116 HR 9712 IH: VA Extenders Act of 2024 U.S. House of Representatives 2024-09-19 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 9712IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 19, 2024Mr. Valadao (for himself and Mr. Bost) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title; table of contents
(a)
Short title
This Act may be cited as the VA Extenders Act of 2024. (b)
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Title I—Health CareSec. 101. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for hospital care and nursing home care.Sec. 102. Extension of requirement To provide nursing home care to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities.Sec. 103. Extension of expansion of rural access network for growth enhancement program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.Sec. 104. Extension of pilot program To provide veterans access to complementary and integrative health programs through animal therapy, agritherapy, sports and recreation therapy, art therapy, and posttraumatic growth programs.Sec. 105. Extension of authority for joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility demonstration fund.Title II—Memorial AffairsSec. 201. Extension of entitlement to memorial headstones and markers for commemoration of veterans and certain individuals.Sec. 202. Extension of authority To bury remains of certain spouses and children in national cemeteries.Sec. 203. Authority for use of flat grave markers at Santa Fe National Cemetery, New Mexico.Title III—HomelessnessSec. 301. Extension of authority To provide assistance for specially adapted housing for disabled veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member.Sec. 302. Extension of authority for specially adapted housing assistive technology grant program.Sec. 303. Extension of authorization of appropriations for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration grant program.Sec. 304. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans.Sec. 305. Extension of funding for financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.Sec. 306. Extension of funding for grant program for homeless veterans with special needs.Title IV—Other AuthoritiesSec. 401. Extension of authority To transport individuals to and from Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.Sec. 402. Extension of testimonial subpoena authority of Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs.Sec. 403. Extension of authority To maintain regional office in the Republic of the Philippines.Sec. 404. Extension and modification of authority for monthly assistance allowance for disabled veterans training in Paralympic and Olympic sports program.Sec. 405. Expansion of cost estimates for congressional consideration under Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund; reporting requirements.Sec. 406. Extension of authority for report on equitable relief provided due to administrative error.Sec. 407. Modification of certain housing loan fees.Sec. 408. Extension of authority for transfer of real property.Sec. 409. Extension of requirements relating to Chief Financial Officer of the Department.
<enum>I</enum><header>Health Care</header><section id="H8A3EA7B1410E41A3850CFCB48E798B2A"><enum>101.</enum><header>Extension of authority for collection of copayments for hospital care and nursing home care</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1710(f)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>.</text></section><section id="HC4F3B001DF9F49E48A0FBD0E7BA9A4BB"><enum>102.</enum><header>Extension of requirement To provide nursing home care to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1710A(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>.</text></section><section id="HB5F3E6DBE21646DB96DF99A7C0BA4B36"><enum>103.</enum><header>Extension of expansion of rural access network for growth enhancement program of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2(d) of the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act of 2021 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/21">Public Law 117–21</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1712A">38 U.S.C. 1712A</external-xref> note) is amended by striking <quote>2024</quote> and inserting <quote>2025</quote>. </text></section><section id="HAB08CC66C1934CE7BB75EF847732EEE2"><enum>104.</enum><header>Extension of pilot program To provide veterans access to complementary and integrative health programs through animal therapy, agritherapy, sports and recreation therapy, art therapy, and posttraumatic growth programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 203(d)(1) of the Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/116/171">Public Law 116–171</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1712A">38 U.S.C. 1712A</external-xref> note) is amended by striking <quote>for a three-year period beginning on the commencement of the pilot program</quote> and inserting <quote>until September 30, 2025</quote>.</text></section><section id="H0D29902AB35E42D39BD5667504AA0298"><enum>105.</enum><header>Extension of authority for joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility demonstration fund</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1704(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/84">Public Law 111–84</external-xref>; 123 Stat. 2573), as most recently amended by section 104 of division E of the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/180">Public Law 117–180</external-xref>; 136 Stat. 2137), is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>.</text></section><enum>II</enum><header>Memorial Affairs</header><section id="H35F36D6ED98C44C0ABBBC164DF836E15"><enum>201.</enum><header>Extension of entitlement to memorial headstones and markers for commemoration of veterans and certain individuals</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2306(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>October 1, 2024</quote> both places it appears and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>.</text></section><section id="H4FE8A91125B442D595ADA6B04D545C71"><enum>202.</enum><header>Extension of authority To bury remains of certain spouses and children in national cemeteries</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2402(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>October 1, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>.</text></section><section id="H4402C64086C245A4BCAB6D5F5B5EF743" commented="no"><enum>203.</enum><header>Authority for use of flat grave markers at Santa Fe National Cemetery, New Mexico</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2404(c)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="HCF0990594F3C4514B3E81D579BB246C2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a period at the end; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3EBD6A294E0441D79FCDA6046A55867E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H03B2C2F15FCE45BD8E7CECFCC3889633"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: </text><quoted-block style="USC" id="H1C0DA85C561D4892AA11D2470A9F0D79" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subparagraph id="HCD6E1AE08FAA4166ACC4BB1A895C2A66" indent="up1"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of Santa Fe National Cemetery, New Mexico, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide flat grave markers in any section of such cemetery in which flat markers were in use on December 22, 2023.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><enum>III</enum><header>Homelessness</header><section id="H67481293E6574CAF843A9E6E238775B7"><enum>301.</enum><header>Extension of authority To provide assistance for specially adapted housing for disabled veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2102A(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>December 31, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>. </text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCA4AD644F3DA49C1823FB261E6A56418"><enum>302.</enum><header>Extension of authority for specially adapted housing assistive technology grant program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2108(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>. </text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H074EC84D17C3433DB869FB3B6B4915F3"><enum>303.</enum><header>Extension of authorization of appropriations for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration grant program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2021A(f)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>2024</quote> and inserting <quote>2025</quote>. </text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF14DF390C20D4DD2A4023C80C385EA1B"><enum>304.</enum><header>Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H924B73E399634801863BBC90923D89E7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>General treatment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2031(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>. </text></subsection><subsection id="H13AA20D46A7E4AF6B180786C8EFD11A3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Additional services at certain locations</header><text>Section 2033(d) of such title is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>. </text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF39E26D8A4404C408D39240323753517"><enum>305.</enum><header>Extension of funding for financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC7BC76764DBA4E8694BB48C08749FE6D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2044(e)(H) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>2024</quote> and inserting <quote>2025</quote>. </text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4A2FF8FE3222491E958BB32736895E7C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical amendment</header><text>Section 2044(e) of such title is amended by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (H) as paragraphs (1) through (8), respectively.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF8CD76CE83374BC8AE2C63A5935D1BA1"><enum>306.</enum><header>Extension of funding for grant program for homeless veterans with special needs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2061(d)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>2024</quote> and inserting <quote>2025</quote>. </text></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Other Authorities</header><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0FF40EE9CD774B49A5202CCD88D38C4A"><enum>401.</enum><header>Extension of authority To transport individuals to and from Department of Veterans Affairs facilities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 111A(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>.</text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="H0BAEC105CC414393B24C0744C6BA7067"><enum>402.</enum><header>Extension of testimonial subpoena authority of Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 312(d)(7)(A) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>May 31, 2025</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>.</text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE7B33451F94742CC870BBB4FE1AE0FC4"><enum>403.</enum><header>Extension of authority to maintain regional office in the Republic of the Philippines</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 315(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>.</text></section><section id="H0ADC4AAAB9AE4D7C9D0A5B51FA8E5E5C" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>404.</enum><header>Extension and modification of authority for monthly assistance allowance for disabled veterans training in Paralympic and Olympic sports program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 322 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="HA4B9550671844DCDA9D935F2E3786C73"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the United States Olympic Committee</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee</quote>; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAEDDEF1FC20F4B43B71A7D646829C047"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by striking <quote>Veterans Benefits Administration</quote> and inserting <quote>Veterans Health Administration</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3E830233645841D19874D9F1CC0FB07C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (d), by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7DDABCDDE8DB4CFF986AB451BD7AA1E8"><paragraph id="H6B0D1C5095AE40CBA0DDA11DC4F26194" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection the following:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H77D46A74C68C4743B57E7611C0A2B376"><enum>(A)</enum><text>For each of fiscal years 2010 through 2023, $2,000,000.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1B57438545074FECB354C0C2075B7F88"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027, $2,500,000.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="H2BDB4129022149428A55153C70D7C6B2"><enum>405.</enum><header>Expansion of cost estimates for congressional consideration under Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund; reporting requirements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subsection (e) of section 324 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="H683A6387E05D452DA76D84002800CE3E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>title 31</quote> and all that follows through the end of the subsection and inserting: </text><quoted-block style="USC" id="H6BC4D577201C45ADA400ABC311D754DF" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><text>title 31, for the applicable fiscal year—</text><paragraph id="H06E0E6D97DCE437BA9C03CBD83745C2A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">detailed estimates of the sums proposed to be provided pursuant to subsection (c);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H46EE20FDC34C44819D5DEBB8337440B4"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the proposed allocations of such sums, disaggregated by account and program within the Department;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H618A31F729C445D19AF07A3029C146F6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>justifications for the sums described in paragraphs (1) and (2); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC94A607898A448E3A07E9ECD0526B1EC"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for each account described in paragraph (2), a calculation of the amount of funding requested for such account over the fiscal year 2021 level;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HC67AB56A084D4FC093C159436921C38E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsections:</text><quoted-block style="USC" id="HF61A0EA8397145419276C10612A020D0" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H403A81296BB04708838DB65B608B83E9"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Report</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HCCFCAF3197CA420087C1377AD5F5FF12"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes, with respect to the fiscal year covered by the report—</text><subparagraph id="HFB22C07C254C43AEB9BC27F29ABEC8D5" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an identification, for each account within the Fund, of the total amount obligated or expended by the Secretary;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2B02236299D3409E970369409179EDAE" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a description of any activity, program, or project carried out exclusively using sums provided pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (c); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4DE49BB4432940C68EAA3920F77677C2" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of how any activity, program, or project carried out using sums provided pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (c) benefits veterans who were exposed to environmental hazards while performing active military, naval, air, or space service.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF03F3C2EAA694A59AEB552165E77129E" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall submit each report required under paragraph (1) by not later than January 1 of the fiscal year beginning after the fiscal year covered by the report.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE1B77382DAD54C608EEB1EFE11EAD610" commented="no"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Information provided upon congressional request</header><text>The Secretary shall, upon the request of the Chair, Vice Chair, or Ranking Member, of an appropriate congressional committee, provide to such appropriate congressional committee documents, records, or other information in the format specified by such committee, including testimony, with respect to any allocation, purpose, use, or activities of the Fund.</text></subsection><subsection id="H6E5DBD2011E14C658B42D82A4546645D"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Appropriate congressional committee defined</header><text>In this section, the term <quote>appropriate congressional committee</quote> means any of the following:</text><paragraph id="HADF693A523BE4F29B9B225902EF5F52D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF1EC343CF0B9455BBE32C7CACC4ED964"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB70EC091EB624866BF306871DC54447E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5509513EE5EA483E9FFCDDAE986BC374"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3C41FB8A457A4489BA945B219615AC48"><enum>406.</enum><header>Extension of authority for report on equitable relief provided due to administrative error</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 503(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in the second sentence, by striking <quote>December 31, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>December 31, 2025</quote>.</text></section><section id="H91667C1CA17148E8894E208D69496786" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>407.</enum><header>Modification of certain housing loan fees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>November 15, 2031</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>November 29, 2031</quote>. </text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9B0D9B3A8C6D4AECA4574EC89BF1CE1A"><enum>408.</enum><header>Extension of authority for transfer of real property</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8118(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2024</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>. </text></section><section id="H637B708DB58F45C4B2DDB5013E6E5285" commented="no"><enum>409.</enum><header>Extension of requirements relating to Chief Financial Officer of the Department</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7103 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/116/315">Public Law 116–315</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>for fiscal year 2022 and each of the next three subsequent fiscal years</quote> and inserting <quote>for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029</quote>.</text></section>