[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5985 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.5985

                     One Hundred Fourteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
           the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen


                                 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 2016''.
    (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 authority for collection of copayments for 
          hospital care and nursing home care.
Sec. 102. Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to 
          certain veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Sec. 103. Extension of authorization of appropriations for assistance 
          and support services for caregivers.
Sec. 104. 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.
Sec. 105. Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for 
          child care for certain veterans receiving health care.
Sec. 106. Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service 
          organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans.
Sec. 107. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in 
          retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from 
          service.
Sec. 108. Extension of deadline for report on pilot program on use of 
          community-based organizations and local and State government 
          entities to ensure that veterans receive care and benefits for 
          which they are eligible.

         TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

Sec. 201. Extension of authority for the Veterans' Advisory Committee on 
          Education.
Sec. 202. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real 
          property at time of foreclosure.
Sec. 203. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans.
Sec. 204. Extension of authority to provide rehabilitation and 
          vocational benefits to members of the Armed Forces with severe 
          injuries or illnesses.

    TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESS VETERANS

Sec. 301. Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration 
          programs.
Sec. 302. Extension of authority for homeless women veterans and 
          homeless veterans with children reintegration program.
Sec. 303. Extension of authority for referral and counseling services 
          for veterans at risk of homelessness transitioning from 
          certain institutions.
Sec. 304. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for 
          homeless veterans.
Sec. 305. Extension and modification of authority to provide financial 
          assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran 
          families in permanent housing.
Sec. 306. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans 
          with special needs.
Sec. 307. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless 
          Veterans.
Sec. 308. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation 
          services for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans.

  TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER 
                                 MATTERS

Sec. 401. Extension of authority for transportation of individuals to 
          and from Department 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 authority for monthly assistance allowances under 
          the Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special 
          Events.
Sec. 404. Extension of requirement to provide reports to Congress 
          regarding equitable relief in the case of administrative 
          error.
Sec. 405. Extension of authorization of appropriations for adaptive 
          sports programs for disabled veterans and members of the Armed 
          Forces.
Sec. 406. Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority 
          Veterans.
Sec. 407. Modification to authorization of appropriations for 
          comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.
Sec. 408. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility 
          for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans 
          with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating.
Sec. 409. Extension of authority for specially adapted housing assistive 
          technology grant program.
Sec. 410. Extension of authority to guarantee payment of principal and 
          interest on certificates or other securities.
Sec. 411. Extension of authority to enter into agreement with the 
          National Academy of Sciences regarding associations between 
          diseases and exposure to dioxin and other chemical compounds 
          in herbicides.
Sec. 412. Extension of authority for performance of medical disabilities 
          examinations by contract physicians.
Sec. 413. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers.
Sec. 414. Extension of requirement for annual report on Department of 
          Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program 
          Office.
Sec. 415. Extension of authority to approve courses of education in 
          cases of withdrawal of recognition of accrediting agency by 
          Secretary of Education.
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 AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR 
      HOSPITAL CARE AND NURSING HOME CARE.
    Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2016'' 
and inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
    SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME CARE TO 
      CERTAIN VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.
    Section 1710A(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
      ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS.
    Section 1720G(e) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'';
        (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
    inserting ``; and''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
        ``(4) $734,628,000 for fiscal year 2017.''.
    SEC. 104. 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, in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and inserting ``October 1, 2017''.
    SEC. 105. 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 by striking 
``December 31, 2016'' and inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (h) of such 
section is amended by striking ``and 2016'' and inserting ``2016, and 
2017''.
    SEC. 106. 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 ``2016'' and inserting ``2017''.
    SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON COUNSELING IN 
      RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE.
    (a) Extension.--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) is amended by striking ``December 31, 
2016'' and inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (f) of such 
section is amended by striking ``and 2016'' and inserting ``2016, and 
2017''.
    SEC. 108. EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR REPORT ON PILOT PROGRAM ON USE 
      OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT 
      ENTITIES TO ENSURE THAT VETERANS RECEIVE CARE AND BENEFITS FOR 
      WHICH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE.
    Section 506(g)(1) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 
Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C. 523 note) is 
amended by striking ``180 days after the completion of the pilot 
program'' and inserting ``September 30, 2017''.

         TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

    SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE VETERANS' ADVISORY 
      COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.
    Section 3692(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING NET VALUE OF REAL 
      PROPERTY AT TIME OF FORECLOSURE.
    Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and 
inserting ``October 1, 2017''.
    SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS.
    Section 3733(a)(7) is amended--
        (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
    ``September 30, 2016'' and inserting ``September 30, 2017''; and
        (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``September 30, 2016,'' 
    and inserting ``September 30, 2017,''.
    SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REHABILITATION AND 
      VOCATIONAL BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH SEVERE 
      INJURIES OR ILLNESSES.
    Section 1631(b)(2) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of Public 
Law 110-181; 122 Stat. 458; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2016'' and inserting ``December 31, 2017''.

    TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESS VETERANS

    SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VETERANS 
      REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS.
    Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
``2017''.
    SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS AND 
      HOMELESS VETERANS WITH CHILDREN REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.
    Section 2021A(f)(1) is amended by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
``2017''.
    SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR REFERRAL AND COUNSELING 
      SERVICES FOR VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS TRANSITIONING FROM 
      CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS.
    Section 2023(d) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2016'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
    SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR 
      HOMELESS VETERANS.
    Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2016'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
    SEC. 305. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE 
      FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME 
      VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING.
    Subparagraph (E) of section 2044(e)(1) is amended to read as 
follows:
        ``(E) $320,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 
    2017.''.
    SEC. 306. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS 
      VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
    Section 2061(d)(1) is amended by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
``2017''.
    SEC. 307. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 
      HOMELESS VETERANS.
    Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    SEC. 308. 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 
``September 30, 2016'' and inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
    (b) Additional Services at Certain Locations.--Section 2033(d) is 
amended by striking ``September 30, 2016'' and inserting ``September 
30, 2017''.

  TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER 
                                MATTERS

    SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TRANSPORTATION OF INDIVIDUALS 
      TO AND FROM DEPARTMENT FACILITIES.
    Section 111A(a)(2) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    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 ``September 30, 2016'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
    SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR MONTHLY ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCES 
      UNDER THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL VETERANS SPORTS PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL 
      EVENTS.
    Section 322(d)(4) is amended by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
``2017''.
    SEC. 404. 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, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR ADAPTIVE 
      SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
      FORCES.
    Section 521A is amended--
        (1) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
    ``2017''; and
        (2) in subsection (l), by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
    ``2017''.
    SEC. 406. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY 
      VETERANS.
    Section 544(e) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    SEC. 407. MODIFICATION TO AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
      COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.
    Section 2013(7) is amended by striking ``$250,000,000'' and 
inserting ``$257,700,000''.
    SEC. 408. 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, 2016'' and 
    inserting ``September 30, 2017''; and
        (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
    ``2017''.
    SEC. 409. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
      ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.
    Section 2108(g) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2016'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
    SEC. 410. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO GUARANTEE PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL 
      AND INTEREST ON CERTIFICATES OR OTHER SECURITIES.
    Section 3720(h)(2) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    SEC. 411. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE 
      NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REGARDING ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN 
      DISEASES AND EXPOSURE TO DIOXIN AND OTHER CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS IN 
      HERBICIDES.
    Section 3(i) of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-4; 38 
U.S.C. 1116 note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    SEC. 412. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL 
      DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.
    Subsection (c) of section 704 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 
(38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    SEC. 413. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS.
    Section 406 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring 
Authorities Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-175; 38 U.S.C. 3684 note) is 
amended by striking ``two-year'' and inserting ``three-year''.
    SEC. 414. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL REPORT ON DEPARTMENT 
      OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTERAGENCY PROGRAM 
      OFFICE.
    Section 1635(h)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended 
by striking ``2016'' and inserting ``2017''.
    SEC. 415. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO APPROVE COURSES OF EDUCATION IN 
      CASES OF WITHDRAWAL OF RECOGNITION OF ACCREDITING AGENCY BY 
      SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.
    Section 3679(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) by striking ``Any course'' and inserting ``(1) Except as 
    provided by paragraph (2), any course''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) In the case of a course of education that would be subject to 
disapproval under paragraph (1) solely for the reason that the 
Secretary of Education withdraws the recognition of the accrediting 
agency that accredited the course, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Education, and notwithstanding 
the withdrawal, may continue to treat the course as an approved course 
of education under this chapter for a period not to exceed 18 months 
from the date of the withdrawal of recognition of the accrediting 
agency, unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the appropriate 
State approving agency determines that there is evidence to support the 
disapproval of the course under this chapter. The Secretary shall 
provide to any veteran enrolled in such a course of education notice of 
the status of the course of education.''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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