[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7735 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.7735
One Hundred Seventeenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-two
An Act
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update the appraisal
requirements for certain loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Access to the VA Home Loan
Benefit Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING APPRAISAL DELIVERY TIMES.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives
recommendations for improving the delivery times for appraisals for
loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
SEC. 3. UPDATE OF APPRAISAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN LOANS GUARANTEED
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Updated Regulations Required.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall prescribe updated regulations or program requirements to
clarify when an appraisal is required, how an appraisal is to be
conducted, and who is eligible to conduct an appraisal for a loan
guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs under chapter 37 of
title 38, United States Code, for any purpose described in section
3710(a) of such title. In prescribing updated regulations or program
requirements under this section, the Secretary shall take into
consideration the recommendations of the Secretary submitted under
section 2.
(b) Waiver of Requirement for Certain Properties.--In prescribing
updated regulations or program requirements under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall consider making changes applicable to--
(1) certification requirements for appraisers;
(2) minimum property requirements;
(3) the process for selecting and reviewing comparable sales;
(4) quality control processes;
(5) the Assisted Appraisal Processing Program; and
(6) the use of waivers or other alternatives to existing
appraisal processes.
(c) Desk Top Appraisals.--In prescribing updated regulations or
program guidance under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide
guidance for the use of the authority under section 3731(b)(3) of title
38, United States Code, taking into consideration--
(1) situations in which the use of such authority would provide
for cost savings for the borrower; and
(2) situations in which a traditional appraisal requirement
could cause a delay substantial enough to jeopardize the ability of
a borrower to complete a transaction.
SEC. 4. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.