[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7105 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.7105

                     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 provide flexibility for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in caring 
   for homeless veterans during a covered public health emergency, to 
   direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a retraining 
   assistance program for unemployed veterans, 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 ``Johnny Isakson and 
David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 
2020''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Determination of budgetary effects.

                           TITLE I--EDUCATION

                     Subtitle A--Education Generally

Sec. 1001. Improvements to Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program 
          of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 1002. Expansion of eligibility for Fry Scholarship to children and 
          spouses of certain deceased members of the Armed Forces.
Sec. 1003. Period for election to receive benefits under All-Volunteer 
          Educational Assistance Program of Department of Veterans 
          Affairs.
Sec. 1004. Phase out of All-Volunteer Educational Assistance Program.
Sec. 1005. Requirements for in-State tuition.
Sec. 1006. Expansion of authority for certain qualifying work-study 
          activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs 
          of the Department of Veterans Affairs to include outreach 
          services provided through congressional offices.
Sec. 1007. Restoration of entitlement to rehabilitation programs for 
          veterans affected by school closure or disapproval.
Sec. 1008. Technical correction to clarify eligibility for participation 
          in Yellow Ribbon Program of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 1009. Clarification of educational assistance for individuals who 
          pursue an approved program of education leading to a degree 
          while on active duty.
Sec. 1010. Verification of enrollment for purposes of receipt of Post-9/
          11 Educational Assistance benefits.
Sec. 1011. Clarification regarding the dependents to whom entitlement to 
          educational assistance may be transferred under the Post 9/11 
          Educational Assistance Program.
Sec. 1012. Expansion of reasons for which a course of education may be 
          disapproved.
Sec. 1013. Oversight of educational institutions with approved programs: 
          risk-based surveys.
Sec. 1014. Oversight of educational institutions subject to Government 
          action for purposes of the educational assistance programs of 
          the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 1015. Additional requirement for approval of educational 
          institutions for purposes of the educational assistance 
          programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 1016. Clarification of accreditation for law schools for purposes 
          of the educational assistance programs of the Department of 
          Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 1017. Clarification of grounds for disapproval of a course for 
          purposes of the educational assistance programs of the 
          Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 1018. Requirements for educational institutions participating in 
          the educational assistance programs of the Department of 
          Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 1019. Overpayments to eligible persons or veterans.
Sec. 1020. Improvements to limitation on certain advertising, sales, and 
          enrollment practices.
Sec. 1021. Charge to entitlement to educational assistance for 
          individuals who do not transfer credits from certain closed or 
          disapproved programs of education.
Sec. 1022. Department of Veterans Affairs treatment of for-profit 
          educational institutions converted to nonprofit educational 
          institutions.
Sec. 1023. Authority of State approving agencies to conduct outreach 
          activities.
Sec. 1024. Limitation on colocation and administration of State 
          approving agencies.
Sec. 1025. Elimination of period of eligibility for training and 
          rehabilitation for certain veterans with service-connected 
          disabilities.

                     Subtitle B--Pandemic Assistance

Sec. 1101. Definitions.
Sec. 1102. Continuation of Department of Veterans Affairs educational 
          assistance benefits during COVID-19 emergency.
Sec. 1103. Effects of closure of educational institution and 
          modification of courses by reason of COVID-19 emergency.
Sec. 1104. Payment of educational assistance in cases of withdrawal.
Sec. 1105. Modification of time limitations on use of entitlement.
Sec. 1106. Apprenticeship or on-job training requirements.
Sec. 1107. Inclusion of training establishments in certain provisions 
          related to COVID-19 emergency.
Sec. 1108. Treatment of payment of allowances under Student Veteran 
          Coronavirus Response Act.

                           TITLE II--BENEFITS

                     Subtitle A--Benefits Generally

Sec. 2001. Revision of definition of Vietnam era for purposes of the 
          laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 2002. Matters relating to Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
          disability examinations.
Sec. 2003. Medal of Honor special pension for surviving spouses.
Sec. 2004. Modernization of service-disabled veterans insurance.
Sec. 2005. Denial of claims for traumatic injury protection under 
          Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.
Sec. 2006. Publication and acceptance of disability benefit 
          questionnaire forms of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 2007. Threshold for reporting debts to consumer reporting agencies.
Sec. 2008. Removal of dependents from award of compensation or pension.
Sec. 2009. Eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation for 
          surviving spouses who remarry after age 55.
Sec. 2010. Study on exposure by members of the Armed Forces to toxicants 
          at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan.
Sec. 2011. Comptroller General briefing and report on repealing 
          manifestation period for presumptions of service connection 
          for certain diseases associated with exposure to certain 
          herbicide agents.
Sec. 2012. Extension of authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
          use income information from other agencies.
Sec. 2013. Extension on certain limits on payments of pension.

                           Subtitle B--Housing

Sec. 2101. Eligibility of certain members of the reserve components of 
          the Armed Forces for home loans from the Secretary of Veterans 
          Affairs.
Sec. 2102. Reducing loan fees for certain veterans affected by major 
          disasters.
Sec. 2103. Extension of certain housing loan fees.
Sec. 2104. Collection of overpayments of specially adapted housing 
          assistance.

                       Subtitle C--Burial Matters

Sec. 2201. Transportation of deceased veterans to veterans' cemeteries.
Sec. 2202. Increase in certain funeral benefits under laws administered 
          by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 2203. Outer burial receptacles for each new grave in cemeteries 
          that are the subjects of certain grants made by the Secretary 
          of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 2204. Provision of inscriptions for spouses and children on certain 
          headstones and markers furnished by the Secretary of Veterans 
          Affairs.
Sec. 2205. Aid to counties for establishment, expansion, and improvement 
          of veterans' cemeteries.
Sec. 2206. Increase in maximum amount of grants to States, counties, and 
          tribal organizations for operating and maintaining veterans' 
          cemeteries.
Sec. 2207. Provision of urns and commemorative plaques for remains of 
          certain veterans whose cremated remains are not interred in 
          certain cemeteries.
Sec. 2208. Training of State and tribal veterans' cemetery personnel by 
          National Cemetery Administration.

                         TITLE III--HEALTH CARE

                    Subtitle A--Health Care Generally

Sec. 3001. Expansion of modifications to Veteran Directed Care program.
Sec. 3002. Prohibition on collection of a health care copayment by the 
          Secretary of Veterans Affairs from a veteran who is a member 
          of an Indian tribe.
Sec. 3003. Oversight for State homes regarding COVID-19 infections, 
          response capacity, and staffing levels.
Sec. 3004. Grants for State homes located on tribal lands.
Sec. 3005. Continuation of Women's Health Transition Training program of 
          Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 3006. Authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish 
          medically necessary transportation for newborn children of 
          certain women veterans.
Sec. 3007. Waiver of requirements of Department of Veterans Affairs for 
          receipt of per diem payments for domiciliary care at State 
          homes and modification of eligibility for such payments.
Sec. 3008. Expansion of quarterly update of information on staffing and 
          vacancies at facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
          to include information on duration of hiring process.
Sec. 3009. Requirement for certain Department of Veterans Affairs 
          medical facilities to have physical location for the disposal 
          of controlled substances medications.
Sec. 3010. Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program for clinical 
          observation by undergraduate students.

              Subtitle B--Scheduling and Consult Management

Sec. 3101. Process and requirements for scheduling appointments for 
          health care from Department of Veterans Affairs and non-
          Department health care.
Sec. 3102. Audits regarding scheduling of appointments and management of 
          consultations for health care from Department of Veterans 
          Affairs and non-Department health care.
Sec. 3103. Administration of non-Department of Veterans Affairs health 
          care.
Sec. 3104. Examination of health care consultation and scheduling 
          positions of Department of Veterans Affairs.

                     TITLE IV--NAVY SEAL BILL MULDER

Sec. 4001. Short title.

               Subtitle A--Service-connection and COVID-19

Sec. 4101. Presumptions of service-connection for members of Armed 
          Forces who contract Coronavirus Disease 2019 under certain 
          circumstances.

              Subtitle B--Assistance for Homeless Veterans

Sec. 4201. Flexibility for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in caring 
          for homeless veterans during a covered public health 
          emergency.
Sec. 4202. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for 
          homelessness.
Sec. 4203. Gap analysis of Department of Veterans Affairs programs that 
          provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless.
Sec. 4204. Improvements to grants awarded by the Secretary of Veterans 
          Affairs to entities that provide services to homeless 
          veterans.
Sec. 4205. Repeal of sunset on authority to carry out program of 
          referral and counseling services for veterans at risk for 
          homelessness who are transitioning from certain institutions.
Sec. 4206. Coordination of case management services for veterans 
          receiving housing vouchers under Tribal Housing and Urban 
          Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.
Sec. 4207. Contracts relating to case managers for homeless veterans in 
          supported housing program.
Sec. 4208. Report on staffing of Department of Housing and Urban 
          Development-Department of Veterans Affairs supported housing 
          program.

             Subtitle C--Retraining Assistance for Veterans

Sec. 4301. Access for the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs to 
          the Federal directory of new hires.
Sec. 4302. Expansion of eligible class of providers of high technology 
          programs of education for veterans.
Sec. 4303. Pilot program for off-base transition training for veterans 
          and spouses.
Sec. 4304. Grants for provision of transition assistance to members of 
          the Armed Forces after separation, retirement, or discharge.
Sec. 4305. One-year independent assessment of the effectiveness of 
          Transition Assistance Program.
Sec. 4306. Longitudinal study on changes to Transition Assistance 
          Program.

                        TITLE V--DEBORAH SAMPSON

Sec. 5001. Short title.

  Subtitle A--Improving Access for Women Veterans to the Department of 
                            Veterans Affairs

Sec. 5101. Office of Women's Health in Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 5102. Women veterans retrofit initiative.
Sec. 5103. Establishment of environment of care standards and 
          inspections at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.
Sec. 5104. Provision of reintegration and readjustment services to 
          veterans and family members in group retreat settings.
Sec. 5105. Provision of legal services for women veterans.
Sec. 5106. Comptroller General surveys and report on supportive services 
          provided for very low-income women veterans.
Sec. 5107. Programs on assistance for child care for certain veterans.
Sec. 5108. Availability of prosthetics for women veterans from 
          Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 5109. Requirement to improve Department of Veterans Affairs women 
          veterans call center.
Sec. 5110. Study on infertility services furnished at Department of 
          Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 5111. Sense of Congress on access to facilities of Department of 
          Veterans Affairs by reservists for counseling and treatment 
          relating to military sexual trauma.

            Subtitle B--Increasing Staff Cultural Competency

Sec. 5201. Staffing of women's health primary care providers at medical 
          facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 5202. Additional funding for primary care and emergency care 
          clinicians in Women Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency 
          Program.
Sec. 5203. Establishment of women veteran training module for non-
          Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers.
Sec. 5204. Study on staffing of women veteran program manager program at 
          medical centers of Department of Veterans Affairs and training 
          of staff.
Sec. 5205. Study on Women Veteran Coordinator program.
Sec. 5206. Staffing improvement plan for peer specialists of Department 
          of Veterans Affairs who are women.

             Subtitle C--Eliminating Harassment and Assault

Sec. 5301. Expansion of coverage by Department of Veterans Affairs of 
          counseling and treatment for sexual trauma.
Sec. 5302. Assessment of effects of intimate partner violence on women 
          veterans by Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.
Sec. 5303. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault policy of Department 
          of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 5304. Pilot program on assisting veterans who experience intimate 
          partner violence or sexual assault.
Sec. 5305. Study and task force on veterans experiencing intimate 
          partner violence or sexual assault.

                Subtitle D--Data Collection and Reporting

Sec. 5401. Requirement for collection and analysis of data on Department 
          of Veterans Affairs benefits and services and disaggregation 
          of such data by gender, race, and ethnicity.
Sec. 5402. Study on barriers for women veterans to receipt of health 
          care from Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 5403. Study on feasibility and advisability of offering Parenting 
          STAIR program at all medical centers of Department of Veterans 
          Affairs.

                      Subtitle E--Benefits Matters

Sec. 5501. Evaluation of service-connection of mental health conditions 
          relating to military sexual trauma.
Sec. 5502. Choice of sex of Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
          examiner for assessment of claims for compensation relating to 
          disability resulting from physical assault of a sexual nature, 
          battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment.
Sec. 5503. Secretary of Veterans Affairs report on implementing 
          recommendations of Inspector General of Department of Veterans 
          Affairs in certain report on denied posttraumatic stress 
          disorder claims related to military sexual trauma.

       TITLE VI--REPRESENTATION AND FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION MATTERS

Sec. 6001. Short title.
Sec. 6002. Plan to address the financial exploitation of veterans 
          receiving pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 6003. Overpayments of pension to veterans receiving pension from 
          the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 6004. Evaluation of additional actions for verifying direct deposit 
          information provided by veterans on applications for veterans 
          pension.
Sec. 6005. Annual report on efforts of Department of Veterans Affairs to 
          address the financial exploitation of veterans receiving 
          pension.
Sec. 6006. Notice regarding fees charged in connection with filing an 
          application for veterans pension.
Sec. 6007. Outreach plan for educating vulnerable veterans about 
          potential financial exploitation relating to the receipt of 
          pension.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

              Subtitle A--Administrative and Other Matters

Sec. 7001. Medical examination protocol for volunteer drivers 
          participating in program of transportation services for 
          veterans.
Sec. 7002. Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Tribal 
          and Indian Affairs.
Sec. 7003. Preference for offerors employing veterans.
Sec. 7004. Extension of certain employment and reemployment rights to 
          members of the National Guard who perform State active duty.
Sec. 7005. Repayment of misused benefits.
Sec. 7006. Exemption of certain transfers.
Sec. 7007. Report and planned actions of the Secretary of Veterans 
          Affairs to address certain high-risk areas of the Department 
          of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 7008. Annual report by Secretary of Veterans Affairs on 
          implementation of priority recommendations of Comptroller 
          General of the United States pertaining to Department of 
          Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 7009. Clarification of methods used to monitor compliance with 
          certain limitations on subcontracting.
Sec. 7010. Department of Veterans Affairs requirement to provide certain 
          notice to persons filing claims for damage, injury, or death 
          on Standard Form 95.

     Subtitle B--Matters Relating to the Chief Financial Officer of 
                     Department of Veterans Affairs

Sec. 7101. Definitions.
Sec. 7102. Plans for addressing material weaknesses and providing 
          sufficient authority to Chief Financial Officer of Department 
          of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 7103. Chief Financial Officer attestation.
Sec. 7104. Chief Financial Officer responsibility for subordinate chief 
          financial officers.

                 Subtitle C--Servicemembers Civil Relief

Sec. 7201. Clarification of delivery of notice of termination of leases 
          of premises and motor vehicles for purposes of relief under 
          Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
Sec. 7202. Technical correction regarding extension of lease protections 
          for servicemembers under stop movement orders in response to 
          local, national, or global emergency.
SEC. 2. 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.

                           TITLE I--EDUCATION
                    Subtitle A--Education Generally

SEC. 1001. IMPROVEMENTS TO EDITH NOURSE ROGERS STEM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 
OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Clarification and Expansion of Eligibility.--Subsection (b)(4) 
of section 3320 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (A)(i)--
            (A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting ``, 
        or a dual degree program that includes such an undergraduate 
        college degree,'' after ``undergraduate college degree'';
            (B) by striking subclause (IX); and
            (C) by redesignating subclauses (X) and (XI) as subclauses 
        (IX) and (X), respectively;
        (2) in subparagraph (B)--
            (A) by inserting ``covered clinical training program for 
        health care professionals or a'' before ``program of 
        education''; and
            (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
        or''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(C) is an individual who has earned a graduate degree in 
        a field referred to in subparagraph (A)(i) and is enrolled in a 
        covered clinical training program for health care 
        professionals.''.
    (b) Priority.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(c) Priority.--(1) If the Secretary determines that there are 
insufficient funds available in a fiscal year to provide additional 
benefits under this section to all eligible individuals, the Secretary 
may give priority to the following eligible individuals:
        ``(A) Individuals who require the most credit hours described 
    in subsection (b)(4).
        ``(B) Individuals who are entitled to educational assistance 
    under this chapter by reason of paragraph (1), (2), (8), or (9) of 
    section 3311(b) of this title.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall give priority to individuals under 
paragraph (1) in the following order:
        ``(A) Individuals who are enrolled in a program of education 
    leading to an undergraduate degree in a field referred to in 
    subsection (b)(4)(A)(i).
        ``(B) Individuals who are enrolled in a program of education 
    leading to a teaching certificate.
        ``(C) Individuals who are enrolled in a dual-degree program 
    leading to both an undergraduate and graduate degree in a field 
    referred to in subsection (b)(4)(A)(i).
        ``(D) Individuals who have earned an undergraduate degree and 
    are enrolled in a covered clinical training program for health care 
    professionals.
        ``(E) Individuals who have earned a graduate degree and are 
    enrolled in a covered clinical training program for health care 
    professionals.''.
    (c) Amounts Not Subject to Certain Limitation.--Subsection (d) of 
such section is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
    ``(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or 
chapter 36 of this title, any additional benefits under this section 
may not be counted toward the aggregate period for which section 3695 
of this title limits an individual's receipt of allowance or 
assistance.''.
    (d) Covered Clinical Training Program Defined.--Such section is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Covered Clinical Training Program Defined.--In this section, 
the term `covered clinical training program' means any clinical 
training required by a health care professional to be licensed to 
practice in a State or locality.''.
SEC. 1002. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR FRY SCHOLARSHIP TO CHILDREN AND 
SPOUSES OF CERTAIN DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
    (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 3311 of title 38, United 
States Code, as amended by section 105 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans 
Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48), is further 
amended--
        (1) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (11); and
        (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new 
    paragraphs (9) and (10):
        ``(9) An individual who is the child or spouse of a person who, 
    on or after September 11, 2001, dies in line of duty while serving 
    on duty other than active duty as a member of the Armed Forces.
        ``(10) An individual who is the child or spouse of a member of 
    the Selected Reserve who dies on or after September 11, 2001, while 
    a member of the Selected Reserve from a service-connected 
    disability.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Title 38, United States Code, is 
amended as follows:
        (1) In section 3311(f), by striking ``paragraph (8)'' each 
    place it appears and inserting ``paragraphs (8), (9), and (10)''.
        (2) In section 3313(c)(1), by striking ``(8), or (9)'' and 
    inserting ``(8), (9), (10), or (11)''.
        (3) In section 3317(a), in the second sentence, by striking 
    ``paragraphs (1), (2), (8), and (9)'' and inserting ``paragraphs 
    (1), (2), (8), (9), (10), and (11)''.
        (4) In section 3320, as amended by section 1001 of this title, 
    in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ``(8), or (9)'' and inserting 
    ``(8), (9), (10), or (11)''.
        (5) In section 3322--
            (A) in subsection (e), by striking both ``sections 
        3311(b)(8) and 3319'' and inserting ``section 3319 and 
        paragraph (8), (9), or (10) of section 3311 of this title'';
            (B) in subsection (f), by striking ``section 3311(b)(8)'' 
        and inserting ``paragraph (8), (9), or (10) of section 3311 of 
        this title''; and
            (C) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ``either section 
        3311(b)(8) or chapter 35'' and inserting ``either chapter 35 or 
        paragraph (8), (9), or (10) of section 3311''.
    (c) Applicability Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
take effect immediately after the amendments made by section 105 of the 
Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public 
Law 115-48) take effect and shall apply with respect to a quarter, 
semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 
2021.
SEC. 1003. PERIOD FOR ELECTION TO RECEIVE BENEFITS UNDER ALL-VOLUNTEER 
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Section 3011 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
        (1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``Any such election shall 
    be made at the time the individual initially enters on active duty 
    as a member of the Armed Forces'' and inserting ``Any such election 
    shall be made during the 90-day period beginning on the day that is 
    180 days after the date on which the individual initially enters 
    initial training''; and
        (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``that such individual is 
    entitled to such pay'' and inserting ``that begin after the date 
    that is 270 days after the date on which the individual initially 
    enters initial training''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 1004. PHASE OUT OF ALL-VOLUNTEER EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
    Subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 3011 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``after June 30, 1985'' and inserting 
``during the period beginning July 1, 1985, and ending September 30, 
2030''.
SEC. 1005. REQUIREMENTS FOR IN-STATE TUITION.
    (a) In General.--Section 3679(c) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``less than three years 
    before the date of enrollment in the course concerned''; and
        (2) in paragraph (4)--
            (A) by striking ``It shall'' and inserting ``(A) It 
        shall''; and
            (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) To the extent feasible, the Secretary shall make publicly 
available on the internet website of the Department a database 
explaining any requirements described in subparagraph (A) that are 
established by a public institution of higher learning for an 
individual to be charged tuition and fees at a rate that is equal to or 
less than the rate the institution charges for tuition and fees for 
residents of the State in which the institution is located. The 
Secretary shall disapprove a course of education provided by such an 
institution that does not provide the Secretary--
        ``(i) an initial explanation of such requirements; and
        ``(ii) not later than 90 days after the date on which any such 
    requirements change, the updated requirements.''.
    (b) 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. 1006. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN QUALIFYING WORK-STUDY 
ACTIVITIES FOR PURPOSES OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INCLUDE OUTREACH SERVICES PROVIDED 
THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES.
    (a) In General.--Section 3485(a)(4) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
        ``(K) The following activities carried out at the offices of 
    Members of Congress for such Members:
            ``(i) The distribution of information to members of the 
        Armed Forces, veterans, and their dependents about the benefits 
        and services under laws administered by the Secretary and other 
        appropriate governmental and nongovernmental programs.
            ``(ii) The preparation and processing of papers and other 
        documents, including documents to assist in the preparation and 
        presentation of claims for benefits under laws administered by 
        the Secretary.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on August 1, 2021.
SEC. 1007. RESTORATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR 
VETERANS AFFECTED BY SCHOOL CLOSURE OR DISAPPROVAL.
    (a) Entitlement.--Section 3699 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``chapter 30,'' each time it appears and inserting 
``chapter 30, 31,''.
    (b) Payment of Subsistence Allowances.--Section 3680(a)(2)(B) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) by inserting ``or a subsistence allowance described in 
    section 3108'' before ``, during''; and
        (2) by inserting ``or allowance'' after ``such a stipend''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 7 of the Student Veteran 
Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (134 Stat. 634; Public Law 116-140) is 
hereby repealed.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply as if included in the enactment of section 109 of the Harry W. 
Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48; 
131 Stat. 978).
SEC. 1008. TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO CLARIFY ELIGIBILITY FOR 
PARTICIPATION IN YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS.
    Section 3317(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) by striking ``the full cost of established charges (as 
    specified in section 3313)'' and inserting ``the full cost of 
    tuition and fees for a program of education''; and
        (2) by striking ``those established charges'' and inserting 
    ``such tuition and fees''.
SEC. 1009. CLARIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO 
PURSUE AN APPROVED PROGRAM OF EDUCATION LEADING TO A DEGREE WHILE ON 
ACTIVE DUTY.
    (a) In General.--Section 3313(e) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended--
        (1) in the heading, by inserting ``for a Period of More Than 30 
    Days'' after ``Active Duty'';
        (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``for a period of more than 
    30 days'' after ``active duty''; and
        (3) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
    by inserting ``for a period of more than 30 days'' after ``active 
    duty''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on August 1, 2022.
SEC. 1010. VERIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT FOR PURPOSES OF RECEIPT OF POST-
9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS.
    (a) In General.--Section 3313 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(l) Verification of Enrollment.--(1) The Secretary shall 
require--
        ``(A) each educational institution to submit to the Secretary 
    verification of each individual who is enrolled in a course or 
    program of education at the educational institution and is 
    receiving educational assistance under this chapter--
            ``(i) not later than such time as the Secretary determines 
        reasonable after the date on which the individual is enrolled; 
        and
            ``(ii) not later than such time as the Secretary determines 
        reasonable after the last date on which a student is able to 
        withdraw from the course or program of education without 
        penalty; and
        ``(B) each individual who is enrolled in a course or program of 
    education and is receiving educational assistance under this 
    chapter to submit to the Secretary verification of such enrollment 
    for each month during which the individual is so enrolled and 
    receiving such educational assistance.
    ``(2) Verification under this subsection shall be in an electronic 
form prescribed by the Secretary.
    ``(3) If an individual fails to submit the verification required 
under paragraph (1)(B) for two consecutive months, the Secretary may 
not make a monthly stipend payment to the individual under this section 
until the individual submits such verification.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on August 1, 2021.
SEC. 1011. CLARIFICATION REGARDING THE DEPENDENTS TO WHOM ENTITLEMENT 
TO EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE MAY BE TRANSFERRED UNDER THE POST 9/11 
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
    (a) In General.--Section 3319(c) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Eligible Dependents.--
        ``(1) Transfer.--An individual approved to transfer an 
    entitlement to educational assistance under this section may 
    transfer the individual's entitlement to an eligible dependent or a 
    combination of eligible dependents.
        ``(2) Definition of eligible dependent.--For purposes of this 
    subsection, the term `eligible dependent' has the meaning given the 
    term `dependent' under subparagraphs (A), (I), and (D) of section 
    1072(2) of title 10.''.
    (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to educational assistance payable under chapter 33 
of title 38, United States Code, before, on, or after the date that is 
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 1012. EXPANSION OF REASONS FOR WHICH A COURSE OF EDUCATION MAY BE 
DISAPPROVED.
    (a) In General.--Section 3672(b)(2) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting or ``or (D)'' after 
    ``subparagraph (C)''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(D) A program that is described in subparagraph (A)(i) of this 
paragraph and offered by an educational institution that is at risk of 
losing accreditation shall not be deemed to be approved for purposes of 
this chapter. For purposes of this subparagraph, an educational 
institution is at risk of losing accreditation if that educational 
institution has received from the relevant accrediting agency or 
association a notice described in section 3673(e)(2)(D) of this 
title.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on August 1, 2021.
SEC. 1013. OVERSIGHT OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WITH APPROVED 
PROGRAMS: RISK-BASED SURVEYS.
    (a) Risk-based Surveys.--
        (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 36, United States 
    Code, is amended by inserting after section 3673 the following new 
    section:
``Sec. 3673A. Risk-based surveys
    ``(a) Development Required.--The Secretary, in partnership with 
State approving agencies, shall develop a searchable risk-based survey 
for oversight of educational institutions with courses and programs of 
education approved under this chapter.
    ``(b) Scope.--(1) The scope of the risk-based survey developed 
under subsection (a) shall be determined by the Secretary, in 
partnership with the State approving agency.
    ``(2) At a minimum the scope determined under paragraph (1) shall 
include the following:
        ``(A) Rapid increase in veteran enrollment.
        ``(B) Rapid increase in tuition and fees.
        ``(C) Complaints tracked and published with the mechanism 
    required by section 3698(b)(2) from students pursuing programs of 
    education with educational assistance furnished under laws 
    administered by the Secretary, based on severity or volume of the 
    complaints.
        ``(D) Compliance with section 3680A(d)(1) of this title.
        ``(E) Veteran completion rates.
        ``(F) Indicators of financial stability.
        ``(G) Review of the advertising and recruiting practices of the 
    educational institution, including those by third-party contractors 
    of the educational institution.
        ``(H) Matters for which the Federal Government or a State 
    Government brings an action in a court of competent jurisdiction 
    against an educational institution, including matters in cases in 
    which the Federal Government or the State comes to a settled 
    agreement on such matters outside of the court.
    ``(c) Database.--The Secretary, in partnership with the State 
approving agencies under this chapter, shall establish a database or 
use an existing system, as the Secretary considers appropriate, to 
serve as a central repository for information required for or collected 
during site visits for the risk-based survey developed under subsection 
(a), so as to improve future oversight of educational institutions with 
programs of education approved under this chapter.''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of chapter 36 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
    relating to section 3673 the following new item:

``3673A. Risk-based surveys.''.

    (b) Use of State Approving Agencies for Oversight Activities.--
        (1) In general.--Section 3673(d) of title 38, United States 
    Code, is amended--
            (A) by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''; and
            (B) by striking ``compliance and risk-based surveys'' and 
        inserting ``a risk-based survey developed under section 3673A 
        of this title''.
        (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall 
    take effect on October 1, 2022.
SEC. 1014. OVERSIGHT OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT 
ACTION FOR PURPOSES OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Section 3673 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Notice of Government Action.--(1)(A) If the Secretary 
receives notice described in paragraph (2), or otherwise becomes aware 
of an action or event described in paragraph (3), with respect to an 
educational institution, the Secretary shall transmit such notice or 
provide notice of such action or event to the State approving agency 
for the State where the educational institution is located by not later 
than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary receives such notice 
or becomes aware of such action or event.
    ``(B) If a State approving agency receives notice as described in 
paragraph (2), or otherwise becomes aware of an action or event 
described in paragraph (3), with respect to an educational institution, 
other than from the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this 
paragraph, the State approving agency shall immediately notify the 
Secretary.
    ``(C) Not later than 60 days after the date on which a State 
approving agency receives notice under subparagraph (A), receives 
notice as described in subparagraph (B), or becomes aware as described 
in such subparagraph, as the case may be, regarding an educational 
institution, such State approving agency shall--
        ``(i) complete a risk-based survey of such educational 
    institution; and
        ``(ii) provide the Secretary with--
            ``(I) a complete report on the findings of the State 
        approving agency with respect to the risk-based survey 
        completed under clause (i) and any actions taken as a result of 
        such findings; and
            ``(II) any supporting documentation and pertinent records.
    ``(2) Notice described in this paragraph is any of the following:
        ``(A) Notice from the Secretary of Education of an event under 
    paragraph (3)(A).
        ``(B) Notice of an event under paragraph (3)(B).
        ``(C) Notice from a State of an action taken by that State 
    under paragraph (3)(C).
        ``(D) Notice provided by an accrediting agency or association 
    of an action described in paragraph (3)(D) taken by that agency or 
    association.
        ``(E) Notice that the Secretary of Education has placed the 
    educational institution on provisional certification status.
    ``(3) An action or event under this paragraph is any of the 
following:
        ``(A) The receipt by an educational institution of payments 
    under the heightened cash monitoring level 2 payment method 
    pursuant to section 487(c)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 
    1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094).
        ``(B) Punitive action taken by the Attorney General, the 
    Federal Trade Commission, or any other Federal department or agency 
    for misconduct or misleading marketing practices that would violate 
    the standards defined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
        ``(C) Punitive action taken by a State against an educational 
    institution.
        ``(D) The loss, or risk of loss, by an educational institution 
    of an accreditation from an accrediting agency or association, 
    including notice of probation, suspension, an order to show cause 
    relating to the educational institution's academic policies and 
    practices or to its financial stability, or revocation of 
    accreditation.
        ``(E) The placement of an educational institution on 
    provisional certification status by the Secretary of Education.
    ``(4) If a State approving agency disapproves or suspends an 
educational institution, the State approving agency shall provide 
notice of such disapproval or suspension to the Secretary and to all 
other State approving agencies.
    ``(5) This subsection shall be carried out using amounts made 
available pursuant to section 3674(a)(4) of this title as long as such 
amounts remain available.
    ``(6) For each notice transmitted or provided to a State approving 
agency under paragraph (1) with respect to an educational institution, 
the Secretary shall ensure the careful review of--
        ``(A) to the extent possible, the action that gave rise to such 
    notice; and
        ``(B) any other action against the educational institution by 
    any Federal or State government entity or by the educational 
    institution's accreditor.
    ``(7) In this subsection, the term `risk-based survey' means the 
risk-based survey developed under section 3673A of this title.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on August 1, 2021.
SEC. 1015. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPROVAL OF EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Section 3675 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
        (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following new 
    paragraph:
        ``(4) The educational institution is approved and participates 
    in a program under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
    U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) or the Secretary has waived the requirement 
    under this paragraph with respect to an educational institution and 
    submits to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives 
    notice of such waiver.''.
        (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d)(1) The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report on 
any waivers issued pursuant to subsection (b)(4) or section 
3672(b)(2)(A)(i) of this title.
    ``(2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include, for 
the year covered by the report, the following:
        ``(A) The name of each educational institution for which a 
    waiver was issued.
        ``(B) The justification for each such waiver.
        ``(C) The total number of waivers issued.''.
    (b) Requirement for Approval of Standard College Degree Programs.--
Clause (i) of section 3672(b)(2)(A) of such title is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (C) or (D), an 
        accredited standard college degree program offered at a public 
        or not-for-profit proprietary educational institution that--
                ``(I) is accredited by an agency or association 
            recognized for that purpose by the Secretary of Education; 
            and
                ``(II) is approved and participates in a program under 
            title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
            1070 et seq.), unless the Secretary has waived the 
            requirement to participate in a program under title IV of 
            the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et 
            seq.).''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall take effect on August 1, 2021.
SEC. 1016. CLARIFICATION OF ACCREDITATION FOR LAW SCHOOLS FOR PURPOSES 
OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Paragraphs (14)(B) and (15)(B) of section 3676(c) 
of title 38, United States Code, are each amended--
        (1) by striking ``an accrediting agency'' both places it 
    appears and inserting ``a specialized accrediting agency for 
    programs of legal education''; and
        (2) by inserting before the period the following: ``, from 
    which recipients of law degrees from such accredited programs are 
    eligible to sit for a bar examination in any State''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on August 1, 2021.
SEC. 1017. CLARIFICATION OF GROUNDS FOR DISAPPROVAL OF A COURSE FOR 
PURPOSES OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
        (1) by inserting ``(including failure to comply with a risk-
    based survey under this chapter or secure an affirmation of 
    approval by the appropriate State approving agency following the 
    survey)'' after ``requirements of this chapter''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) In this section, the term `risk-based survey' means a risk-
based survey developed under section 3673A(a) of this title.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on August 1, 2021.
SEC. 1018. REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATING IN 
THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, as 
amended by section 1017 of this title, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f)(1) Except as provided by paragraph (5), a State approving 
agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of the State approving 
agency, shall take an action described in paragraph (4)(A) if the State 
approving agency or the Secretary, when acting in the role of the State 
approving agency, determines that an educational institution does not 
perform any of the following:
        ``(A) Prior to the enrollment of a covered individual in a 
    course of education at the educational institution, provide the 
    individual with a form that contains information personalized to 
    the individual that describes--
            ``(i) the estimated total cost of the course, including 
        tuition, fees, books, supplies, and any other additional costs;
            ``(ii) an estimate of the cost for living expenses for 
        students enrolled in the course;
            ``(iii) the amount of the costs under clauses (i) and (ii) 
        that are covered by the educational assistance provided to the 
        individual under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of this title, 
        or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, as the case may be;
            ``(iv) the type and amount of Federal financial aid not 
        administered by the Secretary and financial aid offered by the 
        institution that the individual may qualify to receive;
            ``(v) an estimate of the amount of student loan debt the 
        individual would have upon graduation;
            ``(vi) information regarding graduation rates;
            ``(vii) job-placement rates for graduates of the course, if 
        available;
            ``(viii) information regarding the acceptance by the 
        institution of transfer of credits, including military credits;
            ``(ix) any conditions or additional requirements, including 
        training, experience, or examinations, required to obtain the 
        license, certification, or approval for which the course of 
        education is designed to provide preparation; and
            ``(x) other information to facilitate comparison by the 
        individual of aid packages offered by different educational 
        institutions.
        ``(B) Not later than 15 days after the date on which the 
    institution (or the governing body of the institution) determines 
    tuition rates and fees for an academic year that is different than 
    the amount being charged by the institution, provide a covered 
    individual enrolled in a course of education at the educational 
    institution with the form under subparagraph (A) that contains 
    updated information.
        ``(C) Maintain policies to--
            ``(i) inform each covered individual enrolled in a course 
        of education at the educational institution of the availability 
        of Federal financial aid not administered by the Secretary and 
        financial aid offered by the institution; and
            ``(ii) alert such individual of the potential eligibility 
        of the individual for such financial aid before packaging or 
        arranging student loans or alternative financing programs for 
        the individual.
        ``(D) Maintain policies to--
            ``(i) prohibit the automatic renewal of a covered 
        individual in courses and programs of education; and
            ``(ii) ensure that each covered individual approves of the 
        enrollment of the individual in a course.
        ``(E) Provide to a covered individual enrolled in a course of 
    education at the educational institution with information regarding 
    the requirements to graduate from such course, including 
    information regarding when required classes will be offered and a 
    timeline to graduate.
        ``(F) With respect to an accredited educational institution, 
    obtain the approval of the accrediting agency for each new course 
    or program of the institution before enrolling covered individuals 
    in such courses or programs if the accrediting agency determines 
    that such approval is appropriate under the substantive change 
    requirements of the accrediting agency regarding the quality, 
    objectives, scope, or control of the institution.
        ``(G) Maintain a policy that--
            ``(i) ensures that members of the Armed Forces, including 
        the reserve components and the National Guard, who enroll in a 
        course of education at the educational institution may be 
        readmitted at such institution if such members are temporarily 
        unavailable or have to suspend such enrollment by reason of 
        serving in the Armed Forces; and
            ``(ii) otherwise accommodates such members during short 
        absences by reason of such service.
        ``(H) Designate an employee of the educational institution to 
    serve as a point of contact for covered individuals and the family 
    of such individuals needing assistance with respect to academic 
    counseling, financial counseling, disability counseling, and other 
    information regarding completing a course of education at such 
    institution, including by referring such individuals and family to 
    the appropriate persons for such counseling and information.
    ``(2) Except as provided by paragraph (5), a State approving 
agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of the State approving 
agency, shall take an action described in paragraph (4)(A) if the State 
approving agency, the Secretary, or any Federal agency, determines that 
an educational institution does any of the following:
        ``(A) Carries out deceptive or persistent recruiting 
    techniques, including on military installations, that may include--
            ``(i) misrepresentation (as defined in section 
        3696(e)(2)(B) of this title) or payment of incentive 
        compensation;
            ``(ii) during any 1-month period making three or more 
        unsolicited contacts to a covered individual, including 
        contacts by phone, email, or in-person; or
            ``(iii) engaging in same-day recruitment and registration.
        ``(B) Pays inducements, including any gratuity, favor, 
    discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, transportation, 
    lodging, meals, or other item having a monetary value of more than 
    a de minimis amount, to any individual or entity, or its agents 
    including third party lead generators or marketing firms other than 
    salaries paid to employees or fees paid to contractors in 
    conformity with all applicable laws for the purpose of securing 
    enrollments of covered individuals or obtaining access to 
    educational assistance under this title, with the exception of 
    scholarships, grants, and tuition reductions provided by the 
    educational institution.
    ``(3) A State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the 
role of the State approving agency, shall take an action described in 
paragraph (4)(A) if the State approving agency or the Secretary, when 
acting in the role of the State approving agency, determines that an 
educational institution is the subject of a negative action made by the 
accrediting agency that accredits the institution, including any of the 
following:
        ``(A) Accreditor sanctions.
        ``(B) Accreditation probation.
        ``(C) The loss of accreditation or candidacy for accreditation.
    ``(4)(A) An action described in this subparagraph is any of the 
following:
        ``(i) Submitting to the Secretary a recommendation that the 
    Secretary publish a warning on the internet website of the 
    Department described in section 3698(c)(2) of this title, or such 
    other similar internet website of the Department, that describes 
    how an educational institution is failing to meet a requirement 
    under paragraph (1), (2), or (3).
        ``(ii) Disapproving a course for purposes of this chapter.
    ``(B)(i) The Secretary shall establish guidelines to ensure that 
the actions described in subparagraph (A) are applied in a proportional 
and uniform manner by State approving agencies, or the Secretary when 
acting in the role of the State approving agency.
    ``(ii) Each State approving agency and the Secretary, when acting 
in the role of the State approving agency, shall adhere to the 
guidelines established under clause (i).
    ``(C) The State approving agency, in consultation with the 
Secretary, or the Secretary when acting in the role of the State 
approving agency, may limit an action described in subparagraph (A)(ii) 
to individuals not enrolled at the educational institution before the 
period described in such subparagraph.
    ``(5)(A) The Secretary may waive the requirements of paragraph (1) 
or waive the requirements of paragraph (2) with respect to an 
educational institution for a 1-academic-year period beginning in 
August of the year in which the waiver is made. A single educational 
institution may not receive waivers under this paragraph for more than 
2 consecutive academic years.
    ``(B) To be considered for a waiver under this paragraph, an 
educational institution shall submit to the Secretary an application 
prior to the first day of the academic year for which the waiver is 
sought.
    ``(6) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives the 
following reports:
        ``(A) A report, which shall be made publicly available, that 
    includes the following:
            ``(i) A summary of each action described in paragraph 
        (4)(A) made during the year covered by the report, including--
                ``(I) the name of the educational institution;
                ``(II) the type of action taken;
                ``(III) the rationale for the action, including how the 
            educational institution was not in compliance with this 
            subsection;
                ``(IV) the length of time that the educational 
            institution was not in such compliance; and
                ``(V) whether the educational institution was also not 
            in compliance with this subsection during any of the 2 
            years prior to the year covered by the report.
            ``(ii) A summary and justifications for the waivers made 
        under paragraph (5) during the year covered by the report, 
        including the total number of waivers each educational 
        institution has received.
        ``(B) A report containing the recommendations of the Secretary 
    with respect to any legislative actions the Secretary determines 
    appropriate to ensure that this subsection is carried out in a 
    manner that is consistent with the requirements that educational 
    institutions must meet for purposes of other departments or 
    agencies of the Federal Government.
    ``(7) In this subsection, the term `covered individual' means an 
individual who is pursuing a course of education at an educational 
institution under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of this title, or 
chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10.''.
    (b) Application Date.--The amendment made by this section shall 
take effect on June 15, 2021, and shall apply to an educational 
institution beginning on August 1, 2021, except that an educational 
institution may submit an application for a waiver under subsection 
(f)(5) of section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a), beginning on June 15, 2021.
SEC. 1019. OVERPAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS OR VETERANS.
    (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 3685 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Any overpayment to a veteran or eligible person with respect 
to pursuit by the veteran or eligible person of a program of education 
at an educational institution shall constitute a liability of the 
educational institution to the United States if--
        ``(1) the Secretary finds that the overpayment has been made as 
    the result of--
            ``(A) the willful or negligent failure of an educational 
        institution to report, as required under this chapter or 
        chapter 34 or 35 of this title, to the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs excessive absences from a course, or discontinuance or 
        interruption of a course by the veteran or eligible person; or
            ``(B) the willful or negligent false certification by an 
        educational institution; or
        ``(2) the benefit payment sent to an educational institution on 
    behalf of an eligible veteran or person is made pursuant to--
            ``(A) section 3313(h) of this title;
            ``(B) section 3317 of this title; or
            ``(C) section 3680(d) of this title; or
            ``(D) section 3320(d) of this title.''.
    (b) Clarifying Amendment.--Subsection (a) of such section is 
further amended by inserting ``relating to educational assistance under 
a law administered by the Secretary'' after ``made to a veteran or 
eligible person''.
SEC. 1020. IMPROVEMENTS TO LIMITATION ON CERTAIN ADVERTISING, SALES, 
AND ENROLLMENT PRACTICES.
    (a) Prohibition on Substantial Misrepresentation.--
        (1) In general.--Section 3696 of title 38, United States Code, 
    is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 3696. Prohibition on certain advertising, sales, and enrollment 
    practices
    ``(a) Prohibition on Engaging in Substantial Misrepresentation.--An 
educational institution with a course or program of education approved 
under this chapter, and an entity that owns such an educational 
institution, shall not engage in substantial misrepresentation 
described in subsection (b).
    ``(b) Substantial Misrepresentation Described.--(1) Substantial 
misrepresentation described in this paragraph is substantial 
misrepresentation by an educational institution, a representative of 
the institution, or any person with whom the institution has an 
agreement to provide educational programs, marketing, advertising, 
recruiting or admissions services, concerning any of the following:
        ``(A) The nature of the educational program of the institution, 
    including misrepresentation regarding--
            ``(i) the particular type, specific source, or nature and 
        extent, of the accreditation of the institution or a course of 
        education at the institution;
            ``(ii) whether a student may transfer course credits to 
        another institution;
            ``(iii) conditions under which the institution will accept 
        transfer credits earned at another institution;
            ``(iv) whether successful completion of a course of 
        instruction qualifies a student--
                ``(I) for acceptance to a labor union or similar 
            organization; or
                ``(II) to receive, to apply to take, or to take an 
            examination required to receive a local, State, or Federal 
            license, or a nongovernmental certification required as a 
            precondition for employment, or to perform certain 
            functions in the States in which the educational program is 
            offered, or to meet additional conditions that the 
            institution knows or reasonably should know are generally 
            needed to secure employment in a recognized occupation for 
            which the program is represented to prepare students;
            ``(v) the requirements for successfully completing the 
        course of study or program and the circumstances that would 
        constitute grounds for terminating the student's enrollment;
            ``(vi) whether the courses of education at the institution 
        are recommended or have been the subject of unsolicited 
        testimonials or endorsements by--
                ``(I) vocational counselors, high schools, colleges, 
            educational organizations, employment agencies, members of 
            a particular industry, students, former students, or 
            others; or
                ``(II) officials of a local or State government or the 
            Federal Government;
            ``(vii) the size, location, facilities, or equipment of the 
        institution;
            ``(viii) the availability, frequency, and appropriateness 
        of the courses of education and programs to the employment 
        objectives that the institution states the courses and programs 
        are designed to meet;
            ``(ix) the nature, age, and availability of the training 
        devices or equipment of the institution and the appropriateness 
        to the employment objectives that the institution states the 
        courses and programs are designed to meet;
            ``(x) the number, availability, and qualifications, 
        including the training and experience, of the faculty and other 
        personnel of the institution;
            ``(xi) the availability of part-time employment or other 
        forms of financial assistance;
            ``(xii) the nature and availability of any tutorial or 
        specialized instruction, guidance and counseling, or other 
        supplementary assistance the institution will provide students 
        before, during, or after the completion of a course of 
        education;
            ``(xiii) the nature or extent of any prerequisites 
        established for enrollment in any course of education;
            ``(xiv) the subject matter, content of the course of 
        education, or any other fact related to the degree, diploma, 
        certificate of completion, or any similar document that the 
        student is to be, or is, awarded upon completion of the course 
        of education; and
            ``(xv) whether the degree that the institution will confer 
        upon completion of the course of education has been authorized 
        by the appropriate State educational agency, including with 
        respect to cases where the institution fails to disclose facts 
        regarding the lack of such authorization in any advertising or 
        promotional materials that reference such degree.
        ``(B) The financial charges of the institution, including 
    misrepresentation regarding--
            ``(i) offers of scholarships to pay all or part of a course 
        charge;
            ``(ii) whether a particular charge is the customary charge 
        at the institution for a course;
            ``(iii) the cost of the program and the refund policy of 
        the institution if the student does not complete the program;
            ``(iv) the availability or nature of any financial 
        assistance offered to students, including a student's 
        responsibility to repay any loans, regardless of whether the 
        student is successful in completing the program and obtaining 
        employment; and
            ``(v) the student's right to reject any particular type of 
        financial aid or other assistance, or whether the student must 
        apply for a particular type of financial aid, such as financing 
        offered by the institution.
        ``(C) The employability of the graduates of the institution, 
    including misrepresentation regarding--
            ``(i) the relationship of the institution with any 
        organization, employment agency, or other agency providing 
        authorized training leading directly to employment;
            ``(ii) the plans of the institution to maintain a placement 
        service for graduates or otherwise assist graduates to obtain 
        employment;
            ``(iii) the knowledge of the institution about the current 
        or likely future conditions, compensation, or employment 
        opportunities in the industry or occupation for which the 
        students are being prepared;
            ``(iv) job market statistics maintained by the Federal 
        Government in relation to the potential placement of the 
        graduates of the institution; and
            ``(v) other requirements that are generally needed to be 
        employed in the fields for which the training is provided, such 
        as requirements related to commercial driving licenses or 
        permits to carry firearms, and failing to disclose factors that 
        would prevent an applicant from qualifying for such 
        requirements, such as prior criminal records or preexisting 
        medical conditions.
    ``(2) In this subsection:
        ``(A) The term `misleading statement' includes any 
    communication, action, omission, or intimation made in writing, 
    visually, orally, or through other means, that has the likelihood 
    or tendency to mislead the intended recipient of the communication 
    under the circumstances in which the communication is made. Such 
    term includes the use of student endorsements or testimonials for 
    an educational institution that a student gives to the institution 
    either under duress or because the institution required the student 
    to make such an endorsement or testimonial to participate in a 
    program of education.
        ``(B) The term `misrepresentation' means any false, erroneous, 
    or misleading statement, action, omission, or intimation made 
    directly or indirectly to a student, a prospective student, the 
    public, an accrediting agency, a State agency, or to the Secretary 
    by an eligible institution, one of its representatives, or any 
    person with whom the institution has an agreement to provide 
    educational programs, marketing, advertising, recruiting or 
    admissions services.
        ``(C) The term `substantial misrepresentation' means 
    misrepresentation in which the person to whom it was made could 
    reasonably be expected to rely, or has reasonably relied, to that 
    person's detriment.
    ``(c) Limitation on Certain Commissions, Bonuses, and Other 
Incentive Payments.--An educational institution with a course or 
program of education approved under this chapter, and an entity that 
owns such an educational institution, shall not provide any commission, 
bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on 
success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any persons or 
entities engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or 
in making decisions regarding the award of student financial 
assistance.
    ``(d) Requirement to Maintain Records.--(1) To ensure compliance 
with this section, any educational institution offering courses 
approved for the enrollment of eligible persons or veterans shall 
maintain a complete record of all advertising, sales, or enrollment 
materials (and copies thereof) utilized by or on behalf of the 
institution during the preceding two-year period. Such record shall be 
available for inspection by the State approving agency or the 
Secretary.
    ``(2) Such materials shall include but are not limited to any 
direct mail pieces, brochures, printed literature used by sales 
persons, films, video tapes, and audio tapes disseminated through 
broadcast media, material disseminated through print, digital, or 
electronic media, tear sheets, leaflets, handbills, fliers, and any 
sales or recruitment manuals used to instruct sales personnel, agents, 
or representatives of such institution.
    ``(e) Agreement With Federal Trade Commission.--(1) The Secretary 
shall, pursuant to section 3694 of this title, enter into an agreement 
with the Federal Trade Commission to utilize, where appropriate, its 
services and facilities, consistent with its available resources, in 
carrying out investigations and making the Under Secretary of Benefit's 
preliminary findings under subsection (g)(1).
    ``(2) Such agreement shall provide that cases arising under 
subsection (a) of this section or any similar matters with respect to 
any of the requirements of this chapter or chapters 34 and 35 of this 
title may be referred to the Federal Trade Commission which in its 
discretion will conduct an investigation and make preliminary findings.
    ``(3) The findings and results of any investigation under paragraph 
(2) shall be referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits, who shall 
take appropriate action under subsection (g) in such cases not later 
than 60 days after the date of such referral.
    ``(f) Final Judgments From Other Federal Agencies.--Whenever the 
Secretary becomes aware of a final judgment by a Federal agency against 
an educational institution or owner of an educational institution 
pertaining to substantial misrepresentation described in subsection (b) 
or of other credible evidence relating to a violation of subsection 
(a), the Secretary, in partnership with the applicable State approving 
agency, shall--
        ``(1) within 30 days, alert the educational institution or 
    owner that it is at risk of losing approval under this chapter of 
    its courses or programs of education;
        ``(2) provide the educational institution or owner 60 days to 
    provide any information it wishes to the Secretary;
        ``(3) require the educational institution or owner to submit to 
    the Secretary a report prepared by an approved third-party auditor 
    of the advertising and enrollment practices of the educational 
    institution or owner; and
        ``(4) refer the matter to the Under Secretary of Benefits, who 
    may thereafter make a preliminary finding under subsection (g).
    ``(g) Preliminary Findings, Final Determinations, and Processes.--
(1) The Under Secretary for Benefits shall make preliminary findings 
and final determinations on violations of subsections (a), (c), and 
(d).
    ``(2)(A) The Under Secretary shall establish a process for making 
preliminary findings and final determinations under paragraph (1).
    ``(B) The process established under subparagraph (A) shall--
        ``(i) clearly define what triggers an oversight visit by the 
    Under Secretary for purposes of enforcing subsections (a), (c), and 
    (d);
        ``(ii) set forth factors an educational institution, or the 
    owner of the educational institution, must meet in order to retain 
    approval status under this section, including with respect to the 
    factors set forth under subsection (h)(2);
        ``(iii) include a process for the provision of notice to an 
    educational institution, or the owner of the educational 
    institution, that the Under Secretary has made a preliminary 
    finding under paragraph (1) that the education institution or owner 
    has violated subsection (a), (c), or (d), which the Under Secretary 
    shall provide to the educational institution or owner within such 
    period after making the preliminary finding as the Under Secretary 
    shall establish for purposes of this clause, except that, in every 
    case, such period shall end before the date on which the Under 
    Secretary makes a final determination under such paragraph; and
        ``(iv) include--
            ``(I) a process for receipt of findings from a third-party 
        pertinent to this section; and
            ``(II) a process for an educational institution or an owner 
        to provide such information as the educational institution or 
        owner determines appropriate to the Secretary, including 
        information about corrective actions the educational 
        institution or owner may have taken in response to preliminary 
        findings under paragraph (1).
    ``(C) The process established under subparagraph (A) shall not 
prohibit a State approving agency from--
        ``(i) independently investigating a potential violation of 
    subsection (a), (c), or (d); or
        ``(ii) taking action if the State approving agency finds a 
    violation of subsection (a), (c), or (d).
    ``(3) Upon a preliminary finding under this subsection of a 
violation of subsection (a), (c), or (d) by an educational institution, 
or the owner of an educational institution, the Under Secretary shall 
require the educational institution or owner to submit to the Under 
Secretary a report prepared by an approved third-party auditor of the 
advertising and enrollment practices of the educational institution or 
owner.
    ``(4)(A) Before making a final determination under this subsection 
regarding a violation of subsection (a), (c), or (d) by an educational 
institution or owner of an educational institution, the Under Secretary 
shall--
        ``(i) review the practices of the educational institution or 
    owner that pertain to activities and practices covered by 
    subsections (a), (c), and (d);
        ``(ii) consider the results of a risk-based survey conducted by 
    a State approving agency, if available; and
        ``(iii) review--
            ``(I) the findings and information received pursuant to the 
        processes established under paragraph (2)(B)(iii);
            ``(II) in a case in which a report was submitted under 
        subsection (f)(3), such report;
            ``(III) the report submitted under paragraph (3)(B) of this 
        subsection;
            ``(IV) any findings and results submitted under subsection 
        (e)(3);
            ``(V) the marketing and outreach material of the 
        educational institution and the contractors of the educational 
        institution.
    ``(B) The Under Secretary may not make a final determination under 
this subsection solely based on preliminary findings.
    ``(5) The Under Secretary may not delegate authority to make a 
final determination under this subsection, including to any employee of 
the Department or to the Federal Trade Commission.
    ``(h) Enforcement.--(1)(A) Upon a final determination by the Under 
Secretary for Benefits under subsection (g) that an educational 
institution or the owner of an educational institution violated 
subsection (a), (c), or (d), the Under Secretary shall, but subject to 
subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of this paragraph, take one of the 
following actions independent of any actions taken under section 3690 
of this title:
        ``(i) Publish a caution flag on the GI Bill Comparison Tool, or 
    successor tool, about that educational institution and alert its 
    currently enrolled eligible veterans and eligible persons.
        ``(ii) Suspend the approval of the courses and programs of 
    education offered by the educational institution by disapproving 
    new enrollments of eligible veterans and eligible persons in each 
    course or program of education offered by that educational 
    institution.
        ``(iii) Revoke the approval of the courses and programs of 
    education offered by the educational institution by disapproving 
    all enrollments of eligible veterans and eligible persons in each 
    course or program of education offered by that educational 
    institution.
    ``(B) In deciding upon a course of action under subparagraph (A), 
for the first violation of this section, the Secretary shall consider 
the factors set forth in paragraph (2).
    ``(C) Subject to subsection (i), any repeat violation and final 
finding within five years of the first violation of this section shall 
result in--
        ``(i) a suspension of approval of new enrollments as described 
    in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this paragraph until reinstatement under 
    subsection (j); or
        ``(ii) a revocation of approval under this chapter as described 
    in subparagraph (A)(iii) of this paragraph until reinstatement 
    under subsection (j).
    ``(D) Subject to subsection (i), any third violation within three 
years of the second violation of this section shall result in 
revocation of approval under this chapter as described in subparagraph 
(A)(iii) of this paragraph until reinstatement under subsection (j).
    ``(E) Any action taken under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph 
regarding a violation of subsection (a), (c), or (d) by an educational 
institution or the owner of an educational institution shall be taken 
on or before the date that is 180 days after the date on which the 
Under Secretary provided notice to the educational institution or owner 
regarding the violation in accordance with the process established 
under subsection (g)(2)(B)(iii).
    ``(2) The factors set forth in this paragraph are the following:
        ``(A) That the Secretary's action brings sufficient deterrence 
    for future fraud against students and the programs of education 
    carried out under this title. Fraud against veterans must be met 
    with a repercussion strong enough to send a deterrent message to 
    this and other educational institutions and owners.
        ``(B) That the educational institution has secured an approved 
    third-party auditor to verify the educational institution's, or 
    owner's, advertising and enrollment practices for at least three 
    years going forward.
        ``(C) That the educational institution or owner has repudiated 
    the deceptive practices and has communicated to all employees that 
    deceptive practices will not be tolerated, and has instituted 
    strong governance procedures to prevent recurrence.
        ``(D) That the educational institution has taken steps to 
    remove any pressure on its enrollment recruiters, including by 
    removing enrollment quotas and incentives for enrollment.
        ``(E) That the State approving agency or the Secretary acting 
    in the role of the State approving agency, has completed a risk-
    based survey and determined the educational institution is worthy 
    of serving eligible veterans and eligible persons.
    ``(3) Enforcement action under this section shall not preclude 
enforcement action under section 3690 of this title.
    ``(4) No action may be carried out under this subsection with 
respect to a final determination by the Under Secretary under 
subsection (g) while such final determination is pending review under 
subsection (i).
    ``(i) Appeals.--(1) The Secretary shall establish a process by 
which an educational institution or the owner of an educational 
institution that is the subject of more than one final determination by 
the Under Secretary under subsection (g)(1) that the educational 
institution or owner violated subsection (a), may request a review of 
the most recent final determination.
    ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall--
        ``(i) review each final determination for which a review is 
    requested under paragraph (1); and
        ``(ii) pursuant to such review, issue a final decision 
    sustaining, modifying, or overturning the final determination.
    ``(B) The Secretary may not delegate any decision under 
subparagraph (A).
    ``(C)(i) Review under subparagraph (A)(i) of this paragraph shall 
be the exclusive avenue for review of a final determination under 
subsection (g)(1).
    ``(ii) A decision issued pursuant to a review under subparagraph 
(A)(i) may not be appealed to the Secretary for review under section 
7104(a) of this title.
    ``(3)(A) Not later than 30 days after the date on which the 
Secretary issues a final decision under paragraph (2)(A)(ii), the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on such final decision.
    ``(B) A report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the 
following:
        ``(i) An outline of the decisionmaking process of the Secretary 
    that led to the final decision described in subparagraph (A).
        ``(ii) Any relevant material used to make the final decision 
    under paragraph (2)(A)(ii), including risk-based surveys and 
    documentation from the educational institution or the owners of the 
    educational institution.
        ``(iii) Materials that were submitted to the Secretary after 
    the date of the final determination under subsection (g) that was 
    the subject of the final decision under paragraph (2)(A)(ii) of 
    this subsection and before the date on which the Secretary issued 
    such final decision.
    ``(j) Reinstatement of Approval.--(1) If an educational institution 
or the owner of an educational institution has had the approval of the 
courses or programs of education of the educational institution 
suspended as described in clause (ii) of subsection (h)(1)(A) or 
revoked as described in clause (iii) of such subsection for a violation 
of subsection (a), (c), or (d) pursuant to subparagraph (C) or (D) of 
subsection (h)(1), the educational institution or owner may submit to 
the applicable State approving agency or the Secretary when acting as a 
State approving agency an application for reinstatement of approval 
under this subsection.
    ``(2) Approval under this chapter may not be reinstated under this 
subsection until--
        ``(A) the educational institution or owner submits to the 
    applicable State approving agency or the Secretary when acting as a 
    State approving agency an application for reinstatement of approval 
    under paragraph (1);
        ``(B) the date that is 540 days after the date of the most 
    recent suspension or revocation described in paragraph (1) of the 
    educational institution or owner;
        ``(C) the educational institution submits a report by an 
    approved third-party auditor on the advertising and enrollment 
    practices of the educational institution, including those of its 
    third-party contractors;
        ``(D) procedures are in place to prevent any future violation 
    of subsection (a), (c), or (d);
        ``(E) that the educational institution has met all factors set 
    forth in subsection (h)(2); and
        ``(F) the Secretary agrees to such reinstatement.
    ``(k) Rule of Construction Regarding State Approving Agencies and 
Risk-based Surveys.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
prohibit a State approving agency from conducting any risk-based survey 
the State approving agency considers appropriate at any educational 
institution that it considers appropriate for oversight purposes.
    ``(l) Definitions.--In this section:
        ``(1) The term `approved third-party auditor' means an 
    independent third-party auditor that is approved by the Secretary 
    for purposes of third-party audits under this section.
        ``(2) The term `risk-based survey' means the risk-based survey 
    developed under section 3673A of this title.''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of chapter 36 of such title is amended by striking the item 
    relating to section 3696 and inserting the following new item:

``3696. Prohibition on certain advertising, sales, and enrollment 
          practices.''.

    (b) Requirements for Nonaccredited Courses.--Paragraph (10) of 
section 3676(c) of such title is amended to read as follows:
        ``(10) The institution, and any entity that owns the 
    institution, does not engage in substantial misrepresentation 
    described in section 3696(e) of this title. The institution shall 
    not be deemed to have met this requirement until the State 
    approving agency--
            ``(A) has ascertained that no Federal department or agency 
        has taken a punitive action, not including a settlement 
        agreement, against the school for misleading or deceptive 
        practices;
            ``(B) has, if such an order has been issued, given due 
        weight to that fact; and
            ``(C) has reviewed the complete record of advertising, 
        sales, or enrollment materials (and copies thereof) used by or 
        on behalf of the institution during the preceding 12-month 
        period.''.
    (c) Application Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
take effect on August 1, 2021.
SEC. 1021. CHARGE TO ENTITLEMENT TO EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR 
INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT TRANSFER CREDITS FROM CERTAIN CLOSED OR 
DISAPPROVED PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION.
    (a) In General.--Subsection (c) of section 3699 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Period Not Charged.--(1) The period for which, by reason of 
this subsection, educational assistance is not charged against 
entitlement or counted toward the applicable aggregate period under 
section 3695 of this title shall not exceed the aggregate of--
        ``(A) the portion of the period of enrollment in the course 
    from which the individual did not receive credit or with respect to 
    which the individual lost training time, as determined under 
    subsection (b)(2); and
        ``(B) the period by which a monthly stipend is extended under 
    section 3680(a)(2)(B) of this title.
    ``(2)(A) An individual described in subparagraph (B) who transfers 
fewer than 12 credits from a program of education that is closed or 
disapproved as described in subsection (b)(1) shall be deemed to be an 
individual who did not receive such credits, as described in subsection 
(b)(2), 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, 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.
    ``(B) An individual described in this subparagraph is an individual 
who is enrolled in a course or program of education closed or 
discontinued as described in subsection (b)(1) during the period 
beginning on the date that is 120 days before the date of such closure 
or discontinuance and ending on the date of such closure or 
discontinuance, as the case may be.
    ``(C) This paragraph shall apply with respect to a course or 
program of education closed or discontinued before September 30, 
2023.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on August 1, 2021.
SEC. 1022. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TREATMENT OF FOR-PROFIT 
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS CONVERTED TO NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS.
    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 36 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3699B. Treatment of certain for-profit educational institutions
    ``(a) In General.--In the case of any for-profit educational 
institution that is converted to a nonprofit educational institution, 
the State approving agency or the Secretary when acting as a State 
approving agency shall conduct annual risk-based surveys of the 
institution during the three-year period beginning on the date on which 
the educational institution is so converted.
    ``(b) Risk-based Survey Defined.--In this section, the term `risk-
based survey' means the risk-based survey developed under section 3673A 
of this title.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
3699A the following new item:

``3699B. Treatment of certain for-profit educational institutions.''.

    (c) Applicability.--Section 3699B of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to the conversion 
of a for-profit educational institution to a nonprofit educational 
institution that occurs on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
SEC. 1023. AUTHORITY OF STATE APPROVING AGENCIES TO CONDUCT OUTREACH 
ACTIVITIES.
    Section 3673 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 
1014 of this title, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(f) Outreach Activities.--(1) A State approving agency may 
conduct outreach activities if--
        ``(A) the State approving agency has properly conducted its 
    enforcement and approval of courses and programs of education under 
    this chapter; and
        ``(B) funds are still available to do so.
    ``(2) For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), a State approving agency 
shall be considered to have properly conducted its enforcement and 
approval of courses and programs of education under this chapter if the 
State approving agency has--
        ``(A) met fulfilled its requirements pursuant to the applicable 
    cooperative agreements between the State approving agency and the 
    Department relating to the oversight and approval of courses and 
    programs of education under this chapter; and
        ``(B) completed a risk-based survey of any course or program of 
    education determined to be of questionable quality or at risk by 
    any Federal or State agency or any accrediting agency.
    ``(3) Outreach activities conducted under paragraph (1) shall be 
carried out using amounts derived from amounts not specifically 
appropriated to carry out this subsection.''.
SEC. 1024. LIMITATION ON COLOCATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF STATE 
APPROVING AGENCIES.
    (a) In General.--Section 3671 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) A State department or agency may not be recognized as a State 
approving agency designated under this section if such State department 
or agency is administered at or colocated with a university or 
university system whose courses or programs of education would be 
subject to approval under this chapter by the State approving agency in 
that State.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 1025. ELIMINATION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR TRAINING AND 
REHABILITATION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED 
DISABILITIES.
    (a) In General.--Section 3103 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
        (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``or (e)'' and inserting 
    ``(e), or (g)''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a veteran who was 
discharged or released from active military, naval, or air service on 
or after January 1, 2013.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 6(c) of the Student Veteran 
Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (134 Stat. 633; Public Law 116-140) is 
amended by striking paragraph (1).

                    Subtitle B--Pandemic Assistance

SEC. 1101. DEFINITIONS.
    In this subtitle:
        (1) Covered program of education.--The term ``covered program 
    of education'' means a program of education (as defined in section 
    3002 of title 38, United States Code) approved by a State approving 
    agency, or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs when acting in the 
    role of a State approving agency.
        (2) COVID-19 emergency.--The term ``COVID-19 emergency'' means 
    the public health emergency declared pursuant to section 319 of the 
    Public Health Service Act on January 31, 2020, entitled 
    ``Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists Nationwide as 
    the Result of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus''.
        (3) Educational institution.--The term ``educational 
    institution'' has the meaning given that term in section 3452(c) of 
    title 38, United States Code, and includes an institution of higher 
    learning (as defined in such section).
        (4) State approving agency.--The term ``State approving 
    agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 3671 of title 
    38, United States Code.
        (5) Training establishment.--The term ``training 
    establishment'' has the meaning given that term in section 3452(e) 
    of title 38, United States Code.
        (6) Training.--The term ``training'' includes on-job training 
    and apprenticeship programs and vocational rehabilitation programs.
SEC. 1102. CONTINUATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE BENEFITS DURING COVID-19 EMERGENCY.
    (a) Authority.--If the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines 
under subsection (c) that an individual is negatively affected by the 
COVID-19 emergency, the Secretary may provide educational assistance to 
that individual under the laws administered by the Secretary as if such 
negative effects did not occur. The authority under this section is in 
addition to the authority provided under section 1 of Public Law 116-
128 (38 U.S.C. 3001 note prec.), but in no case may the Secretary 
provide more than a total of four weeks of additional educational 
assistance by reason of section 4 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus 
Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-140; 38 U.S.C. 3680 note) and this 
section.
    (b) Housing and Allowances.--In providing educational assistance to 
an individual pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may--
        (1) continue to pay a monthly housing stipend under chapter 33 
    of title 38, United States Code, during a month the individual 
    would have been enrolled in a program of education or training but 
    for the COVID-19 emergency at the same rate such stipend would have 
    been payable if the individual had not been negatively affected by 
    the COVID-19 emergency, except that the total number of weeks for 
    which stipends may continue to be so payable may not exceed four 
    weeks; and
        (2) continue to pay payments or subsistence allowances under 
    chapters 30, 31, 32, 33, and 35 of such title and chapter 1606 of 
    title 10, United States Code, during a month for a period of time 
    that the individual would have been enrolled in a program of 
    education or training but for the COVID-19 emergency, except that 
    the total number of weeks for which payments or allowances may 
    continue to be so payable may not exceed four weeks.
    (c) Determination of Negative Effects.--The Secretary shall 
determine that an individual was negatively affected by the COVID-19 
emergency if--
        (1) the individual is enrolled in a covered program of 
    education of an educational institution or enrolled in training at 
    a training establishment and is pursuing such program or training 
    using educational assistance under the laws administered by the 
    Secretary;
        (2) the educational institution or training establishment 
    certifies to the Secretary that such program or training is 
    truncated, delayed, relocated, canceled, partially canceled, 
    converted from being on-site to being offered by distance learning, 
    or otherwise modified or made unavailable by reason of the COVID-19 
    emergency; and
        (3) the Secretary determines that the modification to such 
    program or training specified under paragraph (2) would reduce the 
    amount of educational assistance (including with respect to monthly 
    housing stipends, payments, or subsistence allowances) that would 
    be payable to the individual but for the COVID-19 emergency.
    (d) Effect on Entitlement Period.--If the Secretary determines that 
an individual who received assistance under this section did not make 
progress toward the completion of the program of education in which the 
individual is enrolled during the period for which the individual 
received such assistance, any assistance provided pursuant to this 
section shall not be counted for purposes of determining the total 
amount of an individual's entitlement to educational assistance, 
housing stipends, or payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 
30, 31, 32, and 35 of such title and chapter 1606 of title 10, United 
States Code.
    (e) Applicability Period.--This section shall apply during the 
period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021.
SEC. 1103. EFFECTS OF CLOSURE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION AND 
MODIFICATION OF COURSES BY REASON OF COVID-19 EMERGENCY.
    (a) Closure or Disapproval.--Any payment of educational assistance 
described in subsection (b) shall not--
        (1) be charged against any entitlement to educational 
    assistance of the individual concerned; or
        (2) be counted against the aggregate period for which section 
    3695 of title 38, United States Code, limits the receipt of 
    educational assistance by such individual.
    (b) Educational Assistance Described.--Subject to subsection (d), 
the payment of educational assistance described in this subsection is 
the payment of such assistance to an individual for pursuit of a course 
or program of education at an educational institution under chapter 30, 
31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 of 
title 10, United States Code, if the Secretary determines that the 
individual--
        (1) was unable to complete such course or program as a result 
    of--
            (A) the closure of the educational institution, or the full 
        or partial cancellation of a course or program of education, by 
        reason of the COVID-19 emergency; or
            (B) the disapproval of the course or a course that is a 
        necessary part of that program under chapter 36 of title 38, 
        United States Code, because the course was modified by reason 
        of such emergency; and
        (2) did not receive credit or lost training time, toward 
    completion of the program of education being so pursued.
    (c) Housing Assistance.--In this section, educational assistance 
includes, as applicable--
        (1) monthly housing stipends payable under chapter 33 of title 
    38, United States Code, for any month the individual would have 
    been enrolled in a course or program of education; and
        (2) payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 30, 31, 
    32, and 35 of such title and chapter 1606 of title 10, United 
    States Code, during a month the individual would have been enrolled 
    in a course or program of education.
    (d) Period Not Charged.--The period for which, by reason of this 
subsection, educational assistance is not charged against entitlement 
or counted toward the applicable aggregate period under section 3695 of 
title 38, United States Code, shall not exceed the aggregate of--
        (1) the portion of the period of enrollment in the course from 
    which the individual did not receive credit or with respect to 
    which the individual lost training time, as determined under 
    subsection (b)(2); and
        (2) the period by which a monthly stipend is extended under 
    section 3680(a)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code.
    (e) Continuing Pursuit of Disapproved Courses.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary may treat a course of education 
    that is disapproved under chapter 36 of title 38, United States 
    Code, as being approved under such chapter with respect to an 
    individual described in paragraph (2) if the Secretary determines, 
    on a programmatic basis, that--
            (A) such disapproval is the result of an action described 
        in subsection (b)(1)(B); and
            (B) continuing pursuing such course is in the best interest 
        of the individual.
        (2) Individual described.--An individual described in this 
    paragraph is an individual who is pursuing a course of education at 
    an educational institution under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of 
    title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 of title 10, United 
    States Code, as of the date on which the course is disapproved as 
    described in subsection (b)(1)(B).
    (f) Status as Full-Time Student for Purposes of Housing Stipend 
Calculation.--In the case of an individual who, as of the first day of 
the COVID-19 emergency was enrolled on a full-time basis in a program 
of education and was receiving educational assistance under chapter 33 
of title 38, United States Code, or subsistence allowance under chapter 
31 of such title, and for whom the Secretary makes a determination 
under subsection (b), the individual shall be treated as an individual 
enrolled in a program of education on a full-time basis for the purpose 
of calculating monthly housing stipends payable under chapter 33 of 
title 38, United States Code, or subsistence allowance payable under 
chapter 31 of such title, for any month the individual is enrolled in 
the program of education on a part-time basis to complete any course of 
education that was partially or fully canceled by reason of the COVID-
19 emergency.
    (g) Notice of Closures.--Not later than 5 business days after the 
date on which the Secretary receives notice that an educational 
institution will close or is closed by reason of the COVID-19 
emergency, the Secretary shall provide to each individual who is 
enrolled in a course or program of education at such educational 
institution using entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 
30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 
of title 10, United States Code, notice of--
        (1) such closure and the date of such closure; and
        (2) the effect of such closure on the individual's entitlement 
    to educational assistance pursuant to this section.
    (h) Applicability.--This section shall apply with respect to the 
closure of an educational institution, or the cancellation or 
modification of a course or program of education, that occurs during 
the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021.
SEC. 1104. PAYMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN CASES OF WITHDRAWAL.
    (a) In General.--In the case of any individual who withdraws from a 
program of education or training, other than a program by 
correspondence, in an educational institution under chapter 31, 34, or 
35 of title 38, United States Code, for a covered reason during the 
period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall find mitigating circumstances for 
purposes of section 3680(a)(1)(C)(ii) of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Covered Reason.--In this section, the term ``covered reason'' 
means any reason related to the COVID-19 emergency, including--
        (1) illness, quarantine, or social distancing requirements;
        (2) issues associated with COVID-19 testing accessibility;
        (3) access or availability of childcare;
        (4) providing care for a family member or cohabitants;
        (5) change of location or residence due to COVID-19 or 
    associated school closures;
        (6) employment changes or financial hardship; and
        (7) issues associated with changes in format or medium of 
    instruction.
SEC. 1105. MODIFICATION OF TIME LIMITATIONS ON USE OF ENTITLEMENT.
    (a) Montgomery GI Bill.--The subsection (i) temporarily added to 
section 3031 of title 38, United States Code, by subsection (a) of 
section 6 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 
(Public Law 116-140) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the period the individual 
    is so prevented from pursuing such program'' and inserting ``the 
    period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 
    2021''; and
        (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the first day after the 
    individual is able to resume pursuit of a program of education with 
    educational assistance under this chapter'' and inserting 
    ``December 22, 2021''.
    (b) Vocational Rehabilitation and Training.--The subsection (g) 
temporarily added to section 3103 of title 38, United States Code, by 
subsection (c) of such section 6 is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the period the individual 
    is so prevented from participating such program'' and inserting 
    ``the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 
    2021''; and
        (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the first day after the 
    individual is able to resume participation in such program'' and 
    inserting ``December 22, 2021''.
SEC. 1106. APPRENTICESHIP OR ON-JOB TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.
    (a) In General.--During the period described in subsection (b), 
subsection (e) of section 3687 of title 38, United States Code, shall 
be applied by substituting the following for paragraph (2):
        ``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), for any month in 
    which an individual fails to complete 120 hours of training, the 
    entitlement otherwise chargeable under paragraph (1) shall be 
    reduced in the same proportion as the monthly training assistance 
    allowance payable is reduced under subsection (b)(3).
        ``(B) In the case of an individual who is unemployed during any 
    month, the 120-hour requirement under subparagraph (A) for that 
    month shall be reduced proportionately to reflect the individual's 
    period of unemployment, except that the amount of monthly training 
    assistance otherwise payable to the individual under subsection 
    (b)(3) shall not be reduced.
        ``(C) Any period during which an individual is unemployed shall 
    not--
            ``(i) be charged against any entitlement to educational 
        assistance of the individual; or
            ``(ii) be counted against the aggregate period for which 
        section 3695 of this title limits the receipt of educational 
        assistance by such individual.
        ``(D) Any amount by which the entitlement of an individual is 
    reduced under subparagraph (A) shall not--
            ``(i) be charged against any entitlement to educational 
        assistance of the individual; or
            ``(ii) be counted against the aggregate period for which 
        section 3695 of this title limits the receipt of educational 
        assistance by such individual.
        ``(E) In the case of an individual who fails to complete 120 
    hours of training during a month, but who completed more than 120 
    hours of training during the preceding month, the individual may 
    apply the number of hours in excess of 120 that the individual 
    completed for that month to the month for which the individual 
    failed to complete 120 hours. If the addition of such excess hours 
    results in a total of 120 hours or more, the individual shall be 
    treated as an individual who has completed 120 hours of training 
    for that month. Any excess hours applied to a different month under 
    this subparagraph may only be applied to one such month.
        ``(F) This paragraph applies to amounts described in section 
    3313(g)(3)(B)(iv) and section 3032(c)(2) of this title and section 
    16131(d)(2) of title 10.
        ``(G) In this paragraph:
            ``(i) The term `unemployed' includes being furloughed or 
        being scheduled to work zero hours.
            ``(ii) The term `fails to complete 120 hours of training' 
        means, with respect to an individual, that during any month, 
        the individual completes at least one hour, but fewer than 120 
        hours, of training, including in a case in which the individual 
        is unemployed for part of, but not the whole, month.''.
    (b) Applicability Period.--The period described in this section is 
the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021.
SEC. 1107. INCLUSION OF TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS IN CERTAIN PROVISIONS 
RELATED TO COVID-19 EMERGENCY.
    (a) Continuation of Benefits.--Section 1 of Public Law 116-128 is 
amended--
        (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or a training 
    establishment'' after ``an educational institution''; and
        (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following new 
    paragraph:
        ``(4) Training establishment.--The term `training 
    establishment' has the meaning given such term in section 3452(e) 
    of title 38, United States Code.''.
    (b) Payment of Allowances.--Section 4(a)(1) of the Student Veteran 
Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-140; 38 U.S.C. 3680 
note) is amended by inserting ``or a training establishment'' after 
``educational institution''.
    (c) Prohibition of Charge to Entitlement.--The subparagraph (C) 
temporarily added to section 3699(b)(1) of title 38, United States 
Code, by section 5 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 
2020 (Public Law 116-140; 38 U.S.C. 3699 note) is amended by inserting 
``or training establishment'' after ``educational institution''.
    (d) Extension of Time Limitations.--
        (1) MGIB.--The subsection (i) temporarily added to section 3031 
    of title 38, United States Code, by subsection (a) of section 6 of 
    the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 
    116-140), as amended by section 1105 of this title, is further 
    amended by inserting ``or training establishment'' after 
    ``educational institution''.
        (2) Transfer period.--The subparagraph (C) temporarily added to 
    section 3319(h)(5) of such title by section 6 of the Student 
    Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-140) is 
    amended by inserting ``or training establishment'' after 
    ``educational institution''.
SEC. 1108. TREATMENT OF PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES UNDER STUDENT VETERAN 
CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT.
    Section 4 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 
(Public Law 116-140) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (b)--
            (A) by striking ``may not exceed four weeks.'' and 
        inserting ``may not exceed the shorter of the following:''; and
            (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
        ``(1) The period of time that the eligible veteran or eligible 
    person would have been enrolled in a program of education or 
    training but for the emergency situation.
        ``(2) Four weeks.''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Entitlement Not Charged.--Any payment of allowances under 
this section shall not--
        ``(1) be charged against any entitlement to educational 
    assistance of the eligible veteran or eligible person concerned; or
        ``(2) be counted against the aggregate period for which section 
    3695 of this title 38, United States Code, limits the receipt of 
    educational assistance by such eligible veteran or eligible 
    person.''.

                           TITLE II--BENEFITS
                     Subtitle A--Benefits Generally

SEC. 2001. REVISION OF DEFINITION OF VIETNAM ERA FOR PURPOSES OF THE 
LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    Section 101(29)(A) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``February 28, 1961'' and inserting ``November 1, 1955''.
SEC. 2002. MATTERS RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS.
    (a) Temporary Clarification of Licensure Requirements for 
Contractor Medical Professionals to Perform Medical Disability 
Examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs Under Pilot Program 
for Use of Contract Physicians for Disability Examinations.--
        (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 504 of the Veterans' 
    Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 
    5101 note) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Licensure of Contract Health Care Professionals.--
        ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any law regarding the 
    licensure of health care professionals, a health care professional 
    described in paragraph (2) may conduct an examination pursuant to a 
    contract entered into under subsection (a) at any location in any 
    State, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or 
    possession of the United States, so long as the examination is 
    within the scope of the authorized duties under such contract.
        ``(2) Health care professional described.--A health care 
    professional described in this paragraph is a physician, physician 
    assistant, nurse practitioner, audiologist, or psychologist, who--
            ``(A) has a current unrestricted license to practice the 
        health care profession of the physician, physician assistant, 
        nurse practitioner, audiologist, or psychologist, as the case 
        may be;
            ``(B) is not barred from practicing such health care 
        profession in any State, the District of Columbia, or a 
        Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States; 
        and
            ``(C) is performing authorized duties for the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs pursuant to a contract entered into under 
        subsection (a).''.
        (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the amendment made by paragraph 
    (1) is to expand the license portability for physicians assistants, 
    nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists to supplement 
    the capacity of employees of the Department to provide medical 
    examinations described in subsection (b).
        (3) Rule of construction.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
    shall not be construed to affect the license portability for 
    physicians in effect under section 504(c) of such Act as in effect 
    on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act.
        (4) Sunset.--On the date that is three years after the date of 
    the enactment of this Act, subsection (c) of such section shall 
    read as it read on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
    Act.
    (b) Temporary Halt on Elimination of Medical Examiner Positions in 
Department of Veterans Affairs.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall temporarily suspend the efforts of the Secretary in effect on the 
day before the date of the enactment of this Act to eliminate medical 
examiner positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs until the 
number of individuals awaiting a medical examination with respect to 
medical disability of the individuals for benefits under laws 
administered by the Secretary that are carried out through the Under 
Secretary for Benefits is equal to or less than the number of such 
individuals who were awaiting such a medical examination with respect 
to such purposes on March 1, 2020.
    (c) Report on Provision of Medical Examinations.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
    appropriate committees of Congress a report on the provision of 
    medical examinations described in subsection (b) by the Department.
        (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
    cover the following:
            (A) How the Secretary will increase the capacity, 
        efficiency, and timeliness of physician assistants, nurse 
        practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists of the Veterans 
        Health Administration with respect to completing medical 
        examinations described in subsection (b).
            (B) The total number of full-time equivalent employees 
        among all physician assistants, nurse practitioners, 
        audiologists, and psychologists needed for the increases 
        described in subparagraph (A).
            (C) An assessment regarding the importance of retaining a 
        critical knowledge base within the Department for performing 
        medical examinations for veterans filing claims for 
        compensation under chapters 11 and 13 of title 38, United 
        States Code, including with respect to military sexual trauma, 
        post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and 
        toxic exposure.
        (3) Collaboration.--The Secretary shall collaborate with the 
    veterans community and stakeholders in the preparation of the 
    report required by paragraph (1).
        (4) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
    subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
            (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate; and
            (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
    (d) Comptroller General of the United States Review.--
        (1) Review required.--Not later than 360 days after the date of 
    the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
    States shall commence a review of the implementation of the pilot 
    program authorized under subsection (a) of section 504 of the 
    Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 
    U.S.C. 5101 note).
        (2) Elements.--The review conducted under paragraph (1) shall 
    include the following:
            (A) An assessment of the use of subsection (c) of section 
        504 of such Act, as amended by subsection (a)(1) of this 
        section.
            (B) Efforts to retain and recruit medical examiners as 
        employees of the Department.
            (C) Use of telehealth for medical examinations described in 
        subsection (b) that are administered by the Department.
    (e) Briefing on Recommendations of Comptroller General of the 
United States.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
House of Representatives a briefing on how the Secretary will implement 
the recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United States 
regarding--
        (1) the monitoring of the training of providers of examinations 
    pursuant to contracts under section 504 of the Veterans' Benefits 
    Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note); 
    and
        (2) ensuring such providers receive such training.
    (f) Holding Underperforming Contract Medical Examiners 
Accountable.--The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary 
to hold accountable the providers of medical examinations pursuant to 
contracts under section 504 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act 
of 1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) who are 
underperforming in the meeting of the needs of veterans through the 
performance of medical examinations pursuant to such contracts.
SEC. 2003. MEDAL OF HONOR SPECIAL PENSION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES.
    (a) Codification of Current Rate of Special Pension.--Subsection 
(a) of section 1562 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``$1,000'' and inserting ``$1,388.68''.
    (b) Special Pension for Surviving Spouses.--
        (1) Surviving spouse benefit.--Such subsection is further 
    amended--
            (A) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(a)''; and
            (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the 
Secretary shall pay special pension under this section to the surviving 
spouse of a person whose name has been entered on the Army, Navy, Air 
Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll and a copy of whose 
certificate has been delivered to the Secretary under section 1134a(d) 
of title 10.
    ``(B) No special pension shall be paid to a surviving spouse of a 
person under this section unless such surviving spouse was married to 
such person--
        ``(i) for one year or more prior to the veteran's death; or
        ``(ii) for any period of time if a child was born of the 
    marriage, or was born to them before the marriage.
    ``(C) No special pension shall be paid to a surviving spouse of a 
person under this section if such surviving spouse is receiving 
benefits under section 1311 or 1318 of this title.''.
        (2) Conforming amendments.--
            (A) In general.--Such section is amended--
                (i) in subsection (d), by inserting ``or married to 
            more than one person who has been awarded a medal of 
            honor,'' after ``honor,''; and
                (ii) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``this section'' 
            and inserting ``paragraph (1) of subsection (a), or under 
            paragraph (2) of such subsection in the case of a 
            posthumous entry on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast 
            Guard Medal of Honor Roll,''.
            (B) Special provisions relating to marriages.--Section 
        103(d)(5) of such title is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new subparagraph:
        ``(E) Section 1562(a)(2), relating to Medal of Honor special 
    pension.''.
        (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
    shall apply with respect to payment of pension under section 1562 
    of title 38, United States Code, for months beginning after the 
    date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 2004. MODERNIZATION OF SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS INSURANCE.
    (a) Establishment of Modernized Program.--
        (1) In general.--Chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, is 
    amended by inserting after section 1922A the following new section:
``Sec. 1922B. Service-disabled veterans insurance
    ``(a) Insurance.--(1) Beginning January 1, 2023, the Secretary 
shall carry out a service-disabled veterans insurance program under 
which a veteran is granted insurance by the United States against the 
death of such individual occurring while such insurance is in force.
    ``(2) The Secretary may only issue whole-life policies under the 
insurance program under paragraph (1).
    ``(3) The Secretary may not grant insurance to a veteran under 
paragraph (1) unless--
        ``(A) the veteran submits the application for such insurance 
    before the veteran attains 81 years of age; or
        ``(B) with respect to a veteran who has attained 81 years of 
    age--
            ``(i) the veteran filed a claim for compensation under 
        chapter 11 of this title before attaining such age;
            ``(ii) based on such claim, and after the veteran attained 
        such age, the Secretary first determines that the veteran has a 
        service-connected disability; and
            ``(iii) the veteran submits the application for such 
        insurance during the two-year period following the date of such 
        determination.
    ``(4)(A) A veteran enrolled in the insurance program under 
paragraph (1) may elect to be insured in any of the following amounts:
            ``(i) $10,000.
            ``(ii) $20,000.
            ``(iii) $30,000.
            ``(iv) $40,000.
            ``(v) In accordance with subparagraph (B), a maximum amount 
        greater than $40,000.
    ``(B) The Secretary may establish a maximum amount to be insured 
under paragraph (1) that is greater than $40,000 if the Secretary--
        ``(i) determines that such maximum amount and the premiums for 
    such amount--
            ``(I) are administratively and actuarially sound for the 
        insurance program under paragraph (1); and
            ``(II) will not result in such program operating at a loss; 
        and
        ``(ii) publishes in the Federal Register, and submits to the 
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, such maximum 
    amount and determination.
    ``(5)(A)(i) Insurance granted under this section shall be on a 
nonparticipating basis and all premiums and other collections therefor 
shall be credited directly to a revolving fund in the Treasury of the 
United States.
    ``(ii) Any payments on such insurance shall be made directly from 
such fund.
    ``(B)(i) The Secretary of the Treasury may invest in and sell and 
retire special interest-bearing obligations of the United States for 
the account of the revolving fund under subparagraph (A).
    ``(ii) Such obligations issued for that purpose shall--
        ``(I) have maturities fixed with due regard for the needs of 
    the fund; and
        ``(II) bear interest at a rate equal to the average market 
    yield (computed by the Secretary of the Treasury on the basis of 
    market quotations as of the end of the calendar month preceding the 
    date of issue) on all marketable interest-bearing obligations of 
    the United States then forming a part of the public debt which are 
    not due or callable until after the expiration of four years from 
    the end of such calendar month; except that where such average 
    market yield is not a multiple of one-eighth of one per centum, the 
    rate of interest of such obligation shall be the multiple of one-
    eighth of one per centum nearest such market yield.
    ``(6)(A) Administrative support financed by the appropriations for 
`General Operating Expenses, Department of Veterans Affairs' and 
`Information Technology Systems, Department of Veterans Affairs' for 
the insurance program under paragraph (1) shall be paid from premiums 
credited to the fund under paragraph (5).
    ``(B) Such payment for administrative support shall be reimbursed 
for that fiscal year from funds that are available on such insurance 
after claims have been paid.
    ``(b) Eligibility.--A veteran is eligible to enroll in the 
insurance program under subsection (a)(1) if the veteran has a service-
connected disability, without regard to--
        ``(1) whether such disability is compensable under chapter 11 
    of this title; or
        ``(2) whether the veteran meets standards of good health 
    required for other life insurance policies.
    ``(c) Enrollment and Waiting Period.--(1) An eligible veteran may 
enroll in the insurance program under subsection (a)(1) at any time.
    ``(2) The life insurance policy of a veteran who enrolls in the 
insurance program under subsection (a)(1) does not go into force 
unless--
        ``(A) a period of two years elapses following the date of such 
    enrollment; and
        ``(B) the veteran pays the premiums required during such two-
    year period.
    ``(3)(A) If a veteran dies during the two-year period described in 
paragraph (2), the Secretary shall pay to the beneficiary of the 
veteran the amount of premiums paid by the veteran under this section, 
plus interest.
    ``(B) The Secretary--
        ``(i) for the initial year of the insurance program under 
    subsection (a)(1)--
            ``(I) shall set such interest at a rate of one percent; and
            ``(II) may adjust such rate during such year based on 
        program experience, except that the interest rate may not be 
        less than zero percent;
        ``(ii) for the second and each subsequent year of the program, 
    shall calculate such interest at an annual rate equal to the rate 
    of return on the revolving fund under subsection (a)(5) for the 
    calendar year preceding the year of the veteran's death, except 
    that the interest rate may not be less than zero percent; and
        ``(iii) on an annual basis, shall publish on the internet 
    website of the Department the average interest rate calculated 
    under clause (ii) for the preceding calendar year.
    ``(d) Premiums.--(1) The Secretary shall establish a schedule of 
basic premium rates by age per $10,000 of insurance under subsection 
(a)(1) consistent with basic premium rates generally charged for 
guaranteed acceptance life insurance policies by private life insurance 
companies.
    ``(2) The Secretary may adjust such schedule after the first policy 
year in a manner consistent with the general practice of guaranteed 
acceptance life insurance policies issued by private life insurance 
companies.
    ``(3) Section 1912 of this title shall not apply to life insurance 
policies under subsection (a)(1), and the Secretary may not otherwise 
waive premiums for such insurance policies.
    ``(e) Beneficiaries.--(1) A veteran who enrolls in the insurance 
program under subsection (a)(1) may designate a beneficiary of the life 
insurance policy.
    ``(2) If a veteran enrolled in the insurance program under 
subsection (a)(1) does not designate a beneficiary under paragraph (1) 
before the veteran dies, or if a designated beneficiary predeceases the 
veteran, the Secretary shall determine the beneficiary in the following 
order:
        ``(A) The surviving spouse of the veteran.
        ``(B) The children of the veteran and descendants of deceased 
    children by representation.
        ``(C) The parents of the veteran or the survivors of the 
    parents.
        ``(D) The duly appointed executor or administrator of the 
    estate of the veteran.
        ``(E) Other next of kin of the veteran entitled under the laws 
    of domicile of the veteran at the time of the death of the veteran.
    ``(f) Claims.--(1) If the deceased veteran designated a beneficiary 
under subsection (e)(1)--
        ``(A) the designated beneficiary is the only person who may 
    file a claim for payment under subsection (g) during the one-year 
    period beginning on the date of the death of the veteran; and
        ``(B) if the designated beneficiary does not file a claim for 
    the payment during the period described in paragraph (1), or if 
    payment to the designated beneficiary within that period is 
    prohibited by Federal statute or regulation, a beneficiary 
    described in subsection (e)(2) may file a claim for such payment 
    during the one-year period following the period described in 
    subparagraph (A) as if the designated beneficiary had predeceased 
    the veteran.
    ``(2) If the deceased veteran did not designate a beneficiary under 
subsection (e)(1), or if the designated beneficiary predeceased the 
veteran, a beneficiary described in subsection (e)(2) may file a claim 
for payment under subsection (g) during the two-year period beginning 
on the date of the death of the veteran.
    ``(3) If, on the date that is two years after the date of the death 
of the veteran, no claim for payment has been filed by any beneficiary 
pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), and the Secretary has not received 
notice that any such claim will be so filed during the subsequent one-
year period, the Secretary may make the payment to a claimant whom the 
Secretary determines to be equitably entitled to such payment.
    ``(g) Payments.--(1) In a case described in subsection (f)--
        ``(A) in paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall pay the 
    designated beneficiary not later than 90 days after the designated 
    beneficiary files a complete and valid claim for payment;
        ``(B) in paragraph (1)(B) or (2), the Secretary shall make any 
    payment not later than one year after the end of the period 
    described in the applicable such paragraph, if the Secretary 
    receives a complete and valid claim for payment in accordance with 
    the applicable such paragraph; or
        ``(C) in paragraph (3), the Secretary shall make any payment 
    not later than one year after the end of the period described in 
    such paragraph, if the Secretary receives a complete and valid 
    claim for payment.
    ``(2) In a case where the Secretary has not made an insurance 
payment under this section during the applicable period specified in 
paragraph (1) by reason of a beneficiary not yet having filed a claim, 
or the Secretary not yet making a determination under subsection 
(f)(3), the Secretary may make the payment after such applicable 
period.
    ``(3) Notwithstanding section 1917 of this title, the Secretary 
shall make an insurance payment under this section in a lump sum.
    ``(4) The Secretary may not make an insurance payment under this 
section if such payment will escheat to a State.
    ``(5) Any payment under this subsection shall be a bar to recovery 
by any other person.''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
    section 1922A the following new item:

``1922B. Service-disabled veterans insurance.''.

    (b) Sunset of Previous Program and Transition.--
        (1) S-DVI.--Section 1922 of such title is amended by adding at 
    the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d)(1) The Secretary may not accept any application by a veteran 
to be insured under this section after December 31, 2022.
    ``(2)(A) During the period beginning January 1, 2023, and ending 
December 31, 2025, a veteran who is insured under this section may 
elect to instead be insured under section 1922B of this title based on 
the age of the veteran at the time of such election.
    ``(B)(i) A veteran who elects under subparagraph (A) to be insured 
under section 1922B of this title shall be subject to the two-year 
waiting period specified in subsection (c) of such section.
    ``(ii) If the veteran dies during such period, the Secretary shall 
pay the beneficiary under this section, and, if applicable, under 
section 1922A, plus the amount of premiums paid by the veteran under 
such section 1922B, plus interest.
    ``(3) Except as provided by paragraph (2)(B), a veteran may not be 
insured under this section and section 1922B simultaneously.''.
        (2) Supplemental s-dvi.--Section 1922A(b) of such title is 
    amended by adding after the period at the end the following: ``The 
    Secretary may not accept any such application after December 31, 
    2022. Except as provided by section 1922(d)(2)(B), a veteran may 
    not have supplemental insurance under this section and be insured 
    under section 1922B simultaneously.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 19 of such title is amended--
        (1) in the section heading of section 1922, by striking 
    ``Service'' and inserting ``Legacy service'';
        (2) in the section heading of section 1922A, by striking 
    ``Supplemental'' and inserting ``Legacy supplemental''; and
        (3) in the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
    by striking the items relating to sections 1922 and 1922A and 
    inserting the following new items:

``1922. Legacy service disabled veterans' insurance.
``1922A. Legacy supplemental service disabled veterans' insurance for 
          totally disabled veterans.''.
SEC. 2005. DENIAL OF CLAIMS FOR TRAUMATIC INJURY PROTECTION UNDER 
SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE.
    Section 1980A of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(l)(1) If a claim for benefits under this section is denied, the 
Secretary concerned shall provide to the member at the same time as the 
member is informed of such denial a description of the following:
        ``(A) Each reason for that denial, including a description of 
    all the information upon which the denial is based and a 
    description of the applicable laws, regulations, or policies, with 
    appropriate citations, and an explanation of how such laws, 
    regulations, or policies affected the denial.
        ``(B) Each finding that is favorable to the member.
    ``(2) Any finding favorable to the member as described in paragraph 
(1)(B) shall be binding on all subsequent reviews or appeals of the 
denial of the claim, unless clear and convincing evidence is shown to 
the contrary to rebut such favorable finding.''.
SEC. 2006. PUBLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF DISABILITY BENEFIT 
QUESTIONNAIRE FORMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Section 5101 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
        (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
        (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
    subsection (d):
    ``(d)(1) The Secretary shall publish in a central location on the 
internet website of the Department--
        ``(A) the disability benefit questionnaire forms of the 
    Department for the submittal of evidence from non-Department 
    medical providers regarding a disability of a claimant, including 
    any form or process that replaces any such disability benefit 
    questionnaire form; and
        ``(B) details about the process used by the Department for 
    submittal of evidence described in subparagraph (A).
    ``(2) Subject to section 6103 of this title, if the Secretary 
updates a form described in paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall--
        ``(A) accept the previous version of the form filed by a 
    claimant if--
            ``(i) the claimant provided to the non-Department medical 
        provider the previous version of the form before the date on 
        which the updated version of the form was made available; and
            ``(ii) the claimant files the previous version of the form 
        during the one-year period following the date the form was 
        completed by the non-Department medical provider;
        ``(B) request from the claimant (or from a non-Department 
    medical provider if the claimant has authorized the provider to 
    share health information with the Secretary) any other information 
    that the updated version of the form requires; and
        ``(C) apply the laws and regulations required to adjudicate the 
    claim as if the claimant filed the updated version of the form.
    ``(3) The Secretary may waive any interagency approval process 
required to approve a modification to a disability benefit 
questionnaire form if such requirement only applies by reason of the 
forms being made public.''.
    (b) Reports by Inspector General of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.--Not less frequently than once each year through 2023, the 
Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
Congress a report on the findings of the Inspector General with respect 
to the use of the forms published under section 5101(d)(1) of such 
title, as added by subsection (a).
    (c) Initial Form.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall begin 
carrying out section 5101(d)(1) of such title, as added by subsection 
(a), by publishing, as described in such section, the form described in 
such section that was in effect on January 1, 2020.
    (d) Alternate Process.--
        (1) Assessment and report.--
            (A) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), not later than 
        180 days after the date of the enactment of this act, the 
        Secretary shall--
                (i) assess the feasibility and advisability of 
            replacing disability benefit questionnaire forms that are 
            used by non-Department medical providers to submit to the 
            Secretary evidence regarding a disability of a claimant for 
            benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, with 
            another consistent process that considers evidence equally, 
            whether provided by a Department or a non-Department 
            medical provider; and
                (ii) submit to Congress--

                    (I) a report on the findings of the Secretary with 
                respect to the assessment conducted under clause (i); 
                and
                    (II) if the report submitted under subclause (I) of 
                this clause includes a finding that replacing the 
                disability benefit questionnaire forms described in 
                clause (i) as described in such clause is feasible and 
                advisable, a plan to replace such forms as described in 
                such clause.

            (B) Collaboration required.--If, in carrying out the 
        assessment required by clause (i) of subparagraph (A), the 
        Secretary determines that replacing the disability benefit 
        questionnaire forms described in such clause as described in 
        such clause is feasible and advisable, the Secretary shall 
        collaborate with, partner with, and consider the advice of 
        veterans service organizations, and such other stakeholders as 
        the Secretary considers appropriate, on the replacement forms 
        and process for submitting such forms.
        (2) Requirements.--The Secretary may only determine under 
    paragraph (1)(A) that replacing the forms described in such 
    paragraph is feasible and advisable if the Secretary certifies 
    that--
            (A) it is in the best interest of veterans to do so;
            (B) the replacement process would include all the medical 
        information needed to adjudicate a claim for benefits under 
        laws administered by the Secretary; and
            (C) the new process will ensure that all medical 
        information provided will be considered equally, whether it is 
        provided by a Department medical provider or a non-Department 
        medical provider.
        (3) Implementation.--
            (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), if the 
        Secretary determines under paragraph (1)(A) that replacing the 
        forms as described in such paragraph is feasible and advisable, 
        the Secretary shall, not later than two years after the date on 
        which the Secretary submits the report under paragraph 
        (1)(B)(i)--
                (i) replace the forms as described in paragraph (1)(A);
                (ii) publish such replacement pursuant to subparagraph 
            (A) of section 5101(d)(1), as added by subsection (a)(2); 
            and
                (iii) update the details under subparagraph (B) of such 
            section.
            (B) Reports by inspector general of the department of 
        veterans affairs.--If the Secretary replaces the forms under 
        subparagraph (A), the Inspector General of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs shall, not later than one year after the date 
        that the Secretary replaces such forms and not less frequently 
        than once each year thereafter until the date that is three 
        years after the date on which the Secretary replaces such 
        forms, submit to Congress a report on the process that replaced 
        such forms that ascertains whether the process properly 
        protects veterans.
        (4) Limitation.--The Secretary may not discontinue the use of 
    the disability benefit questionnaire forms described in paragraph 
    (1)(A) until a replacement form or process is implemented.
    (e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or section 
5101(d) of such title, as added by subsection (a), may be construed to 
require the Secretary to develop any new information technology system 
or otherwise require the Secretary to make any significant changes to 
the internet website of the Department.
SEC. 2007. THRESHOLD FOR REPORTING DEBTS TO CONSUMER REPORTING 
AGENCIES.
    (a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding after section 5319 the following new section:
``Sec. 5320. Threshold for reporting debts to consumer reporting 
    agencies
    ``The Secretary shall prescribe regulations that establish the 
minimum amount of a claim or debt, arising from a benefit administered 
by the Under Secretary for Benefits or Under Secretary for Health, that 
the Secretary will report to a consumer reporting agency under section 
3711 of title 31.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 
5319 the following new item:

``5320.Threshold for reporting debts to consumer reporting agencies.''.

    (c) Deadline.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe 
regulations under section 5320 of such title, as added by subsection 
(a), not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
SEC. 2008. REMOVAL OF DEPENDENTS FROM AWARD OF COMPENSATION OR PENSION.
    Beginning not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that--
        (1) the recipient of an award of compensation or pension may 
    remove any dependent from an award of compensation or pension to 
    the individual using the eBenefits system of the Department of 
    Veterans Affairs, or a successor system; and
        (2) such removal takes effect not later than 60 days after the 
    date on which the recipient elects such removal.
SEC. 2009. ELIGIBILITY FOR DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR 
SURVIVING SPOUSES WHO REMARRY AFTER AGE 55.
    Section 103(d)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended in 
the second sentence by inserting ``chapter 13 or'' after ``benefits 
under''.
SEC. 2010. STUDY ON EXPOSURE BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES TO 
TOXICANTS AT KARSHI-KHANABAD AIR BASE IN UZBEKISTAN.
    (a) Agreement and Study.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
enter into an agreement with the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry for the Administrator to complete, not 
later than 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, a 
study to identify--
        (1) incidents of cancer and other diseases or illnesses 
    experienced by individuals who served in the active military, 
    naval, or air service (as defined in section 101 of title 38, 
    United States Code) in the covered location set forth under 
    subsection (b) during the corresponding period set forth under such 
    subsection; and
        (2) a list of toxic substances, chemicals, ionizing radiation, 
    and airborne hazards such individuals may have been exposed to 
    during such service.
    (b) Covered Location and Corresponding Period.--The covered 
location and corresponding period set forth under this subsection are 
Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan and the period beginning on 
October 1, 2001, and ending on September 30, 2005.
    (c) Elements.--The study conducted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
        (1) An assessment regarding the conditions of the covered 
    location set forth under subsection (b), including an 
    identification of toxic substances, chemicals, ionizing radiation, 
    and airborne hazards contaminating such covered location during 
    such corresponding period.
        (2) An epidemiological study of the health consequences of the 
    service described in subsection (a) to the individuals described in 
    such subsection.
    (d) Support for Study.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide the Administrator 
    with assistance in carrying out the study required by subsection 
    (a), including by gathering such information as the Administrator 
    may consider useful in carrying out the study.
        (2) Obtaining information concerning exposure.--Assistance 
    under paragraph (1) provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
    shall include compiling information on exposure described in 
    subsection (a)(2) and the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the 
    Secretary of Veterans Affairs such information concerning such 
    exposure as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate 
    for purposes of the study required by subsection (a), including 
    environmental sampling data relative to any location covered by the 
    study.
    (e) Biennial Updates.--No later than the date that is two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently 
than once every two years thereafter until the date on which the study 
required by subsection (a) is completed, the Administrator shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress updates on the status of the 
matters covered by such study, including any preliminary findings of 
the Administrator.
    (f) Final Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which 
the study required by subsection (a) is completed, the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
findings of the Administrator with respect to such study.
    (g) Inclusion of Uzbekistan in Certain Registries and Programs.--
Section 201(c)(2) of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits 
Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-260; 38 U.S.C. 527 note) is 
amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
``Afghanistan or Iraq'' and inserting ``Afghanistan, Iraq, or 
Uzbekistan''.
    (h) Depleted Uranium Follow-up Programs.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall ensure that any individual who deployed as a member of 
the Armed Forces to the covered location set forth in subsection (b) 
during the corresponding period set forth in such subsection is covered 
by the Depleted Uranium Follow-up Programs of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
    (i) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
        (1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
    Armed Services of the Senate; and
        (2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
    Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 2011. COMPTROLLER GENERAL BRIEFING AND REPORT ON REPEALING 
MANIFESTATION PERIOD FOR PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE CONNECTION FOR CERTAIN 
DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN HERBICIDE AGENTS.
    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall provide to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a 
briefing on preliminary observations of the Comptroller General, and 
not later than 240 days after the date of such briefing, provide such 
committees a briefing and submit to such committees a final report, on 
the efforts of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide benefits, 
including compensation and health care, to veterans--
        (1) who during active military, naval, or air service, served 
    in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 
    9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; and
        (2) in whom chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, or acute or 
    subacute peripheral neuropathy have manifested.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
        (1) A description of how the Secretary establishes a service 
    connection for a diseases described in paragraph (2) of subsection 
    (a) manifesting in veterans, including the number of veterans 
    described in paragraph (1) of such subsection who have filed a 
    claim for a benefit associated with a disease described in 
    paragraph (2) of such subsection.
        (2) A description of how claims adjudicators of the Department 
    of Veterans Affairs determine service connection for a disease 
    described in subparagraph (C) or (E) of section 1116(a)(2) of title 
    38, United States Code, when documentation proving the presence of 
    the disease during the manifestation period set forth in such 
    subparagraphs for the disease is not available.
        (3) A description of the expected effect of repealing the 
    manifestation period from such subparagraphs, including the 
    expected effect on the number of claims for benefits the Department 
    will receive, an estimate of the cost to the Department of such 
    repeal, and a review of the scientific evidence regarding such 
    repeal.
        (4) A review of all claims submitted to the Secretary for 
    compensation under chapter 11 of such title that are associated 
    with a disease described in subsection (a)(2), including the type 
    of proof presented to establish a service connection for the 
    manifestation of the disease based on exposure to a herbicide 
    agent.
        (5) Recommendations on how the Department can better adjudicate 
    claims for benefits, including compensation, submitted to the 
    Department that are associated with a disease described in 
    paragraph (2) of subsection (a) for veterans described in paragraph 
    (1) of such subsection.
        (6) An assessment of such other areas as the Comptroller 
    General considers appropriate to study.
    (c) Administrative Action.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
on which the Comptroller General of the United States submits the 
report required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall commence 
carrying out the recommendations submitted under subsection (b)(5) to 
the degree that the Secretary is authorized to carry out the 
recommendations by a statute that was in effect on the day before the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
    (d) Herbicide Agent Defined.--In this section, the term ``herbicide 
agent'' has the meaning given such term in section 1116(a)(3) of title 
38, United States Code.
SEC. 2012. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
USE INCOME INFORMATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES.
    Section 5317(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2027'' and inserting ``September 30, 2030''.
SEC. 2013. EXTENSION ON CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
    Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2028'' and inserting ``October 30, 2028''.

                          Subtitle B--Housing

SEC. 2101. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES FOR HOME LOANS FROM THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Expansion of Definition of Veteran for Purposes of Home 
Loans.--Section 3701(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
        ``(7) The term `veteran' also includes, for purposes of home 
    loans, an individual who performed full-time National Guard duty 
    (as that term is defined in section 101 of title 10) for a period--
            ``(A) of not less than 90 cumulative days; and
            ``(B) that includes 30 consecutive days.''.
    (b) Expansion of Eligibility.--Section 3702(a)(2) of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
        ``(G) Each individual described in section 3701(b)(7) of this 
    title.''.
    (c) Retroactive Applicability.--The amendments made by this section 
shall apply with respect to full-time National Guard duty (as defined 
in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) performed before, on, 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 2102. REDUCING LOAN FEES FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AFFECTED BY MAJOR 
DISASTERS.
    Section 3729(b)(4) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows:
        ``(D)(i) The term `initial loan' means a loan to a veteran 
    guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this 
    title if the veteran has never obtained a loan guaranteed under 
    section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this title.
        ``(ii) If a veteran has obtained a loan guaranteed under 
    section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this title and the 
    dwelling securing such loan was substantially damaged or destroyed 
    by a major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of 
    the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
    (42 U.S.C. 5170), the Secretary shall treat as an initial loan, as 
    defined in clause (i), the next loan the Secretary guarantees or 
    makes to such veteran under section 3710 or 3711, respectively, 
    if--
            ``(I) such loan is guaranteed or made before the date that 
        is three years after the date on which the dwelling was 
        substantially damaged or destroyed; and
            ``(II) such loan is only for repairs or construction of the 
        dwelling, as determined by the Secretary.''; and
        (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``if the veteran has 
    previously obtained a loan guaranteed under section 3710 or made 
    under section 3711 of this title'' and inserting ``that is not an 
    initial loan''.
SEC. 2103. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES.
    Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``October 1, 2029'' each place it appears and inserting 
``October 1, 2030''.
SEC. 2104. COLLECTION OF OVERPAYMENTS OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
ASSISTANCE.
    Section 2102 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g)(1) Whenever the Secretary finds that an overpayment has been 
made to, or on behalf of, a person described in paragraph (2), the 
Secretary shall determine--
        ``(A) the amounts to recover, if any; and
        ``(B) who is liable to the United States for such overpayment.
    ``(2) A person described in this paragraph is any of the following:
        ``(A) An individual who applied for assistance--
            ``(i) under this chapter; or
            ``(ii) under chapter 31 of this title who is pursuing a 
        rehabilitation program under such chapter in acquiring 
        adaptations to a residence.
        ``(B) An owner or seller of real estate used, or intended to be 
    used, in connection with assistance under this chapter.
        ``(C) A builder, contractor, supplier, tradesperson, 
    corporation, trust, partnership, or other person, who provided 
    services or goods relating to assistance under this chapter.
        ``(D) An attorney, escrow agent, or financial institution, that 
    receives, or holds in escrow, funds relating to assistance under 
    this chapter.
        ``(E) A surviving spouse, heir, assignee, or successor in 
    interest of or to, any person described in this paragraph.
    ``(3)(A) Any overpayment referred to in this subsection may be 
recovered in the same manner as any other debt due the United States.
    ``(B) In recovering the overpayment, the Secretary may charge 
administrative costs, fees, and interest, as appropriate, in a manner 
similar to the authority under section 5315 of this title.
    ``(4)(A) The recovery of any overpayment referred to in this 
subsection may be waived by the Secretary.
    ``(B) Waiver of any such overpayment as to a person described in 
paragraph (2) shall in no way release any other person described in 
such paragraph from liability.
    ``(5) The Secretary shall waive recovery under this subsection of 
any overpayment to a person described in paragraph (2)(A), or a 
dependent or survivor of such person, that arises from administrative 
error described in paragraph (7)(A).
    ``(6) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as precluding 
the imposition of any civil or criminal liability under this title or 
any other law.
    ``(7) The Secretary shall prescribe in regulations what constitutes 
an overpayment for the purposes of this subsection, which, at a 
minimum, shall include--
        ``(A) administrative error that results in an individual 
    receiving assistance to which that individual is not entitled;
        ``(B) the failure of any person described in paragraph (2) to--
            ``(i) perform or allow to be performed any act relating to 
        assistance under this chapter; or
            ``(ii) compensate any party performing services or 
        supplying goods relating to assistance under this chapter; and
        ``(C) any disbursement of funds relating to assistance under 
    this chapter, that, in the sole discretion of the Secretary, 
    constitutes a misuse of such assistance.
    ``(8) Prior to collecting an overpayment under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall provide to the person whom the Secretary has determined 
liable for such overpayment--
        ``(A) notice of the finding by the Secretary of such 
    overpayment;
        ``(B) a reasonable opportunity for such person to remedy the 
    circumstances that effectuated the overpayment; and
        ``(C) a reasonable opportunity for such person to present 
    evidence to the Secretary that an overpayment was not made.
    ``(9) For the purposes of section 511 of this title, a decision to 
collect an overpayment from a person other than a person described in 
paragraph (2)(A), or a dependent or survivor of such person, may not be 
treated as a decision that affects the provision of benefits.''.

                       Subtitle C--Burial Matters

SEC. 2201. TRANSPORTATION OF DECEASED VETERANS TO VETERANS' CEMETERIES.
    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 2308 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``in a national cemetery'' and 
inserting ``in a national cemetery or a covered veterans' cemetery''.
    (b) Covered Veterans' Cemetery Defined.--Section 2308 of such title 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Covered Veterans' Cemetery Defined.--In this section, the 
term `covered veterans' cemetery' means a veterans' cemetery--
        ``(1) in which a deceased veteran described in subsection (b) 
    is eligible to be buried;
        ``(2) that--
            ``(A) is owned by a State; or
            ``(B) is on trust land owned by, or held in trust for, a 
        tribal organization; and
        ``(3) for which the Secretary has made a grant under section 
    2408 of this title.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2308 of such title is amended in 
the section heading by adding at the end the following: ``or a covered 
veterans' cemetery''.
    (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 23 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 2308 and inserting the following new item:

``2308. Transportation of deceased veteran to a national cemetery or a 
          covered veterans' cemetery.''.

    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
SEC. 2202. INCREASE IN CERTAIN FUNERAL BENEFITS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED 
BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Funeral Expenses for Non-service-connected Disabilities.--
Chapter 23 of title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
        (1) By transferring subsection (b) of section 2302 to the end 
    of section 2303 and redesignating such subsection as subsection 
    (d).
        (2) By striking section 2302.
        (3) In section 2303--
            (A) in the section heading, by striking ``Death in 
        Department facility'' and inserting ``Death from non-service-
        connected disability''; and
            (B) in subsection (a)--
                (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``a veteran dies in a 
            facility described in paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``a 
            veteran described in paragraph (2) dies'';
                (ii) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
            following new paragraph (2):
    ``(2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a deceased veteran 
who is not covered by section 2307 of this title and who meets any of 
the following criteria:
        ``(A) The deceased veteran dies in--
            ``(i) a facility of the Department (as defined in section 
        1701(3) of this title) to which the deceased veteran was 
        properly admitted for hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary 
        care under section 1710 or 1711(a) of this title; or
            ``(ii) an institution at which the deceased veteran was, at 
        the time of death, receiving--
                ``(I) hospital care in accordance with sections 1703A, 
            8111, and 8153 of this title;
                ``(II) nursing home care under section 1720 of this 
            title; or
                ``(III) nursing home care for which payments are made 
            under section 1741 of this title.
        ``(B) At the time of death, the deceased veteran (including a 
    person who died during a period deemed to be active military, 
    naval, or air service under section 106(c) of this title) is in 
    receipt of compensation under chapter 11 of this title (or but for 
    the receipt of retirement pay would have been entitled to such 
    compensation) or was in receipt of pension under chapter 15 of this 
    title.
        ``(C) The Secretary determines--
            ``(i) the deceased veteran (including a person who died 
        during a period deemed to be active military, naval, or air 
        service under section 106(c) of this title) has no next of kin 
        or other person claiming the body of the deceased veteran; and
            ``(ii) that there are not available sufficient resources to 
        cover burial and funeral expenses.'';
                (iii) in subsection (b)--

                    (I) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``section 2302 of this title and''; and
                    (II) in paragraph (2), by striking ``under section 
                2302 of this title or''; and

                (iv) in subsection (d), as added by paragraph (1) of 
            this subsection, by striking ``Except as'' and inserting 
            ``With respect to a deceased veteran described in 
            subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (a)(2), except as''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
        (1) Title 38.--Such title is amended as follows:
            (A) In section 2304, by striking ``Applications for 
        payments under section 2302 of this title'' and inserting 
        ``Applications for payments under section 2303 of this title 
        regarding veterans described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of 
        subsection (a)(2) of such section''.
            (B) In section 2307, by striking ``sections 2302 and 
        2303(a)(1) and (b)(2) of this title'' and inserting 
        ``subsections (a)(1) and (b)(2) of section 2303 of this 
        title''.
            (C) In section 2308--
                (i) in subsection (a), by striking ``pursuant to 
            section 2302 or 2307 of this title,'' and inserting 
            ``pursuant to section 2303 of this title regarding veterans 
            described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (a)(2) 
            of such section, or pursuant to section 2307 of this 
            title,''; and
                (ii) in subsection (b)(3)--

                    (I) by striking ``section 2302'' and inserting 
                ``section 2303''; and
                    (II) by striking ``subsection (a)(2)(A)'' and 
                inserting ``subsection (a)(2)(C)''.

            (D) In section 113(c)(1), by striking ``2302,''.
            (E) In section 5101(a)(1)(B)(i), by striking ``2302'' and 
        inserting ``2303''.
        (2) Emergency medical care.--Section 11 of the Military 
    Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3810) is amended by striking 
    ``section 2302(a) of title 38'' and inserting ``section 2303 of 
    title 38, United States Code, regarding veterans described in 
    subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (a)(2) of such section''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 23 of such title is amended by striking the items relating to 
sections 2302 and 2303 and inserting the following new item:

``2303. Death from non-service-connected disability; plot allowance.''.

    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to deaths that occur on or after the date that is two years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 2203. OUTER BURIAL RECEPTACLES FOR EACH NEW GRAVE IN CEMETERIES 
THAT ARE THE SUBJECTS OF CERTAIN GRANTS MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Section 2306(e) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1)--
            (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                (i) by striking ``shall'' and inserting ``may''; and
                (ii) by inserting ``, or in a cemetery that is the 
            subject of a grant to a State or a tribal organization 
            under section 2408 of this title,'' after ``National 
            Cemetery Administration''; and
            (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``shall'' and 
        inserting ``may''; and
        (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new 
    paragraph (2):
    ``(2)(A) The use of outer burial receptacles in a cemetery under 
the control of the National Cemetery Administration or in a cemetery 
that is the subject of a grant to a State or a tribal organization 
under section 2408 of this title shall be in accordance with 
regulations or procedures approved by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs.
    ``(B) The use of outer burial receptacles in Arlington National 
Cemetery shall be in accordance with regulations or procedures approved 
by the Secretary of the Army.
    ``(C) The use of outer burial receptacles in a national cemetery 
administered by the National Park Service shall be in accordance with 
regulations or procedures approved by the Secretary of the Interior.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
SEC. 2204. PROVISION OF INSCRIPTIONS FOR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN ON 
CERTAIN HEADSTONES AND MARKERS FURNISHED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
        (1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and
        (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new 
    subsection (i):
    ``(i)(1) In addition to any other authority under this section, in 
the case of an individual whose grave is not in a covered cemetery (as 
that term is defined in subsection (f)(2)) and for whom the Secretary 
has furnished a headstone or marker under subsection (a) or (d), the 
Secretary, if feasible and upon request, may replace the headstone or 
marker to add an inscription for the surviving spouse or eligible 
dependent child of such individual following the death of the surviving 
spouse or eligible dependent child.
    ``(2) If the spouse or eligible dependent child of an individual 
referred to in paragraph (1) predeceases the individual, the Secretary 
may, if feasible and upon request, include an inscription for the 
spouse or dependent child on the headstone or marker furnished for the 
individual under subsection (a) or (d).''.
    (b) Application.--Subsection (i) of section 2306 of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with 
respect to an individual who dies on or after October 1, 2019.
SEC. 2205. AID TO COUNTIES FOR ESTABLISHMENT, EXPANSION, AND 
IMPROVEMENT OF VETERANS' CEMETERIES.
    (a) In General.--Section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
        (1) by inserting ``or county'' after ``State'' each place it 
    appears;
        (2) in subsection (a)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
    (A), by striking ``subsection (b)'' and inserting ``subsections 
    (b), (c), (d), and (g)'';
        (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g)(1) The Secretary may make a grant to a county under this 
section only if--
    ``(A)(i) the State in which the county is located does not have a 
veterans' cemetery owned by the State;
    ``(ii) the State is not in receipt of a grant under this section 
for the construction of a new veterans' cemetery to be owned by the 
State;
    ``(iii) the State did not apply for a grant under this section 
during the previous year;
    ``(iv) no tribal organization from the State in which the county is 
located has a veterans' cemetery on trust land owned by, or held in 
trust for, the tribal organization;
    ``(v) no such tribal organization is in receipt of a grant under 
this section for the construction of a new veterans' cemetery to be 
located on such land; and
    ``(vi) no such tribal organization applied for a grant under this 
section during the previous year; and
    ``(B) the county demonstrates in the application under subsection 
(a)(2), to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that the county has the 
resources necessary to operate and maintain the veterans' cemetery 
owned by the county.
    ``(2)(A) If a county and the State in which the county is located 
both apply for a grant under this section for the same year, the 
Secretary shall give priority to the State.
    ``(B) If a county and a tribal organization from the State in which 
the county is located both apply for a grant under this section for the 
same year, the Secretary shall give priority to the tribal 
organization.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this 
subsection.''; and
        (4) in subsection (f)--
            (A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as subsection (h);
            (B) by moving such subsection, as so redesignated, to the 
        location after subsection (g), as added by paragraph (3);
            (C) in subsection (h), as so redesignated and moved, by 
        redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as paragraphs (1) and 
        (2), respectively; and
            (D) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), as so 
        redesignated, by striking ``this subsection'' and inserting 
        ``this section''.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--
        (1) Section heading.--The heading of such section is amended by 
    inserting ``, counties, and tribal organizations'' after 
    ``States''.
        (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of chapter 24 of such title is amended by striking the item 
    relating to section 2408 and inserting the following new item:

``2408. Aid to States, counties, and tribal organizations for 
          establishment, expansion, and improvement of veterans' 
          cemeteries.''.

    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
on effect on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
SEC. 2206. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF GRANTS TO STATES, COUNTIES, 
AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR OPERATING AND MAINTAINING VETERANS' 
CEMETERIES.
    Section 2408(e)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``$5,000,000'' and inserting ``$10,000,000''.
SEC. 2207. PROVISION OF URNS AND COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES FOR REMAINS OF 
CERTAIN VETERANS WHOSE CREMATED REMAINS ARE NOT INTERRED IN CERTAIN 
CEMETERIES.
    (a) In General.--Section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, as 
amended by section 2204 of this title, is further amended--
        (1) by redesignating subsections (h), (i), and (j) as 
    subsections (i), (j), and (k), respectively; and
        (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new 
    subsection (h):
    ``(h)(1) In lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker under this 
section for a deceased individual described in paragraph (3), the 
Secretary shall furnish, upon request and at the expense of the United 
States--
        ``(A) an urn made of any material to signify the individual's 
    status as a veteran, in which the remains of such individual may be 
    placed at private expense; or
        ``(B) a commemorative plaque signifying the individual's status 
    as a veteran.
    ``(2) If the Secretary furnishes an urn or commemorative plaque for 
an individual under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not provide for 
such individual--
        ``(A) a headstone or marker under this section; or
        ``(B) any burial benefit under section 2402 of this title.
    ``(3) A deceased individual described in this paragraph is an 
individual--
        ``(A) who served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917;
        ``(B) who is eligible for a headstone or marker furnished under 
    subsection (d) (or would be so eligible but for the date of the 
    death of the individual); and
        ``(C) whose remains were cremated and not interred in a 
    national cemetery, a State veterans' cemetery, a tribal cemetery, a 
    county cemetery, or a private cemetery.
    ``(4)(A) Any urn or commemorative plaque furnished under this 
subsection shall be the personal property of the next of kin or such 
other individual as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(B) The Federal Government shall not be liable for any damage to 
an urn or commemorative plaque furnished under this subsection that 
occurs after the date on which the urn or commemorative plaque is so 
furnished.
    ``(5) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this 
subsection.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
on effect on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
SEC. 2208. TRAINING OF STATE AND TRIBAL VETERANS' CEMETERY PERSONNEL BY 
NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION.
    (a) In General.--Section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, as 
amended by sections 2205 and 2206 of this title, is further amended--
        (1) in subsection (b)(1)--
            (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                (i) by striking ``and (ii) the cost'' and inserting 
            ``(ii) the cost''; and
                (ii) by inserting ``; and (iii) training costs 
            described in subsection (c)(1)'' before the semicolon; and
            (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                (i) by striking ``and (ii) the cost'' and inserting 
            ``(ii) the cost''; and
                (ii) by inserting ``; and (iii) training costs 
            described in subsection (c)(1)'' before the period;
        (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (h) as subsections 
    (d) through (i), respectively; and
        (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
    subsection (c):
    ``(c)(1) A grant under this section for a purpose described in 
subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(1) may be used, solely or in 
part, for training costs, including travel expenses and up to four 
weeks of lodging expenses, associated with attendance by employees of a 
veterans' cemetery owned by a State or on trust land owned by, or held 
in trust for, a tribal organization at training provided by the 
National Cemetery Administration.
    ``(2) Any employee described in paragraph (1) who participates in 
training described in such paragraph shall fulfill a service 
requirement as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(3) The Secretary may by regulation prescribe such additional 
terms and conditions for grants used for training costs under this 
subsection as the Secretary considers appropriate.''.
    (b) Reports.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than each of two years and five 
    years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
    Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
    of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House 
    of Representatives a report on training provided by the National 
    Cemetery Administration under subsection (c) of section 2408 of 
    title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
        (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
    include the following:
            (A) The attrition rate with respect to individuals who 
        participate in the training described in paragraph (1).
            (B) A description of how State and tribal veterans' 
        cemeteries that used grants awarded under section 2408 of title 
        38, United States Code, for training costs under subsection (c) 
        of such section, as added by subsection (a), have improved as a 
        result of the training, according to the administrators of such 
        cemeteries.
            (C) An identification of how many State and tribal 
        veterans' cemeteries used the authority provided by subsection 
        (c) of section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, as added 
        by subsection (a), in order to train individuals.
            (D) The amount obligated or expended as a result of the 
        authority described in subparagraph (C).

                         TITLE III--HEALTH CARE
                   Subtitle A--Health Care Generally

SEC. 3001. EXPANSION OF MODIFICATIONS TO VETERAN DIRECTED CARE PROGRAM.
    Section 20006 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 
Act (Public Law 116-136) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``During a public health emergency'' each place 
    it appears and inserting ``During the period specified in 
    subsection (f)'';
        (2) in subsection (a)--
            (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``during a public health emergency'' and inserting ``during the 
        period specified in subsection (f)''; and
            (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``an area agency on 
        aging'' and inserting ``a covered provider''; and
        (3) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following new 
    subsections:
    ``(e) Transfer of Certain Veterans to the Program.--During the 
period specified in subsection (f), the Secretary shall allow a veteran 
residing in an area covered by the Program to be transferred to the 
Program for the duration of such period if--
        ``(1) the veteran had been receiving extended care services 
    paid for by the Department, such as adult day services or homemaker 
    or home health aide services, immediately preceding such period; 
    and
        ``(2) those services are no longer available due to a public 
    health emergency.
    ``(f) Period Specified.--The period specified in this subsection is 
the period beginning on the date on which a public health emergency was 
first declared and ending on the date that is 60 days after the date on 
which a public health emergency is no longer in effect.
    ``(g) Covered Provider Defined.--In this section, the term `covered 
provider' means a provider participating in the Program, including--
        ``(1) an Aging and Disability Resource Center, an area agency 
    on aging, or a State agency (as those terms are defined in section 
    102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002)); or
        ``(2) a center for independent living (as defined in section 
    702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796a)).''.
SEC. 3002. PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF A HEALTH CARE COPAYMENT BY THE 
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FROM A VETERAN WHO IS A MEMBER OF AN 
INDIAN TRIBE.
    (a) In General.--Section 1730A of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
        (1) in the heading, by striking ``catastrophically disabled'' 
    and inserting ``certain'';
        (2) by inserting ``(a) Prohibition.--'' before 
    ``Notwithstanding'';
        (3) by striking ``a veteran who is catastrophically disabled, 
    as defined by the Secretary,'' and inserting ``a covered veteran''; 
    and
        (4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Covered Veteran Defined.--In this section, the term `covered 
veteran' means a veteran who--
        ``(1) is catastrophically disabled, as defined by the 
    Secretary; or
        ``(2) is an Indian or urban Indian (as those terms are defined 
    in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 
    1603)).''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 1730A and inserting the following:

``1730A. Prohibition on collection of copayments from certain 
          veterans.''.

    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the day that is one year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
SEC. 3003. OVERSIGHT FOR STATE HOMES REGARDING COVID-19 INFECTIONS, 
RESPONSE CAPACITY, AND STAFFING LEVELS.
    (a) Reporting.--
        (1) In general.--During a covered public health emergency, each 
    State home shall submit weekly to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
    and the National Healthcare Safety Network of the Centers for 
    Disease Control and Prevention, through an electronic medium and in 
    a standardized format specified by the Secretary, a report on the 
    emergency.
        (2) Elements.--Each report required by paragraph (1) for a 
    State home shall include the following:
            (A) The number of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 
        infections among residents and staff, including residents 
        previously treated for COVID-19, disaggregated by--
                (i) veteran, spouse of a veteran, staff, and other;
                (ii) race and ethnicity;
                (iii) gender; and
                (iv) age.
            (B) The number of total deaths and COVID-19 deaths among 
        residents and staff, disaggregated by--
                (i) veteran, spouse of a veteran, staff, and other;
                (ii) race and ethnicity;
                (iii) gender; and
                (iv) age.
            (C) An assessment of the supply of personal protective 
        equipment and hand hygiene supplies.
            (D) An assessment of ventilator capacity and supplies.
            (E) The number of resident beds and the occupancy rate, 
        disaggregated by veteran, spouse of a veteran, and other.
            (F) An assessment of the access of residents to testing for 
        COVID-19.
            (G) An assessment of staffing shortages, if any.
            (H) Such other information as the Secretary may specify.
    (b) Publication of Total Infections and Deaths.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than weekly 
    thereafter, the Secretary shall post on a publicly available 
    website of the Department of Veterans Affairs--
            (A) the total number of residents and staff of State homes 
        who are infected with COVID-19; and
            (B) the total number of such residents and staff who have 
        died from COVID-19.
        (2) Information on residents and staff.--The Secretary shall 
    disaggregate information on residents and staff published under 
    paragraph (1) by veteran, staff, and other.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Covered public health emergency.--The term ``covered public 
    health emergency'' means an emergency with respect to COVID-19 
    declared by a Federal, State, or local authority.
        (2) State home.--The term ``State home'' has the meaning given 
    that term in section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3004. GRANTS FOR STATE HOMES LOCATED ON TRIBAL LANDS.
    (a) State Home Defined.--Section 101(19) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ``or Indian tribe (as defined in section 
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304))'' after ``(other than a possession)''.
    (b) Payments to State Homes.--Section 1741 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(g) In this subchapter, the term `State' means each of the 
several States and each Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304)).''.
    (c) State Home Construction.--
        (1) In general.--Section 8131(2) of title 38, United States 
    Code, is amended by inserting ``includes each Indian tribe (as 
    defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
    Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) but'' before ``does not''.
        (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 8132 of such title is 
    amended by striking ``several''.
    (d) Additional Legislative or Administrative Action.--
        (1) Consultation with indian tribes.--Not later than 180 days 
    after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
    Veterans Affairs shall consult with Indian tribes to determine if 
    any legislative or administrative action is necessary to modify the 
    State home program to function efficiently in support of State 
    homes operated by Indian tribes pursuant to the amendments made by 
    this section.
        (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 90 days after 
    completing consultations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
    submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
    recommending legislative action that the Secretary considers 
    appropriate to modify the State home program described in such 
    paragraph in light of those consultations.
        (3) Modifications.--Not later than 180 days after completing 
    consultations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make any 
    modifications to regulations implementing the State home program, 
    for which legislative action is not necessary, as the Secretary 
    considers appropriate in light of those consultations.
    (e) Technical Support and Assistance.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall provide technical support and assistance to Indian tribes 
in carrying out the State home program at State homes operated by 
Indian tribes pursuant to the amendments made by this section.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term ``appropriate 
    committees of Congress'' means--
            (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
        Indian Affairs of the Senate; and
            (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee 
        for Indigenous Peoples of the United States of the Committee on 
        Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
        (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the meaning 
    given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
    Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
        (3) State home.--The term ``State home'' has the meaning given 
    that term in section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code.
        (4) State home program.--The term ``State home program'' means 
    the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs for which 
    payments are made under subchapter V of chapter 17 of title 38, 
    United States Code, and assistance is provided under subchapter III 
    of chapter 81 of such title.
SEC. 3005. CONTINUATION OF WOMEN'S HEALTH TRANSITION TRAINING PROGRAM 
OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Duration.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out 
the Women's Health Transition Training program of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as the ``Program'') until 
at least one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Report.--Not later than one year and ten days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the Program that includes the 
following:
        (1) The number of women members of the Armed Forces, 
    disaggregated by military department (with respect to the 
    Department of the Navy, disaggregated by the Navy and Marine 
    Corps), who participated in the Program.
        (2) The number of courses held under the Program.
        (3) The locations at which such courses were held, the number 
    of seats available for such courses, and the number of participants 
    at each such location.
        (4) With respect to the number of members of the Armed Forces 
    who participated in the Program as specified under paragraph (1)--
            (A) the number who enrolled in the health care system of 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a) of 
        title 38, United States Code; and
            (B) the number who attended at least one health care 
        appointment at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs.
        (5) Data relating to--
            (A) satisfaction with courses held under the Program;
            (B) improved awareness of health care services administered 
        by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
            (C) any other available statistics regarding the Program.
        (6) A discussion of regulatory, legal, or resource barriers 
    to--
            (A) making the Program permanent to enable access to 
        services provided under the Program by a greater number of 
        women members of the Armed Forces at locations throughout the 
        United States;
            (B) offering the Program online for women members of the 
        Armed Forces who are unable to attend courses held under the 
        Program in person; and
            (C) the feasability of automatically enrolling Program 
        participants in the health care system of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a) of title 38, United 
        States Code.
    (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
        (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
        (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 3006. AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO FURNISH 
MEDICALLY NECESSARY TRANSPORTATION FOR NEWBORN CHILDREN OF CERTAIN 
WOMEN VETERANS.
    (a) In General.--Section 1786 of title 38, United States Code, as 
amended by section 9102 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, is further amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)--
            (A) in the matter before paragraph (1), by inserting ``and 
        transportation necessary to receive such services'' after 
        ``described in subsection (b)'';
            (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or'';
            (C) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
        ``(3) another location, including a health care facility, if 
    the veteran delivers the child before arriving at a facility 
    described in paragraph (1) or (2).'';
        (2) in subsection (b), by inserting before the period at the 
    end the following: ``, including necessary health care services 
    provided by a facility other than the facility where the newborn 
    child was delivered (including a specialty pediatric hospital) that 
    accepts transfer of the newborn child and responsibility for 
    treatment of the newborn child''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(d) Transportation.--(1) Transportation furnished under 
subsection (a) to, from, or between care settings to meet the needs of 
a newborn child includes costs for either or both the newborn child and 
parents.
    ``(2) Transportation furnished under subsection (a) includes 
transportation by ambulance, including air ambulance, or other 
appropriate medically staffed modes of transportation--
        ``(A) to another health care facility (including a specialty 
    pediatric hospital) that accepts transfer of the newborn child or 
    otherwise provides post-delivery care services when the treating 
    facility is not capable of furnishing the care or services 
    required; or
        ``(B) to a health care facility in a medical emergency of such 
    nature that a prudent layperson reasonably expects that delay in 
    seeking immediate medical attention would be hazardous to life or 
    health.
    ``(3) Amounts paid by the Department for transportation under this 
section shall be derived from the Medical Services appropriations 
account of the Department.
    ``(e) Reimbursement or Payment for Health Care Services or 
Transportation.--(1) Pursuant to regulations the Secretary shall 
prescribe to establish rates of reimbursement and any limitations 
thereto under this section, the Secretary shall directly reimburse a 
covered entity for health care services or transportation services 
provided under this section, unless the cost of the services or 
transportation is covered by an established agreement or contract. If 
such an agreement or contract exists, its negotiated payment terms 
shall apply.
    ``(2)(A) Reimbursement or payment by the Secretary under this 
section on behalf of an individual to a covered entity shall, unless 
rejected and refunded by the covered entity within 30 days of receipt, 
extinguish any liability on the part of the individual for the health 
care services or transportation covered by such payment.
    ``(B) Neither the absence of a contract or agreement between the 
Secretary and a covered entity nor any provision of a contract, 
agreement, or assignment to the contrary shall operate to modify, 
limit, or negate the requirements of subparagraph (A).
    ``(3) In this subsection, the term `covered entity' means any 
individual, transportation carrier, organization, or other entity that 
furnished or paid for health care services or transportation under this 
section.''.
    (b) Treatment of Certain Expenses Already Incurred.--
        (1) In general.--Pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary 
    of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe, with respect to transportation 
    furnished in order for a newborn child of a veteran to receive 
    health care services under section 1786 of title 38, United States 
    Code, during the period specified in paragraph (2), the Secretary 
    may--
            (A) waive a debt owed by the veteran to the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs or reimburse expenses already paid by the 
        veteran to the Department for such transportation;
            (B) reimburse the veteran for expenses already paid by the 
        veteran to a covered entity for such transportation; or
            (C) reimburse a covered entity for the costs of such 
        transportation.
        (2) Period specified.--The period specified in this paragraph 
    is the period beginning on May 5, 2010, and ending on the date of 
    the enactment of this Act.
        (3) Covered entity defined.--In this subsection, the term 
    ``covered entity'' has the meaning given that term in section 
    1786(e)(3) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
    (a).
SEC. 3007. WAIVER OF REQUIREMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR 
RECEIPT OF PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR DOMICILIARY CARE AT STATE HOMES AND 
MODIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SUCH PAYMENTS.
    (a) Waiver of Requirements.--Notwithstanding section 1741 of title 
38, United States Code (as amended by subsection (b)), the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall modify section 51.51(b) of title 38, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), to provide the 
Secretary the authority to waive the requirements under such section 
51.51(b) for a veteran to be eligible for per diem payments for 
domiciliary care at a State home if--
        (1) the veteran has met not fewer than four of the requirements 
    set forth in such section; or
        (2) such waiver would be in the best interest of the veteran.
    (b) Modification of Eligibility.--Section 1741(a)(1) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended, in the flush text following 
subparagraph (B), by striking ``in a Department facility'' and 
inserting ``under the laws administered by the Secretary''.
    (c) State Home Defined.--In this section, the term ``State home'' 
has the meaning given that term in section 101(19) of title 38, United 
States Code.
SEC. 3008. EXPANSION OF QUARTERLY UPDATE OF INFORMATION ON STAFFING AND 
VACANCIES AT FACILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
INCLUDE INFORMATION ON DURATION OF HIRING PROCESS.
    (a) Quarterly Update.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 505 of the VA 
MISSION Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-182; 38 U.S.C. 301 note) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(E) Beginning with any update under paragraph (3) on or 
        after the date of the enactment of the Johnny Isakson and David 
        P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act 
        of 2020, the following:
                ``(i) For employees appointed under paragraphs (1) and 
            (3) of section 7401 of title 38, United States Code, the 
            number of employees for which the duration of the process 
            from validation of vacancy to receipt of official offer and 
            notification of actual start date exceeds the metrics laid 
            out in the Time to Hire Model of the Veterans Health 
            Administration, or successor model.
                ``(ii) The percentage of employees who are described in 
            clause (i) compared to all employees appointed under 
            paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 7401 of such title during 
            the same period.
                ``(iii) The average number of days potential hires or 
            new hires appointed under paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 
            7401 of such title spent in each phase of the Time to Hire 
            Model, or successor model.''.
    (b) Annual Report.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended, in 
the first sentence, by adding before the period at the end the 
following: ``and to improve the onboard timeline for facilities for 
which the duration of the onboarding process exceeds the metrics laid 
out in the Time to Hire Model of the Veterans Health Administration, or 
successor model''.
SEC. 3009. REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
MEDICAL FACILITIES TO HAVE PHYSICAL LOCATION FOR THE DISPOSAL OF 
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES MEDICATIONS.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure 
that each covered Department medical facility has a physical location 
where patients may dispose of controlled substances medications.
    (b) Covered Department Medical Facility.--In this section, the term 
``covered Department medical facility'' means a medical facility of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs with an onsite pharmacy or a physical 
location dedicated for law enforcement purposes.
    (c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on January 1, 
2022.
SEC. 3010. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM FOR CLINICAL 
OBSERVATION BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.
    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
out a pilot program for a one-year period, beginning not later than 
August 15, 2021, to provide certain students described in subsection 
(d) a clinical observation experience at medical centers of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (b) Medical Center Selection.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
pilot program under this section at not fewer than five medical centers 
of the Department. In selecting such medical centers, the Secretary 
shall ensure regional diversity among such selected medical centers.
    (c) Clinical Observation Sessions.--
        (1) Frequency and duration.--In carrying out the pilot program, 
    the Secretary shall--
            (A) provide at least one and not more than three clinical 
        observation sessions at each medical center selected during 
        each calendar year;
            (B) ensure that each clinical observation session--
                (i) lasts between four and six months; and
                (ii) to the extent practicable, begins and ends 
            concurrently with one or more academic terms of an 
            institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 
            of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)); and
            (C) ensure that the clinical observation sessions provided 
        at a medical center have minimal overlap.
        (2) Sessions.--The Secretary shall ensure that the pilot 
    program consists of clinical observation sessions as follows:
            (A) Each session shall allow for not fewer than five 
        students nor greater than 15 students to participate in the 
        session.
            (B) Each session shall consist of not fewer than 20 
        observational hours nor greater than 40 observational hours.
            (C) A majority of the observational hours shall be spent 
        observing a health professional. The other observational hours 
        shall be spent in a manner that ensures a robust, well rounded 
        experience that exposes the students to a variety of aspects of 
        medical care and health care administration.
            (D) Each session shall provide a diverse clinical 
        observation experience.
    (d) Students.--
        (1) Selection.--The Secretary shall select to participate in 
    the pilot program under subsection (a) students who are--
            (A) nationals of the United States;
            (B) enrolled in an accredited program of study at an 
        institution of higher education; and
            (C) referred by their institution of higher education 
        following an internal application process.
        (2) Priority.--In making such selection, the Secretary shall 
    give priority to each of the following five categories of students:
            (A) Students who, at the time of the completion of their 
        secondary education, resided in a health professional shortage 
        area (as defined in section 332 of the Public Health Service 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 254e)).
            (B) First generation college students (as defined in 
        section 402A(h)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1067q(a))).
            (C) Students who have been referred by minority-serving 
        institutions (as defined in section 371(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))).
            (D) Veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United 
        States Code).
            (E) Students who indicate an intention to specialize in a 
        health professional occupation identified by the Inspector 
        General of the Department under section 7412 of title 38, 
        United States Code, as having a staffing shortage.
        (3) Assignment to medical centers.--The Secretary shall assign 
    students selected under paragraph (1) to medical centers selected 
    under subsection (b) without regard for whether such medical 
    centers have staffing shortages in any health professional 
    occupation pursuant to section 7412 of title 38, United States 
    Code.
    (e) Other Matters.--In carrying out the pilot program under this 
section, the Secretary shall--
        (1) establish a formal status to facilitate the access to 
    medical centers of the Department by student observers 
    participating in the pilot program;
        (2) establish standardized legal, privacy, and ethical 
    requirements for the student observers, including with respect to--
            (A) ensuring that no student observer provides any care to 
        patients while participating as an observer; and
            (B) ensuring the suitability of a student to participate in 
        the pilot program to ensure that the student poses no risk to 
        patients;
        (3) develop and implement a partnership strategy with minority-
    serving institutions to encourage referrals;
        (4) create standardized procedures for student observers;
        (5) create an online information page about the pilot program 
    on the internet website of the Department;
        (6) publish on the online information page created under 
    paragraph (5) the locations of such centers, and other information 
    on the pilot program, not later than 180 days before the date on 
    which applications are required to be submitted by potential 
    student observers;
        (7) identify medical centers and specific health professionals 
    participating in the pilot program; and
        (8) notify the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
    Representatives and the Senate of the medical centers selected 
    under subsection (c) within 30 days of selection, to facilitate 
    program awareness.
    (f) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion of the 
pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a report on the results of the pilot program, including--
        (1) the number and demographics of all applicants, those 
    accepted to participate in the pilot program, and those who 
    completed the pilot program; and
        (2) if participating institutions of higher education choose to 
    administer satisfaction surveys that assess the experience of those 
    who completed the pilot program, the results of any such 
    satisfaction surveys, provided at the discretion of the institution 
    of higher education.
    (g) Sense of Congress Regarding Department of Veterans Affairs 
Pilot Program for Clinical Observation by Undergraduate Students.--It 
is the sense of Congress that the pilot program described in subsection 
(a) should be designed to--
        (1) increase the awareness, knowledge, and empathy of future 
    health professionals toward the health conditions common to 
    veterans;
        (2) increase the diversity of the recruitment pool of future 
    physicians of the Department; and
        (3) expand clinical observation opportunities for all students 
    by encouraging students of all backgrounds to consider a career in 
    the health professions.
    (h) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No additional funds are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the requirements of this 
section. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise 
authorized to be appropriated.

             Subtitle B--Scheduling and Consult Management

SEC. 3101. PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS FOR 
HEALTH CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND NON-DEPARTMENT 
HEALTH CARE.
    (a) Process and Requirements.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
            (A) establish a process and requirements for scheduling 
        appointments for--
                (i) health care from the Department of Veterans 
            Affairs; and
                (ii) health care furnished through the Veterans 
            Community Care Program under section 1703 of title 38, 
            United States Code, by a non-Department health care 
            provider; and
            (B) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a description of such process and requirements.
        (2) Elements of description.--The description of the process 
    and requirements for scheduling appointments for health care 
    required to be submitted under paragraph (1)(B) shall include--
            (A) information on how such process and requirements take 
        into account the access standards established under section 
        1703B of title 38, United States Code; and
            (B) the maximum number of days allowed to complete each 
        step of such process.
        (3) Periodic revision.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary may revise the process and 
        requirements required under paragraph (1) as the Secretary 
        considers necessary.
            (B) Submittal to congress.--Not later than 30 days before 
        revising the process and requirements under subparagraph (A), 
        the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
        Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
        the House of Representatives a description of such revised 
        process and requirements, including a description of any 
        modifications to the certification and training under 
        subsection (b).
    (b) Certification and Training on Process and Requirements.--
        (1) Certification.--Not later than one year after the date of 
    the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall require each 
    individual involved in the scheduling of appointments for health 
    care from the Department or health care described in subsection 
    (a)(1)(A)(ii), including schedulers, clinical coordinators, and 
    supervisors, to certify to the Secretary that the individual 
    understands the process and requirements established under 
    subsection (a), including the maximum number of days allowed to 
    complete each step of such process.
        (2) New employees.--The Secretary shall require each employee 
    hired by the Department on or after the date of the enactment of 
    this Act who is to be involved in the scheduling of appointments 
    for health care from the Department or health care described in 
    subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii)--
            (A) to undergo training on the process and requirements 
        established under subsection (a) as part of training for the 
        position for which the employee has been hired; and
            (B) to make the certification to the Secretary required 
        under paragraph (1).
    (c) Method to Monitor Compliance.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish or maintain a 
    method or tool--
            (A) to enable monitoring of the compliance of the 
        Department with the process and requirements established under 
        subsection (a), including compliance with policies of the 
        Department relating to the maximum number of days allowed to 
        complete each step of such process; and
            (B) to ensure that each medical facility of the Department 
        complies with such process and requirements.
        (2) Use throughout department.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary shall require each medical 
        facility of the Department to use the method or tool described 
        in paragraph (1).
            (B) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
        indicating whether each medical facility of the Department is 
        using the method or tool described in paragraph (1).
    (d) Comptroller General Report.--Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a report on the compliance of the Secretary with the 
requirements of this section.
SEC. 3102. AUDITS REGARDING SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS AND MANAGEMENT 
OF CONSULTATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
AND NON-DEPARTMENT HEALTH CARE.
    (a) In General.--Not later than each of one year and two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall provide for the conduct of a facility-level audit of the 
scheduling of appointments and the management of consultations for 
health care under the laws administered by the Secretary.
    (b) Application.--
        (1) First audit.--The first audit required under subsection (a) 
    shall apply to each medical facility of the Department of Veterans 
    Affairs.
        (2) Second audit.--The second audit required under subsection 
    (a) shall apply to only those medical facilities of the Department 
    that are in need of corrective action based on the first audit, as 
    determined by the Secretary.
    (c) Elements.--Each audit conducted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
        (1) With respect to each medical center of the Department 
    covered by the audit, an assessment of any scheduling or 
    consultation management issues at that medical center, including 
    the following:
            (A) An assessment of noncompliance with policies of the 
        Veterans Health Administration relating to scheduling 
        appointments and managing consultations.
            (B) An assessment of the extent to which appointments or 
        consultations are not timely processed.
            (C) A description of any backlogs in appointments or 
        consultations that are awaiting action.
            (D) An assessment of whether consultations are 
        appropriately processed.
            (E) Data with respect to consultations as follows:
                (i) Consultations that were scheduled within the 
            request window.
                (ii) Duplicate consultation requests.
                (iii) Consultations that were discontinued.
                (iv) Delays in consultations.
                (v) Consultations that were not properly closed or 
            discontinued, including a description of remediation 
            attempts.
            (F) A review for accuracy with respect to consultation 
        management as follows:
                (i) A review of the accuracy of the type of service, 
            either administrative or clinical, that is inputted in the 
            electronic health record.
                (ii) A review of the accuracy of the type of 
            consultation setting, either impatient or outpatient, that 
            is inputted in the electronic health record.
                (iii) A review of the appropriateness of the level of 
            urgency of the consultation that is inputted in the 
            electronic health record.
                (iv) A review of any delayed or unresolved 
            consultations.
        (2) An identification of such recommendations for corrective 
    action as the Secretary considers necessary, including additional 
    training, increased personnel, and other resources.
        (3) A certification that the director of each medical center of 
    the Department covered by the audit is in compliance with the 
    process and requirements established under section 3101(a) and such 
    other requirements relating to the scheduling of appointments and 
    management of consultations as the Secretary considers appropriate.
        (4) With respect to referrals for health care between health 
    care providers or facilities of the Department, a measurement of, 
    for each medical facility of the Department covered by the audit--
            (A) the period of time between--
                (i) the date that a clinician of the Department 
            determines that a veteran requires care from another health 
            care provider or facility and the date that the referral 
            for care is sent to the other health care provider or 
            facility;
                (ii) the date that the referral for care is sent to the 
            other health care provider or facility and the date that 
            the other health care provider or facility accepts the 
            referral;
                (iii) the date that the other health care provider or 
            facility accepts the referral and the date that the 
            appointment with the other health care provider or at the 
            other facility is made; and
                (iv) the date that the appointment with the other 
            health care provider or at the other facility is made and 
            the date of the appointment with the other health care 
            provider or at the other facility; and
            (B) any other period of time that the Secretary determines 
        necessary to measure.
        (5) With respect to referrals for non-Department health care 
    originating from medical facilities of the Department, a 
    measurement of, for each such facility covered by the audit--
            (A) the period of time between--
                (i) the date that a clinician of the Department 
            determines that a veteran requires care, or a veteran 
            presents to the Department requesting care, and the date 
            that the referral for care is sent to a non-Department 
            health care provider;
                (ii) the date that the referral for care is sent to a 
            non-Department health care provider and the date that a 
            non-Department health care provider accepts the referral;
                (iii) the date that a non-Department health care 
            provider accepts the referral and the date that the 
            referral to a non-Department health care provider is 
            completed;
                (iv) the date that the referral to a non-Department 
            health care provider is completed and the date that an 
            appointment with a non-Department health care provider is 
            made; and
                (v) the date that an appointment with a non-Department 
            health care provider is made and the date that an 
            appointment with a non-Department health care provider 
            occurs; and
            (B) any other period of time that the Secretary determines 
        necessary to measure.
    (d) Conduct of Audit by Third Party.--Each audit conducted under 
subsection (a) with respect to a medical facility of the Department 
shall be conducted by an individual or entity that is not affiliated 
with the facility.
    (e) Transmittal to VHA.--Each audit conducted under subsection (a) 
shall be transmitted to the Under Secretary for Health of the 
Department so that the Under Secretary can--
        (1) strengthen oversight of the scheduling of appointments and 
    management of consultations throughout the Department;
        (2) monitor national policy on such scheduling and management; 
    and
        (3) develop a remediation plan to address issues uncovered by 
    those audits.
    (f) Annual Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than December 31 of each year in 
    which an audit is conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary 
    shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 
    and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
    Representatives a report on the audit conducted during that year.
        (2) Elements.--The Secretary shall include in each report 
    required by paragraph (1)--
            (A) the nationwide results of the audit conducted under 
        subsection (a);
            (B) the results of such audit with respect to each medical 
        facility of the Department covered by such audit;
            (C) an assessment of how the Department strengthened 
        oversight of the scheduling of appointments and management of 
        consultations at each such facility as a result of the audit;
            (D) an assessment of how the audit informed the national 
        policy of the Department with respect to the scheduling of 
        appointments and management of consultations; and
            (E) a description of any remediation plans to address 
        issues raised by the audit that was completed.
SEC. 3103. ADMINISTRATION OF NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH 
CARE.
    (a) Certification of Proper Administration of Non-Department 
Care.--
        (1) Review.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        conduct a review of the staffing, training, and other 
        requirements necessary to administer section 1703 of title 38, 
        United States Code.
            (B) Elements.--The review conducted under subparagraph (A) 
        shall include, with respect to each medical facility of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs--
                (i) an assessment of the type of positions required to 
            be staffed at the medical facility;
                (ii) the number of such positions authorized;
                (iii) the number of such positions funded;
                (iv) the number of such positions filled; and
                (v) the number of additional such positions required to 
            be authorized.
        (2) Submittal to congress.--Not later than 180 days after the 
    date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, 
    the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
    the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
    Representatives--
            (A) the results of the review conducted under paragraph 
        (1); and
            (B) a certification that the Secretary has established all 
        staffing, training, and other requirements required to be 
        reviewed under such paragraph.
    (b) Scheduling of Appointments.--
        (1) Measurement of timeliness for each facility.--Not later 
    than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
    Secretary shall measure, with respect to referrals for non-
    Department health care originating from medical facilities of the 
    Department, for each such facility--
            (A) the period of time between--
                (i) the date that a clinician of the Department 
            determines that a veteran requires care, or a veteran 
            presents to the Department requesting care, and the date 
            that the referral for care is sent to a non-Department 
            health care provider;
                (ii) the date that the referral for care is sent to a 
            non-Department health care provider and the date that a 
            non-Department health care provider accepts the referral;
                (iii) the date that a non-Department health care 
            provider accepts the referral and the date that the 
            referral to a non-Department health care provider is 
            completed;
                (iv) the date that the referral to a non-Department 
            health care provider is completed and the date that an 
            appointment with a non-Department health care provider is 
            made; and
                (v) the date that an appointment with a non-Department 
            health care provider is made and the date that an 
            appointment with a non-Department health care provider 
            occurs; and
            (B) any other period of time that the Secretary determines 
        necessary to measure.
        (2) Submissions to congress.--
            (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives the data 
        measured under paragraph (1), disaggregated by medical 
        facility.
            (B) Update.--Not less frequently than biweekly, the 
        Secretary shall update the data submitted under subparagraph 
        (A).
    (c) Comptroller General Report.--
        (1) Review.--Beginning not later than one year after the date 
    of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
    States shall review compliance by the Secretary with the 
    requirements of this section, including a review of the validity 
    and reliability of data submitted by the Secretary under subsection 
    (b)(2).
        (2) Report.--Not later than three years after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the 
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives the results of 
    the review conducted under paragraph (1).
SEC. 3104. EXAMINATION OF HEALTH CARE CONSULTATION AND SCHEDULING 
POSITIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Proper Grading of Consultation and Scheduling Positions.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
    conduct an examination of health care positions of the Department 
    of Veterans Affairs to determine whether health care positions 
    involved in the consultation and scheduling processes are 
    appropriately graded.
        (2) Consultation.--In conducting the examination under 
    paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with health care 
    staffing experts in the Federal Government and the private sector.
        (3) Submittal to congress.--Not later than 120 days after the 
    date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
    the appropriate committees of Congress the results of the 
    examination conducted under paragraph (1).
    (b) Review of Onboarding Process.--Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress--
        (1) a review of the onboarding process of individuals in health 
    care positions described in subsection (a), including how long it 
    takes to hire those individuals; and
        (2) a description of any changes that the Secretary has made or 
    plans to make to improve that process.
    (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
        (1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
    Appropriations of the Senate; and
        (2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
    Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

                    TITLE IV--NAVY SEAL BILL MULDER

SEC. 4001. SHORT TITLE.
    This title may be cited as the ``Navy SEAL Bill Mulder Act of 
2020''.

              Subtitle A--Service-connection and COVID-19

SEC. 4101. PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE-CONNECTION FOR MEMBERS OF ARMED 
FORCES WHO CONTRACT CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 UNDER CERTAIN 
CIRCUMSTANCES.
    (a) In General.--Subchapter VI of chapter 11 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1164. Presumptions of service-connection for Coronavirus Disease 
    2019
    ``(a) Presumptions Generally.--(1) For purposes of laws 
administered by the Secretary and subject to section 1113 of this 
title, if symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (in this section 
referred to as `COVID-19') described in subsection (d) manifest within 
one of the manifestation periods described in paragraph (2) in an 
individual who served in a qualifying period of duty described in 
subsection (b)--
        ``(A) infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome 
    coronavirus 2 (in this section referred to as `SARS-CoV-2') shall 
    be presumed to have occurred during the qualifying period of duty;
        ``(B) COVID-19 shall be presumed to have been incurred during 
    the qualifying period of duty; and
        ``(C) if the individual becomes disabled or dies as a result of 
    COVID-19, it shall be presumed that the individual became disabled 
    or died during the qualifying period of duty for purposes of 
    establishing that the individual served in the active military, 
    naval, or air service.
    ``(2)(A) The manifestation periods described in this paragraph are 
the following:
        ``(i) During a qualifying period of duty described in 
    subsection (b), if that period of duty was more than 48 continuous 
    hours in duration.
        ``(ii) Within 14 days after the individual's completion of a 
    qualifying period of duty described in subsection (b).
        ``(iii) An additional period prescribed under subparagraph (B).
    ``(B)(i) If the Secretary determines that a manifestation period of 
more than 14 days after completion of a qualifying period of service is 
appropriate for the presumptions under paragraph (1), the Secretary may 
prescribe that additional period by regulation.
    ``(ii) A determination under clause (i) shall be made in 
consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
    ``(b) Qualifying Period of Duty Described.--A qualifying period of 
duty described in this subsection is--
        ``(1) a period of active duty performed--
            ``(A) during the national emergency declared by the 
        President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et 
        seq.); and
            ``(B) before the date that is three years after the date of 
        the enactment of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. 
        Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020; or
        ``(2) training duty under title 10 or full-time National Guard 
    duty (as defined in section 101 of title 10), performed under 
    orders issued on or after March 13, 2020--
            ``(A) during the national emergency declared by the 
        President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et 
        seq.); and
            ``(B) before the date that is three years after the date of 
        the enactment of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. 
        Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.
    ``(c) Application of Presumptions for Training Duty.--When, 
pursuant to subsection (a), COVID-19 is presumed to have been incurred 
during a qualifying period of duty described in subsection (b)(2)--
        ``(1) COVID-19 shall be deemed to have been incurred in the 
    line of duty during a period of active military, naval, or air 
    service; and
        ``(2) where entitlement to benefits under this title is 
    predicated on the individual who was disabled or died being a 
    veteran, benefits for disability or death resulting from COVID-19 
    as described in subsection (a) shall be paid or furnished as if the 
    individual was a veteran, without regard to whether the period of 
    duty would constitute active military, naval, or air service under 
    section 101 of this title.
    ``(d) Symptoms of COVID-19.--For purposes of subsection (a), 
symptoms of COVID-19 are those symptoms that competent medical evidence 
demonstrates are experienced by an individual affected and directly 
related to COVID-19.
    ``(e) Medical Examinations and Opinions.--If there is a question of 
whether the symptoms experienced by an individual described in 
paragraph (1) of subsection (a) during a manifestation period described 
in paragraph (2) of such subsection are attributable to COVID-19 
resulting from infection with SARS-CoV-2 during the qualifying period 
of duty, in determining whether a medical examination or medical 
opinion is necessary to make a decision on the claim within the meaning 
of section 5103A(d) of this title, a qualifying period of duty 
described in subsection (b) of this section shall be treated as if it 
were active military, naval, or air service for purposes of section 
5103A(d)(2)(B) of this title.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``1164. Presumptions of service-connection for Coronavirus Disease 
          2019.''.

              Subtitle B--Assistance for Homeless Veterans

SEC. 4201. FLEXIBILITY FOR THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN CARING 
FOR HOMELESS VETERANS DURING A COVERED PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
    (a) General Support.--
        (1) Use of funds.--During a covered public health emergency, 
    the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use amounts appropriated or 
    otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
    carry out sections 2011, 2012, 2031, and 2061 of title 38, United 
    States Code, to provide to homeless veterans and veterans 
    participating in the program carried out under section 8(o)(19) of 
    the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) 
    (commonly referred to as ``HUD-VASH''), as the Secretary determines 
    is needed, the following:
            (A) Assistance required for safety and survival (such as 
        food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items).
            (B) Transportation required to support stability and health 
        (such as for appointments with service providers, conducting 
        housing searches, and obtaining food and supplies).
            (C) Communications equipment and services (such as tablets, 
        smartphones, disposable phones, and related service plans) 
        required to support stability and health (such as maintaining 
        contact with service providers, prospective landlords, and 
        family).
            (D) Such other assistance as the Secretary determines is 
        needed.
        (2) Homeless veterans on land of the department.--
            (A) Collaboration.--During a covered public health 
        emergency, to the extent possible, the Secretary may 
        collaborate with one or more organizations to manage use of 
        land of the Department for homeless veterans for living and 
        sleeping.
            (B) Elements.--Collaboration under subparagraph (A) may 
        include the provision by either the Secretary or the 
        organization of food services and security for property, 
        buildings, and other facilities owned or controlled by the 
        Department.
    (b) Grant and Per Diem Program.--
        (1)  Limits on rates for per diem payments.--Section 20013(b) 
    of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (38 
    U.S.C. 2011 note; Public Law 116-136) is amended--
            (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
            (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as so 
        redesignated, by inserting ``(1)'' before ``In the case''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) If the Secretary waives any limit on grant amounts or rates 
for per diem payments under paragraph (1), notwithstanding section 
2012(a)(2)(B) of such title, the maximum rate for per diem payments 
described in paragraph (1)(B) shall be three times the rate authorized 
for State homes for domiciliary care under section 1741 of such 
title.''.
        (2) Modification of funding limits for grants.--Subsection 
    (c)(2) of section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, shall not 
    apply to any grant awarded during a covered public health emergency 
    under such section for a project described in subsection (b)(1) of 
    such section.
        (3) Use of per diem payments.--During a covered public health 
    emergency, a recipient of a grant or an eligible entity under the 
    grant and per diem program of the Department (in this subsection 
    referred to as the ``program'') may use per diem payments under 
    sections 2012 and 2061 of title 38, United States Code, to provide 
    assistance required for safety and survival (such as food, shelter, 
    clothing, blankets, and hygiene items) for--
            (A) homeless veterans; and
            (B) formerly homeless veterans residing in a facility 
        operated wholly or in part by such a recipient or eligible 
        entity receiving per diem payments under section 2012 of such 
        title.
        (4) Additional transitional housing.--
            (A) In general.--During a covered public health emergency, 
        under the program, the Secretary may provide amounts for 
        additional transitional housing beds to facilitate access to 
        housing and services provided to homeless veterans.
            (B) Notice; competition; period of performance.--The 
        Secretary may provide amounts under subparagraph (A)--
                (i) without notice or competition; and
                (ii) for a period of performance determined by the 
            Secretary.
        (5) Inspections and life safety code requirements.--
            (A) In general.--During a covered public health emergency, 
        the Secretary may waive any requirement under subsection (b) or 
        (c) of section 2012 of title 38, United States Code, in order 
        to allow the recipient of a grant or an eligible entity under 
        the program--
                (i) to quickly identify temporary alternate sites of 
            care for homeless veterans that are suitable for 
            habitation;
                (ii) to facilitate social distancing or isolation 
            needs; or
                (iii) to facilitate activation or continuation of a 
            program for which a grant has been awarded.
            (B) Limitation.--The Secretary may waive a requirement 
        pursuant to the authority provided by subparagraph (A) with 
        respect to a facility of a recipient of a grant or an eligible 
        entity under the program only if the facility meets applicable 
        local safety requirements, including fire safety requirements.
        (6) Disposition of property relating to grants.--During a 
    covered public health emergency, if the recipient of a grant 
    awarded before or during such emergency under section 2011 of title 
    38, United States Code, for a project described in subsection 
    (b)(1) of such section is no longer providing services in 
    accordance with the terms of the grant, the recipient shall not be 
    subject during such emergency to any property disposition 
    requirements relating to the grant under subsection (c) or (f) of 
    section 61.67 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, section 
    200.311(c) of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor 
    regulations.
    (c) Inspection and Life Safety Code Requirements for Therapeutic 
Housing.--
        (1) In general.--During a covered public health emergency, the 
    Secretary may waive any inspection or life safety code requirement 
    under subsection (c) of section 2032 of title 38, United States 
    Code--
            (A) to allow quick identification of temporary alternate 
        sites of care for homeless veterans that are suitable for 
        habitation;
            (B) to facilitate social distancing or isolation needs; or
            (C) to facilitate the operation of housing under such 
        section.
        (2) Limitation.--The Secretary may waive a requirement pursuant 
    to the authority provided by paragraph (1) with respect to a 
    residence or facility referred to in such section 2032 only if the 
    residence or facility, as the case may be, meets applicable local 
    safety requirements, including fire safety requirements.
    (d) Access to Department of Veterans Affairs Telehealth Services.--
To the extent practicable, during a covered public health emergency, 
the Secretary shall ensure that veterans participating in or receiving 
services from a program under chapter 20 of title 38, United States 
Code, have access to telehealth services to which such veterans are 
eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary, including by 
ensuring that telehealth capabilities are available to--
        (1) such veterans;
        (2) case managers of the Department of programs for homeless 
    veterans authorized under such chapter; and
        (3) community-based service providers for homeless veterans 
    receiving funds from the Department through grants or contracts.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Covered public health emergency.--The term ``covered public 
    health emergency'' means an emergency with respect to COVID-19 
    declared by a Federal, State, or local authority.
        (2) Homeless veteran; veteran.--The terms ``homeless veteran'' 
    and ``veteran'' have the meanings given those terms in section 2002 
    of title 38, United States Code.
        (3) Telehealth.--
            (A) In general.--The term ``telehealth'' means the use of 
        electronic information and telecommunications technologies to 
        support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient 
        and professional health-related education, public health, and 
        health administration.
            (B) Technologies.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), 
        ``telecommunications technologies'' include video conferencing, 
        the internet, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless 
        communications.
SEC. 4202. LEGAL SERVICES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS AT RISK 
FOR HOMELESSNESS.
    (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 20 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2022 the following 
new section:
``Sec. 2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk 
     for homelessness
    ``(a) Grants.--Subject to the availability of appropriations 
provided for such purpose, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible 
entities that provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans 
at risk for homelessness.
    ``(b) Criteria.--(1) The Secretary shall--
        ``(A) establish criteria and requirements for grants under this 
    section, including criteria for entities eligible to receive such 
    grants; and
        ``(B) publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal 
    Register.
    ``(2) In establishing criteria and requirements under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall--
        ``(A) take into consideration any criteria and requirements 
    needed with respect to carrying out this section in rural 
    communities, on trust lands, and in the territories and possessions 
    of the United States; and
        ``(B) consult with organizations that have experience in 
    providing services to homeless veterans, including--
            ``(i) veterans service organizations;
            ``(ii) the Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Veterans Legal 
        Corps; and
            ``(iii) such other organizations as the Secretary 
        determines appropriate.
    ``(c) Eligible Entities.--The Secretary may award a grant under 
this section to an entity applying for such a grant only if the 
applicant for the grant--
        ``(1) is a public or nonprofit private entity with the capacity 
    (as determined by the Secretary) to effectively administer a grant 
    under this section;
        ``(2) demonstrates that adequate financial support will be 
    available to carry out the services for which the grant is sought 
    consistent with the application;
        ``(3) agrees to meet the applicable criteria and requirements 
    established under subsection (b)(1); and
        ``(4) has, as determined by the Secretary, demonstrated the 
    capacity to meet such criteria and requirements.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--Grants under this section shall be used to 
provide homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness the 
following legal services:
        ``(1) Legal services relating to housing, including eviction 
    defense, representation in landlord-tenant cases, and 
    representation in foreclosure cases.
        ``(2) Legal services relating to family law, including 
    assistance in court proceedings for child support, divorce, estate 
    planning, and family reconciliation.
        ``(3) Legal services relating to income support, including 
    assistance in obtaining public benefits.
        ``(4) Legal services relating to criminal defense, including 
    defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness, such as outstanding 
    warrants, fines, and driver's license revocation, to reduce 
    recidivism and facilitate the overcoming of reentry obstacles in 
    employment or housing.
        ``(5) Legal services relating to requests to upgrade the 
    characterization of a discharge or dismissal of a former member of 
    the Armed Forces under section 1553 of title 10.
        ``(6) Such other legal services as the Secretary determines 
    appropriate.
    ``(e) Funds for Women Veterans.--For any fiscal year, not less than 
10 percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated for grants under 
this section shall be used to provide legal services described in 
subsection (d) to women veterans.
    ``(f) Locations.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall 
award grants under this section to eligible entities in a manner that 
is equitably distributed across the geographic regions of the United 
States, including with respect to--
        ``(1) rural communities;
        ``(2) trust lands (as defined in section 3765 of this title);
        ``(3) Native Americans; and
        ``(4) tribal organizations (as defined in section 4 of the 
    Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
    5304)).
    ``(g) Biennial Reports.--(1) Not less frequently than once every 
two years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
House of Representatives a report on grants awarded under this section.
    ``(2) To the extent feasible, each report required by paragraph (1) 
shall include the following with respect to the period covered by the 
report:
        ``(A) The number of homeless veterans and veterans at risk for 
    homelessness assisted.
        ``(B) A description of the legal services provided.
        ``(C) A description of the legal matters addressed.
        ``(D) An analysis by the Secretary with respect to the 
    operational effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the services 
    provided.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 20 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 2022 the following new item:

``2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for 
          homelessness.''.

    (c) Criteria.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish and publish in the Federal Register the criteria and 
requirements pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section 2022A of title 
38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
SEC. 4203. GAP ANALYSIS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROGRAMS THAT 
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete 
an analysis of programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs that 
provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless or precariously 
housed to identify the areas in which such programs are failing to meet 
the needs of such women.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a report on the analysis completed 
under subsection (a).
SEC. 4204. IMPROVEMENTS TO GRANTS AWARDED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS TO ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS.
    (a) Increase in Per Diem Payments.--Paragraph (2) of subsection (a) 
of section 2012 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(2)(A)(i) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B), the 
rate for such per diem payments shall be the daily cost of care 
estimated by the grant recipient or eligible entity adjusted by the 
Secretary under clause (ii).
    ``(ii)(I) The Secretary shall adjust the rate estimated by the 
grant recipient or eligible entity under clause (i) to exclude other 
sources of income described in subclause (III) that the grant recipient 
or eligible entity certifies to be correct.
    ``(II) Each grant recipient or eligible entity shall provide to the 
Secretary such information with respect to other sources of income as 
the Secretary may require to make the adjustment under subclause (I).
    ``(III) The other sources of income referred to in subclauses (I) 
and (II) are payments to the grant recipient or eligible entity for 
furnishing services to homeless veterans under programs other than 
under this subchapter, including payments and grants from other 
departments and agencies of the United States, from departments or 
agencies of State or local government, and from private entities or 
organizations.
    ``(iii) For purposes of calculating the rate for per diem payments 
under clause (i), in the case of a homeless veteran who has care of a 
minor dependent while receiving services from the grant recipient or 
eligible entity, the daily cost of care of the homeless veteran shall 
be the sum of the daily cost of care of the homeless veteran determined 
under clause (i) plus, for each such minor dependent, an amount that 
equals 50 percent of such daily cost of care.
    ``(B)(i)(I) Except as provided in clause (ii), and subject to the 
availability of appropriations, the Secretary may adjust the rate for 
per diem payments under this paragraph, as the Secretary considers 
appropriate.
    ``(II) Any adjustment made under this clause--
        ``(aa) may not result in a rate that--
            ``(AA) is lower than the rate in effect under this 
        paragraph as in effect immediately preceding the date of the 
        enactment of the Navy SEAL Bill Mulder Act of 2020; or
            ``(BB) exceeds the rate that is 115 percent of the rate 
        authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under 
        subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of this title, as the 
        Secretary may increase from time to time under subsection (c) 
        of that section; and
        ``(bb) may be determined on the basis of locality.
    ``(ii) In the case of services furnished to a homeless veteran who 
is placed in housing that will become permanent housing for the veteran 
upon termination of the furnishing of such services to such veteran, 
the maximum rate of per diem authorized under this section is 150 
percent of the rate authorized for State homes for domiciliary care 
under subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of this title, as the 
Secretary may increase from time to time under subsection (c) of that 
section.''.
    (b) Reimbursement of Certain Fees.--Such section is further amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Reimbursement of Entities for Certain Fees.--The Secretary 
may reimburse a recipient of a grant under section 2011, 2013, or 2061 
of this title or a recipient of per diem payments under this section 
for fees charged to that grant or per diem payment recipient for the 
use of the homeless management information system described in section 
402(f) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11360a(f))--
        ``(1) in amounts the Secretary determines to be reasonable; and
        ``(2) if the Secretary determines that the grant or per diem 
    payment recipient is unable to obtain information contained in such 
    system through other means and at no cost to the grant or per diem 
    payment recipient.''.
SEC. 4205. REPEAL OF SUNSET ON AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT PROGRAM OF 
REFERRAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR VETERANS AT RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS 
WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS.
    (a) In General.--Section 2023 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
        (1) by striking subsection (d); and
        (2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2021(a)(4) of such title is 
amended by striking ``section 2023(e)'' and inserting ``section 
2023(d)''.
SEC. 4206. COORDINATION OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR VETERANS 
RECEIVING HOUSING VOUCHERS UNDER TRIBAL HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT-
VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.
    Section 2003 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Memorandum of Understanding on Assistance From Indian Health 
Service.--The Secretary may enter into a memorandum of understanding 
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services under which case 
managers of the Indian Health Service may provide case management 
assistance to veterans who receive housing vouchers under the Tribal 
Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing 
(Tribal HUD-VASH) program of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development.''.
SEC. 4207. CONTRACTS RELATING TO CASE MANAGERS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS IN 
SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM.
    (a) In General.--Section 304 of the Honoring America's Veterans and 
Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-154; 38 
U.S.C. 2041 note) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)--
            (A) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary'';
            (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(2)(A) The director of each covered medical center shall seek to 
enter into one or more contracts or agreements described in paragraph 
(1).
    ``(B) Any contract or agreement under subparagraph (A) may require 
that each case manager employed by an eligible entity who performs 
services under the contract or agreement has credentials equivalent to 
the credentials required for a case manager of the Department.
    ``(C)(i) The Secretary may waive the requirement under subparagraph 
(A) with respect to a covered medical center if the Secretary 
determines that fulfilling such requirement is infeasible.
    ``(ii) If the Secretary grants a waiver under clause (i), the 
Secretary shall, not later than 90 days after granting such waiver, 
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
containing--
        ``(I) an explanation of the determination made under clause 
    (i);
        ``(II) a plan to increase the number of case managers of the 
    Department; and
        ``(III) a plan for the covered medical center to increase use 
    of housing vouchers allocated to that medical center under the 
    program described in paragraph (1).
    ``(D) In this paragraph, the term `covered medical center' means a 
medical center of the Department with respect to which the Secretary 
determines that--
        ``(i) more than 15 percent of all housing vouchers allocated to 
    that medical center under the program described in paragraph (1) 
    during the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which such 
    determination was made were unused due to a lack of case management 
    services provided by the Secretary; and
        ``(ii) one or more case manager positions have been vacant for 
    at least nine consecutive months immediately preceding the date of 
    such determination.''; and
        (2) in subsection (b)(2)--
            (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking ``, 
        including because--'' and inserting a period; and
            (B) by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the first day of the first fiscal year that begins after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4208. REPORT ON STAFFING OF DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN 
DEVELOPMENT-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM.
    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, and every three years thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a report that includes the following:
        (1) An assessment of the hiring needs of the program carried 
    out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
    (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) (in this section referred to as the ``HUD-
    VASH program''), including--
            (A) an identification of the number of case managers of the 
        HUD-VASH program as of the date of the report including--
                (i) the total number of vacancies; and
                (ii) the vacancies at each medical center of the 
            Department of Veterans Affairs;
            (B) the number of case managers of the HUD-VASH program 
        that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 
        Housing and Urban Development jointly determine necessary to 
        meet the needs of the Department and the program; and
            (C) the amount of turnover among case managers of the HUD-
        VASH program and whether the turnover was planned or 
        unexpected.
        (2) An assessment of how compensation, including recruitment 
    and retention incentives, for case managers of the HUD-VASH program 
    affects turnover, and what percentage of retention compensation is 
    provided to such case managers at each medical center of the 
    Department of Veterans Affairs (compared to other positions).
        (3) A comparison of compensation described in paragraph (2) 
    with the compensation provided to State, local, and nongovernmental 
    housing employees at comparable training and experience levels.
        (4) Examples of how the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
    Department of Housing and Urban Development have worked with non-
    Federal partners (such as local governments, nongovernmental 
    organizations, veterans service organizations, and employee unions) 
    to meet the staffing needs of the HUD-VASH program.
        (5) Examples of how medical centers of the Department of 
    Veterans Affairs with high retention rates for case managers of the 
    HUD-VASH program have been able to maintain staffing levels.

             Subtitle C--Retraining Assistance for Veterans

SEC. 4301. ACCESS FOR THE SECRETARIES OF LABOR AND VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
THE FEDERAL DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES.
    Section 453A(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653a(h)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
        ``(4) Veteran employment.--The Secretaries of Labor and of 
    Veterans Affairs shall have access to information reported by 
    employers pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for purposes 
    of tracking employment of veterans.''.
SEC. 4302. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBLE CLASS OF PROVIDERS OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY 
PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION FOR VETERANS.
    Section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance 
Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48; 38 U.S.C. 3001 note) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following: 
    ``The Secretary shall treat an individual as an eligible veteran if 
    the Secretary determines that the individual shall become an 
    eligible veteran fewer than 180 days after the date of such 
    determination. If an individual treated as an eligible veteran by 
    reason of the preceding sentence does anything to make the veteran 
    ineligible during the 180-day period referred to in such sentence, 
    the Secretary may require the veteran to repay any benefits 
    received by such veteran by reason of such sentence.'';
        (2) in subsection (c)--
            (A) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``has been operational 
        for at least 2 years'' and inserting ``employs instructors whom 
        the Secretary determines are experts in their respective fields 
        in accordance with paragraph (6)''; and
            (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
        ``(6) Experts.--The Secretary shall determine whether 
    instructors are experts under paragraph (3)(A) based on evidence 
    furnished to the Secretary by the provider regarding the ability of 
    the instructors to--
            ``(A) identify professions in need of new employees to 
        hire, tailor the programs to meet market needs, and identify 
        the employers likely to hire graduates;
            ``(B) effectively teach the skills offered to eligible 
        veterans;
            ``(C) provide relevant industry experience in the fields of 
        programs offered to incoming eligible veterans; and
            ``(D) demonstrate relevant industry experience in such 
        fields of programs.'';
        (3) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
            (A) by inserting ``(not including an individual described 
        in the second sentence of subsection (b))'' after ``each 
        eligible veteran''; and
            (B) by inserting ``or part-time'' after ``full-time'';
        (4) in subsection (g), by striking ``$15,000,000'' and 
    inserting ``$45,000,000''; and
        (5) by adding at the end the following new subsection (i):
    ``(i) Prohibition on Certain Accounting of Assistance.--The 
Secretary may not consider enrollment in a high technology program of 
education under this section to be assistance under a provision of law 
referred to in section 3695 of title 38, United States Code.''.
SEC. 4303. PILOT PROGRAM FOR OFF-BASE TRANSITION TRAINING FOR VETERANS 
AND SPOUSES.
    (a) Extension of Pilot Program.--Subsection (a) of section 301 of 
the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 
2012 (Public Law 112-260; 10 U.S.C. 1144 note) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``During the two-year period beginning on the 
    date of the enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``During the 
    five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Navy 
    SEAL Bill Mulder Act of 2020''; and
        (2) by striking ``to assess the feasibility and advisability of 
    providing such program to eligible individuals at locations other 
    than military installations''.
    (b) Locations.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1)--
            (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``States'' and 
        inserting ``locations''; and
            (B) by striking ``not less than three and not more than 
        five States'' and inserting ``not fewer than 50 locations in 
        States (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States 
        Code)'';
        (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``at least two'' and 
    inserting ``at least 20''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
        ``(5) Preferences.--In selecting States for participation in 
    the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide a preference for any 
    State with--
            ``(A) a high rate of usage of unemployment benefits for 
        recently separated members of the Armed Forces; or
            ``(B) a labor force or economy that has been significantly 
        impacted by a covered public health emergency.
        ``(6) Covered public health emergency defined.--In this 
    subsection, the term `covered public health emergency' means--
            ``(A) the public health emergency declared by the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public 
        Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, with 
        respect to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19); or
            ``(B) a domestic emergency declared, based on an outbreak 
        of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), by the President, the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security, or a State or local 
        authority.''.
    (c) Annual Report.--Subsection (e) of such section is amended by 
adding at the end the following new sentence: ``Each such report shall 
include information about the employment outcomes of the eligible 
individuals who received such training during the year covered by the 
report.''.
    (d) Conforming Repeal.--Subsection (f) of such section is repealed.
SEC. 4304. GRANTS FOR PROVISION OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES AFTER SEPARATION, RETIREMENT, OR DISCHARGE.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make 
grants to eligible organizations for the provision of transition 
assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are separated, retired, 
or discharged from the Armed Forces, and spouses of such members.
    (b) Use of Funds.--The recipient of a grant under this section 
shall use the grant to provide to members of the Armed Forces and 
spouses described in subsection (a) resume assistance, interview 
training, job recruitment training, and related services leading 
directly to successful transition, as determined by the Secretary.
    (c) Eligible Organizations.--To be eligible for a grant under this 
section, an organization shall submit to the Secretary an application 
containing such information and assurances as the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, may require.
    (d) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to an organization that--
        (1) provides multiple forms of services described in subsection 
    (b); or
        (2) is located in a State with--
            (A) a high rate of unemployment among veterans;
            (B) a high rate of usage of unemployment benefits for 
        recently separated members of the Armed Forces; or
            (C) a labor force or economy that has been significantly 
        impacted by a covered public health emergency (as such term is 
        defined in section 131(n)).
    (e) Amount of Grant.--A grant under this section shall be in an 
amount that does not exceed 50 percent of the amount required by the 
organization to provide the services described in subsection (b).
    (f) Deadline.--The Secretary shall carry out this section not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (g) Termination.--The authority to provide a grant under this 
section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date 
on which the Secretary implements the grant program under this section.
SEC. 4305. ONE-YEAR INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 
TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
    (a) Independent Assessment.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
consultation with the covered officials, shall enter into an agreement 
with an appropriate entity with experience in adult education to carry 
out a one-year independent assessment of the Transition Assistance 
Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code 
(TAP), including--
        (1) the effectiveness of the Transition Assistance Program for 
    members of each military department during the entire military life 
    cycle;
        (2) the appropriateness of the career readiness standards of 
    the Transition Assistance Program;
        (3) a review of information that is provided to the Department 
    of Veterans Affairs under the Transition Assistance Program, 
    including mental health data;
        (4) whether the Transition Assistance Program effectively 
    addresses the challenges veterans face entering the civilian 
    workforce and in translating experience and skills from military 
    service to the job market;
        (5) whether the Transition Assistance Program effectively 
    addresses the challenges faced by the families of veterans making 
    the transition to civilian life;
        (6) appropriate metrics regarding outcomes of the Transition 
    Assistance Program for members of the Armed Forces one year after 
    separation, retirement, or discharge from the Armed Forces;
        (7) what the Secretary, in consultation with the covered 
    officials and veterans service organizations, determine to be 
    successful outcomes for the Transition Assistance Program;
        (8) whether members of the Armed Forces achieve successful 
    outcomes for the Transition Assistance Program, as determined under 
    paragraph (7);
        (9) how the Secretary and the covered officials provide 
    feedback to each other regarding such outcomes;
        (10) recommendations for the Secretaries of the military 
    departments regarding how to improve outcomes for members of the 
    Armed Forces after separation, retirement, and discharge; and
        (11) other topics the Secretary and the covered officials 
    determine would aid members of the Armed Forces as they transition 
    to civilian life.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of the 
independent assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary and the 
covered officials shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress--
        (1) the findings and recommendations (including recommended 
    legislation) of the independent assessment prepared by the entity 
    described in subsection (a); and
        (2) responses of the Secretary and the covered officials to the 
    findings and recommendations described in paragraph (1).
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term ``appropriate 
    committees of Congress'' means--
            (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
        Armed Services of the Senate; and
            (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
        Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
        (2) Covered officials.--The term ``covered officials'' means--
            (A) the Secretary of Defense;
            (B) the Secretary of Labor;
            (C) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; 
        and
            (D) the Secretaries of the military departments.
        (3) Military department.--The term ``military department'' has 
    the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 10, United 
    States Code.
SEC. 4306. LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON CHANGES TO TRANSITION ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM.
    (a) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, and the Administrator 
of the Small Business Administration, shall conduct a five-year 
longitudinal study regarding the Transition Assistance Program under 
sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code (TAP), on three 
separate cohorts of members of the Armed Forces who have separated from 
the Armed Forces, including--
        (1) a cohort that has attended counseling under the Transition 
    Assistance Program as implemented on the date of the enactment of 
    this Act;
        (2) a cohort that attends counseling under the Transition 
    Assistance Program after the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
    of Labor implement changes recommended in the report under section 
    136(b); and
        (3) a cohort that has not attended counseling under the 
    Transition Assistance Program.
    (b) Progress Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date that 
is one year after the date of the initiation of the study under 
subsection (a), and annually thereafter for the three subsequent years, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the 
Secretary of Labor, and the Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a progress report of activities under the study during the 
immediately preceding year.
    (c) Final Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the completion 
    of the study under subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans 
    Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, and the 
    Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall jointly 
    submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report of final 
    findings and recommendations based on the study.
        (2) Elements.--The final report under paragraph (1) shall 
    include information regarding the following:
            (A) The percentage of each cohort that received 
        unemployment benefits during the study under subsection (a).
            (B) The numbers of months members of each cohort were 
        employed during the study.
            (C) Annual starting and ending salaries of members of each 
        cohort who were employed during the study.
            (D) How many members of each cohort enrolled in an 
        institution of higher learning, as that term is defined in 
        section 3452(f) of title 38, United States Code.
            (E) The academic credit hours, degrees, and certificates 
        obtained by members of each cohort during the study.
            (F) The annual income of members of each cohort.
            (G) The total household income of members of each cohort.
            (H) How many members of each cohort own their principal 
        residences.
            (I) How many dependents members of each cohort have.
            (J) The percentage of each cohort that achieves a 
        successful outcome for the Transition Assistance Program, as 
        determined under section 136(a)(7).
            (K) Other criteria the Secretaries and the Administrator of 
        the Small Business Administration determine appropriate.
    (d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
        (1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
    Armed Services of the Senate; and
        (2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
    Armed Services of the House of Representatives.

                        TITLE V--DEBORAH SAMPSON

SEC. 5001. SHORT TITLE.
    This title may be cited as the ``Deborah Sampson Act of 2020''.

 Subtitle A--Improving Access for Women Veterans to the Department of 
                            Veterans Affairs

SEC. 5101. OFFICE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Chief Officer of Women's Health.--Subsection (a) of section 
7306 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11); and
        (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new 
    paragraph (10):
        ``(10) The Chief Officer of Women's Health.''.
    (b) Organization of Office and Annual Reports.--
        (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 73 of title 38, United 
    States Code, is amended by adding at the end of the following new 
    sections:
``Sec. 7310. Office of Women's Health
    ``(a) Establishment.--(1) The Under Secretary for Health shall 
establish and operate in the Veterans Health Administration the Office 
of Women's Health (in this section referred to as the `Office').
    ``(2) The Office shall be located at the Central Office of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
    ``(3)(A) The head of the Office is the Chief Officer of Women's 
Health (in this section referred to as the `Chief Officer').
    ``(B) The Chief Officer shall report to the Under Secretary for 
Health.
    ``(4) The Under Secretary for Health shall provide the Office with 
such staff and other support as may be necessary for the Office to 
carry out effectively the functions of the Office under this section.
    ``(5) The Under Secretary for Health may reorganize existing 
offices within the Veterans Health Administration as of the date of the 
enactment of this section in order to avoid duplication with the 
functions of the Office.
    ``(b) Functions.--The functions of the Office include the 
following:
        ``(1) To provide a central office for monitoring and 
    encouraging the activities of the Veterans Health Administration 
    with respect to the provision, evaluation, and improvement of 
    health care services provided to women veterans by the Department.
        ``(2) To develop and implement standards of care for the 
    provision of health care for women veterans by the Department.
        ``(3) To monitor and identify deficiencies in standards of care 
    for the provision of health care for women veterans by the 
    Department, to provide technical assistance to medical facilities 
    of the Department to address and remedy deficiencies, and to 
    perform oversight of implementation of such standards of care.
        ``(4) To monitor and identify deficiencies in standards of care 
    for the provision of health care for women veterans provided 
    through the community pursuant to this title and to provide 
    recommendations to the appropriate office to address and remedy any 
    deficiencies.
        ``(5) To oversee distribution of resources and information 
    related to health programming for women veterans under this title.
        ``(6) To promote the expansion and improvement of clinical, 
    research, and educational activities of the Veterans Health 
    Administration with respect to the health care of women veterans.
        ``(7) To provide, as part of the annual budgeting process, 
    recommendations with respect to the amounts to be requested for 
    furnishing hospital care and medical services to women veterans 
    pursuant to chapter 17 of this title, including, at a minimum, 
    recommendations that ensure that such amounts either reflect or 
    exceed the proportion of veterans enrolled in the system of patient 
    enrollment of the Department established and operated under section 
    1705(a) of this title who are women.
        ``(8) To provide recommendations to the Under Secretary for 
    Health with respect to modifying the Veterans Equitable Resource 
    Allocation system, or successor system, to ensure that resource 
    allocations under such system, or successor system, reflect the 
    health care needs of women veterans.
        ``(9) To carry out such other duties as the Under Secretary for 
    Health may require.
    ``(c) Recommendations.--(1) If the Under Secretary for Health 
determines not to implement any recommendation made by the Chief 
Officer with respect to the allocation of resources to address the 
health care needs of women veterans, the Secretary shall notify the 
appropriate congressional committees of such determination by not later 
than 30 days after the date on which the Under Secretary for Health 
receives the recommendation.
    ``(2) Each notification under paragraph (1) relating to a 
determination with respect to a recommendation shall include the 
following:
        ``(A) The reasoning of the Under Secretary for Health in making 
    the determination.
        ``(B) An alternative, if one is selected, to the recommendation 
    that the Under Secretary for Health will carry out to fulfill the 
    health care needs of women veterans.
    ``(d) Standards of Care.--For purposes of carrying out the 
functions of the Office under this section, the standards of care for 
the provision of health care for women veterans from the Department 
shall include, at a minimum, the following:
        ``(1) A requirement for--
            ``(A) at least one designated women's health primary care 
        provider at each medical center of the Department whose duties 
        include, to the extent practicable, providing training to other 
        health care providers of the Department with respect to the 
        needs of women veterans; and
            ``(B) at least one designated women's health primary care 
        provider at each community-based outpatient clinic of the 
        Department who may serve women patients as a percentage of the 
        total duties of the provider.
        ``(2) Other requirements as determined by the Under Secretary 
    for Health.
    ``(e) Outreach.--The Chief Officer shall ensure that--
        ``(1) not less frequently than biannually, each medical 
    facility of the Department holds a public forum for women veterans 
    that occurs outside of regular business hours; and
        ``(2) not less frequently than quarterly, each medical facility 
    of the Department convenes a focus group of women veterans that 
    includes a discussion of harassment occurring at such facility.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
        ``(1) The term `appropriate congressional committees' has the 
    meaning given that term in section 7310A(h) of this title.
        ``(2) The term `facility of the Department' has the meaning 
    given the term `facilities of the Department' in section 1701(3) of 
    this title.
        ``(3) The term `Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation system' 
    means the resource allocation system established pursuant to 
    section 429 of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and 
    Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 
    1997 (Public Law 104-204; 110 Stat. 2929).
``Sec. 7310A. Annual reports on women's health
    ``(a) Annual Reports.--Not later than December 1 of each year, the 
Chief Officer of Women's Health shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report containing the matters under 
subsections (b) through (g).
    ``(b) Office of Women's Health.--Each report under subsection (a) 
shall include a description of--
        ``(1) actions taken by the Office of Women's Health established 
    under section 7310 of this title in the preceding fiscal year to 
    improve the provision of health care by the Department to women 
    veterans;
        ``(2) any identified deficiencies related to the provision of 
    health care by the Department to women veterans and the standards 
    of care established in such section and the plan of the Department 
    to address such deficiencies;
        ``(3) the funding and personnel provided to the Office and 
    whether additional funding or personnel are needed to meet the 
    requirements of such section; and
        ``(4) other information that would be of interest to the 
    appropriate congressional committees with respect to oversight of 
    the provision of health care by the Department to women veterans.
    ``(c) Access to Gender-specific Services.--(1) Each report under 
subsection (a) shall include an analysis of the access of women 
veterans to gender-specific services under contracts, agreements, or 
other arrangements with non-Department medical providers entered into 
by the Secretary for the provision of hospital care or medical services 
to veterans.
    ``(2) The analysis under paragraph (1) shall include data and 
performance measures for the availability of gender-specific services 
described in such paragraph, including--
        ``(A) the average wait time between the preferred appointment 
    date of the veteran and the date on which the appointment is 
    completed;
        ``(B) the average driving time required for veterans to attend 
    appointments; and
        ``(C) reasons why appointments could not be scheduled with non-
    Department medical providers.
    ``(d) Models of Care.--(1) Each report under subsection (a) shall 
include an analysis of the use by the Department of general primary 
care clinics, separate but shared spaces, and women's health centers as 
delivery of care models for women veterans.
    ``(2) The analysis under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
        ``(A) The number of facilities of the Department that fall into 
    each delivery of care model described in such paragraph, 
    disaggregated by Veterans Integrated Service Network and State.
        ``(B) A description of the criteria used by the Department to 
    determine which such model is most appropriate for each facility of 
    the Department.
        ``(C) An assessment of how the Department decides to make 
    investments to modify facilities to a different model.
        ``(D) A description of what, if any, plans the Department has 
    to modify facilities from general primary care clinics to another 
    model.
        ``(E) An assessment of whether any facilities could be modified 
    to a separate but shared space for a women's health center within 
    planned investments under the strategic capital investment planning 
    process of the Department.
        ``(F) An assessment of whether any facilities could be modified 
    to a separate or shared space or a women's health center with minor 
    modifications to existing plans under the strategic capital 
    investment planning process of the Department.
        ``(G) An assessment of whether the Department has a goal for 
    how many facilities should fall into each such model.
    ``(e) Staffing.--Each report under subsection (a) shall include an 
analysis of the staffing of the Department relating to the treatment of 
women, including the following, disaggregated by Veterans Integrated 
Service Network and State (except with respect to paragraph (4)):
        ``(1) The number of women's health centers.
        ``(2) The number of patient aligned care teams of the 
    Department relating to women's health.
        ``(3) The number of full- and part-time gynecologists of the 
    Department.
        ``(4) The number of designated women's health care providers of 
    the Department, disaggregated by facility of the Department.
        ``(5) The number of health care providers of the Department who 
    have completed a mini-residency for women's health care through the 
    Women Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency Program of the Department 
    during the one-year period preceding the submittal of the report 
    and the number of mini-residency training slots for such program 
    that are available during the one-year period following such date.
        ``(6) The number of designated women's health care providers of 
    the Department who have sufficient women patient loads or case 
    complexities to retain their competencies and proficiencies.
    ``(f) Accessibility and Treatment Options.--Each report under 
subsection (a) shall include an analysis of the accessibility and 
treatment options for women veterans, including the following:
        ``(1) An assessment of wheelchair accessibility of women's 
    health centers of the Department, including, with respect to each 
    such center, an assessment of accessibility for each kind of 
    treatment provided at the center, including with respect to 
    radiology and mammography, that addresses all relevant factors, 
    including door sizes, hoists, and equipment.
        ``(2) The options for women veterans to access mental health 
    providers and primary care providers who are women.
        ``(3) The options for women veterans at medical facilities of 
    the Department with respect to clothing sizes, including for gowns, 
    drawstring pants, and pajamas.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
        ``(1) The term `appropriate congressional committees' means--
            ``(A) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
            ``(B) the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
        ``(2) The term `gender-specific services' means mammography, 
    obstetric care, gynecological care, and such other services as the 
    Secretary determines appropriate.''.
        (2) References to health care and services.--The references to 
    health care and the references to services in sections 7310 and 
    7310A of title 38, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), 
    are references to the health care and services included in the 
    medical benefits package provided by the Department as in effect on 
    the day before the date of the enactment of this Act.
        (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for such chapter 
    is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7309A 
    the following new items:

``7310. Office of Women's Health.
``7310A. Annual reports on women's health.''.

    (c) Initial Report.--The Chief Officer of Women's Health of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs shall submit the initial report under 
section 7310A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(b), by not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
SEC. 5102. WOMEN VETERANS RETROFIT INITIATIVE.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prioritize 
the retrofitting of existing medical facilities of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs with fixtures, materials, and other outfitting 
measures to support the provision of care to women veterans at such 
facilities.
    (b) Plan.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress, the 
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan to address 
    deficiencies in environment of care for women veterans at medical 
    facilities of the Department.
        (2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall include 
    the following:
            (A) An explanation of the specific environment of care 
        deficiencies that need correcting.
            (B) An assessment of how the Secretary prioritizes 
        retrofitting existing medical facilities to support provision 
        of care to women veterans in comparison to other requirements.
            (C) A five-year strategic plan and cost projection for 
        retrofitting medical facilities of the Department to support 
        the provision of care to women veterans as required under 
        subsection (a).
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subject to appropriations and 
the plan under (b), there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary $20,000,000 to carry out subsection (a) in addition to 
amounts otherwise made available to the Secretary for the purposes set 
forth in such subsection.
SEC. 5103. ESTABLISHMENT OF ENVIRONMENT OF CARE STANDARDS AND 
INSPECTIONS AT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish 
a policy under which the environment of care standards and inspections 
at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs include--
        (1) an alignment of the requirements for such standards and 
    inspections with the women's health handbook of the Veterans Health 
    Administration;
        (2) a requirement for the frequency of such inspections;
        (3) delineation of the roles and responsibilities of staff at 
    each medical center who are responsible for compliance;
        (4) the requirement that each medical center submit to the 
    Secretary and make publicly available a report on the compliance of 
    the medical center with the standards; and
        (5) a remediation plan.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a report certifying in writing that the 
policy required by subsection (a) has been finalized and disseminated 
to all medical centers of the Department.
SEC. 5104. PROVISION OF REINTEGRATION AND READJUSTMENT SERVICES TO 
VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS IN GROUP RETREAT SETTINGS.
    (a) In General.--Section 1712A of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B)--
            (A) in clause (ii), by redesignating subclauses (I) and 
        (II) as items (aa) and (bb);
            (B) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) 
        and (II);
            (C) in the matter preceding subclause (I), as redesignated 
        by subparagraph (B), by striking ``Counseling'' and inserting 
        ``(i) Counseling''; and
            (D) by adding at the end the following new clause:
    ``(ii)(I) Except as provided in subclauses (IV) and (V), counseling 
furnished to an individual under subparagraph (A) may include 
reintegration and readjustment services described in subclause (II) 
furnished in group retreat settings.
    ``(II) Reintegration and readjustment services described in this 
subclause are the following:
        ``(aa) Information on reintegration of the individual into 
    family, employment, and community.
        ``(bb) Financial counseling.
        ``(cc) Occupational counseling.
        ``(dd) Information and counseling on stress reduction.
        ``(ee) Information and counseling on conflict resolution.
        ``(ff) Such other information and counseling as the Secretary 
    considers appropriate to assist the individual in reintegration 
    into family, employment, and community.
    ``(III) In furnishing reintegration and readjustment services under 
subclause (I), the Secretary shall offer women the opportunity to 
receive such services in group retreat settings in which the only 
participants are women.
    ``(IV) An individual described in subparagraph (C)(v) may receive 
reintegration and readjustment services under subclause (I) of this 
clause only if the individual receives such services with a family 
member described in subclause (I) or (II) of such subparagraph.
    ``(V) In each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, the maximum number 
of individuals to whom integration and readjustment services may be 
furnished in group retreat settings under this subclause (I) shall not 
exceed 1,200 individuals.''.
    (b) Request for Services.--Subsection (a)(2) of such section is 
amended--
        (1) by striking ``Upon'' and inserting ``(A) Upon'';
        (2) by striking ``paragraph (1)(B)'' and inserting ``paragraph 
    (1)(B)(i)''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) Upon the request of an individual described in paragraph 
(1)(C), the Secretary shall furnish the individual reintegration and 
readjustment services in group retreat settings under paragraph 
(1)(B)(ii) if the Secretary determines the experience will be 
therapeutically appropriate.''.
SEC. 5105. PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR WOMEN VETERANS.
    (a) Agreement Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
enter into one or more agreements with public or private entities to 
provide legal services to women veterans.
    (b) Focus.--The focus of an agreement entered into under subsection 
(a) shall be to address the following unmet needs of women veterans as 
set forth in the most recently completed Community Homelessness 
Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups for Veterans (CHALENG 
for Veterans) survey:
        (1) Child support.
        (2) Prevention of eviction and foreclosure.
        (3) Discharge upgrades.
        (4) Financial guardianship.
        (5) Credit counseling.
        (6) Family reconciliation assistance.
SEC. 5106. COMPTROLLER GENERAL SURVEYS AND REPORT ON SUPPORTIVE 
SERVICES PROVIDED FOR VERY LOW-INCOME WOMEN VETERANS.
    (a) Surveys.--
        (1) Survey of women veterans.--The Comptroller General of the 
    United States shall survey women veterans who have received or are 
    receiving supportive services provided under section 2044 of title 
    38, United States Code, to determine satisfaction with the ability 
    of such services to meet the specific needs of such veterans.
        (2) Survey of eligible entities.--The Comptroller General shall 
    survey eligible entities receiving financial assistance under such 
    section and other partners of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
    including veterans service organizations and the National Coalition 
    of Homeless Veterans, on the view of such entities and partners 
    regarding--
            (A) whether the Department is meeting the needs of women 
        veterans through the provision of supportive services under 
        such section; and
            (B) any additional supportive services that may be required 
        to meet such needs.
    (b) Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
    shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 
    and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
    Representatives a report on the efforts of the Department of 
    Veterans Affairs to provide supportive services to women veterans 
    under section 2044 of title 38, United States.
        (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
    include the following:
            (A) A review of how the Department determines which 
        categories of supportive services would be beneficial to women 
        veterans who receive services under such section.
            (B) A description of the challenges women veterans who have 
        children face in accessing supportive services under such 
        section, including with respect to accessing--
                (i) homeless shelters with their children;
                (ii) homeless shelters that have restrictions on male 
            children; and
                (iii) affordable child care.
            (C) A description of how the Department identifies eligible 
        entities under such section that can provide supportive 
        services to meet the needs of women veterans, including 
        eligible entities with experience in--
                (i) intimate partner violence;
                (ii) legal matters pertaining especially to women 
            veterans, including temporary restraining orders and child 
            care orders;
                (iii) supportive services for children; and
                (iv) the evaluation of which categories of services 
            would be beneficial to women veterans who receive such 
            services under such section.
            (D) A description of how much the Department spends, from 
        funds appropriated to carry out such section and funds provided 
        under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act 
        (Public Law 116-136), on supportive services specifically for 
        women veterans, and in particular, on the services described in 
        subparagraph (A).
            (E) The results of the surveys conducted under subsection 
        (a).
            (F) A review of the resources and programming offered to 
        woman veterans under such section.
            (G) An assessment of such other areas as the Comptroller 
        General considers appropriate.
SEC. 5107. PROGRAMS ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.
    (a) Assistance for Child Care for Certain Veterans Receiving Health 
Care.--
        (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
    States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
    section:
``Sec. 1709C. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving 
     health care
    ``(a) Program Required.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to 
provide, subject to subsection (b), assistance to qualified veterans 
described in subsection (c) to obtain child care so that such veterans 
can receive health care services described in subsection (c)(2).
    ``(b) Limitation on Period of Payments.--Assistance may be provided 
to a qualified veteran under this section for receipt of child care 
only during the period that the qualified veteran--
        ``(1) receives the types of health care services described in 
    subsection (c)(2) at a facility of the Department; and
        ``(2) requires travel to and return from such facility for the 
    receipt of such health care services.
    ``(c) Qualified Veterans.--For purposes of this section, a 
qualified veteran is a veteran who--
        ``(1) is the primary caretaker of a child or children; and
        ``(2)(A) receives from the Department--
            ``(i) regular mental health care services;
            ``(ii) intensive mental health care services; or
            ``(iii) such other intensive health care services that the 
        Secretary determines that provision of assistance to the 
        veteran to obtain child care would improve access to such 
        health care services by the veteran; or
        ``(B) is in need of regular or intensive mental health care 
    services from the Department, and but for lack of child care 
    services, would receive such health care services from the 
    Department.
    ``(d) Locations.--Not later than five years after the date of the 
enactment of the Deborah Sampson Act of 2020, the Secretary shall carry 
out the program at each medical center of the Department.
    ``(e) Forms of Child Care Assistance.--(1) Child care assistance 
under this section may include the following:
        ``(A) Stipends for the payment of child care offered by a 
    licensed child care center (either directly or through a voucher 
    program) that shall be, to the extent practicable, modeled after 
    the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Program 
    established pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General 
    Government Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-67; 115 Stat. 
    552).
        ``(B) Direct provision of child care at an on-site facility of 
    the Department.
        ``(C) Payments to private child care agencies.
        ``(D) Collaboration with facilities or programs of other 
    Federal agencies.
        ``(E) Such other forms of assistance as the Secretary considers 
    appropriate.
    ``(2) In providing child care assistance under this section, the 
child care needs of the local area shall be considered and the head of 
each medical center may select the type of care that is most 
appropriate or feasible for such medical center.
    ``(3) In the case that child care assistance under this section is 
provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover 
the full cost of such child care.''.
        (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 205(e) of the Caregivers and 
    Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 
    38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2020'' 
    and inserting ``the date of the enactment of the Deborah Sampson 
    Act of 2020''.
        (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
    relating to section 1709B the following new item:

``1709C. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health 
          care,''.

    (b) Pilot Program on Assistance for Child Care for Certain Veterans 
Receiving Readjustment Counseling and Related Mental Health Services.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
    out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of 
    providing, subject to paragraph (2), assistance to qualified 
    veterans described in paragraph (3) to obtain child care so that 
    such veterans can receive readjustment counseling and related 
    mental health services.
        (2) Limitation on period of payments.--Assistance may be 
    provided to a qualified veteran under the pilot program for receipt 
    of child care only during the period that the qualified veteran 
    receives readjustment counseling and related health care services 
    at a Vet Center.
        (3) Qualified veterans.--For purposes of this subsection, a 
    qualified veteran is a veteran who--
            (A) is the primary caretaker of a child or children; and
            (B)(i) receives from the Department regular readjustment 
        counseling and related mental health services; or
            (ii) is in need of regular readjustment counseling and 
        related mental health services from the Department, and but for 
        lack of child care services, would receive such counseling and 
        services from the Department.
        (4) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program 
    in not fewer than three Readjustment Counseling Service Regions 
    selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program.
        (5) Forms of child care assistance.--
            (A) In general.--Child care assistance under the pilot 
        program may include the following:
                (i) Stipends for the payment of child care offered by a 
            licensed child care center (either directly or through a 
            voucher program) that shall be, to the extent practicable, 
            modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care 
            Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 630 of the 
            Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2002 
            (Public Law 107-67; 115 Stat. 552).
                (ii) Payments to private child care agencies.
                (iii) Collaboration with facilities or programs of 
            other Federal agencies.
                (iv) Such other forms of assistance as the Secretary 
            considers appropriate.
            (B) Local area.--In providing child care assistance under 
        the pilot program, the child care needs of the local area shall 
        be considered and the head of each Vet Center may select the 
        type of care that is most appropriate or feasible for such Vet 
        Center.
            (C) Use of stipend.--In the case that child care assistance 
        under the pilot program is provided as a stipend under 
        subparagraph (A)(i), such stipend shall cover the full cost of 
        such child care.
        (6) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out during 
    the two-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of 
    the pilot program.
        (7) Report.--
            (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress a report on the pilot program.
            (B) Elements.--The report required by subparagraph (A) 
        shall include the findings and conclusions of the Secretary 
        regarding the pilot program, and shall include such 
        recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the pilot 
        program as the Secretary considers appropriate.
        (8) Vet center defined.--In this subsection, the term ``Vet 
    Center'' has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of 
    title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 5108. AVAILABILITY OF PROSTHETICS FOR WOMEN VETERANS FROM 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Access at Each Medical Facility.--Section 1714(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended--
        (1) by striking ``(a) Any veteran'' and inserting ``(a)(1) Any 
    veteran''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) In furnishing prosthetic appliances under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall ensure women veterans are able to access clinically 
appropriate prosthetic appliances through each medical facility of the 
Department.''.
    (b) Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
    submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a 
    report on the availability from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
    of prosthetics made for women veterans, including an assessment of 
    the availability of such prosthetics at medical facilities of the 
    Department.
        (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
    include--
            (A) a list of all devices classified by the Department as 
        prosthetic devices, including a breakdown of whether a device 
        is considered gender-neutral or gender-specific;
            (B) for gender-neutral devices, a breakdown of sizing;
            (C) the average time it takes for a woman veteran to 
        receive a prosthetic device after it is prescribed, 
        disaggregated by Veterans Integrated Service Network and 
        medical center of the Department;
            (D) the total number of women veterans utilizing the 
        Department for prosthetic services, disaggregated by facility 
        of the Department;
            (E) an assessment of efforts by the Department on research, 
        development, and employment of additive manufacture technology 
        (commonly referred to as 3D printing) to provide prosthetic 
        items for women veterans;
            (F) the results of a survey with a representative sample of 
        not fewer than 50,000 veterans (of which women shall be 
        overrepresented) in an amputee care program on satisfaction 
        with prosthetics furnished or procured by the Department that 
        replace appendages or their function; and
            (G) such other information as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
SEC. 5109. REQUIREMENT TO IMPROVE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WOMEN 
VETERANS CALL CENTER.
    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enhance the capabilities of 
the women veterans call center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
respond to requests by women veterans for assistance with accessing 
health care and benefits furnished under the laws administered by the 
Secretary.
SEC. 5110. STUDY ON INFERTILITY SERVICES FURNISHED AT DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct a study on the infertility services offerings at the Department 
of Veterans Affairs.
    (b) Elements.--The study conducted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
        (1) An assessment of the following:
            (A) The availability of infertility services at facilities 
        of the Department and through laws administered by the 
        Secretary for the provision of non-Department care.
            (B) The demand for such services from eligible individuals.
        (2) Identification of potential challenges in accessing 
    infertility services for eligible individuals.
        (3) An analysis of Department resources for the furnishing of 
    infertility services, including analysis of Department workforce 
    and non-Department providers.
        (4) Development of recommendations for the improvement of 
    infertility services under laws administered by the Secretary to 
    improve eligible individuals' access, delivery of services, and 
    health outcomes.
    (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a report on the study conducted under 
subsection (a).
    (d) Eligible Individual Defined.--In this section, the term 
``eligible individual'' means an individual who is a veteran who is 
eligible for and enrolled in the health care system of the Department 
under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 5111. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ACCESS TO FACILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS BY RESERVISTS FOR COUNSELING AND TREATMENT RELATING TO 
MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.
    (a) In General.--It is the sense of Congress that members of the 
reserve components of the Armed Forces, including members of the 
National Guard, should be able to access all health care facilities of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, not just Vet Centers, to receive 
counseling and treatment relating to military sexual trauma.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Military sexual trauma.--The term ``military sexual 
    trauma'' has the meaning given such term in section 1164(c) of 
    title 38, United States Code, as added by section 5501(a) of this 
    title.
        (2) Vet center.--The term ``Vet Center'' has the meaning given 
    that term in section 1712A(h) of such title.

            Subtitle B--Increasing Staff Cultural Competency

SEC. 5201. STAFFING OF WOMEN'S HEALTH PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS AT MEDICAL 
FACILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that each medical 
facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs has not fewer than one 
full-time or part-time women's health primary care provider whose 
duties include, to the extent possible, providing training to other 
health care providers of the Department on the needs of women veterans.
SEC. 5202. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PRIMARY CARE AND EMERGENCY CARE 
CLINICIANS IN WOMEN VETERANS HEALTH CARE MINI-RESIDENCY PROGRAM.
    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs $1,000,000 for each fiscal years 2021 
through 2025 to provide opportunities for participation in the Women 
Veterans Health Care Mini-Residency Program of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for primary care and emergency care clinicians.
    (b) Treatment of Amounts.--The amounts authorized to be 
appropriated under subsection (a) shall be in addition to amounts 
otherwise made available to the Secretary for the purposes set forth in 
such subsection.
SEC. 5203. ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN VETERAN TRAINING MODULE FOR NON-
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish and make available to community providers a training module 
that is specific to women veterans.
    (b) Training Materials Provided.--Under the training module 
established and made available to community providers under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall provide to community providers the same 
training materials relating to treatment of women veterans that is 
provided to health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to ensure that all health care providers treating women veterans have 
access to the same materials to support competency throughout the 
community.
    (c) Administration of Training Module.--The Secretary shall 
administer the training module established under subsection (a) to 
community providers through an internet website of the Department.
    (d) Annual Report.--Not later than one year after the establishment 
of the training module under subsection (a), and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on--
        (1) the utilization by community providers of the training 
    module; and
        (2) the effectiveness of the training module.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Community provider.--The term ``community provider'' means 
    a non-Department of Veterans Affairs health care provider who 
    provides preauthorized health care to veterans under the laws 
    administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
        (2) Preauthorized health care.--The term ``preauthorized health 
    care'' means health care provided to a veteran that is authorized 
    by the Secretary before being provided.
SEC. 5204. STUDY ON STAFFING OF WOMEN VETERAN PROGRAM MANAGER PROGRAM 
AT MEDICAL CENTERS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND TRAINING OF 
STAFF.
    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study 
on the use of the Women Veteran Program Manager program of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to determine--
        (1) if the program is appropriately staffed at each medical 
    center of the Department;
        (2) whether each medical center of the Department is staffed 
    with a Women Veteran Program Manager; and
        (3) whether it would be feasible and advisable to have a Women 
    Veteran Program Ombudsman at each medical center of the Department.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a report on the study conducted under 
subsection (a).
    (c) Training.--The Secretary shall ensure that all Women Veteran 
Program Managers and Women Veteran Program Ombudsmen receive the proper 
training to carry out their duties.
SEC. 5205. STUDY ON WOMEN VETERAN COORDINATOR PROGRAM.
    (a) Study and Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall--
        (1) complete a study on the Women Veteran Coordinator program 
    of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of 
    Veterans Affairs; and
        (2) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 
    and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
    Representatives a report on the findings of the Secretary with 
    respect to the study completed under paragraph (1).
    (b) Elements.--The study required by subsection (a)(1) shall 
identify the following:
        (1) If the program described in such subsection is 
    appropriately staffed at each regional benefits office of the 
    Department.
        (2) Whether each regional benefits office of the Department is 
    staffed with a Women Veteran Coordinator.
        (3) The position description of the Women Veteran Coordinator.
        (4) Whether an individual serving in the Women Veteran 
    Coordinator position concurrently serves in any other position, and 
    if so, the allocation of time the individual spends in each such 
    position.
        (5) A description of the metrics the Secretary uses to 
    determine the job performance and effectiveness of the Women 
    Veteran Coordinator.
SEC. 5206. STAFFING IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR PEER SPECIALISTS OF DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS WHO ARE WOMEN.
    (a) Assessment of Capacity.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
    consultation with the Inspector General of the Department of 
    Veterans Affairs, shall commence an assessment of the capacity of 
    peer specialists of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are 
    women.
        (2) Elements.--The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall 
    include an assessment of the following:
            (A) The geographical distribution of peer specialists of 
        the Department who are women.
            (B) The geographical distribution of women veterans.
            (C) The number and proportion of women peer specialists who 
        specialize in peer counseling on mental health or suicide 
        prevention.
            (D) The number and proportion of women peer specialists who 
        specialize in peer counseling on non-mental health related 
        matters.
    (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the assessment required 
by subsection (a) has commenced, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report detailing 
the findings of the assessment.
    (c) Staffing Improvement Plan.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after submitting the 
    report under subsection (b), the Secretary, in consultation with 
    the Inspector General, shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
    Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
    House of Representatives a plan, based on the results of the 
    assessment required by subsection (a), to hire additional qualified 
    peer specialists who are women, with special consideration for 
    areas that lack peer specialists who are women.
        (2) Elements.--The peer specialist positions included in the 
    plan required by paragraph (1)--
            (A) shall be non-volunteer, paid positions; and
            (B) may be part-time positions.

             Subtitle C--Eliminating Harassment and Assault

SEC. 5301. EXPANSION OF COVERAGE BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF 
COUNSELING AND TREATMENT FOR SEXUAL TRAUMA.
    (a) Expansion of Eligibility for Counseling and Treatment.--Section 
1720D of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)--
            (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``active duty, active 
        duty for training, or inactive duty training'' and inserting 
        ``duty, regardless of duty status or line of duty determination 
        (as that term is used in section 12323 of title 10)''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``active duty, active 
        duty for training, or inactive duty training'' and inserting 
        ``duty, regardless of duty status or line of duty determination 
        (as that term is used in section 12323 of title 10)'';
        (2) by striking ``veteran'' each place it appears and inserting 
    ``former member of the Armed Forces'';
        (3) by striking ``veterans'' each place it appears and 
    inserting ``former members of the Armed Forces''; and
        (4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) In this section, the term `former member of the Armed Forces' 
includes the following:
        ``(1) A veteran.
        ``(2) An individual described in section 1720I(b) of this 
    title.''.
    (b) Inclusion of Treatment for Physical Health Conditions.--Such 
section is further amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)--
            (A) in paragraph (1)--
                (i) by inserting ``, to include care for physical 
            health conditions, as appropriate,'' after ``counseling and 
            appropriate care and services'';
                (ii) by striking ``overcome psychological trauma'' and 
            inserting ``treat a condition''; and
                (iii) by striking ``mental health professional'' and 
            inserting ``health care professional''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``overcome 
        psychological trauma'' and inserting ``treat a condition''; and
        (2) in subsection (d)--
            (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and other health care 
        professionals'' after ``mental health professionals''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``and other health 
        care professionals'' after ``mental health professionals''.
SEC. 5302. ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE ON WOMEN 
VETERANS BY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WOMEN VETERANS.
    Section 542(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
        (2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and
        (3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
    subparagraph (C):
        ``(C) an assessment of the effects of intimate partner violence 
    on women veterans; and''.
SEC. 5303. ANTI-HARASSMENT AND ANTI-SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY OF DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 533. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault policy
    ``(a) Establishment.--(1) The Secretary, acting through the Office 
of Assault and Prevention of the Veterans Health Administration, shall 
establish a comprehensive policy to end harassment and sexual assault, 
including sexual harassment and gender-based harassment, throughout the 
Department.
    ``(2) The policy required by paragraph (1) shall include the 
following:
        ``(A) A process for employees and contractors of the Department 
    to respond to reported incidents of harassment and sexual assault 
    committed by any non-Department individual within a facility of the 
    Department, including with respect to accountability or 
    disciplinary measures.
        ``(B) A process for employees and contractors of the Department 
    to respond to reported incidents of harassment and sexual assault 
    of any non-Department individual within a facility of the 
    Department.
        ``(C) A process for any non-Department individual to report 
    harassment and sexual assault described in subparagraph (A), 
    including an option for confidential reporting, and for the 
    Secretary to respond to and address such reports.
        ``(D) Clear mechanisms for non-Department individuals to 
    readily identify to whom and how to report incidents of harassment 
    and sexual assault committed by another non-Department individual.
        ``(E) Clear mechanisms for employees and contractors of the 
    Department to readily identify to whom and how to report incidents 
    of harassment and sexual assault and how to refer non-Department 
    individuals with respect to reporting an incident of harassment or 
    sexual assault.
        ``(F) A process for, and mandatory reporting requirement 
    applicable to, any employee or contractor of the Department who 
    witnesses harassment or sexual assault described in subparagraph 
    (A) or (B) within a facility of the Department, regardless of 
    whether the individual affected by such harassment or sexual 
    assault wants to report such harassment or sexual assault.
        ``(G) The actions possible, including disciplinary actions, for 
    employees or contractors of the Department who fail to report 
    incidents of harassment and sexual assault described in 
    subparagraph (A) or (B) that the employees or contractors witness.
        ``(H) On an annual or more frequent basis, mandatory training 
    for employees and contractors of the Department regarding how to 
    report and address harassment and sexual assault described in 
    subparagraphs (A) and (B), including bystander intervention 
    training.
        ``(I) On an annual or more frequent basis, the distribution of 
    the policy under this subsection and anti-harassment and anti-
    sexual assault educational materials by mail or email to each 
    individual receiving a benefit under a law administered by the 
    Secretary.
        ``(J) The prominent display of anti-harassment and anti-sexual 
    assault messages in each facility of the Department, including how 
    non-Department individuals may report harassment and sexual assault 
    described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) at such facility and the 
    points of contact under subsection (b).
        ``(K) The posting on internet websites of the Department, 
    including the main internet website regarding benefits of the 
    Department and the main internet website regarding health care of 
    the Department, of anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault banners 
    specifically addressing harassment and sexual assault described in 
    subparagraphs (A) and (B).
    ``(b) Points of Contact.--The Secretary shall designate, as a point 
of contact to receive reports of harassment and sexual assault 
described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(2)--
        ``(1) at least one individual, in addition to law enforcement, 
    at each facility of the Department (including Vet Centers under 
    section 1712A of this title), with regard to that facility;
        ``(2) at least one individual employed in each Veterans 
    Integrated Service Network, with regard to facilities in that 
    Veterans Integrated Service Network;
        ``(3) at least one individual employed in each regional 
    benefits office;
        ``(4) at least one individual employed at each location of the 
    National Cemetery Administration; and
        ``(5) at least one individual employed at the Central Office of 
    the Department to track reports of such harassment and sexual 
    assault across the Department, disaggregated by facility.
    ``(c) Accountability.--(1) The Secretary shall establish a policy 
to ensure that each facility of the Department and each director of a 
Veterans Integrated Service Network is responsible for addressing 
harassment and sexual assault at the facility and the Network.
    ``(2) The policy required by paragraph (1) shall include--
        ``(A) a remediation plan for facilities that experience five or 
    more incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or combination 
    thereof, during any single fiscal year; and
        ``(B) taking appropriate actions under chapter 7 or subchapter 
    V of chapter 74 of this title.
    ``(d) Data.--The Secretary shall ensure that the in-take process 
for veterans at medical facilities of the Department includes a survey 
to collect the following information:
        ``(1) Whether the veteran feels safe at the facility and 
    whether any events occurred at the facility that affect such 
    feeling.
        ``(2) Whether the veteran wants to be contacted later by the 
    Department with respect to such safety issues.
    ``(e) Working Group.--(1) The Secretary shall establish a working 
group to assist the Secretary in implementing policies to carry out 
this section.
    ``(2) The working group established under paragraph (1) shall 
consist of representatives from--
        ``(A) veterans service organizations;
        ``(B) State, local, and Tribal veterans agencies; and
        ``(C) other persons the Secretary determines appropriate.
    ``(3) The working group established under paragraph (1) shall 
develop, and the Secretary shall carry out--
        ``(A) an action plan for addressing changes at the local level 
    to reduce instances of harassment and sexual assault;
        ``(B) standardized media for veterans service organizations and 
    other persons to use in print and on the internet with respect to 
    reducing harassment and sexual assault; and
        ``(C) bystander intervention training for veterans.
    ``(4) The working group established under paragraph (1) shall not 
be subject to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.).
    ``(f) Annual Reports.--(1) The Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives an annual report on 
harassment and sexual assault described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
subsection (a)(2) in facilities of the Department.
    ``(2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the 
following:
        ``(A) Results of harassment and sexual assault programming, 
    including the End Harassment program.
        ``(B) Results of studies from the Women's Health Practice-Based 
    Research Network of the Department relating to harassment and 
    sexual assault.
        ``(C) Data collected on incidents of sexual harassment and 
    sexual assault.
        ``(D) A description of any actions taken by the Secretary 
    during the year preceding the date of the report to stop harassment 
    and sexual assault at facilities of the Department.
        ``(E) An assessment of the implementation of the training 
    required in subsection (a)(2)(H).
        ``(F) A list of resources the Secretary determines necessary to 
    prevent harassment and sexual assault at facilities of the 
    Department.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
        ``(1) The term `non-Department individual' means any individual 
    present at a facility of the Department who is not an employee or 
    contractor of the Department.
        ``(2) The term `sexual harassment' means unsolicited verbal or 
    physical contact of a sexual nature which is threatening in 
    character.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 
532 the following new item:

``533. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault policy.''.

    (c) Definition of Sexual Harassment.--Section 1720D(f) of such 
title is amended by striking ``repeated,''.
    (d) Deadline.--The Secretary shall commence carrying out section 
533 of such title, as added by subsection (a), not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 5304. PILOT PROGRAM ON ASSISTING VETERANS WHO EXPERIENCE INTIMATE 
PARTNER VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.
    (a) Pilot Program Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and 
advisability of assisting former members of the Armed Forces who have 
experienced or are experiencing intimate partner violence or sexual 
assault in accessing benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
including coordinating access to medical treatment centers, housing 
assistance, and other benefits from the Department.
    (b) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program 
under subsection (a) during the two-year period beginning on the date 
of the commencement of the pilot program.
    (c) Collaboration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program 
under subsection (a) in collaboration with--
        (1) intimate partner violence shelters and programs;
        (2) rape crisis centers;
        (3) State intimate partner violence and sexual assault 
    coalitions; and
        (4) such other health care or other service providers that 
    serve intimate partner violence or sexual assault victims as 
    determined by the Secretary, particularly those providing emergency 
    services or housing assistance.
    (d) Authorized Activities.--In carrying out the pilot program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary may conduct the following activities:
        (1) Training for community-based intimate partner violence or 
    sexual assault service providers on--
            (A) identifying former members of the Armed Forces who have 
        been victims of, or are currently experiencing, intimate 
        partner violence or sexual assault;
            (B) coordinating with local service providers of the 
        Department; and
            (C) connecting former members of the Armed Forces with 
        appropriate housing, mental health, medical, and other 
        financial assistance or benefits from the Department.
        (2) Assistance to service providers to ensure access of 
    veterans to intimate partner violence and sexual assault emergency 
    services, particularly in underserved areas, including services for 
    Native American veterans (as defined in section 3765 of title 38, 
    United States Code).
        (3) Such other outreach and assistance as the Secretary 
    determines necessary for the provision of assistance under 
    subsection (a).
    (e) Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault Outreach 
Coordinators.--
        (1) In general.--In order to effectively assist veterans who 
    have experienced intimate partner violence or sexual assault, the 
    Secretary may establish local coordinators to provide outreach 
    under the pilot program required by subsection (a).
        (2) Local coordinator knowledge.--The Secretary shall ensure 
    that each coordinator established under paragraph (1) is 
    knowledgeable about--
            (A) the dynamics of intimate partner violence and sexual 
        assault, including safety concerns, legal protections, and the 
        need for the provision of confidential services;
            (B) the eligibility of veterans for services and benefits 
        from the Department that are relevant to recovery from intimate 
        partner violence and sexual assault, particularly emergency 
        housing assistance, mental health care, other health care, and 
        disability benefits; and
            (C) local community resources addressing intimate partner 
        violence and sexual assault.
        (3) Local coordinator assistance.--Each coordinator established 
    under paragraph (1) shall assist intimate partner violence shelters 
    and rape crisis centers in providing services to veterans.
    (f) Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the completion 
    of the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
    submit to Congress a report on the pilot program.
        (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
    include the following:
            (A) The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with 
        respect to the pilot program.
            (B) Such recommendations for continuing or expanding the 
        pilot program as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (g) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Intimate partner.--
            (A) In general.--The term ``intimate partner'' means a 
        person with whom one has a close personal relationship that may 
        be characterized by the partners' emotional connectedness, 
        regular contact, ongoing physical contact and sexual behavior, 
        identity as a couple, and familiarity and knowledge about each 
        other's lives.
            (B) Close personal relationships.--In this paragraph, the 
        term ``close personal relationships'' includes the following:
                (i) A relationship between married spouses.
                (ii) A relationship between common-law spouses.
                (iii) A relationship between civil union spouses.
                (iv) A relationship between domestic partners.
                (v) A relationship between dating partners.
                (vi) A relationship between ongoing sexual partners.
        (2) Intimate partner violence.--The term ``intimate partner 
    violence'' includes physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, 
    and psychological aggression, including coercive tactics by a 
    current or former intimate partner.
SEC. 5305. STUDY AND TASK FORCE ON VETERANS EXPERIENCING INTIMATE 
PARTNER VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.
    (a) National Baseline Study.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
    consultation with the Attorney General, shall conduct a national 
    baseline study to examine the scope of the problem of intimate 
    partner violence and sexual assault among veterans and spouses and 
    intimate partners of veterans.
        (2) Matters included.--The study under paragraph (1) shall--
            (A) include a literature review of all relevant research on 
        intimate partner violence and sexual assault among veterans and 
        spouses and intimate partners of veterans;
            (B) examine the prevalence of the experience of intimate 
        partner violence among--
                (i) women veterans;
                (ii) veterans who are minority group members (as 
            defined in section 544 of title 38, United States Code, and 
            including other minority populations as the Secretary 
            determines appropriate);
                (iii) urban and rural veterans;
                (iv) veterans who are enrolled in a program under 
            section 1720G of title 38, United States Code;
                (v) veterans who are in intimate relationships with 
            other veterans; and
                (vi) veterans who are described in more than one clause 
            of this subparagraph;
            (C) examine the prevalence of the perpetration of intimate 
        partner violence by veterans; and
            (D) include recommendations to address the findings of the 
        study.
        (3) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which the 
    Secretary completes the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
    shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 
    and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
    Representatives a report on such study.
    (b) Task Force.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which 
    the Secretary completes the study under subsection (a), the 
    Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General and the 
    Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall establish a national 
    task force (in this section referred to as the ``Task Force'') to 
    develop a comprehensive national program, including by integrating 
    facilities, services, and benefits of the Department of Veterans 
    Affairs into existing networks of community-based intimate partner 
    violence and sexual assault services, to address intimate partner 
    violence and sexual assault among veterans.
        (2) Leadership.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall lead 
    the Task Force in collaboration with the Attorney General and the 
    Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    (c) Consultation With Stakeholders.--In carrying out this section, 
the Task Force shall consult with--
        (1) representatives from veteran service organizations and 
    military service organizations;
        (2) representatives from not fewer than three national 
    organizations or State coalitions with demonstrated expertise in 
    intimate partner violence prevention, response, or advocacy; and
        (3) representatives from not fewer than three national 
    organizations or State coalitions, particularly those representing 
    underserved and ethnic minority communities, with demonstrated 
    expertise in sexual assault prevention, response, or advocacy.
    (d) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force shall include the 
following:
        (1) To review existing services and policies of the Department 
    and develop a comprehensive national program to be carried out by 
    the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the heads 
    of relevant Federal agencies, to address intimate partner violence 
    and sexual assault prevention, response, and treatment.
        (2) To review the feasibility and advisability of establishing 
    an expedited process to secure emergency, temporary benefits, 
    including housing or other benefits, for veterans who are 
    experiencing intimate partner violence or sexual assault.
        (3) To review and make recommendations regarding the 
    feasibility and advisability of establishing dedicated, temporary 
    housing assistance for veterans experiencing intimate partner 
    violence or sexual assault.
        (4) To identify any requirements regarding intimate partner 
    violence assistance or sexual assault response and services that 
    are not being met by the Department and make recommendations on how 
    the Department can meet such requirements.
        (5) To review and make recommendations regarding the 
    feasibility and advisability of providing direct services or 
    contracting for community-based services for veterans in response 
    to a sexual assault, including through the use of sexual assault 
    nurse examiners, particularly in underserved or remote areas, 
    including services for Native American veterans.
        (6) To review the availability of counseling services provided 
    by the Department and through peer network support, and to provide 
    recommendations for the enhancement of such services, to address--
            (A) the perpetration of intimate partner violence and 
        sexual assault; and
            (B) the recovery of veterans, particularly women veterans, 
        from intimate partner violence and sexual assault.
        (7) To review and make recommendations to expand services 
    available for veterans at risk of perpetrating intimate partner 
    violence.
    (e) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter 
by October 1 of each year, the Task Force shall submit to the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs and Congress a report on the activities of the Task 
Force, including any recommendations for legislative or administrative 
action.
    (f) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Task Force shall not be subject 
to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.).
    (g) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Native american veteran.--The term ``Native American 
    veteran'' has the meaning given that term in section 3765 of title 
    38, United States Code.
        (2) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given that term 
    in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

               Subtitle D--Data Collection and Reporting

SEC. 5401. REQUIREMENT FOR COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA ON 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BENEFITS AND SERVICES AND DISAGGREGATION 
OF SUCH DATA BY GENDER, RACE, AND ETHNICITY.
    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
        (1) collect and analyze data on each program of the Department 
    of Veterans Affairs that provides a service or benefit to a 
    veteran, including the program carried out under section 1144 of 
    title 10, United States Code;
        (2) disaggregate such data by gender, race, and ethnicity, when 
    the data lends itself to such disaggregation; and
        (3) publish the data collected and analyzed under paragraph 
    (1), except for such cases in which the Secretary determines that 
    some portions of the data would undermine the anonymity of a 
    veteran.
SEC. 5402. STUDY ON BARRIERS FOR WOMEN VETERANS TO RECEIPT OF HEALTH 
CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct a comprehensive study of the barriers to the provision of 
health care by the Department of Veterans Affairs encountered by women 
who are veterans.
    (b) Survey.--In conducting the study required by subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall--
        (1) survey women veterans who seek or receive hospital care or 
    medical services provided by the Department as well as women 
    veterans who do not seek or receive such care or services;
        (2) administer the survey to a representative sample of women 
    veterans from each Veterans Integrated Service Network; and
        (3) ensure that the sample of women veterans surveyed is of 
    sufficient size for the study results to be statistically 
    significant and is a larger sample than that of the study specified 
    in subsection (c)(1).
    (c) Use of Previous Studies.--In conducting the study required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall build on the work of the studies of 
the Department titled--
        (1) ``National Survey of Women Veterans in Fiscal Year 2007-
    2008''; and
        (2) ``Study of Barriers for Women Veterans to VA Health Care 
    2015''.
    (d) Elements of Study.--In conducting the study required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct research on the effects of 
the following on the women veterans surveyed in the study:
        (1) The barriers associated with seeking mental health care 
    services, including with respect to provider availability, 
    telehealth access, and family, work, and school obligations.
        (2) The effect of driving distance or availability of other 
    forms of transportation to the nearest medical facility on access 
    to care.
        (3) The effect of access to care from non-Department providers.
        (4) The availability of child care.
        (5) The satisfaction of such veterans with the provision by the 
    Department of integrated primary care, women's health clinics, or 
    both, including perceptions of quality of care, safety, and 
    comfort.
        (6) The understanding and perceived accessibility among such 
    veterans of eligibility requirements for, and the scope of services 
    available under, hospital care and medical services.
        (7) The perception of such veterans of personal safety and 
    comfort in inpatient, outpatient, and behavioral health facilities.
        (8) The gender sensitivity of health care providers and staff 
    to issues that particularly affect women.
        (9) The effectiveness of outreach for health care services 
    available to women veterans.
        (10) The location and operating hours of health care facilities 
    that provide services to women veterans.
        (11) The perception of such veterans of the motto of the 
    Department.
        (12) Such other significant barriers as the Secretary considers 
    appropriate.
    (e) Discharge by Contract.--The Secretary shall enter into a 
contract with a qualified independent entity or organization to carry 
out the study and research required under this section.
    (f) Mandatory Review of Data by Certain Department Divisions.--
        (1) Review.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that the head 
        of each division of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        specified in paragraph (2) reviews the results of the study 
        conducted under this section.
            (B) Submittal of findings.--The head of each division 
        specified in paragraph (2) shall submit findings with respect 
        to the study under this section to the Under Secretary of the 
        Department with responsibilities relating to health care 
        services for women veterans.
        (2) Specified divisions.--The divisions of the Department of 
    Veterans Affairs specified in this paragraph are the following:
            (A) The Office of the Under Secretary for Health.
            (B) The Office of Women's Health established under section 
        7310 of title 38, United States Code.
            (C) The Center for Women Veterans under section 318 of such 
        title.
            (D) The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans established 
        under section 542 of such title.
    (g) Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 30 months after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
    report on the study required under this section.
        (2) Elements.--The report under paragraph (1) shall include--
            (A) the findings of the head of each division of the 
        Department specified under subsection (f)(2); and
            (B) recommendations for such administrative and legislative 
        action as the Secretary considers appropriate.
SEC. 5403. STUDY ON FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF OFFERING PARENTING 
STAIR PROGRAM AT ALL MEDICAL CENTERS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a 
study on the feasibility and advisability of expanding the Parenting 
STAIR program to all medical centers of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs and including such program as part of care for military sexual 
trauma for affected members and former members of the Armed Forces.
    (b) Elements.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall assess--
        (1) staffing needed to offer the Parenting STAIR program at all 
    medical centers of the Department;
        (2) any additional infrastructure or resources (such as child 
    care during the program) needed for the expansion of the program; 
    and
        (3) such other factors relevant to the expansion of the program 
    as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (c) Reports to Congress.--
        (1) Interim report.--Not later than one year after the date of 
    the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
    detailing--
            (A) the current number and locations of all facilities of 
        the Department offering the Parenting STAIR program; and
            (B) the number of veterans served by such program in the 
        most recent fiscal year or calendar year for which data is 
        available.
        (2) Final report.--Not later than three years after the date of 
    the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
    Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
    detailing--
            (A) the results of the study conducted under subsection 
        (a);
            (B) an update on how many veterans have used the Parenting 
        STAIR program since its development in fiscal year 2017, 
        disaggregated by year, including the locations in which 
        veterans have used such program; and
            (C) a determination on the feasibility and advisability of 
        expanding the Parenting STAIR program to all medical facilities 
        of the Department offering care for military sexual trauma.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Affected members and former members of the armed forces.--
    The term ``affected members and former members of the Armed 
    Forces'' means members and former members of the Armed Forces who 
    are parents and have experienced military sexual trauma.
        (2) Military sexual trauma.--The term ``military sexual 
    trauma'' has the meaning given such term in section 1164(c) of 
    title 38, United States Code, as added by section 5501(a) of this 
    title.
        (3) Parenting stair program.--The term ``Parenting STAIR 
    program'' means the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
    that consists of a five-session, parenting-specific treatment 
    protocol based on skills training in affective and interpersonal 
    regulation (commonly referred to as ``STAIR''), which is a 
    cognitive behavioral therapy that has been identified as a 
    promising practice for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, 
    including chronic and complicated forms, among individuals with co-
    occurring disorders.

                      Subtitle E--Benefits Matters

SEC. 5501. EVALUATION OF SERVICE-CONNECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS 
RELATING TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.
    (a) Specialized Teams to Evaluate Claims Involving Military Sexual 
Trauma.--
        (1) In general.--subchapter VI of chapter 11 of such title is 
    amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1164. Specialized teams to evaluate claims involving military 
    sexual trauma
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish specialized teams 
to process claims for compensation for a covered mental health 
condition based on military sexual trauma experienced by a veteran 
during active military, naval, or air service.
    ``(b) Training.--The Secretary shall ensure that members of teams 
established under subsection (a) are trained to identify markers 
indicating military sexual trauma.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
        ``(1) The term `covered mental health condition' means post-
    traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or other mental 
    health diagnosis described in the current version of the Diagnostic 
    and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the 
    American Psychiatric Association that the Secretary determines to 
    be related to military sexual trauma.
        ``(2) The term `military sexual trauma' means, with respect to 
    a veteran, a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a 
    sexual nature, or sexual harassment during active military, naval, 
    or air service.''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new 
    item:

``1164. Specialized teams to evaluate claims involving military sexual 
          trauma.''.

    (b) Annual Reports on Claims for Disabilities Incurred or 
Aggravated by Military Sexual Trauma.--
        (1) Reports required.--Not later than March 1, 2021, and not 
    less frequently than once each year thereafter through 2027, the 
    Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on 
    covered claims submitted during the previous fiscal year to 
    identify and track the consistency of decisions across regional 
    offices of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
        (2) Elements.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall include 
    the following:
            (A) The number of covered claims submitted to or considered 
        by the Secretary during the fiscal year covered by the report.
            (B) Of the covered claims listed under subparagraph (A), 
        the number and percentage of such claims--
                (i) submitted by each sex;
                (ii) that were approved, including the number and 
            percentage of such approved claims submitted by each sex;
                (iii) that were denied, including the number and 
            percentage of such denied claims submitted by each sex; and
                (iv) that were developed and reviewed by a specialized 
            team established under section 1164(a) of title 38, United 
            States Code, as added by subsection (a).
            (C) Of the covered claims listed under subparagraph (A) 
        that were approved, the number and percentage, disaggregated by 
        sex, of claims assigned to each rating percentage.
            (D) Of the covered claims listed under subparagraph (A) 
        that were denied--
                (i) the three most common reasons given by the 
            Secretary under section 5104(b)(1) of title 38, United 
            States Code, for such denials; and
                (ii) the number of denials that were based on the 
            failure of a veteran to report for a medical examination.
            (E) The number of covered claims that, as of the end of the 
        fiscal year covered by the report, are pending and, separately, 
        the number of such claims on appeal.
            (F) For the fiscal year covered by the report, the average 
        number of days that covered claims take to complete, beginning 
        on the date on which the claim is submitted.
            (G) A description of the training that the Secretary 
        provides to employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration, 
        or such contractors or other individuals as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate, specifically with respect to covered 
        claims, including the frequency, length, and content of such 
        training.
            (H) Whether all covered claims are subject to second level 
        review until the individual rater of the Veterans Benefits 
        Administration adjudicating such covered claims achieves an 
        accuracy rate of 90 percent on decisions of such covered 
        claims.
        (3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
            (A) Covered claims.--The term ``covered claims'' means 
        claims for disability compensation submitted to the Secretary 
        based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been 
        incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma.
            (B) Covered mental health condition.--The term ``covered 
        mental health condition'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 1164(c) of title 38, United States Code.
            (C) Military sexual trauma.--The term ``military sexual 
        trauma'' has the meaning given such term in such section.
SEC. 5502. CHOICE OF SEX OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
EXAMINER FOR ASSESSMENT OF CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION RELATING TO 
DISABILITY RESULTING FROM PHYSICAL ASSAULT OF A SEXUAL NATURE, BATTERY 
OF A SEXUAL NATURE, OR SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
    (a) In General.--Subchapter VI of chapter 11 of title 38, United 
States Code, as amended by section 5501 of this title, is further 
amended by inserting after section 1164, as added by section 5501, the 
following new section:
``Sec. 1165. Choice of sex of medical examiner for certain disabilities
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall ensure that a veteran who 
requires a medical examination from a covered medical provider in 
support of a claim for compensation under this chapter for a mental or 
physical health condition that resulted from a physical assault of a 
sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment may 
designate the sex of the medical provider who provides such medical 
examination.
    ``(b) Covered Medical Providers.--For purposes of this section, a 
covered medical provider is any medical provider who is employed by the 
Department or is under any contract with the Department to provide a 
medical examination or a medical opinion when such an examination or 
opinion is necessary to make a decision on a claim.
    ``(c) Notice.--Before providing any medical examination for a 
veteran in support for a claim described in subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall notify the veteran of the veteran's rights under 
subsection (a).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 11 of such title, as amended by section 5501 of this title, is 
further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1164 
the following new item:

``1165. Choice of sex of medical examiner for certain disabilities.''.
SEC. 5503. SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REPORT ON IMPLEMENTING 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
IN CERTAIN REPORT ON DENIED POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER CLAIMS 
RELATED TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.
    Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House a report on the progress of the Secretary in implementing 
the recommendations from the report of the Inspector General of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs entitled ``Denied Posttraumatic Stress 
Disorder Claims Related to Military Sexual Trauma'' (17-05248-241).

      TITLE VI--REPRESENTATION AND FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION MATTERS

SEC. 6001. SHORT TITLE.
    This title may be cited as the ``Financial Refuge for Every Elderly 
Veteran Act of 2020'' or the ``FREE Veteran Act of 2020''.
SEC. 6002. PLAN TO ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF VETERANS 
RECEIVING PENSION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Development of Method for Solicitation and Collection of 
Information.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a method 
for systematically soliciting and collecting information on complaints 
received, referrals made, and actions taken by the pension management 
centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs and any other relevant 
components of the Department, in cases of potential financial 
exploitation of individuals receiving pension under chapter 15 of title 
38, United States Code.
    (b) Plan To Assess and Address Financial Exploitation of 
Veterans.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop and periodically 
    update a plan--
            (A) to regularly assess the information solicited and 
        collected under subsection (a) to identify trends of potential 
        financial exploitation of the individuals described in 
        subsection (a) across the Department; and
            (B) to outline actions that the Department can take to 
        improve education and training to address those trends.
        (2) Submission of plan.--Not later than one year after the date 
    of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once 
    every two years thereafter until the date that is six years after 
    the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
    the plan most recently developed or updated under paragraph (1) 
    to--
            (A) the Comptroller General of the United States; and
            (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Special 
        Committee on Aging of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' 
        Affairs of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 6003. OVERPAYMENTS OF PENSION TO VETERANS RECEIVING PENSION FROM 
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Guidance and Training for Claims Processors.--As the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs considers necessary, but not less frequently than 
once every three years until the date that is 10 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Benefits of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs shall update guidance and training 
curriculum for the processors of claims for pension under chapter 15 of 
title 38, United States Code, regarding the evaluation of questionable 
medical expenses on applications for pension, including by updating 
such guidance with respect to what constitutes a questionable medical 
expense and by including examples of such expenses.
    (b) Identification and Tracking.--The Under Secretary shall develop 
a method for identifying and tracking the number of individuals who 
have received overpayments of pension under chapter 15 of title 38, 
United States Code.
    (c) Annual Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and not later than October 31 of each fiscal year 
beginning thereafter until the date that is four years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report that includes, for the period covered by the report, 
the following:
        (1) The number of individuals who received overpayments of 
    pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code.
        (2) The five most common reasons for overpayments described in 
    paragraph (1).
        (3) The number of veterans who had to repay overpayments 
    described in paragraph (1).
        (4) The number of veterans for whom the Secretary waived a 
    requirement to repay an overpayment described in paragraph (1).
        (5) The total dollar amount of overpayments described in 
    paragraph (1).
        (6) The total dollar amount of repayments of veterans for 
    overpayments described in paragraph (1).
        (7) The average dollar amount of repayments described in 
    paragraph (6).
SEC. 6004. EVALUATION OF ADDITIONAL ACTIONS FOR VERIFYING DIRECT 
DEPOSIT INFORMATION PROVIDED BY VETERANS ON APPLICATIONS FOR VETERANS 
PENSION.
    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs shall--
        (1) conduct an evaluation of the feasibility and advisability 
    of requiring the processors of claims for pension under chapter 15 
    of title 38, United States Code, to take additional actions to 
    verify that the direct deposit information provided by an 
    individual on an application for pension is for the appropriate 
    recipient; and
        (2) identify such legislative or administrative actions as the 
    Under Secretary considers appropriate to ensure that payments of 
    pension are provided to the correct recipients.
    (b) Submission to Congress.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 240 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress 
    a report on the evaluation and identification under subsection (a).
        (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
    include the following:
            (A) The findings of the Under Secretary with respect to the 
        evaluation conducted under subsection (a)(1).
            (B) The actions identified under subsection (a)(2).
            (C) A plan for implementing any administrative actions 
        identified under subsection (a)(2).
            (D) A rationale for not implementing any actions evaluated 
        under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) but not identified under 
        paragraph (2) of such subsection.
SEC. 6005. ANNUAL REPORT ON EFFORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
TO ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF VETERANS RECEIVING PENSION.
    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once each year 
thereafter until the date that is four years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on 
efforts to address the financial exploitation of individuals receiving 
pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Contents.--Each report required by subsection (a) shall 
include, for the period covered by the report, the following:
        (1) The number of individuals who received pension under 
    chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, who have been referred 
    by any component of the Department of Veterans Affairs to the 
    Office of Inspector General of the Department as likely or proven 
    victims of financial exploitation.
        (2) The number of referrals and reports relating to the 
    financial exploitation of such individuals made by the Department 
    of Veterans Affairs to--
            (A) the Consumer Sentinel Network of the Federal Trade 
        Commission; and
            (B) the Department of Justice.
        (3) A description of the actions taken as a result of such 
    referrals and reports against--
            (A) individuals recognized by the Secretary as agents or 
        attorneys under section 5904 of title 38, United States Code; 
        and
            (B) individuals not so recognized.
SEC. 6006. NOTICE REGARDING FEES CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH FILING AN 
APPLICATION FOR VETERANS PENSION.
    The Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs shall ensure that every paper or electronic document relating 
to the receipt of pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United States 
Code, that is available to individuals who apply for such pension, 
including educational forms about or applications for such pension, 
includes a notice that the Department does not charge any fee in 
connection with the filing of an application for such pension.
SEC. 6007. OUTREACH PLAN FOR EDUCATING VULNERABLE VETERANS ABOUT 
POTENTIAL FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION RELATING TO THE RECEIPT OF PENSION.
    (a) Development of Plan.--The Under Secretary for Benefits of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs shall develop, in collaboration with 
veterans service organizations, an outreach plan for educating 
vulnerable individuals about potential financial exploitation relating 
to the receipt of pension under chapter 15 of title 38, United States 
Code.
    (b) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Special Committee on Aging of 
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives the plan developed under subsection (a).
    (c) Veterans Service Organization Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``veterans service organization'' means an organization recognized 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans 
under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS
              Subtitle A--Administrative and Other Matters

SEC. 7001. MEDICAL EXAMINATION PROTOCOL FOR VOLUNTEER DRIVERS 
PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAM OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR VETERANS.
    Section 111A(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2)(A) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and 
Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, the Secretary shall develop and 
establish a national protocol for the administration of medical 
examinations for volunteer drivers to participate in the program 
described in paragraph (1).
    ``(B) In developing the protocol required by subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall consult with such persons as the Secretary determines 
have an interest in the program described in paragraph (1).
    ``(C)(i) The Secretary shall implement the protocol by first 
conducting a one-year pilot program using the protocol.
    ``(ii) After conducting the pilot program required by clause (i), 
the Secretary shall assess the pilot program and make such changes to 
the protocol as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(iii) After making changes to the protocol under clause (ii), the 
Secretary shall implement the protocol in phases during the course of 
one year.''.
SEC. 7002. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRIBAL 
AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.
    (a) Establishment of Advisory Committee.--
        (1) In general.--Subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 38, 
    United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
    new section:
``Sec. 547. Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
    ``(a) Establishment.--(1) The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
committee to provide advice and guidance to the Secretary on matters 
relating to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native American 
veterans.
    ``(2) The advisory committee established under paragraph (1) shall 
be known as the `Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs' (in 
this section referred to as the `Committee').
    ``(3) The Committee shall facilitate, but not supplant, government-
to-government consultation between the Department and Indian tribes or 
tribal organizations.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall consult with Indian tribes or tribal 
organizations in developing a charter for the Committee.
    ``(b) Membership.--(1) The Committee shall be comprised of 15 
voting members selected by the Secretary from among individuals 
nominated as specified under this subsection.
    ``(2) In selecting members under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
ensure that--
        ``(A) at least one member of each of the 12 service areas of 
    the Indian Health Service is represented in the membership of the 
    Committee nominated by Indian tribes or tribal organizations;
        ``(B) at least one member of the Committee represents the 
    Native Hawaiian veteran community nominated by a Native Hawaiian 
    Organization;
        ``(C) at least one member of the Committee represents urban 
    Indian organizations nominated by a national urban Indian 
    organization; and
        ``(D) not fewer than half of the members are veterans, unless 
    the Secretary determines that an insufficient number of qualified 
    veterans were nominated under paragraph (1).
    ``(3) No member of the Committee may be an employee of the Federal 
Government.
    ``(c) Terms; Vacancies.--(1) A member of the Committee shall be 
appointed for a term of two years.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall fill a vacancy in the Committee in the 
same manner as the original appointment within 180 days.
    ``(d) Meetings.--(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the 
Committee shall meet in-person with the Secretary, or the Secretary's 
designee, not less frequently than twice each year and hold monthly 
conference calls as necessary.
    ``(B) During a public health emergency (as defined in section 20003 
of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 
116-136)), meetings under subparagraph (A) may be conducted virtually.
    ``(2)(A) Representatives of relevant Federal agencies may attend 
meetings of the Committee and provide information to the Committee.
    ``(B) One representative of the Office of Tribal Government 
Relations of the Department shall attend at each meeting of the 
Committee.
    ``(C) Representatives attending meetings under this paragraph shall 
not be considered voting members of the Committee.
    ``(D) A representative attending a meeting or providing information 
under this paragraph may not receive additional compensation for 
services performed with respect to the Committee.
    ``(e) Subcommittees.--(1) The Committee may establish 
subcommittees.
    ``(2) The Secretary may, in consultation with the Committee, 
appoint a member to a subcommittee established under paragraph (1) who 
is not a member of the Committee.
    ``(3) Such subcommittees may enhance the function of the Committee, 
but may not supersede the authority of the Committee or provide direct 
advice or work products to the Department.
    ``(f) Duties.--The duties of the Committee are as follows:
        ``(1) To advise the Secretary on ways the Department can 
    improve the programs and services of the Department to better serve 
    Native American veterans.
        ``(2) To identify for the Department evolving issues of 
    relevance to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native 
    American veterans relating to programs and services of the 
    Department.
        ``(3) To propose clarifications, recommendations, and solutions 
    to address issues raised at tribal, regional, and national levels, 
    especially regarding any tribal consultation reports.
        ``(4) To provide a forum for Indian tribes, tribal 
    organizations, urban Indian organizations, Native Hawaiian 
    organizations, and the Department to discuss issues and proposals 
    for changes to Department regulations, policies, and procedures.
        ``(5) To identify priorities and provide advice on appropriate 
    strategies for tribal consultation and urban Indian organizations 
    conferring on issues at the tribal, regional, or national levels.
        ``(6) To ensure that pertinent issues are brought to the 
    attention of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian 
    organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations in a timely 
    manner, so that feedback can be obtained.
        ``(7) To encourage the Secretary to work with other Federal 
    agencies and Congress so that Native American veterans are not 
    denied the full benefit of their status as both Native Americans 
    and veterans.
        ``(8) To highlight contributions of Native American veterans in 
    the Armed Forces.
        ``(9) To make recommendations on the consultation policy of the 
    Department on tribal matters.
        ``(10) To support a process to develop an urban Indian 
    organization confer policy to ensure the Secretary confers, to the 
    maximum extent practicable, with urban Indian organizations.
        ``(11) To conduct other duties as recommended by the Committee.
    ``(g) Reports.--(1) Not less frequently than once each year, the 
Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees 
of Congress such recommendations as the Committee may have for 
legislative or administrative action for the upcoming year.
    ``(2) Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary 
receives a recommendation under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a written response to 
the recommendation.
    ``(3) Not less frequently than once every two years, the Committee 
shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report describing the activities of the Committee during the 
previous two years.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall make publicly available on an Internet 
website of the Department--
        ``(A) each recommendation the Secretary receives under 
    paragraph (1);
        ``(B) each response the Secretary submits under paragraph (2); 
    and
        ``(C) each report the Secretary receives under paragraph (3).
    ``(h) Committee Personnel Matters.--A member of the Committee shall 
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5 while away from the home or regular place of 
business of the member in the performance of the duties of the 
Committee.
    ``(i) Federal Advisory Committee Act Exemption.--Section 14 of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 
Committee.
    ``(j) Definitions.--In this section:
        ``(1) The term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
            ``(A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee 
        on Indian Affairs of the Senate; and
            ``(B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee 
        on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
        ``(2) The term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given such term 
    in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
    Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
        ``(3) The term `Native Hawaiian organization' means any 
    organization that--
            ``(A) serves the interests of Native Hawaiians;
            ``(B) has Native Hawaiians in substantive and policymaking 
        positions within the organization;
            ``(C) has demonstrated experience working with Native 
        Hawaiian veterans; and
            ``(D) shall include the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
        ``(4) The term `Native American veteran' has the meaning given 
    such term in section 3765 of this title.
        ``(5) The term `Office of Hawaiian Affairs' means the Office of 
    Hawaiian Affairs established by the constitution of the State of 
    Hawaii.''.
        ``(6) The term `tribal organization' has the meaning given such 
    term in section 3765 of this title.
        ``(7) The term `urban Indian organization' has the meaning 
    given such term in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement 
    Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
    of chapter 5 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
    relating to section 546 the following new item:

``547. Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs.''.

    (b) Deadline for Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall establish the advisory committee required by section 547 of title 
38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Deadline for Initial Appointments.--Not later than 90 days 
after the date on which the Secretary establishes the advisory 
committee required by such section, the Secretary shall appoint members 
under subsection (b)(1) of such section.
    (d) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 90 days after the date on 
which the Secretary establishes the advisory committee required by such 
section, such advisory committee shall hold its first meeting.
    (e) Report on Relation to Office of Tribal and Government 
Relations.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
    first meeting held by the advisory committee required by such 
    section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on whether 
    and to what extent the activities of the advisory committee improve 
    the function of the Office of Tribal and Government Relations of 
    the Department of Veterans Affairs, aid the decisions of the 
    Secretary, and whether and to what extent the activities of the 
    advisory committee duplicate function of the Department performed 
    before the enactment of this Act.
        (2) Review by advisory committee.--The Secretary shall--
            (A) give the advisory committee an opportunity to review 
        the report required by paragraph (1) before submitting the 
        report under such paragraph; and
            (B) include in the report submitted under such paragraph 
        such comments as the advisory committee considers appropriate 
        regarding the views of the advisory committee with respect to 
        the report.
SEC. 7003. PREFERENCE FOR OFFERORS EMPLOYING VETERANS.
    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 81 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding after section 8128 the following new 
section:
``Sec. 8129. Preference for offerors employing veterans
    ``(a) Preference.--(1) In awarding a contract for the procurement 
of goods or services, the Secretary may give a preference to offerors 
that employ veterans on a full-time basis.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall determine such preference based on the 
percentage of the full-time employees of the offeror who are veterans.
    ``(b) Enforcement Penalties for Misrepresentation.--(1) Any offeror 
that is determined by the Secretary to have willfully and intentionally 
misrepresented the veteran status of the employees of the offeror for 
purposes of subsection (a) may be debarred from contracting with the 
Department for a period of not less than five years.
    ``(2) If the Secretary carries out a debarment under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall--
        ``(A) commence debarment action against the offeror by not 
    later than 30 days after determining that the offeror willfully and 
    intentionally misrepresented the veteran status of the employees of 
    the offeror as described in paragraph (1); and
        ``(B) complete debarment actions against such offeror by not 
    later than 90 days after such determination.
    ``(3) The debarment of an offeror under paragraph (1) includes the 
debarment of all principals in the offeror for a period of not less 
than five years.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 81 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 8128 the following new item:

``8129. Preference for offerors employing veterans.''.
SEC. 7004. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS TO 
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD WHO PERFORM STATE ACTIVE DUTY.
    Section 4303 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (13), by inserting ``State active duty for a 
    period of 14 days or more, State active duty in response to a 
    national emergency declared by the President under the National 
    Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), State active duty in 
    response to a major disaster declared by the President under 
    section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
    Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170),'' after ``full-time National Guard 
    duty,'';
        (2) by redesignating paragraph (15) as paragraph (16); and
        (3) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following new 
    paragraph (15):
        ``(15) The term `State active duty' means training or other 
    duty, other than inactive duty, performed by a member of the 
    National Guard of a State--
            ``(A) not under section 502 of title 32 or under title 10;
            ``(B) in service to the Governor of a State; and
            ``(C) for which the member is not entitled to pay from the 
        Federal Government.''.
SEC. 7005. REPAYMENT OF MISUSED BENEFITS.
    (a) In General.--Section 6107(b) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``In any case in which a 
    fiduciary described in paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``In any case 
    not covered by subsection (a) in which a fiduciary'';
        (2) by striking paragraph (2); and
        (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).
    (b) Application.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply 
with respect to any determination by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act regarding the 
misuse of benefits by a fiduciary.
SEC. 7006. EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN TRANSFERS.
    Section 7364(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new sentence: ``Any amounts so 
transferred after September 30, 2016, shall be available without regard 
to fiscal year limitations, notwithstanding section 1535(d) of title 
31.''.
SEC. 7007. REPORT AND PLANNED ACTIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS TO ADDRESS CERTAIN HIGH-RISK AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
consultation with the Comptroller General of the United States, shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report outlining the plan the Secretary has 
developed and the actions the Secretary has taken to address the areas 
of concern identified by the Comptroller General for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs in the 2019 High-Risk List of the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO-19-157SP) regarding--
        (1) acquisition management; and
        (2) managing risks and improving health care.
    (b) Elements.--The report under subsection (a) shall include each 
of the following:
        (1) Root causes of the areas of concern described in paragraphs 
    (1) and (2) of subsection (a).
        (2) Corrective actions and specific steps to address each root 
    cause, including--
            (A) the progress of the Secretary in implementing those 
        actions and steps; and
            (B) timelines and milestones the Secretary determines 
        feasible to complete each corrective action.
        (3) Resources the Secretary determines are necessary to 
    implement corrective actions, including--
            (A) funding;
            (B) stakeholders;
            (C) technology; and
            (D) senior officials responsible for implementing the 
        corrective actions and reporting results.
        (4) Metrics for assessing progress in addressing the areas of 
    concern described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).
        (5) Key outcomes that demonstrate progress in addressing the 
    areas of concern described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection 
    (a).
        (6) Obstacles to implementation of the plan that the Secretary 
    identifies.
        (7) Recommendations of the Secretary regarding legislation or 
    funding the Secretary determines necessary to implement the plan.
        (8) Any other information the Secretary determines is relevant 
    to understanding the progress of the Department toward the removal 
    of the areas of concern from the High Risk List.
    (c) Annual Updates.--
        (1) Update required.--Not less than once each year during the 
    implementation period under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall 
    submit to Congress an update regarding implementation of each 
    element of the plan under subsection (b).
        (2) Implementation period.--The implementation period described 
    in this paragraph begins on the date on which the Secretary submits 
    the report required under subsection (a) and ends on the earlier of 
    the following dates:
            (A) The date on which the Comptroller General removes the 
        last area of concern for the Department from the most recent 
        High-Risk List of the Government Accountability Office.
            (B) The date that is 8 years after the date on which the 
        Secretary submits the plan required under subsection (a).
SEC. 7008. ANNUAL REPORT BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON 
IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF 
THE UNITED STATES PERTAINING TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Annual Report Required.--Not later than 270 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and not less than once during each of the 
subsequent 3 years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives and to the Comptroller General of the United States a 
report on the implementation of priority recommendations of the 
Comptroller General that pertain to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (b) Contents.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall 
include, for the period covered by the report, the following:
        (1) The progress of the Secretary in implementing all open 
    priority recommendations of the Comptroller General for the 
    Department of Veterans Affairs.
        (2) An explanation for each instance where the Secretary has 
    decided not to implement, or has not fully implemented, an open 
    priority recommendation of the Comptroller General for the 
    Department.
        (3) A summary of the corrective actions taken and remaining 
    steps the Secretary plans to take to implement open priority 
    recommendations of the Comptroller General.
    (c) Supplement Not Supplant Certain Required Reports or Written 
Statements.--The report under this section shall not be construed to 
supplant any report or written statement required under section 720 of 
title 31, United States Code.
SEC. 7009. CLARIFICATION OF METHODS USED TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH 
CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING.
    Section 8127(k)(3)(A) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ``and any other'' and inserting ``or any other''.
SEC. 7010. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE 
CERTAIN NOTICE TO PERSONS FILING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGE, INJURY, OR DEATH ON 
STANDARD FORM 95.
    Not later than 90 days after the date on which a person submits to 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a claim for damage, injury, or death 
on Standard Form 95, or any successor form, the Secretary shall provide 
to such person notice of each of the following:
        (1) The benefit of obtaining legal advice concerning such 
    claim.
        (2) The employment status of any individual listed on the form.
        (3) If the claim involves a contractor that entered into an 
    agreement with the Secretary, the importance of obtaining legal 
    advice as to the statute of limitations regarding the claim in the 
    State in which the claim arose.

    Subtitle B--Matters Relating to the Chief Financial Officer of 
                     Department of Veterans Affairs

SEC. 7101. DEFINITIONS.
    In this subtitle:
        (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
    ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committees on 
    Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
    and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of 
    Representatives.
        (2) Subordinate chief financial officer.--The term 
    ``subordinate chief financial officer''--
            (A) includes--
                (i) the chief financial officer of the Veterans Health 
            Administration, the chief financial officer of the Office 
            of Community Care within the Veterans Health 
            Administration, and all chief financial officers of 
            Veterans Integrated Service Networks within the Veterans 
            Health Administration;
                (ii) the chief financial officer of the Veterans 
            Benefits Administration and all chief financial officers of 
            organizational subdivisions representing business lines 
            within the Veterans Benefits Administration;
                (iii) the chief financial officer of the National 
            Cemetery Administration; and
                (iv) the chief financial officer of the Office of 
            Information and Technology; and
            (B) does not include the Inspector General.
SEC. 7102. PLANS FOR ADDRESSING MATERIAL WEAKNESSES AND PROVIDING 
SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY TO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, and annually thereafter for each of the three subsequent years, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the Chief Financial 
Officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees--
        (1) an action plan, including steps, related timelines, costs, 
    progress, status of implementation, and any updates for fully 
    addressing the material weaknesses of the Department discussed in 
    the Management's Discussion and Analysis section of the financial 
    statements of the Department submitted to Congress under section 
    3515 of title 31, United States Code for the year preceding the 
    year during which the report is submitted; and
        (2) a plan outlining the steps the Secretary plans to take to 
    address the recommendations of auditors related to entity-level 
    internal controls and to provide sufficient authority to the Chief 
    Financial Officer of the Department to carry out the requirements 
    of section 902 of title 31, United States Code.
SEC. 7103. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ATTESTATION.
    Concurrent with the submittal to Congress of the President's budget 
request under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal 
year 2022 and each of the next three subsequent fiscal years, the Chief 
Financial Officer of the Department of Veterans affairs shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees each of the following:
        (1) A certification of the responsibility of the Chief 
    Financial Officer for internal financial controls of the 
    Department.
        (2) An attestation that the Chief Financial Officer has 
    collaborated sufficiently with the subordinate chief financial 
    officers of the Department to be confident in the financial 
    projections included the budget request and supporting materials.
SEC. 7104. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUBORDINATE CHIEF 
FINANCIAL OFFICERS.
    (a) In General.--In accordance with the responsibilities of the 
Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 
recruitment, selection, and training of personnel to carry out agency 
financial management functions pursuant to section 902(a)(5)(C) of 
title 31, United States Code, the Chief Financial Officer or the 
designee of the Chief Financial Officer within the Office of Management 
of the Department shall--
        (1) participate in the interview and selection panels of all 
    subordinate chief financial officers; and
        (2) give input into the performance plans and performance 
    evaluations of all subordinate chief financial officers.
    (b) Termination.--The requirements under subsection (a) shall 
terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

                Subtitle C--Servicemembers Civil Relief

SEC. 7201. CLARIFICATION OF DELIVERY OF NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF LEASES 
OF PREMISES AND MOTOR VEHICLES FOR PURPOSES OF RELIEF UNDER 
SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT.
    (a) In General.--Section 305(c)(2) of the Servicemembers Civil 
Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955(c)(2)) is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or'' at the end;
        (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting 
    ``; or''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(D) by electronic means, including--
                ``(i) the direct delivery of material to an electronic 
            address designated by the lessor (or the lessor's grantee) 
            or the lessor's agent (or the agent's grantee);
                ``(ii) the posting of material to a website or other 
            internet or electronic-based information repository to 
            which access has been granted to the lessee, the lessor (or 
            the lessor's grantee), or the lessor's agent (or the 
            agent's grantee); and
                ``(iii) other electronic means reasonably calculated to 
            ensure actual receipt of the material by the lessor (or the 
            lessor's grantee) or the lessor's agent (or the agent's 
            grantee).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to delivery of notice of lease terminations on or after the date 
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 7202. TECHNICAL CORRECTION REGARDING EXTENSION OF LEASE 
PROTECTIONS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS UNDER STOP MOVEMENT ORDERS IN RESPONSE 
TO LOCAL, NATIONAL, OR GLOBAL EMERGENCY.
    (a) In General.--Section 305(b) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief 
Act (50 U.S.C. 3955(b)), as amended by Public Law 116-158, is further 
amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1)(C)(ii), by striking ``Secretary of 
    Defense'' and inserting ``Secretary concerned''; and
        (2) in paragraph (2)(C)(ii), by striking ``Secretary of 
    Defense'' and inserting ``Secretary concerned''.
    (b) Retroactive Application.--The amendments made by this section 
shall apply to stop movement orders issued on or after March 1, 2020.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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