[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5404 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.5404

                     One Hundred Thirteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
           the third day of January, two thousand and fourteen


                                 An Act


 
   To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring 
provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Department of 
Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014''.
    (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--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH CARE

Sec. 101. Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to 
          certain veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Sec. 102. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in 
          retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from 
          service in the Armed Forces.
Sec. 103. Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for 
          child care for certain veterans receiving health care.
Sec. 104. Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service 
          organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans.
Sec. 105. Extension of requirement for report on activities of 
          Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs 
          Interagency Program Office.
Sec. 106. Extension of authority for the performance of medical 
          disabilities examinations by contract physicians.
Sec. 107. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for 
          hospital care and nursing home care.
Sec. 108. Extension of authority for recovery from third parties of cost 
          of care and services furnished to veterans with health-plan 
          contracts for non-service-connected disability.

       TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS

Sec. 201. Extension of current funding level for comprehensive service 
          programs for homeless veterans.
Sec. 202. Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration 
          programs.
Sec. 203. Extension of authority to provide referral and counseling 
          services for certain veterans at risk of homelessness.
Sec. 204. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation 
          services for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans.
Sec. 205. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for 
          homeless veterans.
Sec. 206. Extension of authority to provide financial assistance for 
          supportive services for very low-income veteran families in 
          permanent housing.
Sec. 207. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans 
          with special needs.
Sec. 208. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless 
          Veterans.

         TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

Sec. 301. Extension of authority for the Veterans' Advisory Committee on 
          Education.
Sec. 302. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real 
          property at time of foreclosure.
Sec. 303. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans.

        TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 401. Extension of authority to transport certain individuals to and 
          from Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
Sec. 402. Extension of authority for operation of the Department of 
          Veterans Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic of 
          the Philippines.
Sec. 403. Extension of requirement to provide reports to Congress 
          regarding equitable relief in the case of administrative 
          error.
Sec. 404. Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority 
          Veterans.
Sec. 405. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility 
          for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans 
          with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating.
Sec. 406. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers.
Sec. 407. Extension of authority for agreement with National Academy of 
          Sciences.
Sec. 408. Health professionals education debt reduction.
Sec. 409. Amendments to Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act 
          of 2014.
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 House Budget Committee, provided that 
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

        TITLE I--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH CARE

    SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME CARE TO 
      CERTAIN VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.
    Section 1710A(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
    SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON COUNSELING IN 
      RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE 
      IN THE ARMED FORCES.
    (a) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (d) of section 203 of the 
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 
111-163; 124 Stat. 1143; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(d) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program 
under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2015.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (f) of such 
section is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2010 and 2011'' and 
inserting ``fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2015''.
    SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE 
      FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS RECEIVING HEALTH CARE.
    (a) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (e) of section 205 of the 
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 
111-163; 124 Stat. 1144; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(e) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program 
under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2015.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (h) of such 
section is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting ``2015''.
    SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO VETERANS SERVICE 
      ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS.
    Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 
Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 124 Stat. 1154; 38 U.S.C. 
1710 note) is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting ``2015''.
    SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF 
      DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTERAGENCY 
      PROGRAM OFFICE.
    Section 1635(h)(1) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of Public 
Law 110-181; 122 Stat. 460; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by striking 
``2014'' and inserting ``2015''.
    SEC. 106. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL 
      DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.
    Section 704(c) of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (Public Law 
108-183; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 
2014'' and inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
    SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR 
      HOSPITAL CARE AND NURSING HOME CARE.
    Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2014'' 
and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
    SEC. 108. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY FROM THIRD PARTIES OF 
      COST OF CARE AND SERVICES FURNISHED TO VETERANS WITH HEALTH-PLAN 
      CONTRACTS FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY.
    Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2014'' 
and inserting ``October 1, 2015''.

       TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS

    SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL FOR COMPREHENSIVE 
      SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.
    Section 2013(7) is amended by striking ``$150,000,000'' and 
inserting ``$250,000,000''.
    SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VETERANS 
      REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS.
    Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting 
``2015''.
    SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REFERRAL AND COUNSELING 
      SERVICES FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.
    (a) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (d) of section 2023 is 
amended by striking ``September 30, 2014'' and inserting ``September 
30, 2015''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--Subsection (c)(3) of such section is 
amended by striking ``enter into contracts'' and inserting ``make 
grants''.
    SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION 
      SERVICES FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS.
    (a) General Treatment.--Section 2031(b) is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2014'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
    (b) Additional Services at Certain Locations.--Section 2033(d) is 
amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and inserting ``September 30, 
2015''.
    SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR 
      HOMELESS VETERANS.
    Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
    SEC. 206. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 
      FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN 
      PERMANENT HOUSING.
    Section 2044(e)(1)(E) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2013 
and 2014'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2013 through 2015''.
    SEC. 207. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS 
      VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
    Section 2061(d)(1) is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting 
``2015''.
    SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 
      HOMELESS VETERANS.
    Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.

        TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

    SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE VETERANS' ADVISORY 
      COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.
    Section 3692(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
    SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING NET VALUE OF REAL 
      PROPERTY AT TIME OF FORECLOSURE.
    Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2014'' and 
inserting ``October 1, 2015''.
    SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS.
    Section 3733(a)(7) is amended--
        (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
    ``September 30, 2014'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''; and
        (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``September 30, 2014,'' 
    and inserting ``September 30, 2015,''.

       TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER MATTERS

    SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSPORT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS 
      TO AND FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES.
    Section 111A(a)(2) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
    SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
      VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE IN MANILA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE 
      PHILIPPINES.
    Section 315(b) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
    SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE REPORTS TO CONGRESS 
      REGARDING EQUITABLE RELIEF IN THE CASE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR.
    Section 503(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
    SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY 
      VETERANS.
    Section 544(e) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
    SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF 
      ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN 
      VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES CAUSING DIFFICULTY AMBULATING.
    Section 2101(a)(4) is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``September 30, 2014'' and 
    inserting ``September 30, 2015''; and
        (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``fiscal year 2014'' and 
    inserting ``each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015''.
    SEC. 406. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS.
    During the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the second sentence of section 3684(c) shall be applied--
        (1) by substituting ``$9'' for ``$12''; and
        (2) by substituting ``$13'' for ``$15''.
    SEC. 407. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL 
      ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
    Section 3(i) of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-4; 105 
Stat. 13; 38 U.S.C. 1116 note) is amended by striking ``October 1, 
2014'' and inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
    SEC. 408. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION DEBT REDUCTION.
    Section 7683 is amended--
        (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following new 
    subsection:
    ``(a) In General.--Education debt reduction payments under the 
Education Debt Reduction Program shall consist of--
        ``(1) payments to individuals selected to participate in the 
    program of principal and interest on loans described in section 
    7682(a)(2) of this title; or
        ``(2) payments for the principal and interest on such loans of 
    such individuals to the holders of such loans.'';
        (2) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking ``payments to'' 
    both places it appears and inserting ``payments to or for''; and
        (3) in subsection (d)--
            (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``made to'' and inserting 
        ``made to or for''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``payable to that'' 
        and inserting ``payable to or for that''.
    SEC. 409. AMENDMENTS TO VETERANS ACCESS, CHOICE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
      ACT OF 2014.
    (a) Expanded Availability of Hospital Care and Medical Services.--
Section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 
2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (c)--
            (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``provide the veteran 
        an appointment that exceeds the wait-time goals described in 
        such subsection or'' before ``place such''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``(or other digital 
        channel)'' after ``website'';
        (2) in subsection (d)(1)(A), by adding at the end the following 
    new sentences: ``An agreement entered into pursuant to this 
    subparagraph may not be treated as a Federal contract for the 
    acquisition of goods or services and is not subject to any 
    provision of law governing Federal contracts for the acquisition of 
    goods or services. Before entering into an agreement pursuant to 
    this subparagraph, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
    practicable and consistent with the requirements of this section, 
    furnish such care and services to such veterans under this section 
    with such entities pursuant to sharing agreements, existing 
    contracts entered into by the Secretary, or other processes 
    available at medical facilities of the Department.'';
        (3) in subsection (l)(1), by inserting ``a copy of'' before 
    ``any medical record''; and
        (4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(t) Waiver of Certain Printing Requirements.--Section 501 of 
title 44, United States Code, shall not apply in carrying out this 
section.''.
    (b) Collaboration Between VA and Indian Health Service.--Section 
102 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 
(Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``The Secretary of Veterans 
    Affairs shall establish'' and inserting the following: ``The 
    Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Indian Health 
    Service shall jointly establish and implement'';
        (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following new 
    paragraph:
        ``(3) Entering into an agreement between the Department and the 
    Indian Health Service described in paragraph (2)(A) with respect to 
    the effect of such agreement on the priority access of any Indian 
    to health care services provided through the Indian Health Service, 
    the eligibility of any Indian to receive health services through 
    the Indian Health Service, and the quality of health care services 
    provided to any Indian through the Indian Health Service.''; and
        (3) by striking subsection (d).
    (c) Prompt Payment.--Section 105 of the Veterans Access, Choice, 
and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 
note) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``section 1315'' and 
    inserting ``part 1315'';
        (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``chapter 39'' and 
    inserting ``chapter 39 of title 31''; and
        (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``required by subsection 
    (b)'' and inserting ``required by subsection (c)''.
    (d) Improvement of Access to Mobile Vet Centers.--Section 204 of 
the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 
113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)--
            (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and readjustment 
        counseling services'' after ``other health care''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2)--
                (i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and events'' 
            after ``locations''; and
                (ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``and outreach 
            contacts'' after ``appointments''; and
        (2) in subsection (b)(2)--
            (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting 
            ``and readjustment counseling'' after ``telemedicine 
            services''; and
                (ii) in clause (iii), by inserting ``and outreach 
            contacts'' after ``appointments'';
            (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and readjustment 
        counseling'' after ``health care services''; and
            (C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``mobile vet centers 
        and''.
    (e) Improved Transparency.--Section 206(b) of the Veterans Access, 
Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 
1701 note) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``comprehensive database'' 
    and inserting ``comprehensive, machine-readable data set'';
        (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``notice in the database of 
    the reason'' and inserting ``notice of the reason''; and
        (3) in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), by striking ``database'' 
    each place it appears and inserting ``data''.
    (f) Information on Credentials.--Section 207 of the Veterans 
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 
U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by striking ``successor database'' each 
place it appears and inserting ``successor data set''.
    (g) Report on Staffing Shortages.--Section 301(b)(3) of the 
Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 
113-146) is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``Not later'' and all that 
    follows through ``2019'' and inserting the following: ``On October 
    1 of each year beginning in 2015 and ending in 2019''; and
        (2) in subparagraph (B)--
            (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``at each'' and all that 
        follows through the period at the end and inserting the 
        following: ``or guidelines of the Department with respect to 
        determining the ratio of residents to staff supervising 
        residents.''; and
            (B) by striking clause (v) and inserting the following new 
        clause:
                ``(v) Efforts of the Department, as of the date of the 
            submittal of the report, to recruit and retain medical 
            residents to work for the Veterans Health Administration as 
            full-time employees.''.
    (h) Project ARCH.--Section 403(j) of the Veterans' Mental Health 
and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-387; 38 U.S.C. 
1703 note) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``In carrying out'' and inserting 
    ``Notwithstanding any provision of law relating to the use of 
    competitive procedures in entering into contracts, in carrying 
    out''; and
        (2) by inserting ``under this section'' after ``make use of 
    contracts entered into''.
    (i) Clarification of Approval of Courses of Education Provided by 
Public Institutions of Higher Learning and In-State Tuition Rate for 
Veterans.--Paragraph (1) of section 3679(c) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and 
subject to paragraphs (3) through (6), the Secretary shall disapprove a 
course of education provided by a public institution of higher learning 
if the institution charges tuition and fees for that course for covered 
individuals who are pursuing the course with educational assistance 
under chapter 30 or 33 of this title while living in the State in which 
the institution is located at a rate that is higher than the rate the 
institution charges for tuition and fees for that course for residents 
of the State in which the institution is located, regardless of the 
covered individual's State of residence.''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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