[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5404 Received in Senate (RDS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5404


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 17 (legislative day, September 16), 2014

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 16, 2014.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.