 
      EVICTION.
    (a) Stay of Proceedings and Period of Adjustment of Obligations 
Relating to Real or Personal Property.--Section 303(b) of the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533(b)) is amended by 
striking ``within 9 months'' and inserting ``within one year''.
    (b) Period of Relief From Sale, Foreclosure, or Seizure.--Section 
303(c) of such Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533(c)) is amended by striking 
``within 9 months'' and inserting ``within one year''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (d) Extension of Sunset.--
        (1) In general.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
    shall expire on December 31, 2014.
        (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (c) of section 2203 of 
    the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289; 
    50 U.S.C. App. 533 note) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.''.
        (3) Revival.--Effective January 1, 2015, the provisions of 
    subsections (b) and (c) of section 303 of the Servicemembers Civil 
    Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533), as in effect on July 29, 2008, are 
    hereby revived.
    (e) Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 540 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
    shall submit to Congress a report on the protections provided under 
    section 303 of such Act (50 U.S.C. App 533) during the five-year 
    period ending on the date of the enactment of this Act.
        (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
    include, for the period described in such paragraph, the following:
            (A) An assessment of the effects of such section on the 
        long-term financial well-being of servicemembers and their 
        families.
            (B) The number of servicemembers who faced foreclosure 
        during a 90-day period, 270-day period, or 365-day period 
        beginning on the date on which the servicemembers completed a 
        period of military service.
            (C) The number of servicemembers who applied for a stay or 
        adjustment under subsection (b) of such section.
            (D) A description and assessment of the effect of applying 
        for a stay or adjustment under such subsection on the financial 
        well-being of the servicemembers who applied for such a stay or 
        adjustment.
            (E) An assessment of the Secretary of Defense's 
        partnerships with public and private sector entities and 
        recommendations on how the Secretary should modify such 
        partnerships to improve financial education and counseling for 
        servicemembers in order to assist them in achieving long-term 
        financial stability.
        (3) Period of military service and servicemember defined.--In 
    this subsection, the terms ``period of military service'' and 
    ``servicemember'' have the meanings given such terms in section 101 
    of such Act (50 U.S.C. App. 511).

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.