[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3819 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.3819

                     One Hundred Fifteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

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


                                 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 2017''.
    (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 pilot program on community-based brain injury 
          rehabilitative care services for veterans with traumatic brain 
          injury.
Sec. 108. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in 
          retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from 
          service.
Sec. 109. Extension of temporary expansion of payments and allowances 
          for beneficiary travel in connection with veterans receiving 
          care from Vet Centers.

         TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

Sec. 201. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real 
          property at time of foreclosure.
Sec. 202. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans.
Sec. 203. 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 and modification of authority to provide financial 
          assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran 
          families in permanent housing.
Sec. 305. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans 
          with special needs.
Sec. 306. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless 
          Veterans.
Sec. 307. 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. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility 
          for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans 
          with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating.
Sec. 408. Extension of authority for specially adapted housing assistive 
          technology grant program.
Sec. 409. Extension of authority to guarantee payment of principal and 
          interest on certificates or other securities.
Sec. 410. 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. 411. Modifications of reductions of reporting fee multipliers.

                     TITLE V--TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS

Sec. 501. Technical corrections to Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational 
          Assistance Act of 2017.
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, 2017'' 
and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
    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, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
    SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
      ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS.
    Section 1720G(e) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'';
        (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
    inserting ``; and''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
        ``(5) $839,828,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 and 2019.''.
    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, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 
2019''.
    SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE 
      FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS RECEIVING HEALTH CARE.
    (a) Extension.--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, 
2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (h) of such 
section is amended by striking ``and 2017'' and inserting ``2017, 2018, 
and 2019''.
    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 ``2017'' and inserting ``2019''.
    SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF PILOT PROGRAM ON COMMUNITY-BASED BRAIN 
      INJURY REHABILITATIVE CARE SERVICES FOR VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC 
      BRAIN INJURY.
    (a) Extension.--Subsection (g) of section 1705 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181; 38 
U.S.C. 1710C note) is amended by striking ``October 6, 2017'' and 
inserting ``January 6, 2018''.
    (b) Final Report Submittal Date.--Subsection (e)(2)(A) of such 
section is amended by striking ``60 days after the completion of the 
pilot program'' and inserting ``December 6, 2017''.
    (c) Notification to Participants in Program.--Not later than 
December 6, 2017, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify 
veterans participating in the pilot program under such section 
regarding a plan for transition of care for such veterans.
    SEC. 108. 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 note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 
2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
    (b) Report Submittal Date.--Subsection (e) of such section is 
amended by striking ``180 days after the completion of the pilot 
program'' and inserting ``March 31, 2018''.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (f) of such 
section is amended by striking ``and 2017'' and inserting ``2017, 2018, 
and 2019''.
    SEC. 109. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF PAYMENTS AND 
      ALLOWANCES FOR BENEFICIARY TRAVEL IN CONNECTION WITH VETERANS 
      RECEIVING CARE FROM VET CENTERS.
    (a) Extension.--Subsection (a) of section 104 of the Honoring 
America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 
(Public Law 112-154; 126 Stat. 1169) is amended by striking ``a three-
year initiative'' and inserting ``an initiative, to run through 
September 30, 2018,''.
    (b) Report Submittal Date.--Subsection (b)(1) of such section is 
amended by striking ``180 days after the date of the completion of the 
initiative'' and inserting ``March 31, 2018''.

         TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

    SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING NET VALUE OF REAL 
      PROPERTY AT TIME OF FORECLOSURE.
    Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
    SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS.
    Section 3733(a)(7) is amended--
        (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
    ``September 30, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2018''; and
        (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``September 30, 2017,'' 
    and inserting ``September 30, 2018,''.
    SEC. 203. 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, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2018''.

    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 ``2017'' and inserting 
``2018''.
    SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS AND 
      HOMELESS VETERANS WITH CHILDREN REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.
    Section 2021A(f)(1) is amended by striking ``2017'' and inserting 
``2018''.
    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, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
    SEC. 304. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE 
      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:
        ``(F) $320,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 
    2019.''.
    SEC. 305. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS 
      VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
    Section 2061(d)(1) is amended by striking ``2017'' and inserting 
``2019''.
    SEC. 306. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 
      HOMELESS VETERANS.
    Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
    SEC. 307. 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, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
    (b) Additional Services at Certain Locations.--Section 2033(d) is 
amended by striking ``September 30, 2017'' and inserting ``September 
30, 2019''.

  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, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
    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, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
    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 ``2017'' and inserting 
``2019''.
    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, 2017'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2018''.
    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 ``2017'' and inserting 
    ``2019''; and
        (2) in subsection (l), by striking ``2017'' and inserting 
    ``2019''.
    SEC. 406. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY 
      VETERANS.
    Section 544(e) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
    SEC. 407. 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, 2017'' and 
    inserting ``September 30, 2018''; and
        (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``2017'' and inserting 
    ``2018''.
    SEC. 408. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
      ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.
    Section 2108(g) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
    SEC. 409. 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, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
    SEC. 410. 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, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
    SEC. 411. MODIFICATIONS OF REDUCTIONS OF REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS.
    (a) Through July 31, 2018.--
        (1) In general.--Section 412 of the Jeff Miller and Richard 
    Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 
    2016 (Public Law 114-315; 38 U.S.C. 3684 note) is amended--
            (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``September 25, 2017'' 
        and inserting ``July 31, 2018''; and
            (B) by striking subsection (b).
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The heading for subsection (a) of such 
    section is amended by striking ``September 25, 2017'' and inserting 
    ``July 31, 2018''.
    (b) August 1, 2018, Through July 31, 2020.--During the period 
beginning on August 1, 2018, and ending on July 31, 2020, section 
3684(c)(2) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 304 
of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 
(Public Law 115-48) shall be applied by substituting ``$15'' for 
``$16''.

                     TITLE V--TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS

    SEC. 501. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO HARRY W. COLMERY VETERANS 
      EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2017.
    (a) Use of State Approving Agencies for Oversight Activities.--
Section 3673(d) is amended by inserting ``compliance and'' before 
``risk-based surveys''.
    (b) Calculation of Monthly Housing Stipend Under Post-9/11 
Educational Assistance Program Based on Location of Campus Where 
Classes Are Attended.--
        (1) In general.--Section 3313(g)(3)(A)(ii)(I)(aa) is amended by 
    striking ``the institution at which the individual is enrolled'' 
    and inserting ``the campus of the institution of where the 
    individual physically participates in a majority of classes''.
        (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall 
    apply with respect to enrollment for a quarter, semester, or term, 
    as applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2018.
        (3) Additional technical correction.--Subsection (b) of section 
    107 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 
    2017 (Public Law 115-48) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to enrollment for a quarter, semester, or term, as 
applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2018.''.
    (c) Determination of Monthly Housing Stipends During Active Duty 
Service.--
        (1) In general.--Subsection (j) of section 3313 is amended to 
    read as follows:
    ``(j) Determination of Monthly Housing Stipends During Active Duty 
Service.--For any month during which an individual who is entitled to a 
monthly housing stipend under this section is performing active duty 
service, the Secretary shall determine the amount of such stipend 
payable to such individual for such month on a pro rata basis for the 
period of such month during which the individual is not performing 
active duty service.''.
        (2) Applicability.--Such subsection, as amended by paragraph 
    (1), shall apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as 
    applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2018.
    (d) Special Application of School Closure Rule to Recently Enrolled 
Individuals.--Subparagraph (B) of section 109(c)(1) of the Harry W. 
Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48) 
is amended to read as follows:
            ``(B) Special application.--
                ``(i) In general.--With respect to courses and programs 
            of education discontinued as described in section 3699 of 
            title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
            (a)(1), during the period beginning January 1, 2015, and 
            ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, an 
            individual described in clause (ii) who does not transfer 
            credits from such program of education shall be deemed to 
            be an individual who did not receive such credits, as 
            described in subsection (b)(2) of such section, except that 
            the period for which such individual's entitlement is not 
            charged shall be the entire period of the individual's 
            enrollment in the program of education. In carrying out 
            this subparagraph, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
            consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall 
            establish procedures to determine whether the individual 
            transferred credits to a comparable course or program of 
            education.
                ``(ii) Individual described.--An individual described 
            in this clause is an individual who is enrolled in a course 
            or program of education discontinued as described in clause 
            (i) during the period beginning on the date that is 120 
            days before the date of such discontinuance and ending on 
            the date of such discontinuance.''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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