[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3504 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]

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                  In the Senate of the United States,

                            March 26 (legislative day, March 25), 2020.
    Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 
3504) entitled ``An Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide for improvements to the specially adapted housing program and 
educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
and for other purposes.'', do pass with the following

                               AMENDMENT:

             Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
      following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially 
Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ASSIST BLIND 
              VETERANS WHO HAVE NOT LOST USE OF A LEG IN ACQUIRING 
              SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING.

    Section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``permanent 
                and total''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B),
                            (i) in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), and (v), 
                        by inserting ``permanent and total'' before 
                        ``disability''; and
                            (ii) in clause (ii)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``permanent'' 
                                before ``disability'';
                                    (II) by striking ``due to--'' and 
                                inserting ``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 clause, 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.''; and
                                    (III) by striking subclauses (I) 
                                and (II); and
            (2) in subsection (b)(2)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (A); and
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively.

SEC. 3. INCREASE IN AMOUNTS OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE 
              PROVIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Increase of Number of Grants Per Veteran.--Section 2102(d)(3) 
of such title is amended--
            (1) by striking ``No veteran'' and inserting ``Subject to 
        subsection (f), no veteran''; and
            (2) by striking ``three'' and inserting ``six''.
    (b) Increase in Number of Applications Authorized To Be Approved.--
Section 2101(a)(4) of such title is amended by striking ``30 
applications'' and inserting ``120 applications''.
    (c) Increase in Maximum Amount of Assistance for Adaptation to 
Veteran's Residence.--Section 2102(b)(2) of such title is amended by 
striking ``$12,000'' and inserting ``$19,733''.
    (d) Increase in Aggregate Amount of Assistance for Acquisition of 
Housing With Special Features.--Section 2102(d)(1) of such title is 
amended by striking ``$63,780'' and inserting ``$98,492''.
    (e) Increase in Aggregate Amount of Assistance for Adaptations to 
Veterans' Residences.--Section 2102(d)(2) of such title is amended by 
striking ``$12,756'' and inserting ``$19,733''.
    (f) Effective Date and Application.--The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2020.

SEC. 4. PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
              ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.

    Section 2102 of such title, as amended by section 3, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f)(1) Beginning October 1, 2030, notwithstanding the aggregate 
amounts specified in subsection (d), a covered veteran may apply for 
and receive an additional amount of assistance under subsection (a) or 
(b) of section 2101 of this title in an amount that does not exceed 
half of the amount specified in subsection (d).
    ``(2) In this subsection, a covered veteran is a veteran who--
            ``(A) is described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) of 
        section 2101 of this title;
            ``(B) as of the date of the veteran's application for 
        assistance under paragraph (1), most recently received 
        assistance under this chapter more than 10 years before such 
        date; and
            ``(C) lives in a home that the Secretary determines does 
        not have adaptations that are reasonably necessary because of 
        the veteran's disability.''.

SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREPARATORY COURSES AS PROGRAMS OF 
              EDUCATION FOR PURPOSES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
              EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 3315A the following new section:
``Sec. 3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or 
              national tests
    ``(a) In General.--An individual entitled to educational assistance 
under this chapter shall also be entitled to payment for a covered 
preparatory course.
    ``(b) Amount.--The amount of educational assistance payable under 
this chapter for a covered preparatory course is the lesser of--
            ``(1) the fee charged for the covered preparatory course; 
        or
            ``(2) the amount of entitlement available to the individual 
        under this chapter at the time of payment for the covered 
        preparatory course under this section.
    ``(c) Charge Against Entitlement.--The number of months of 
entitlement charged an individual under this chapter for a covered 
preparatory course shall be pro-rated based on the actual amount of the 
fee charged for the covered preparatory course relative to the rate for 
1 month payable--
            ``(1) for the academic year beginning on August 1, 2020, 
        $2,042; or
            ``(2) for an academic year beginning on any subsequent 
        August 1, the amount for the previous academic year beginning 
        on August 1 under this subsection, as increased by the 
        percentage increase equal to the most recent percentage 
        increase determined under section 3015(h).
    ``(d) Covered Preparatory Course Defined.--In this section, the 
term `covered preparatory course' means a course--
            ``(1) for a licensing or certification test that is 
        required or used to enter into, maintain, or advance in 
        employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or 
        profession; and
            ``(2) that has been approved by the State approving agency 
        concerned.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
3315A the following new item:

``3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or national 
                            tests.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3532(g) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or a covered 
        preparatory course (as that term is defined in section 3315B(a) 
        of this title)'' after ``or national test providing an 
        opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher 
        learning described in section 3501(a)(5) of this title''; and
            (2) in paragraphs (2) and (3), by inserting ``or covered 
        preparatory course'' after ``test'' each place it appears.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on August 1, 2021.

SEC. 6. IMPROVEMENT TO WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Payment of Allowance.--Subsection (a) of section 3485 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Individuals'' and 
        inserting ``In accordance with paragraph (4), individuals'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as 
        paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
        paragraph:
    ``(4)(A) With respect to covered work-study activities, the 
Secretary shall carry out this section by providing to participating 
educational institutions an annual amount for the institution to use in 
paying work-study allowance under paragraph (1) to individuals enrolled 
at the institution.
    ``(B) With respect to a participating educational institution that 
participated in the work-study program under this section during the 
academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the Secretary shall determine 
the annual amount to provide to the educational institution under 
subparagraph (A) as follows:
            ``(i) For the academic year beginning August 1, 2020, the 
        amount shall be the total amount, determined in consultation 
        with the educational institution, that the Secretary paid under 
        this section for covered work-study activities to individuals 
        enrolled at such educational institution during the academic 
        year beginning August 1, 2018.
            ``(ii) Except as provided by clauses (ii) or (iii) of 
        subparagraph (D), for each academic year beginning on or after 
        August 1, 2021, the amount shall be the total amount the 
        educational institution paid under this section for work-study 
        allowance for covered work-study activities to individuals 
        enrolled at such educational institution during the previous 
        academic year in which individuals participated in the work-
        study program.
    ``(C) With respect to a participating educational institution that 
did not participate in the work-study program under this section during 
the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the Secretary shall 
determine the annual amount to provide to the educational institution 
under subparagraph (A) as follows:
            ``(i) For the first academic year in which the educational 
        institution participates in the work-study program beginning on 
        or after August 1, 2020, the amount shall be an amount, 
        determined in consultation with the educational institution, 
        that the Secretary determines appropriate based on amounts 
        provided to similar educational institutions pursuant to 
        subparagraph (B).
            ``(ii) Except as provided by clauses (ii) or (iii) of 
        subparagraph (D), for each academic year occurring after the 
        academic year specified in clause (i), the amount shall be the 
        total amount the educational institution paid under this 
        section for work-study allowance for covered work-study 
        activities to individuals enrolled at such educational 
        institution during the previous academic year in which 
        individuals enrolled at such educational institution 
        participated in the work-study program.
    ``(D)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), if the Secretary 
provides an annual amount to a participating educational institution 
under subparagraph (B) or (C) that is more than the total amount the 
educational institution pays to individuals under paragraph (1) for 
covered work-study activities, the educational institution shall return 
to the Secretary the unpaid amount and the Secretary shall transfer 
such amount into the general fund of the Treasury.
    ``(ii) If the annual amount provided to a participating educational 
institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) is more, but less than 25 
percent more, than the total amount the educational institution pays to 
individuals under paragraph (1) for covered work-study activities, and 
the educational institution plans to participate in the work-study 
program under this section during the subsequent academic year, the 
educational institution may retain the amount of the overpayment if the 
educational institution notifies the Secretary of the amount of the 
overpayment and the intention of the educational institution to retain 
such amount. Any amount retained by an educational institution under 
this clause may only be used by the educational institution to provide 
work-study allowance to individuals enrolled at the educational 
institution.
    ``(iii) At any time a participating educational institution may 
request the Secretary to increase the annual amount that the Secretary 
provides the educational institution under subparagraph (B) or (C). The 
Secretary shall approve or disapprove such request by not later than 30 
days after the date of the request.
    ``(iv) Whenever the Secretary finds that a participating 
educational institution paid an amount of work-study allowance under 
this paragraph to an individual for a purpose other than covered work-
study activities, such payment shall constitute a liability of the 
educational institution to the United States.
    ``(E)(i) Pursuant to section 3690(c), section 3693, and other 
provisions of chapter 36 of this title, the Secretary shall ensure that 
participating educational institutions carry out the work-study 
allowance program in compliance with this section.
    ``(ii) The Secretary may prohibit an educational institution from 
being a participating educational institution under this paragraph if 
the Secretary determines that the educational institution is not in 
compliance with this section.
    ``(F) In this paragraph:
            ``(i) The term `covered work-study activities' means 
        qualifying work-study activities described in subparagraphs 
        (A), (B), (H), (I), or (J) of paragraph (5) for which an 
        individual is paid a work-study allowance.
            ``(ii) The term `participating educational institution' 
        means an educational institution that--
                    ``(I)(aa) during the five-academic-year period 
                occurring before an academic year during which the 
                Secretary carries out this paragraph, the educational 
                institution had on average more than 10 individuals per 
                academic year participating in a covered work-study 
                activity under this section; or
                    ``(bb) the educational institution is not described 
                by item (aa) but informs the Secretary that the 
                institution expects to have more than 10 individuals in 
                the following academic year participating in a covered 
                work-study activity under this section; and
                    ``(II) voluntarily chooses to be a participating 
                educational institution under this paragraph.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (e)(1) of such section is 
amended by striking ``subsection (a)(4)'' and inserting ``subsection 
(a)(5)''.
    (c) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing 
on or after August 1, 2021.

SEC. 7. ADJUSTMENT OF LOAN FEES.

    Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the loan fee table and inserting the following:


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Active duty
                  ``Type of loan                         veteran             Reservist          Other  obligor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(i) Initial loan described in section 3710(a)   2.15                 2.40                 NA
 to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down,
 or any other initial loan described in section
 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down
 (closed on or after October 1, 2004, and before
 January 1, 2020)
(A)(ii) Initial loan described in section 3710(a)  2.30                 2.30                 NA
 to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down,
 or any other initial loan described in section
 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down
 (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before
 April 7, 2023)
(A)(iii) Initial loan described in section         2.15                 2.15                 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
 0-down, or any other initial loan described in
 section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-
 down (closed on or after April 7, 2023, and
 before October 1, 2029)
(A)(iv) Initial loan described in section 3710(a)  1.40                 1.40                 NA
 to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down,
 or any other initial loan described in section
 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down
 (closed on or after October 1, 2029)
(B)(i) Subsequent loan described in section        3.30                 3.30                 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October
 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2020)
(B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in section       3.60                 3.60                 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or after January
 1, 2020, and before April 7, 2023)
(B)(iii) Subsequent loan described in section      3.30                 3.30                 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or after April 7,
 2023, and before October 1, 2029)
(B)(iv) Subsequent loan described in section       1.25                 1.25                 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October
 1, 2029)
(C)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to        1.50                 1.75                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
 (closed before January 1, 2020)
(C)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       1.65                 1.65                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
 (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before
 April 7, 2023)
(C)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to      1.50                 1.50                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
 (closed on or after April 7, 2023, and before
 October 1, 2029)
(C)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       0.75                 0.75                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
 (closed on or after October 1, 2029)
(D)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to        1.25                 1.50                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
 (closed before January 1, 2020)
(D)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       1.40                 1.40                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
 (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before
 April 7, 2023)
(D)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to      1.25                 1.25                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
 (closed on or after April 7, 2023, and before
 October 1, 2029)
(D)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       0.50                 0.50                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
 (closed on or after October 1, 2029)
(E) Interest rate reduction refinancing loan       0.50                 0.50                 NA
(F) Direct loan under section 3711                 1.00                 1.00                 NA
(G) Manufactured home loan under section 3712      1.00                 1.00                 NA
 (other than an interest rate reduction
 refinancing loan)
(H) Loan to Native American veteran under section  1.25                 1.25                 NA
 3762 (other than an interest rate reduction
 refinancing loan)
(I) Loan assumption under section 3714             0.50                 0.50                 0.50
(J) Loan under section 3733(a)                     2.25                 2.25                 2.25''.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEC. 8. DETERMINATION 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.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
116th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H.R. 3504

_______________________________________________________________________

                               AMENDMENT