[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3504 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.3504

                     One Hundred Sixteenth 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 twenty


                                 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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
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.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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