[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 148 (Wednesday, November 30, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                VETERANS' PERSIAN GULF WAR BENEFITS ACT

  The text of the bill (H.R. 4386) to amend title 38, United States 
Code, authorizing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide 
compensation to veterans suffering from disabilities resulting from 
illnesses attributed to service in the Persian Gulf theater of 
operations during the Persian Gulf War, to provide for increased 
research into illnesses reported by Persian Gulf War veterans, and for 
other purposes, as passed by the Senate on October 7, 1994, is as 
follows:

                               H.R. 4386

       Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives 
     (H.R. 4386) entitled ``An Act to amend title 38, United 
     States Code, authorizing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
     provide compensation to veterans suffering from disabilities 
     resulting from illnesses attrituted to service in the Persian 
     Gulf theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, to 
     provide for increased research into illnesses reported by 
     Persian Gulf War veterans, and for other purposes'', do pass 
     with the following amendments:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' 
     Benefits Improvements Act of 1994''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.

                   TITLE I--PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Findings.
Sec. 103. Purposes.
Sec. 104. Development of medical evaluation protocol.
Sec. 105. Outreach to Persian Gulf veterans.
Sec. 106. Compensation benefits for disability resulting from illness 
              attributed to service during the Persian Gulf War.
Sec. 107. Evaluation of health status of spouses and children of 
              Persian Gulf War veterans.
Sec. 108. Clarification of scope of health examinations provided for 
              veterans eligible for inclusion in health-related 
              registries.
Sec. 109. Survey of Persian Gulf veterans.
Sec. 110. Authorization for epidemiological studies.
Sec. 111. Cost-savings provisions.

          TITLE II--BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 201. Appointment, pay comparability, and performance reviews for 
              members of the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Sec. 202. Deadline for establishment of performance evaluation criteria 
              for Board members.
Sec. 203. Continuation in office of Chairman pending appointment of 
              successor.

                  TITLE III--ADJUDICATION IMPROVEMENTS

Sec. 301. Acceptance of certain documentation for claims purposes.
Sec. 302. Expedited treatment of remanded claims.
Sec. 303. Screening of appeals.
Sec. 304. Report on feasibility of reorganization of adjudication 
              divisions in VBA regional offices.

           TITLE IV--VETERANS' CLAIMS ADJUDICATION COMMISSION

Sec. 401. Establishment of commission.
Sec. 402. Duties of the commission.
Sec. 403. Powers of the commission.
Sec. 404. Commission personnel matters.
Sec. 405. Termination of the commission.
Sec. 406. Definitions.
Sec. 407. Funding.

                   TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Restatement of intent of Congress concerning coverage of 
              Radiation-Exposed Veterans Compensation Act of 1988.
Sec. 502. Extension of authority to maintain regional office in the 
              Philippines.
Sec. 503. Renouncement of benefit rights.
Sec. 504. Clarification of payment of attorney fees under contingent 
              fee agreements.
Sec. 505. Codification of herbicide-exposure presumptions established 
              administratively.
Sec. 506. Treatment of certain income of Alaska natives for purposes of 
              needs-based benefits.
Sec. 507. Elimination of requirement for payment of certain benefits in 
              Philippine pesos.
Sec. 508. Study of health consequences for family members of atomic 
              veterans of exposure of atomic veterans to ionizing 
              radiation.
Sec. 509. Center for Minority Veterans and Center for Women Veterans.
Sec. 510. Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.
Sec. 511. Mailing of notices of appeal to the Court of Veterans 
              Appeals.

               TITLE VI--EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

Sec. 601. Flight training.
Sec. 602. Training and rehabilitation for veterans with service-
              connected disabilities.
Sec. 603. Alternative teacher certification programs.
Sec. 604. Education outside the United States.
Sec. 605. Correspondence courses.
Sec. 606. State approving agencies.
Sec. 607. Measurement of courses.
Sec. 608. Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education.
Sec. 609. Contract educational and vocational counseling.
Sec. 610. Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act of 
              1992.

                     TITLE VII--EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

Sec. 701. Job counseling, training, and placement.
Sec. 702. Employment and training of veterans.
Sec. 703. Conforming amendments to ERISA relating to the Uniformed 
              Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994.

              TITLE VIII--CEMETERIES AND MEMORIAL AFFAIRS

Sec. 801. Eligibility for burial in national cemeteries of spouses who 
              predecease veterans.
Sec. 802. Restoration of burial eligibility for unremarried spouses.
Sec. 803. Extension of authorization of appropriations for State 
              cemetery grant program.
Sec. 804. Authority to use flat grave markers at the Willamette 
              National Cemetery, Oregon.

                       TITLE IX--HOUSING PROGRAMS

Sec. 901. Eligibility.
Sec. 902. Revision in computation of aggregate guaranty.
Sec. 903. Public and community water and sewerage systems.
Sec. 904. Authority to guarantee home refinance loans for energy 
              efficiency improvements.
Sec. 905. Authority to guarantee loans to refinance adjustable rate 
              mortgages to fixed rate mortgages.
Sec. 906. Manufactured home loan inspections.
Sec. 907. Procedures on default.
Sec. 908. Minimum active-duty service requirement.

                  TITLE X--HOMELESS VETERANS PROGRAMS

Sec. 1001. Reports on activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
              to assist homeless veterans.
Sec. 1002. Report on assessment and plans for response to needs of 
              homeless veterans.
Sec. 1003. Increase in number of demonstration programs under Homeless 
              Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992.
Sec. 1004. Removal of funding requirement of Homeless Veterans 
              Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992.
Sec. 1005. Sense of Congress.

    TITLE XI--REDUCTIONS IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PERSONNEL

Sec. 1101. Findings.
Sec. 1102. Requirement for minimum number of full-time equivalent 
              positions.
Sec. 1103. Enhanced authority to contract for necessary services.
Sec. 1104. Study.

             TITLE XII--TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.

Sec. 1201. Amendments to title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 1202. Amendments to other laws administered by Secretary of 
              Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 1203. Amendments to other laws.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

       Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the 
     reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 
     other provision of title 38, United States Code.
                   TITLE I--PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Persian Gulf War Veterans' 
     Benefits Act''.

     SEC. 102. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) During the Persian Gulf War, members of the Armed 
     Forces were exposed to numerous potentially toxic substances, 
     including fumes and smoke from military operations, oil well 
     fires, diesel exhaust, paints, pesticides, depleted uranium, 
     infectious agents, investigational drugs and vaccines, and 
     indigenous diseases, and were also given multiple 
     immunizations. It is not known whether these servicemembers 
     were exposed to chemical or biological warfare agents. 
     However, threats of enemy use of chemical and biological 
     warfare heightened the psychological stress associated with 
     the military operation.
       (2) Significant numbers of veterans of the Persian Gulf War 
     are suffering from illnesses, or are exhibiting symptoms of 
     illness, that cannot now be diagnosed or clearly defined. As 
     a result, many of these conditions or illnesses are not 
     considered to be service connected under current law for 
     purposes of benefits administered by the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs.
       (3) The National Institutes of Health Technology Assessment 
     Workshop on the Persian Gulf Experience and Health, held in 
     April 1994, concluded that the complex biological, chemical, 
     physical, and psychological environment of the Southwest Asia 
     theater of operations produced complex adverse health effects 
     in Persian Gulf War veterans and that no single disease 
     entity or syndrome is apparent. Rather, it may be that the 
     illnesses suffered by those veterans result from multiple 
     illnesses with overlapping symptoms and causes that have yet 
     to be defined.
       (4) That workshop concluded that the information concerning 
     the range and intensity of exposure to toxic substances by 
     military personnel in the Southwest Asia theater of 
     operations is very limited and that such information was 
     collected only after a considerable delay.
       (5) In response to concerns regarding the health-care needs 
     of Persian Gulf War veterans, particularly those who suffer 
     from illnesses or conditions for which no diagnosis has been 
     made, the Congress, in Public Law 102-585, directed the 
     establishment of a Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry, 
     authorized health examinations for veterans of the Persian 
     Gulf War, and provided for the National Academy of Sciences 
     to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of 
     information regarding the health consequences of military 
     service in the Persian Gulf theater of operations and to 
     develop recommendations on avenues for research regarding 
     such health consequences. In Public Law 103-210, the Congress 
     authorized the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide 
     health care services on a priority basis to Persian Gulf War 
     veterans. The Congress also provided in Public Law 103-160 
     (the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994) 
     for the establishment of a specialized environmental medical 
     facility for the conduct of research into the possible health 
     effects of exposure to low levels of hazardous chemicals, 
     especially among Persian Gulf veterans, and for research into 
     the possible health effects of battlefield exposure in such 
     veterans to depleted uranium.
       (6) In response to concerns about the lack of objective 
     research on Gulf War illnesses, Congress included research 
     provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 1995, which was passed by the House and Senate in 
     September 1994. This legislation requires the Secretary of 
     Defense to provide research grants to non-Federal researchers 
     to support three types of studies of the Gulf War syndrome. 
     The first type of study will be an epidemiological study or 
     studies of the incidence, prevalence, and nature of the 
     illness and symptoms and the risk factors associated with 
     symptoms or illnesses. This will include illnesses among 
     spouses and birth defects and illnesses among offspring born 
     before and after the Gulf War. The second group of studies 
     shall be conducted to determine the health consequences of 
     the use of pyridostigmine bromide as a pretreatment antidote 
     enhancer during the Persian Gulf War, alone or in combination 
     with exposure to pesticides, environmental toxins, and other 
     hazardous substances. The final group of studies shall 
     include clinical research and other studies on the causes, 
     possible transmission, and treatment of Gulf War syndrome, 
     and will include studies of veterans and their spouses and 
     children.
       (7) Further research and studies must be undertaken to 
     determine the underlying causes of the illnesses suffered by 
     Persian Gulf War veterans and, pending the outcome of such 
     research, veterans who are seriously ill as the result of 
     such illnesses should be given the benefit of the doubt and 
     be provided compensation benefits to offset the impairment in 
     earnings capacities they may be experiencing.

     SEC. 103. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this title are--
       (1) to provide compensation to Persian Gulf War veterans 
     who suffer disabilities resulting from illnesses that cannot 
     now be diagnosed or defined, and for which other causes 
     cannot be identified;
       (2) to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop 
     at the earliest possible date case assessment strategies and 
     definitions or diagnoses of such illnesses;
       (3) to promote greater outreach to Persian Gulf War 
     veterans and their families to inform them of ongoing 
     research activities, as well as the services and benefits to 
     which they are currently entitled; and
       (4) to ensure that research activities and accompanying 
     surveys of Persian Gulf War veterans are appropriately funded 
     and undertaken by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

     SEC. 104. DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL EVALUATION PROTOCOL.

       (a) Uniform Medical Evaluation Protocol.--(1) The Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement a uniform and 
     comprehensive medical evaluation protocol that will ensure 
     appropriate medical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of 
     Persian Gulf War veterans who are suffering from illnesses 
     the origins of which are (as of the date of the enactment of 
     this Act) unknown and that may be attributable to service in 
     the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian 
     Gulf War. The protocol shall include an evaluation of 
     complaints relating to illnesses involving the reproductive 
     system.
       (2) If such a protocol is not implemented before the end of 
     the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary shall, before the end of such period, 
     submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 
     and House of Representatives a report as to why such a 
     protocol has not yet been developed.
       (3)(A) The Secretary shall ensure that the evaluation under 
     the protocol developed under this section is available at all 
     Department medical centers that have the capability of 
     providing the medical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment 
     required under the protocol.
       (B) The Secretary may enter into contracts with non-
     Department medical facilities for the provision of the 
     evaluation under the protocol.
       (C) In the case of a veteran whose residence is distant 
     from a medical center described in subparagraph (A), the 
     Secretary may provide the evaluation through a Department 
     medical center described in that subparagraph and, in such a 
     case, may provide the veteran the travel and incidental 
     expenses therefor pursuant to the provisions of section 111 
     of title 38, United States Code.
       (4)(A) If the Secretary is unable to diagnose the symptoms 
     or illness of a veteran provided an evaluation, or if the 
     symptoms or illness of a veteran do not respond to treatment 
     provided by the Secretary, the Secretary may use the 
     authority in section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, in 
     order to provide for the veteran to receive diagnostic tests 
     or treatment at a non-Department medical facility that may 
     have the capability of diagnosing or treating the symptoms or 
     illness of the veteran. The Secretary may provide the veteran 
     the travel and incidental expenses therefor pursuant to the 
     provisions of section 111 of title 38, United States Code.
       (B) The Secretary shall request from each non-Department 
     medical facility that examines or treats a veteran under this 
     paragraph such information relating to the diagnosis or 
     treatment as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (5) In each year after the implementation of the protocol, 
     the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National 
     Academy of Sciences under which agreement appropriate experts 
     shall review the adequacy of the protocol and its 
     implementation by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Relationship to Other Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation 
     Protocols.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary 
     of Defense, shall ensure that the information collected 
     through the protocol described in this section is collected 
     and maintained in a manner that permits the effective and 
     efficient cross-reference of that information with 
     information collected and maintained through the 
     comprehensive clinical protocols of the Department of Defense 
     for Persian Gulf War veterans.
       (c) Case Definitions and Diagnoses.--The Secretary shall 
     develop case definitions or diagnoses for illnesses 
     associated with the service described in subsection (a)(1). 
     The Secretary shall develop such definitions or diagnoses at 
     the earliest possible date.

     SEC. 105. OUTREACH TO PERSIAN GULF VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     implement a comprehensive outreach program to inform Persian 
     Gulf War veterans and their families of the medical care and 
     other benefits that may be provided by the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense arising from 
     service in the Persian Gulf War.
       (b) Newsletter.--(1) The outreach program shall include a 
     newsletter which shall be updated and distributed at least 
     semi-annually and shall be distributed to the veterans listed 
     on the Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry. The 
     newsletter shall include summaries of the status and findings 
     of Government sponsored research on illnesses of Persian Gulf 
     War veterans and their families, as well as on benefits 
     available to such individuals through the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs. The newsletter shall be prepared in 
     consultation with veterans service organizations.
       (2) The requirement under this subsection for the 
     distribution of the newsletter shall terminate on December 
     31, 1999.
       (c) Toll-Free Number.--The outreach program shall include 
     establishment of a toll-free telephone number to provide 
     Persian Gulf War veterans and their families information on 
     the Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry, health care 
     and other benefits provided by the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs, and such other information as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate. Such toll-free telephone number shall 
     be established not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 106. COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR DISABILITY RESULTING FROM 
                   ILLNESS ATTRIBUTED TO SERVICE DURING THE 
                   PERSIAN GULF WAR.

       (a) In General.--(1) Chapter 11 is amended by adding at the 
     end of subchapter II the following new section:

     ``Sec. 1117. Compensation for disabilities occurring in 
       Persian Gulf War veterans

       ``(a) The Secretary may pay compensation under this 
     subchapter to any Persian Gulf veteran suffering from a 
     chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness (or 
     combination of undiagnosed illnesses) that--
       ``(1) became manifest during service on active duty in the 
     Armed Forces in the Southwest Asia theater of operations 
     during the Persian Gulf War; or
       ``(2) became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more 
     within the presumptive period prescribed under subsection 
     (b).
       ``(b) The Secretary shall prescribe by regulation the 
     period of time following service in the Southwest Asia 
     theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War that the 
     Secretary determines is appropriate for presumption of 
     service connection for purposes of this section. The 
     Secretary's determination of such period of time shall be 
     made following a review of any available credible medical or 
     scientific evidence and the historical treatment afforded 
     disabilities for which manifestation periods have been 
     established and shall take into account other pertinent 
     circumstances regarding the experiences of veterans of the 
     Persian Gulf War.
       ``(c)(1) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry 
     out this section.
       ``(2) Those regulations shall include the following:
       ``(A) A description of the period and geographical area or 
     areas of military service in connection with which 
     compensation under this section may be paid.
       ``(B) A description of the illnesses for which compensation 
     under this section may be paid.
       ``(C) A description of any relevant medical characteristic 
     (such as a latency period) associated with each such illness.
       ``(d) A disability for which compensation under this 
     subchapter is payable shall be considered to be service 
     connected for purposes of all other laws of the United 
     States.
       ``(e) For purposes of this section, the term `Persian Gulf 
     veteran' means a veteran who served on active duty in the 
     Armed Forces in the Southwest Asia theater of operations 
     during the Persian Gulf War.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
     1116 the following new item:

``1117. Compensation for disabilities occurring in Persian Gulf War 
              veterans.''.

       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1113 is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``section 1112 or 1116'' in the first 
     and third place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``section 1112, 1116, or 1117'';
       (2) by striking out ``title'' the second place it appears 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``title, or payments of 
     compensation pursuant to section 1117 of this title,''; and
       (3) by inserting ``or disabilities'' after ``diseases'' 
     both places it appears in subsection (a).
       (c) Report.--Not later than 60 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 a report stating whether 
     or not the Secretary intends to pay compensation as provided 
     in section 1117 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a).
       (d) Regulations.--If the Secretary states in the report 
     under subsection (c) that the Secretary intends to pay 
     compensation as provided in section 1117 of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (a), the Secretary shall, 
     not later than 30 days after the date on which such report is 
     submitted, publish in the Federal Register proposed 
     regulations under subsections (b) and (c) of that section.

     SEC. 107. EVALUATION OF HEALTH STATUS OF SPOUSES AND CHILDREN 
                   OF PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS.

       (a) Evaluation Program.--Subject to subsection (c), the 
     Secretary of the Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study to 
     evaluate the health status of spouses and children of Persian 
     Gulf War veterans. Under the study, the Secretary shall 
     provide for the conduct of diagnostic testing and appropriate 
     medical examinations of any individual--
       (1) who is the spouse or child of a veteran who--
       (A) is listed in the Persian Gulf War Veterans Registry 
     established under section 702 of Public Law 102-585; and
       (B) is suffering from an illness or disorder;
       (2) who is apparently suffering from, or may have suffered 
     from, an illness or disorder (including a birth defect, 
     miscarriage, or stillbirth) which cannot be disassociated 
     from the veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of 
     operations; and
       (3) who, in the case of a spouse, has granted the Secretary 
     permission to include in the Registry relevant medical data 
     (including a medical history and the results of diagnostic 
     testing and medical examinations) and such other information 
     as the Secretary considers relevant and appropriate with 
     respect to such individual.

     Such testing and examinations shall be carried out so as to 
     gather such medical data as the Secretary considers relevant 
     and appropriate in order to determine the nature and extent 
     of the association, if any, between illness or disorder of 
     the spouse or child and the illness of the veteran.
       (b) Duration of Program.--The program shall be carried out 
     during the period beginning on November 1, 1994, and ending 
     on September 30, 1996.
       (c) Funding Limitation.--The amount spent for the program 
     under subsection (a) may not exceed $2,000,000.
       (d) Contracting.--The Secretary shall provide for the 
     conduct of testing and examinations under subsection (a) 
     through appropriate contract arrangements.
       (e) Standard Protocols and Guidelines.--The Secretary shall 
     seek to ensure uniform development of medical data through 
     the development of standard protocols and guidelines for such 
     testing and examinations. If such protocols and guidelines 
     have not been adopted before the end of the 120-day period 
     beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary shall, before the end of such period, submit to the 
     Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives a report as to why such protocols and 
     guidelines have not yet been developed.
       (f) Entry of Results in Registry.--The results of 
     diagnostic tests, medical histories, and medical examinations 
     conducted under subsection (a) shall be entered into the 
     Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Registry.
       (g) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct such outreach 
     activities as the Secretary determines necessary to ensure 
     that implementation of this section results in sufficient 
     information to enable the Secretary--
       (1) to analyze the health status of large numbers of 
     spouses and children of Persian Gulf veterans; and
       (2) to formulate research hypotheses regarding possible 
     association between illnesses or disorders suffered by 
     Persian Gulf veterans and illnesses or disorders (including 
     birth defects, miscarriages, and stillbirths) suffered by 
     their spouses and children.
       (h) Use Outside Department of Standard Protocols and 
     Guidelines.--The Secretary shall--
       (1) make the standard protocols and guidelines developed 
     under this section available to any entity which requests a 
     copy of such protocols and guidelines; and
       (2) enter into the registry the results of any examination 
     of the spouse or child of a veteran who served in the Persian 
     Gulf theater which a licensed physician certifies was 
     conducted using those standard protocols and guidelines.
       (i) Reports to Congress.--(1) The Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress no later than October 31, 1995, a report on the 
     Secretary's implementation of this section.
       (2) The Secretary shall analyze the data entered into the 
     registry under this section and shall submit to Congress, not 
     later than March 1, 1997, a report on that analysis and on 
     the Secretary's recommendation for any further legislation or 
     studies regarding the health status of spouses and children 
     of Persian Gulf War veterans.
       (j) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms 
     ``child'' and ``spouse'' have the meanings given those terms 
     in paragraphs (4) and (31), respectively, of section 101 of 
     title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 108. CLARIFICATION OF SCOPE OF HEALTH EXAMINATIONS 
                   PROVIDED FOR VETERANS ELIGIBLE FOR INCLUSION IN 
                   HEALTH-RELATED REGISTRIES.

       Section 703 of the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Status 
     Act (title VII of Public Law 102-585; 38 U.S.C. 527 note) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(including diagnostic tests)'' after 
     ``examination'' each place it appears other than in 
     subsection (a)(1)(A);
       (2) in subsection (a)(1)(A)--
       (A) by inserting ``(including any appropriate diagnostic 
     tests)'' after ``a health examination''; and
       (B) by inserting ``and the tests'' after ``the 
     examination''; and
       (3) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ``(including any 
     diagnostic tests)'' after ``examinations''.

     SEC. 109. SURVEY OF PERSIAN GULF VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     carry out a survey of Persian Gulf veterans to gather 
     information on the incidence and nature of health problems 
     occurring in Persian Gulf veterans and their families.
       (b) Coordination With Department of Defense.--Any survey 
     under subsection (a) shall be carried out in coordination 
     with the Secretary of Defense.
       (c) Persian Gulf Veteran.--For purposes of this section, a 
     Persian Gulf veteran is an individual who served on active 
     duty in the Armed Forces in the Southwest Asia theater of 
     operations during the Persian Gulf War as defined in section 
     101(33) of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION FOR EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES.

       (a) Study of Health Consequences of Persian Gulf Service.--
     If the National Academy of Sciences includes in the report 
     required by section 706(b) of the Veterans Health Care Act of 
     1992 (Public Law 102-585) a finding that there is a sound 
     basis for an epidemiological study or studies on the health 
     consequences of service in the Persian Gulf theater of 
     operations during the Persian Gulf War and recommends the 
     conduct of such a study or studies, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs is authorized to carry out such study.
       (b) Oversight.--(1) The Secretary shall seek to enter into 
     an agreement with the Medical Follow-Up Agency (MFUA) of the 
     Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences for 
     (A) the review of proposals to conduct the research referred 
     to in subsection (a), (B) oversight of such research, and (C) 
     review of the research findings.
       (2) If the Secretary is unable to enter into an agreement 
     under paragraph (1) with the entity specified in that 
     paragraph, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement 
     described in that paragraph with another appropriate 
     scientific organization which does not have a connection to 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs. In such a case, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the Senate and House of Representatives, at least 90 days 
     before the date on which the agreement is entered into, 
     notice in writing identifying the organization with which the 
     Secretary intends to enter into the agreement.
       (c) Access to Data.--The Secretary shall enter into 
     agreements with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services to make available for the purposes 
     of any study described in subsection (a) all data that the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the National Academy of 
     Sciences and the contractor for the study, considers relevant 
     to the study.
       (d) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Department such sums as are necessary for the conduct 
     of studies described in subsection (a).

     SEC. 111. COST-SAVINGS PROVISIONS.

       (a) Election of Death Pension by Surviving Spouse.--Section 
     1317 is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``No person'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), no 
     person''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) A surviving spouse who is eligible for dependency and 
     indemnity compensation may elect to receive death pension 
     instead of such compensation.''.
       (b) Policy Regarding Cost-of-Living Adjustment in 
     Compensation Rates for Fiscal Year 1995.--The fiscal year 
     1995 cost-of-living adjustments in the rates of and 
     limitations for compensation payable under chapter 11 of 
     title 38, United States Code, and of dependency and indemnity 
     compensation payable under chapter 13 of such title will be 
     no more than a percentage equal to the percentage by which 
     benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are increased effective December 
     1, 1994, as a result of a determination under section 215(i) 
     of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)), with all increased monthly 
     rates and limitations (other than increased rates or 
     limitations equal to a whole dollar amount) rounded down to 
     the next lower dollar.
          TITLE II--BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS ADMINISTRATION

     SEC. 201. APPOINTMENT, PAY COMPARABILITY, AND PERFORMANCE 
                   REVIEWS FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF VETERANS' 
                   APPEALS.

       (a) Members Other Than Chairman.--(1) Chapter 71 is amended 
     by inserting after section 7101 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 7101A. Members of Board: appointment; pay; performance 
       review

       ``(a) The members of the Board of Veterans' Appeals other 
     than the Chairman (and including the Vice Chairman) shall be 
     appointed by the Secretary, with the approval of the 
     President, based upon recommendations of the Chairman.
       ``(b) Members of the Board (other than the Chairman and any 
     member of the Board who is a member of the Senior Executive 
     Service) shall, in accordance with regulations prescribed by 
     the Secretary, be paid basic pay at rates equivalent to the 
     rates payable under section 5372 of title 5.
       ``(c)(1)(A) The Chairman shall establish a panel to review 
     the performance of members of the Board. The panel shall be 
     comprised of the Chairman and two other members of the Board 
     (other than the Vice Chairman). The Chairman shall 
     periodically rotate membership on the panel so as to ensure 
     that each member of the Board (other than the Vice Chairman) 
     serves as a member of the panel for and within a reasonable 
     period.
       ``(B) Not less than one year after the job performance 
     standards under subsection (f) are initially established, and 
     not less often than once every three years thereafter, the 
     performance review panel shall determine, with respect to 
     each member of the Board (other than the Chairman or a member 
     who is a member of the Senior Executive Service), whether 
     that member's job performance as a member of the Board meets 
     the performance standards for a member of the Board 
     established under subsection (f). Each such determination 
     shall be in writing.
       ``(2) If the determination of the performance review panel 
     in any case is that the member's job performance as a member 
     of the Board meets the performance standards for a member of 
     the Board established under subsection (f), the Chairman 
     shall recertify the member's appointment as a member of the 
     Board.
       ``(3) If the determination of the performance review panel 
     in any case is that the member's job performance does not 
     meet the performance standards for a member of the Board 
     established under subsection (f), the Chairman shall, based 
     upon the individual circumstances, either--
       ``(A) grant the member a conditional recertification; or
       ``(B) recommend to the Secretary that the member be 
     noncertified.
       ``(4) In the case of a member of the Board who is granted a 
     conditional recertification under paragraph (3)(A) or (5)(A), 
     the performance review panel shall review the member's job 
     performance record and make a further determination under 
     paragraph (1) concerning that member not later than one year 
     after the date of the conditional recertification. If the 
     determination of the performance review panel at that time is 
     that the member's job performance as a member of the Board 
     still does not meet the performance standards for a member of 
     the Board established under subsection (f), the Chairman 
     shall recommend to the Secretary that the member be 
     noncertified.
       ``(5) In a case in which the Chairman recommends to the 
     Secretary under paragraph (3) or (4) that a member be 
     noncertified, the Secretary, after considering the 
     recommendation of the Chairman, may either--
       ``(A) grant the member a conditional recertification; or
       ``(B) determine that the member should be noncertified.
       ``(d)(1) If the Secretary, based upon the recommendation of 
     the Chairman, determines that a member of the Board should be 
     noncertified, that member's appointment as a member of the 
     Board shall be terminated and that member shall be removed 
     from the Board.
       ``(2) Upon removal from the Board under paragraph (1), a 
     member of the Board (other than the Chairman) who was a 
     career or career-conditional employee in the civil service 
     before commencement of service as a member of the Board shall 
     revert to the civil service grade and series held by the 
     member immediately before the appointment of the member to 
     the Board.
       ``(e)(1) A member of the Board (other than the Chairman or 
     a member of the Senior Executive Service) may be removed as a 
     member of the Board by reason of job performance only as 
     provided in subsections (c) and (d). Such a member may be 
     removed by the Secretary, upon the recommendation of the 
     Chairman, for any other reason as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(2) In the case of a removal of a member under this 
     section for a reason other than job performance that would be 
     covered by section 7521 of title 5 in the case of an 
     administrative law judge, the removal of the member of the 
     Board shall be carried out subject to the same requirements 
     as apply to removal of an administrative law judge under that 
     section. Section 554(a)(2) of title 5 shall not apply to a 
     removal action under this subsection. In such a removal 
     action, a member shall have the rights set out in section 
     7513(b) of that title.
       ``(f) The Chairman, subject to the approval of the 
     Secretary, shall establish standards for the performance of 
     the job of a member of the Board (other than the Chairman or 
     a member of the Senior Executive Service). Those standards 
     shall establish objective and fair criteria for evaluation of 
     the job performance of a member of the Board.
       ``(g) The Secretary shall prescribe procedures for the 
     administration of this section, including deadlines and time 
     schedules for different actions under this section.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
     7101 the following new item:

``7101A. Members of Board: appointment; pay; performance review.''.

       (b) Save Pay Provision.--The rate of basic pay payable to 
     an individual who is a member of the Board of Veterans' 
     Appeals on the date of the enactment of this Act may not be 
     reduced by reason of the amendments made by this section to a 
     rate below the rate payable to such individual on the day 
     before such date.
       (c) Effective Date.--Section 7101A(b) of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on 
     the first day of the first pay period beginning after 
     December 31, 1994.
       (d) Conforming Amendments.--Section 7101(b) is amended--
       (1) by striking out paragraph (2);
       (2) by designating as paragraph (2) the text in paragraph 
     (1) beginning ``The Chairman may be removed''; and
       (3) by striking out ``Members (including the Chairman)'' in 
     paragraph (3) and inserting in lieu thereof ``The Chairman''.

     SEC. 202. DEADLINE FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF PERFORMANCE 
                   EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR BOARD MEMBERS.

       (a) Deadline.--The job performance standards required to be 
     established by section 7101A(f) of title 38, United States 
     Code, as added by section 201(a), shall be established not 
     later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
       (b) Submission to Congressional Committees.--Not later than 
     the date on which the standards referred to in subsection (a) 
     take effect, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
     to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
     House of Representatives a report describing the standards 
     established by the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' 
     Appeals.

     SEC. 203. CONTINUATION IN OFFICE OF CHAIRMAN PENDING 
                   APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

       Section 7101(b)(3) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new sentence: ``If, upon the expiration of the term 
     of office for which the Chairman was appointed, the position 
     of Chairman would become vacant, the individual serving as 
     Chairman may, with the approval of the Secretary, continue to 
     serve as Chairman until either appointed to another term or a 
     successor is appointed, but not beyond the end of the 
     Congress during which the term of office expired.''.
                  TITLE III--ADJUDICATION IMPROVEMENTS

     SEC. 301. ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTATION FOR CLAIMS 
                   PURPOSES.

       (a) Statements of Claimant To Be Accepted as Proof of 
     Relationships.--Chapter 51 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 5124. Acceptance of claimant's statement as proof of 
       relationship

       ``(a) For purposes of benefits under laws administered by 
     the Secretary, the Secretary may accept the written statement 
     of a claimant as proof of the existence of any relationship 
     specified in subsection (b) for the purpose of acting on such 
     individual's claim for benefits.
       ``(b) Subsection (a) applies to proof of the existence of 
     any of the following relationships between a claimant and 
     another person:
       ``(1) Marriage.
       ``(2) Dissolution of a marriage.
       ``(3) Birth of a child.
       ``(4) Death of any family member.
       ``(c) The Secretary may require the submission of 
     documentation in support of the claimant's statement if--
       ``(1) the claimant does not reside within a State;
       ``(2) the statement on its face raises a question as to its 
     validity;
       ``(3) there is conflicting information of record; or
       ``(4) there is reasonable indication, in the statement or 
     otherwise, of fraud or misrepresentation.''.
       (b) Reports of Examinations by Private Physicians.--Such 
     chapter, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by 
     adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 5125. Acceptance of reports of private physician 
       examinations

       ``For purposes of establishing any claim for benefits under 
     chapter 11 or 15 of this title, a report of a medical 
     examination administered by a private physician that is 
     provided by a claimant in support of a claim for benefits 
     under that chapter may be accepted without a requirement for 
     confirmation by an examination by a physician employed by the 
     Veterans Health Administration if the report is sufficiently 
     complete to be adequate for the purpose of adjudicating such 
     claim.''.
       (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new items:

``5124. Acceptance of claimant's statement as proof of relationship.
``5125. Acceptance of reports of private physician examinations.''.

     SEC. 302. EXPEDITED TREATMENT OF REMANDED CLAIMS.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take such actions 
     as may be necessary to provide for the expeditious treatment, 
     by the Board of Veterans' Appeals and by the regional offices 
     of the Veterans Benefits Administration, of any claim that 
     has been remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals or by the 
     United States Court of Veterans Appeals for additional 
     development or other appropriate action.

     SEC. 303. SCREENING OF APPEALS.

       Section 7107 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking out ``Each case'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``Except as provided in subsection 
     (f), each case''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(f) Nothing in this section shall preclude the screening 
     of cases for purposes of--
       ``(1) determining the adequacy of the record for decisional 
     purposes; or
       ``(2) the development, or attempted development, of a 
     record found to be inadequate for decisional purposes.''.

     SEC. 304. REPORT ON FEASIBILITY OF REORGANIZATION OF 
                   ADJUDICATION DIVISIONS IN VBA REGIONAL OFFICES.

       Not later than 180 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 a report addressing the feasibility and 
     impact of a reorganization of the adjudication divisions 
     located within the regional offices of the Veterans Benefits 
     Administration to a number of such divisions that would 
     result in improved efficiency in the processing of claims 
     filed by veterans, their survivors, or other eligible persons 
     for benefits administered by the Secretary.
           TITLE IV--VETERANS' CLAIMS ADJUDICATION COMMISSION

     SEC. 401. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

       (a) Establishment of Commission.--There is hereby 
     established a commission to be known as the Veterans' Claims 
     Adjudication Commission (hereinafter in this title referred 
     to as the ``commission'').
       (b) Membership.--(1) The commission shall be composed of 
     nine members, appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     as follows:
       (A) One member shall be appointed from among former 
     officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs (or the 
     Veterans' Administration).
       (B) Two members shall be appointed from among individuals 
     in the private sector who have expertise in the adjudication 
     of claims relating to insurance or similar benefits.
       (C) Two members shall be appointed from among individuals 
     employed in the Federal Government (other than the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs) who have expertise in the adjudication 
     of claims for benefits under Federal law other than under 
     laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
       (D) Two members shall be appointed from among individuals 
     recommended to the Secretary by representatives of veterans 
     service organizations.
       (E) One member shall be appointed based on a recommendation 
     of the American Bar Association or a similar private 
     organization from among individuals who have expertise in the 
     field of administrative law.
       (F) One member shall be appointed from among current 
     officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (2) The appointment of members of the commission under this 
     subsection shall be made not later than February 1, 1995.
       (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members of the 
     commission shall be appointed for the life of the commission. 
     A vacancy in the commission shall not affect its powers, but 
     shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
     appointment.
       (d) Initial Meeting.--The commission shall hold its first 
     meeting not later than 30 days after the date on which all 
     members of the commission have been appointed.
       (e) Meetings.--The commission shall meet at the call of the 
     chairman.
       (f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the commission 
     shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold 
     hearings.
       (g) Chairman.--The Secretary shall designate a member of 
     the commission (other than the commission member who is a 
     current official of the Department of Veterans Affairs) to be 
     chairman of the commission.

     SEC. 402. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

       (a) In General.--The commission shall carry out a study of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs system for the disposition 
     of claims for veterans benefits.
       (b) Purpose of Study.--The purpose of the study is to 
     evaluate the Department of Veterans Affairs system for the 
     disposition of claims for veterans benefits in order to 
     determine the following:
       (1) The efficiency of current processes and procedures 
     under the system for the adjudication, resolution, review, 
     and final disposition of claims for veterans benefits, 
     including the effect of judicial review on the system, and 
     means of increasing the efficiency of the system.
       (2) Means of reducing the number of claims under the system 
     for which final disposition is pending.
       (3) Means of enhancing the ability of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs to achieve final determination regarding 
     claims under the system in a prompt and appropriate manner.
       (c) Contents of Study.--The study to be carried out by the 
     commission under this section is a comprehensive evaluation 
     and assessment of the Department of Veterans Affairs system 
     for the disposition of claims for veterans benefits (as 
     defined in section 406) and of the system for the delivery of 
     such benefits, together with any related issues that the 
     commission determines are relevant to the study. The study 
     shall include an evaluation and assessment of the following:
       (1) The preparation and submission of claims by veterans 
     under the system.
       (2) The processes and procedures under the system for the 
     disposition of claims, including--
       (A) the scope and nature of the review undertaken with 
     respect to a claim at each stage in the claims disposition 
     process, including the role of hearings throughout the 
     process;
       (B) the number, Federal employment grade, and experience 
     and qualifications required of the persons undertaking such 
     review at each such stage;
       (C) opportunities for the submittal of new evidence; and
       (D) the availability of alternative means of completing 
     claims.
       (3) The effect on the system of the participation of 
     attorneys, members of veterans service organizations, and 
     other advocates on behalf of veterans.
       (4) The effect on the system of actions taken by the 
     Secretary to modernize the information management system of 
     the Department, including the use of electronic data 
     management systems.
       (5) The effect on the system of any work performance 
     standards used by the Secretary at regional offices of the 
     Department and at the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
       (6) The extent of the implementation in the system of the 
     recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Claims Processing 
     submitted to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and House of Representatives on December 2, 1993, and 
     the effect of such implementation on the system.
       (7) The effectiveness in improving the system of any pilot 
     programs carried out by the Secretary at regional offices of 
     the Department and of efforts by the Secretary to implement 
     such programs throughout the system.
       (8) The effectiveness of the quality control practices and 
     quality assurance practices under the system in achieving the 
     goals of such practices.
       (d) Cooperation of Secretary.--Upon the request of the 
     chairman of the commission, the Secretary shall, within 30 
     days of such request, submit to the commission, and to the 
     Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives, such information as the chairman shall 
     determine is necessary for the commission to carry out the 
     study required under this section.
       (e) Reports.--(1) Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the commission shall submit to the 
     Secretary and to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and House of Representatives a preliminary report on 
     the study required under subsection (c). The report shall 
     contain the preliminary findings and conclusions of the 
     commission with respect to the evaluation and assessment 
     required under the study.
       (2) Not later than 18 months after such date, the 
     commission shall submit to the Secretary and to such 
     committees a report on such study. The report shall include 
     the following:
       (A) The findings and conclusions of the commission, 
     including its findings and conclusions with respect to the 
     matters referred to in subsection (c).
       (B) The recommendations of the commission for means of 
     improving the Department of Veterans Affairs system for the 
     disposition of claims for veterans benefits.
       (C) Such other information and recommendations with respect 
     to the system as the commission considers appropriate.

     SEC. 403. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

       (a) Hearings.--The commission may hold such hearings, sit 
     and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and 
     receive such evidence as the commission considers advisable 
     to carry out the purposes of this title.
       (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--In addition to the 
     information referred to in section 402(d), the commission may 
     secure directly from any Federal department or agency such 
     information as the commission considers necessary to carry 
     out the provisions of this title. Upon request of the 
     chairman of the commission, the head of such department or 
     agency shall furnish such information to the commission.
       (c) Postal Services.--The commission may use the United 
     States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
     as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
       (d) Gifts.--The commission may accept, use, and dispose of 
     gifts or donations of services or property.

     SEC. 404. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

       (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the commission 
     who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government 
     shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent 
     of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of 
     the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
     States Code, for each day (including travel time) during 
     which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties 
     of the commission. All members of the commission who are 
     officers or employees of the United States shall serve 
     without compensation in addition to that received for their 
     services as officers or employees of the United States.
       (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the commission shall 
     be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
     under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
     Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
     business in the performance of services for the commission.
       (c) Staff.--(1) The chairman of the commission may, without 
     regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint an 
     executive director and such other personnel as may be 
     necessary to enable the commission to perform its duties. The 
     appointment of an executive director shall be subject to 
     approval by the commission.
       (2) The chairman of the commission may fix the compensation 
     of the executive director and other personnel without regard 
     to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 
     53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification 
     of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the 
     rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel 
     may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive 
     Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
       (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the 
     chairman of the commission, the head of any Federal 
     department or agency may detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, 
     any personnel of the department or agency to the commission 
     to assist it in carrying out its duties.
       (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--
     The chairman of the commission may procure temporary and 
     intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, 
     United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not 
     exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
     prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
     section 5316 of such title.

     SEC. 405. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.

       The commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on 
     which the commission submits its report under section 
     402(e)(2).

     SEC. 406. DEFINITIONS.

       For the purposes of this title:
       (1) The term ``Department of Veterans Affairs system for 
     the disposition of claims for veterans benefits'' means the 
     processes and procedures of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs for the adjudication, resolution, review, and final 
     disposition of claims for benefits under the laws 
     administered by the Secretary.
       (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs.
       (3) The term ``veterans service organizations'' means any 
     organization approved by the Secretary under section 5902(a) 
     of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 407. FUNDING.

       (a) Fiscal Year 1995.--From amounts appropriated to the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 1995 for the 
     payment of compensation and pension, the amount of $400,000 
     is hereby made available for the activities of the commission 
     under this title.
       (b) Availability.--Any sums appropriated to the commission 
     shall remain available until expended.
                   TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 501. RESTATEMENT OF INTENT OF CONGRESS CONCERNING 
                   COVERAGE OF RADIATION-EXPOSED VETERANS 
                   COMPENSATION ACT OF 1988.

       (a) Restatement of Absence of Statutory Limitation to 
     United States Tests.--Clause (i) of section 1112(c)(3)(B) is 
     amended by inserting ``(without regard to whether the nation 
     conducting the test was the United States or another 
     nation)'' after ``nuclear device''.
       (b) Proof of Service Connection of Disabilities Relating to 
     Exposure to Ionizing Radiation.--(1) Section 1113(b) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking out ``title or'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``title,''; and
       (B) by inserting ``, or section 5 of Public Law 98-542 (38 
     U.S.C. 1154 note)'' after ``of this section''.
       (2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply with 
     respect to applications for veterans benefits that are 
     submitted to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 502. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN REGIONAL OFFICE 
                   IN THE PHILIPPINES.

       Section 315(b) is amended by striking out ``December 31, 
     1994'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1999''.

     SEC. 503. RENOUNCEMENT OF BENEFIT RIGHTS.

       Section 5306 is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), if a new application 
     for pension under chapter 15 of this title or for dependency 
     and indemnity compensation for parents under section 1315 of 
     this title is filed within one year after renouncement of 
     that benefit, such application shall not be treated as an 
     original application and benefits will be payable as if the 
     renouncement had not occurred.''.

     SEC. 504. CLARIFICATION OF PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES UNDER 
                   CONTINGENT FEE AGREEMENTS.

       (a) Clarification.--Subparagraph (A) of section 5904(d)(2) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(A) A fee agreement referred to in paragraph (1) is one 
     under which the total amount of the fee payable to the 
     attorney--
       ``(i) is to be paid to the attorney by the Secretary 
     directly from any past-due benefits awarded on the basis of 
     the claim; and
       ``(ii) is contingent on whether or not the matter is 
     resolved in a manner favorable to the claimant.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to fee agreements entered into on or 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 505. CODIFICATION OF HERBICIDE-EXPOSURE PRESUMPTIONS 
                   ESTABLISHED ADMINISTRATIVELY.

       Section 1116(a)(2) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subparagraphs:
       ``(D) Hodgkin's disease becoming manifest to a degree of 
     disability of 10 percent or more.
       ``(E) Porphyria cutanea tarda becoming manifest to a degree 
     of disability of 10 percent or more within a year after the 
     last date on which the veteran performed active military, 
     naval, or air service in the Republic of Vietnam during the 
     Vietnam era.
       ``(F) Respiratory cancers (cancer of the lung, bronchus, 
     larynx, or trachea) becoming manifest to a degree of 10 
     percent or more within 30 years after the last date on which 
     the veteran performed active military, naval, or air service 
     in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.
       ``(G) Multiple myeloma becoming manifest to a degree of 
     disability of 10 percent or more.''.

     SEC. 506. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN INCOME OF ALASKA NATIVES FOR 
                   PURPOSES OF NEEDS-BASED BENEFITS.

       Any receipt by an individual from a Native Corporation 
     under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 
     et seq.) of cash, stock, land, or other interests referred to 
     in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section 29(c) of that Act 
     (43 U.S.C. 1626(c)) (whether such receipt is attributable to 
     the disposition of real property, profits from the operation 
     of real property, or otherwise) shall not be countable as 
     income for purposes of any law administered by the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs.

     SEC. 507. ELIMINATION OF REQUIREMENT FOR PAYMENT OF CERTAIN 
                   BENEFITS IN PHILIPPINE PESOS.

       (a) General Rule.--The second sentence of each of 
     subsections (a) and (b) of section 107 is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``rate in pesos as is equivalent to'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``rate of''; and
       (2) by striking out ``rate in Philippine pesos as is 
     equivalent to'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``rate of''.
       (b) Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance.--
     Sections 3532(d) and 3565(b)(1) are amended by striking out 
     ``a rate in Philippine pesos equivalent to'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``the rate of''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to payments made after December 31, 
     1994.

     SEC. 508. STUDY OF HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF 
                   ATOMIC VETERANS OF EXPOSURE OF ATOMIC VETERANS 
                   TO IONIZING RADIATION.

       (a) Interagency Agreement.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall enter into an agreement with the Medical 
     Follow-Up Agency of the Institute of the Medicine of the 
     National Academy of Sciences under which that agency shall 
     convene a panel of appropriate individuals to carry out the 
     evaluation described in subsection (b).
       (b) Evaluation of Feasibility of Study.--(1) The panel 
     convened under subsection (a) shall evaluate the feasibility 
     of carrying out a study as described in subsection (c).
       (2) The panel shall submit the results of the evaluation 
     under paragraph (1) to the Secretary not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary 
     shall promptly notify the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of 
     the Senate and the House of Representatives of such results.
       (c) Description of Study To Be Evaluated.--The study 
     referred to in subsection (b) (the feasibility of which is to 
     be evaluated under that subsection by the panel convened 
     under subsection (a)) is one which would determine the nature 
     and extent, if any, of the relationship between the exposure 
     of veterans described in subsection (d) to ionizing radiation 
     and the following:
       (1) Genetic defects and illnesses in the children and 
     grandchildren of such veterans.
       (2) Untoward pregnancy outcomes experienced by the wives of 
     such veterans, including premature births, stillbirths, 
     miscarriages, neonatal illnesses and deaths.
       (3) Periparturient diseases of the mother which are the 
     direct result of such untoward pregnancy outcomes.
       (d) Covered Veterans.--Subsection (c) applies to--
       (1) any veteran who was exposed (as determined by the 
     Secretary) to ionizing radiation as a result of--
       (A) participation while on active duty in the Armed Forces 
     in an atmospheric nuclear test that included the detonation 
     of a nuclear device;
       (B) service in the Armed Forces with the United States 
     occupation force of Hiroshima or Nagasaki, Japan, before July 
     1, 1946; or
       (C) internment or detention as a prisoner of war of Japan 
     before that date in circumstances providing the opportunity 
     for exposure to ionizing radiation comparable to the exposure 
     of individuals who served with such occupation force before 
     that date; and
       (2) any other veteran who the Secretary designates for 
     coverage under the study.

     SEC. 509. CENTER FOR MINORITY VETERANS AND CENTER FOR WOMEN 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 3 is amended by striking out 
     section 317 and inserting in lieu thereof the following new 
     sections:

     ``Sec. 317. Center for Minority Veterans

       ``(a) There is in the Department a Center for Minority 
     Veterans. There is at the head of the Center a Director.
       ``(b) The Director shall be a noncareer appointee in the 
     Senior Executive Service. The Director shall be appointed for 
     a term of six years.
       ``(c) The Director reports directly to the Secretary or the 
     Deputy Secretary concerning the activities of the Center.
       ``(d) The Director shall perform the following functions 
     with respect to veterans who are minorities:
       ``(1) Serve as principal adviser to the Secretary on the 
     adoption and implementation of policies and programs 
     affecting veterans who are minorities.
       ``(2) Make recommendations to the Secretary, the Under 
     Secretary for Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, and 
     other Department officials for the establishment or 
     improvement of programs in the Department for which veterans 
     who are minorities are eligible.
       ``(3) Promote the use of benefits authorized by this title 
     by veterans who are minorities and the conduct of outreach 
     activities to veterans who are minorities, in conjunction 
     with outreach activities carried out under chapter 77 of this 
     title.
       ``(4) Disseminate information and serve as a resource 
     center for the exchange of information regarding innovative 
     and successful programs which improve the services available 
     to veterans who are minorities.
       ``(5) Conduct and sponsor appropriate social and 
     demographic research on the needs of veterans who are 
     minorities and the extent to which programs authorized under 
     this title meet the needs of those veterans, without regard 
     to any law concerning the collection of information from the 
     public.
       ``(6) Analyze and evaluate complaints made by or on behalf 
     of veterans who are minorities about the adequacy and 
     timeliness of services provided by the Department and advise 
     the appropriate official of the Department of the results of 
     such analysis or evaluation.
       ``(7) Consult with, and provide assistance and information 
     to, officials responsible for administering Federal, State, 
     local, and private programs that assist veterans, to 
     encourage those officials to adopt policies which promote the 
     use of those programs by veterans who are minorities.
       ``(8) Advise the Secretary when laws or policies have the 
     effect of discouraging the use of benefits by veterans who 
     are minorities.
       ``(9) Publicize the results of medical research which are 
     of particular significance to veterans who are minorities.
       ``(10) Perform such other duties consistent with this 
     section as the Secretary shall prescribe.
       ``(e) The Secretary shall ensure that the Director is 
     furnished sufficient resources to enable the Director to 
     carry out the functions of the Center in a timely manner.
       ``(f) The Secretary shall include in documents submitted to 
     Congress by the Secretary in support of the President's 
     budget for each fiscal year--
       ``(1) detailed information on the budget for the Center;
       ``(2) the Secretary's opinion as to whether the resources 
     (including the number of employees) proposed in the budget 
     for that fiscal year are adequate to enable the Center to 
     comply with its statutory and regulatory duties; and
       ``(3) a report on the activities and significant 
     accomplishments of the Center during the preceding fiscal 
     year.

     ``Sec. 318. Center for Women Veterans

       ``(a) There is in the Department a Center for Women 
     Veterans. There is at the head of the Center a Director.
       ``(b) The Director shall be a noncareer appointee in the 
     Senior Executive Service. The Director shall be appointed for 
     a term of six years.
       ``(c) The Director reports directly to the Secretary or the 
     Deputy Secretary concerning the activities of the Center.
       ``(d) The Director shall perform the following functions 
     with respect to veterans who are women:
       ``(1) Serve as principal adviser to the Secretary on the 
     adoption and implementation of policies and programs 
     affecting veterans who are women.
       ``(2) Make recommendations to the Secretary, the Under 
     Secretary for Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, and 
     other Department officials for the establishment or 
     improvement of programs in the Department for which veterans 
     who are women are eligible.
       ``(3) Promote the use of benefits authorized by this title 
     by veterans who are women and the conduct of outreach 
     activities to veterans who are women, in conjunction with 
     outreach activities carried out under chapter 77 of this 
     title.
       ``(4) Disseminate information and serve as a resource 
     center for the exchange of information regarding innovative 
     and successful programs which improve the services available 
     to veterans who are women.
       ``(5) Conduct and sponsor appropriate social and 
     demographic research on the needs of veterans who are women 
     and the extent to which programs authorized under this title 
     meet the needs of those veterans, without regard to any law 
     concerning the collection of information from the public.
       ``(6) Analyze and evaluate complaints made by or on behalf 
     of veterans who are women about the adequacy and timeliness 
     of services provided by the Department and advise the 
     appropriate official of the Department of the results of such 
     analysis or evaluation.
       ``(7) Consult with, and provide assistance and information 
     to, officials responsible for administering Federal, State, 
     local, and private programs that assist veterans, to 
     encourage those officials to adopt policies which promote the 
     use of those programs by veterans who are women.
       ``(8) Advise the Secretary when laws or policies have the 
     effect of discouraging the use of benefits by veterans who 
     are women.
       ``(9) Publicize the results of medical research which are 
     of particular significance to veterans who are women.
       ``(10) Advise the Secretary and other appropriate officials 
     on the effectiveness of the Department's efforts to 
     accomplish the goals of section 492B of the Public Health 
     Service Act (relating to the inclusion of women and 
     minorities in clinical research) and of particular health 
     conditions affecting womens' health which should be studied 
     as part of the Department's medical research program and 
     promote cooperation between the Department and other sponsors 
     of medical research of potential benefit to veterans who are 
     women.
       ``(11) Provide support and administrative services to the 
     Advisory Committee on Women Veterans established under 
     section 542 of this title.
       ``(12) Perform such other duties consistent with this 
     section as the Secretary shall prescribe.
       ``(e) The Secretary shall ensure that the Director is 
     furnished sufficient resources to enable the Director to 
     carry out the functions of the Center in a timely manner.
       ``(f) The Secretary shall include in documents submitted to 
     Congress by the Secretary in support of the President's 
     budget for each fiscal year--
       ``(1) detailed information on the budget for the Center;
       ``(2) the Secretary's opinion as to whether the resources 
     (including the number of employees) proposed in the budget 
     for that fiscal year are adequate to enable the Center to 
     comply with its statutory and regulatory duties; and
       ``(3) a report on the activities and significant 
     accomplishments of the Center during the preceding fiscal 
     year.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by striking out the item 
     relating to section 317 and and inserting in lieu thereof the 
     following new items:

``317. Center for Minority Veterans.
``318. Center for Women Veterans.''.

     SEC. 510. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY VETERANS.

       (a) Establishment.--Subchapter III of chapter 5 is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 544. Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans

       ``(a)(1) The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
     committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on Minority 
     Veterans (hereinafter in this section referred to as `the 
     Committee').
       ``(2)(A) The Committee shall consist of members appointed 
     by the Secretary from the general public, including--
       ``(i) representatives of veterans who are minority group 
     members;
       ``(ii) individuals who are recognized authorities in fields 
     pertinent to the needs of veterans who are minority group 
     members;
       ``(iii) veterans who are minority group members and who 
     have experience in a military theater of operations; and
       ``(iv) veterans who are minority group members and who do 
     not have such experience.
       ``(B) The Committee shall include, as ex officio members, 
     the following:
       ``(i) The Secretary of Labor (or a representative of the 
     Secretary of Labor designated by the Secretary after 
     consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
     Veterans' Employment).
       ``(ii) The Secretary of Defense (or a representative of the 
     Secretary of Defense designated by the Secretary of Defense).
       ``(iii) The Secretary of the Interior (or a representative 
     of the Secretary of the Interior designated by the Secretary 
     of the Interior).
       ``(iv) The Secretary of Commerce (or a representative of 
     the Secretary of Commerce designated by the Secretary of 
     Commerce).
       ``(v) The Secretary of Health and Human Services (or a 
     representative of the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services).
       ``(vi) The Under Secretary for Health and the Under 
     Secretary for Benefits, or their designees.
       ``(C) The Secretary may invite representatives of other 
     departments and agencies of the United States to participate 
     in the meetings and other activities of the Committee.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall determine the number, terms of 
     service, and pay and allowances of members of the Committee 
     appointed by the Secretary, except that a term of service of 
     any such member may not exceed three years. The Secretary may 
     reappoint any such member for additional terms of service.
       ``(4) The Committee shall meet as often as the Secretary 
     considers necessary or appropriate, but not less often than 
     twice each fiscal year.
       ``(b) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with 
     and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the 
     administration of benefits by the Department for veterans who 
     are minority group members, reports and studies pertaining to 
     such veterans and the needs of such veterans with respect to 
     compensation, health care, rehabilitation, outreach, and 
     other benefits and programs administered by the Department.
       ``(c)(1) Not later than July 1 of each year, the Committee 
     shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and 
     activities of the Department that pertain to veterans who are 
     minority group members. Each such report shall include--
       ``(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans who are 
     minority group members with respect to compensation, health 
     care, rehabilitation, outreach, and other benefits and 
     programs administered by the Department;
       ``(B) a review of the programs and activities of the 
     Department designed to meet such needs; and
       ``(C) such recommendations (including recommendations for 
     administrative and legislative action) as the Committee 
     considers appropriate.
       ``(2) The Secretary shall, within 60 days after receiving 
     each report under paragraph (1), submit to Congress a copy of 
     the report, together with any comments concerning the report 
     that the Secretary considers appropriate.
       ``(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such 
     other reports and recommendations as the Committee considers 
     appropriate.
       ``(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual report 
     submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this 
     title a summary of all reports and recommendations of the 
     Committee submitted to the Secretary since the previous 
     annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to such 
     section.
       ``(d) In this section, the term `minority group member' 
     means an individual who is--
       ``(1) Asian American;
       ``(2) Black;
       ``(3) Hispanic;
       ``(4) Native American (including American Indian, Alaskan 
     Native, and Native Hawaiian); or
       ``(5) Pacific-Islander American.
       ``(e) The Committee shall cease to exist December 31, 
     1997.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item 
     relating to section 543 the following new item:

``544. Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.''.

     SEC. 511. MAILING OF NOTICES OF APPEAL TO THE COURT OF 
                   VETERANS APPEALS.

       (a) In General.--Section 7266(a) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(a)(1) In order to obtain review by the Court of Veterans 
     Appeals of a final decision of the Board of Veterans' 
     Appeals, a person adversely affected by such decision shall 
     file a notice of appeal with the Court within 120 days after 
     the date on which notice of the decision is mailed pursuant 
     to section 7104(e) of this title.
       ``(2) An appellant shall file a notice of appeal under this 
     section by delivering or mailing the notice to the Court.
       ``(3) A notice of appeal shall be deemed to be received by 
     the Court as follows:
       ``(A) On the date of receipt by the Court, if the notice is 
     delivered.
       ``(B) On the date of the United States Post Service 
     postmark stamped on the cover in which the notice is posted, 
     if the notice is properly addressed to the Court and is 
     mailed.
       ``(4) For a notice of appeal mailed to the Court to be 
     deemed to be received under paragraph (3)(B) on a particular 
     date, the United States Postal Service postmark on the cover 
     in which the notice is posted must be legible. The Court 
     shall determine the legibility of any such postmark and the 
     Court's determination as to legibility shall be final and not 
     subject to review by any other Court.''.
       (b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and shall apply to notices of appeal that are delivered or 
     mailed to the United States Court of Veterans Appeals on or 
     after that date.
               TITLE VI--EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

     SEC. 601. FLIGHT TRAINING.

       (a) Active Duty Program.--Section 3034(d) is amended--
       (1) by striking out paragraph (2);
       (2) by striking out ``(1)'' after ``(d)''; and
       (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as 
     paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.
       (b) Post-Vietnam Era.--Section 3241(b) is amended--
       (1) by striking out paragraph (2);
       (2) by striking out ``(1)'' after ``(b)''; and
       (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as 
     paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.
       (c) Reserve Program.--Section 2136(c) of title 10, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking out paragraph (2);
       (2) by striking out ``(1)'' after ``(c)''; and
       (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as 
     paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect as of October 1, 1994.

     SEC. 602. TRAINING AND REHABILITATION FOR VETERANS WITH 
                   SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.

       (a) Rehabilitation Resources.--Section 3115 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking out ``or'' after ``(including the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs),''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``or of any federally recognized Indian 
     tribe,'' after ``financial assistance,''; and
       (B) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``any federally 
     recognized Indian tribe,'' after ``contributions,''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) For purposes of this section, the term `federally 
     recognized Indian tribe' means any Indian tribe, band, 
     nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community, 
     including any Alaska Native village or regional corporation 
     as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native 
     Claims Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible for 
     the special programs and services provided by the United 
     States to Indians because of their status as Indians.''.
       (b) Allowances.--Section 3108(c)(2) is amended by inserting 
     ``or federally recognized Indian tribe'' after ``local 
     government agency''.
       (c) Technical Correction.--(1) Section 404(b) of the 
     Veterans' Benefits Act of 1992 (106 Stat. 4338) is amended by 
     striking out the period at the end and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``, but shall not apply to veterans and other persons 
     who originally applied for assistance under chapter 31 of 
     title 38, United States Code, before November 1, 1990.''.
       (2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect 
     as of October 29, 1992.

     SEC. 603. ALTERNATIVE TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3452(c) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following: ``For the period ending on September 
     30, 1996, such term includes any entity that provides 
     training required for completion of any State-approved 
     alternative teacher certification program (as determined by 
     the Secretary).''.
       (b) Clarifying Amendment.--Section 3002 is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(8) The term `educational institution' has the meaning 
     given such term in section 3452(c) of this title.''.

     SEC. 604. EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.

       (a) In General.--The first sentence of section 3476 is 
     amended to read as follows: ``An eligible veteran may not 
     enroll in any course offered by an educational institution 
     not located in a State unless that educational institution is 
     an approved institution of higher learning and the course is 
     approved by the Secretary.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to courses approved on or after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 605. CORRESPONDENCE COURSES.

       (a) Approval of Programs of Education.--(1) Section 3672 is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) A program of education exclusively by correspondence, 
     and the correspondence portion of a combination 
     correspondence-residence course leading to a vocational 
     objective, that is offered by an educational institution (as 
     defined in section 3452(c) of this title) may be approved 
     only if (1) the educational institution is accredited by an 
     entity recognized by the Secretary of Education, and (2) at 
     least 50 percent of those pursuing such a program or course 
     require six months or more to complete the program or 
     course.''.
       (2)(A) Section 3675(a)(2)(B) is amended by striking out ``A 
     State'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Except as provided in 
     section 3672(e) of this title, a State''.
       (B) Section 3680(a) is amended--
       (i) by inserting ``or'' at the end of paragraph (2);
       (ii) by striking out ``; or'' at the end of paragraph (3) 
     and inserting in lieu thereof a period; and
       (iii) by striking out paragraph (4).
       (C) Section 3686(c) is amended by striking out ``(other 
     than one subject to the provisions of section 3676 of this 
     title)''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to programs of education exclusively 
     by correspondence and to correspondence-residence courses 
     commencing more than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act.

     SEC. 606. STATE APPROVING AGENCIES.

       (a) Reimbursement.--(1) Section 3674(a)(4) is amended by 
     striking out ``$12,000,000'' each place it appears and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``$13,000,000''.
       (2) The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with 
     respect to services provided under such section after 
     September 30, 1994.
       (b) Elimination of Requirement for Quarterly Report to 
     Congress.--Section 3674(a)(3) is amended--
       (1) by striking out subparagraph (B); and
       (2) by striking out ``(A)'' after ``(3)''.
       (c) Evaluation of Agency Performance.--Section 3674A is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking out paragraph (3); and
       (B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs 
     (3) and (4), respectively; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking out ``subsection (a)(5) of this section'' 
     both places it appears and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``subsection (a)(4)''; and
       (B) by inserting ``of this title'' after ``section 
     3674(a)'' both places it appears.

     SEC. 607. MEASUREMENT OF COURSES.

       Section 3688(b) is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``this chapter or'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``this chapter,''; and
       (2) by inserting before the period at the end thereof the 
     following: ``, or chapter 106 of title 10''.

     SEC. 608. VETERANS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.

       Section 3692 is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking out ``34,''; and
       (B) by inserting ``and chapter 106 of title 10'' before the 
     period at the end;
       (2) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by striking 
     out ``this chapter'' and all that follows through ``of this 
     title'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``this chapter, chapter 
     30, 32, and 35 of this title, and chapter 106 of title 10''; 
     and
       (3) in subsection (c), by striking out ``December 31, 
     1994'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 2003''.

     SEC. 609. CONTRACT EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL COUNSELING.

       (a) Payment Limitation.--Section 3697(b) is amended by 
     striking out ``$5,000,000'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``$6,000,000''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1994.

     SEC. 610. SERVICE MEMBERS OCCUPATIONAL CONVERSION AND 
                   TRAINING ACT OF 1992.

       (a) Period of Training.--(1) Section 4485(d) of the Service 
     Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act of 1992 (106 
     Stat. 2759; 10 U.S.C. 1143 note) is amended by striking out 
     ``or more than 18 months''.
       (2)(A) Section 4486(d)(2) of such Act (102 Stat. 2760; 10 
     U.S.C. 1143 note) is amended by striking out the period at 
     the end thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
     ``in the community for the entire period of training of the 
     eligible person.''.
       (B) The amendment made by subparagraph (A) shall apply with 
     respect to programs of training under the Service Members 
     Occupational Conversion and Training Act of 1992 beginning 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Payments.--Section 4487 of such Act (106 Stat. 2762; 10 
     U.S.C. 1143 note) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
       (A) by striking out ``subparagraph (B)'' in subparagraph 
     (A) and inserting in lieu thereof ``subparagraphs (B) and 
     (C)'';
       (B) by inserting before the period at the end of 
     subparagraph (A) the following: ``but in no event to exceed 
     hours equivalent to 18 months of training''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) Assistance may be paid under this subtitle on behalf 
     of an eligible person to that person's employer for training 
     under two or more programs of job training under this 
     subtitle if such employer has not received (or is not due) on 
     that person's behalf assistance in an amount aggregating the 
     applicable amount set forth in subparagraph (B).''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(3), by inserting before the period at 
     the end thereof ``, or upon the completion of the 18th month 
     of training under the last training program approved for the 
     person's pursuit with that employer under this subtitle, 
     whichever is earlier''.
       (c) Entry Into Program of Job Training.--Section 4488(a) of 
     such Act (106 Stat. 2764; 10 U.S.C. 1143 note) is amended by 
     striking out the third sentence thereof and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``The eligible person may begin such program of job 
     training with the employer on the day that notice is 
     transmitted to such official by means prescribed by such 
     official. However, assistance under this subtitle may not be 
     provided to the employer if such official, within two weeks 
     after the date on which such notice is transmitted, 
     disapproves the eligible person's entry into that program of 
     job training in accordance with this section.''.
                     TITLE VII--EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

     SEC. 701. JOB COUNSELING, TRAINING, AND PLACEMENT.

       (a) Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
     Employment and Training.--Section 4102A(a) is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``(1)'' and ``(2)'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``(A)'' and ``(B)'', respectively;
       (2) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(a)''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) There shall be within the Department of Labor a 
     Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment 
     and Training. The Deputy Assistant Secretary shall perform 
     such functions as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
     Veterans' Employment and Training prescribes. The Deputy 
     Assistant Secretary shall be a veteran.''.
       (b) DVOP Specialists Compensation Rates.--Section 
     4103A(a)(1) is amended by striking out ``a rate not less than 
     the rate prescribed for an entry level professional'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``rates comparable to those paid 
     other professionals performing essentially similar duties''.
       (c) Special Unemployment Study.--Subsection (a) of section 
     4110A is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a)(1) The Secretary, through the Bureau of Labor 
     Statistics, shall conduct a study every two years of 
     unemployment among each of the following categories of 
     veterans:
       ``(A) Special disabled veterans.
       ``(B) Veterans of the Vietnam era who served in the Vietnam 
     theater of operations during the Vietnam era.
       ``(C) Veterans who served on active duty during the Vietnam 
     era who did not serve in the Vietnam theater of operations.
       ``(D) Veterans who served on active duty after the Vietnam 
     era.
       ``(E) Veterans discharged or released from active duty 
     within four years of the applicable study.
       ``(2) Within each of the categories of veterans specified 
     in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include a separate 
     category for women who are veterans.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall promptly submit to Congress a 
     report on the results of each study under paragraph (1).''.

     SEC. 702. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OF VETERANS.

       (a) Federal Contracts.--Section 4212(a) is amended by 
     striking out ``all of its suitable employment openings,'' in 
     clause (1) of the third sentence and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``all of its employment openings except that the 
     contractor may exclude openings for executive and top 
     management positions, positions which are to be filled from 
     within the contractor's organization, and positions lasting 
     three days or less,''.
       (b) Eligibility Requirements for Veterans Under Federal 
     Employment and Training Programs.--Section 4213 is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``chapters 11, 13, 31, 34, 35, and 36 
     of this title by an eligible veteran and'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``chapters 11, 13, 30, 31, 35, and 36 of this 
     title by an eligible veteran,'';
       (2) by inserting ``and any amounts received by an eligible 
     person under chapter 106 of title 10,'' after ``chapters 13 
     and 35 of such title, and''; and
       (3) by striking out ``the needs or qualifications of 
     participants in'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``eligibility 
     under''.

     SEC. 703. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO ERISA RELATING TO THE 
                   UNIFORMED SERVICES EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT 
                   RIGHTS ACT OF 1994.

       (a) Period of Continuation Coverage.--Section 602(2)(A) of 
     the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 
     U.S.C. 1162(2)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new clause:
       ``(vi) Special rule for absence from employment by reason 
     of service in the uniformed services.--In the case of a 
     qualifying event described in section 603(2), resulting in an 
     absence from employment by reason of service in the uniformed 
     services to which section 4317 of title 38, United States 
     Code, applies, if the covered employee makes an election 
     under such section 4317, the date which is the earlier of--

       ``(I) 18 months after the date of the qualifying event, or
       ``(II) the day after the date on which the covered employee 
     fails to apply for or return to a position of employment, as 
     determined under section 4312(e) of such title 38.''.

       (b) Premium Requirements.--Section 602(3) of such Act (29 
     U.S.C. 1162(3)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses 
     (i) and (ii), respectively;
       (2) by striking ``The plan may require'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) In general.--The plan may require'';
       (3) by adjusting the left-hand margination of subparagraph 
     (A) and clauses (i) and (ii) thereof (as redesignated by 
     paragraphs (1) and (2)) accordingly;
       (4) in the last sentence of subparagraph (A) (as 
     redesignated), by striking ``subparagraph (A) of this 
     paragraph'' and inserting ``clause (i) of this 
     subparagraph''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) Special rule for absence from employment by reason of 
     service in the uniformed services.--
       ``(i) Limitation on employee premium.--In the case of a 
     qualifying event described in section 603(2), resulting in an 
     absence from employment by reason of service in the uniformed 
     services to which section 4317 of title 38, United States 
     Code, applies, if the covered employee makes an election 
     under such section 4317 and the covered employee performed 
     such service for less than 31 days, the portion of the 
     premium which the covered employee is required to pay may not 
     exceed the portion (if any) of the premium which the covered 
     employee would have been required to pay but for the 
     qualifying event.
       ``(ii) Treatment of multiemployer plans.--In the case of a 
     group health plan that is a multiemployer plan, any liability 
     under the plan for the portion of the premium payable by the 
     employer shall be allocated by the plan in such manner as the 
     plan sponsor shall provide, except that, if the plan sponsor 
     does not so provide, such liability shall be allocated by the 
     plan--

       ``(I) to the last employer employing the covered employee 
     before the period served by the covered employee in the 
     uniformed services, or
       ``(II) if such last employer is no longer functional, to 
     the plan.''.

       (c) Enforcement of Continuation Coverage Requirements.--
     Section 607 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1167) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(6) Enforcement of provisions relating to absence from 
     employment by reason of service in the uniformed services.--
     For purposes of part 5, the provisions of section 4317 of 
     title 38, United States Code (as in effect on the effective 
     date of this paragraph) shall be treated as provisions of 
     this title to the extent such provisions relate to group 
     health plans covered under this title. The remedies provided 
     pursuant to this paragraph shall be in addition to remedies 
     otherwise available under such title 38. An action or 
     proceeding commenced under part 5 shall not preclude further 
     recourse to remedies otherwise available under such title 38. 
     The Secretary shall ensure that covered employees and other 
     qualified beneficiaries commencing actions or proceedings 
     under part 5 are informed of remedies also available under 
     such title 38.''.
       (d) Enforcement of Rules Relating to Pension Plan 
     Coverage.--Section 204 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1054) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(i) Enforcement of provisions relating to absence from 
     employment by reason of service in the uniformed services.--
     For purposes of part 5, the provisions of section 4318 of 
     title 38, United States Code (as in effect on the effective 
     date of this subsection) shall be treated as provisions of 
     this title to the extent such provisions relate to pension 
     plans covered under this title. The remedies provided 
     pursuant to this subsection shall be in addition to remedies 
     otherwise available under such title 38. An action or 
     proceeding commenced under part 5 shall not preclude further 
     recourse to remedies otherwise available under such title 38. 
     The Secretary shall ensure that participants and 
     beneficiaries commencing actions or proceedings under part 5 
     are informed of remedies also available under such title 
     38.''.
       (e) Effective Date and Transition Rules.--
       (1) Effective date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 
     2 of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment 
     Rights Act of 1994.
       (2) Transition rules.--Section 8 of the Uniformed Services 
     Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 shall apply 
     with respect to the amendments made by this section in the 
     same manner and to the same extent as such section applies 
     with respect to sections 4317 and 4318 of title 38, United 
     States Code (as amended by such Act).
              TITLE VIII--CEMETERIES AND MEMORIAL AFFAIRS

     SEC. 801. ELIGIBILITY FOR BURIAL IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES OF 
                   SPOUSES WHO PREDECEASE VETERANS.

       Section 2402(5) is amended by inserting ``spouse,'' after 
     ``The''.

     SEC. 802. RESTORATION OF BURIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR UNREMARRIED 
                   SPOUSES.

       Section 2402(5), as amended by section 801, is further 
     amended by inserting after ``surviving spouse'' the 
     following: ``(which for purposes of this chapter includes an 
     unremarried surviving spouse who had a subsequent remarriage 
     which was terminated by death or divorce)''.

     SEC. 803. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
                   STATE CEMETERY GRANT PROGRAM.

       Paragraph (2) of section 2408(a) is amended by striking out 
     ``nine'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``fourteen''.

     SEC. 804. AUTHORITY TO USE FLAT GRAVE MARKERS AT THE 
                   WILLAMETTE NATIONAL CEMETERY, OREGON.

       Notwithstanding section 2404(c)(2) of title 38, United 
     States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide 
     for flat grave markers at the Willamette National Cemetery, 
     Oregon.
                       TITLE IX--HOUSING PROGRAMS

     SEC. 901. ELIGIBILITY.

       (a) Reservists Discharged Because of a Service-Connected 
     Disability.--Section 3701(b)(5)(A) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(i)'' before ``who has''; and
       (2) by striking out the period at the end and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``, or (ii) who was discharged or released from 
     the Selected Reserve before completing 6 years of service 
     because of a service-connected disability.''.
       (b) Surviving Spouses of Reservists Who Died While in 
     Active Military, Naval, or Air Service.--The second sentence 
     of section 3701(b)(2) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``or service in the Selected Reserve'' 
     after ``duty'' each place it appears; and
       (2) by striking out ``spouse shall'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``deceased spouse shall''.

     SEC. 902. REVISION IN COMPUTATION OF AGGREGATE GUARANTY.

       Section 3702(b) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking out 
     ``loan, if--'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``loan under the 
     following circumstances:'';
       (2) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking out ``the property'' at the beginning of 
     subparagraph (A) and inserting in lieu thereof ``The 
     property'';
       (B) by striking out the semicolon at the end and inserting 
     in lieu thereof a period;
       (3) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking out ``a veteran-transferee'' at the 
     beginning and inserting in lieu thereof ``A veteran-
     transferee'';
       (B) by striking out ``; or'' at the end and inserting in 
     lieu thereof a period;
       (4) in paragraph (3), by striking out ``the loan'' at the 
     beginning of subparagraph (A) and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``The loan'';
       (5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(4) In a case not covered by paragraph (1) or (2)--
       ``(A) the loan has been repaid in full and, if the 
     Secretary has suffered a loss on the loan, the loss has been 
     paid in full; or
       ``(B) the Secretary has been released from liability as to 
     the loan and, if the Secretary has suffered a loss on the 
     loan, the loss has been paid in full.'';
       (6) in the last sentence, by striking out ``clause (1) of 
     the preceding sentence'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``paragraph (1)''; and
       (7) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The 
     authority of the Secretary under this subsection to exclude 
     an amount of guaranty or insurance housing loan entitlement 
     previously used by a veteran may be exercised only once for 
     that veteran under the authority of paragraph (4).''.

     SEC. 903. PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY WATER AND SEWERAGE SYSTEMS.

       Section 3704 is amended--
       (1) by striking out subsection (e); and
       (2) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections 
     (e) and (f), respectively.

     SEC. 904. AUTHORITY TO GUARANTEE HOME REFINANCE LOANS FOR 
                   ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS.

       (a) Loans.--Section 3710(a) is amended by inserting after 
     paragraph (10) the following new paragraph:
       ``(11) To refinance in accordance with subsection (e) an 
     existing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this 
     chapter, and to improve the dwelling securing such loan 
     through energy efficiency improvements, as provided in 
     subsection (d).''.
       (b) Amount of Guaranty.--Section 3710(e)(1) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``or for the purpose specified in subsection (a)(11)'' after 
     ``subsection (a)(8)''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking out ``may not exceed'' 
     and all that follows in such subparagraph and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``may not exceed--
       ``(i) an amount equal to the sum of the balance of the loan 
     being refinanced and such closing costs (including any 
     discount permitted pursuant to section 3703(c)(3)(A) of this 
     title) as may be authorized by the Secretary (under 
     regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe) to be 
     included in the loan; or
       ``(ii) in the case of a loan for the purpose specified in 
     subsection (a)(11), an amount equal to the sum of the amount 
     referred to with respect to the loan under clause (i) and the 
     amount specified under subsection (d)(2);''.
       (c) Fee.--Section 3729(a)(2)(E) is amended by inserting 
     ``3710(a)(11),'' after ``3710(a)(9)(B)(i),''.

     SEC. 905. AUTHORITY TO GUARANTEE LOANS TO REFINANCE 
                   ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES TO FIXED RATE 
                   MORTGAGES.

       Section 3710(e)(1)(A) is amended by inserting before the 
     semicolon at the end the following: ``or, in a case in which 
     the loan is a fixed rate loan and the loan being refinanced 
     is an adjustable rate loan, the loan bears interest at a rate 
     that is agreed upon by the veteran and the mortgagee''.

     SEC. 906. MANUFACTURED HOME LOAN INSPECTIONS.

       (a) Certification of Conformity With Standards.--Paragraph 
     (2) of subsection (h) of section 3712 is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(2) Any manufactured housing unit properly displaying a 
     certification of conformity to all applicable Federal 
     manufactured home construction and safety standards pursuant 
     to section 616 of the National Manufactured Housing 
     Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 
     5415) shall be deemed to meet the standards required by 
     paragraph (1).''.
       (b) Repeal of Inspection Requirements.--Subsection (j) of 
     such section is amended by striking out ``in the case of'' 
     the first place it appears and all that follows and inserting 
     in lieu thereof ``in the case of--
       ``(1) manufactured homes constructed by a manufacturer who 
     fails or is unable to discharge the manufacturer's 
     obligations under the warranty;
       ``(2) manufactured homes which are determined by the 
     Secretary not to conform to the standards provided for in 
     subsection (h); or
       ``(3) a manufacturer of manufactured homes who has engaged 
     in procedures or practices determined by the Secretary to be 
     unfair or prejudicial to veterans or the Government.''.
       (c) Elimination of Reporting Requirement.--Subsection (l) 
     of such section is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``the results of inspections required 
     by subsection (h) of this section,''; and
       (2) by striking out ``of this section,''.

     SEC. 907. PROCEDURES ON DEFAULT.

       (a) In General.--Paragraph (7) of section 3732(c) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     out ``that was the minimum amount for which, under applicable 
     State law, the property was permitted to be sold at the 
     liquidation sale'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) by striking out ``the Secretary may accept conveyance 
     of the property to the United States for a price not 
     exceeding'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``(i) the amount 
     was the minimum amount for which, under applicable State law, 
     the property was permitted to be sold at the liquidation 
     sale, the holder shall have the option to convey the property 
     to the United States in return for payment by the Secretary 
     of an amount equal to''; and
       (B) by striking out ``and'' after ``loan;'' and inserting 
     in lieu thereof ``or'';
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(ii) there was no minimum amount for which the property 
     had to be sold at the liquidation sale under applicable State 
     law, the holder shall have the option to convey the property 
     to the United States in return for payment by the Secretary 
     of an amount equal to the lesser of such net value or total 
     indebtedness; and''; and
       (3) in subparagraph (B), by striking out ``paragraph 
     (6)(B)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``paragraph (6)''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraph (6) of such section is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking out ``either'';
       (2) by striking out ``sale or acquires'' and all that 
     follows through ``(B) the'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``sale, the''; and
       (3) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as clauses (A) 
     and (B), respectively.

     SEC. 908. MINIMUM ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE REQUIREMENT.

       Subparagraph (F) of section 5303A(b)(3) is amended by 
     inserting ``or chapter 37'' after ``chapter 30'' in the 
     matter preceding clause (i).
                  TITLE X--HOMELESS VETERANS PROGRAMS

     SEC. 1001. REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ASSIST HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) Annual Report.--(1) Not later than April 15 of each 
     year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
     Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives a report on the activities of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs during the year preceding the report 
     under programs of the Department for the provision of 
     assistance to homeless veterans.
       (2) The report shall--
       (A) set forth the number of homeless veterans provided 
     assistance under those programs;
       (B) describe the cost to the Department of providing such 
     assistance under those programs; and
       (C) provide any other information on those programs and on 
     the provision of such assistance that the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (b) Bi-Annual Requirement.--The Secretary shall include in 
     the report submitted under subsection (a)(1) in 1995, and 
     every two years thereafter, an evaluation of the 
     effectiveness of the programs of the Department in providing 
     assistance to homeless veterans.
       (c) Conforming Repeal.--Section 10 of Public Law 102-590 
     (106 Stat. 5141; 37 U.S.C. 7721 note) is repealed.

     SEC. 1002. REPORT ON ASSESSMENT AND PLANS FOR RESPONSE TO 
                   NEEDS OF HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) Update of Assessment.--Subsection (b) of section 107 of 
     the Veterans' Medical Programs Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 
     102-405; 106 Stat. 1977; 38 U.S.C. 527 note) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(6) The Secretary shall require that the directors 
     referred to in paragraph (1) update the assessment required 
     under that paragraph during each of 1995, 1996, and 1997.''.
       (b) Reports on Assessments and Plan.--Subsection (i) of 
     such section (106 Stat. 1978) is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``Report.--'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``Reports.--(1)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Not later than December 31, 1994, the Secretary shall 
     submit to such committees a report that--
       ``(A) describes the results of the assessment carried out 
     under subsection (b);
       ``(B) sets forth the lists developed under paragraph (1) of 
     subsection (c); and
       ``(C) describes the progress, if any, made by the directors 
     of the medical centers and the directors of the benefits 
     offices referred to in such subsection (c) in developing the 
     plan referred to in paragraph (2) of such subsection (c).
       ``(3) Not later than December 31 of each of 1995, 1996, and 
     1997, the Secretary shall submit to such committees a report 
     that describes the update to the assessment that is carried 
     out under subsection (b)(6) in the year preceding the 
     report.''.

     SEC. 1003. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS UNDER 
                   HOMELESS VETERANS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE 
                   PROGRAMS ACT OF 1992.

       Section 2(b) of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service 
     Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended in the 
     first sentence by striking out ``four'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``eight''.

     SEC. 1004. REMOVAL OF FUNDING REQUIREMENT OF HOMELESS 
                   VETERANS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS ACT OF 
                   1992.

       Section 12 of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service 
     Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended by 
     striking out the second sentence.

     SEC. 1005. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) of the funds appropriated for any fiscal year to 
     support Federal programs which are designed to assist 
     homeless individuals, a share more closely approximating the 
     proportion of the population of homeless individuals who are 
     veterans should be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs for programs to assist homeless veterans that are 
     administered by that Secretary;
       (2) of the Federal grants made available to assist 
     community organizations that assist homeless individuals, a 
     share of such grants more closely approximating the 
     proportion of the population of homeless individuals who are 
     veterans should be provided to community organizations that 
     provide assistance primarily to homeless veterans; and
       (3) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should take such 
     actions as are necessary to ensure that Federal agencies that 
     provide assistance, either directly or indirectly, to 
     homeless individuals, including homeless veterans, are aware 
     of and encouraged to make appropriate referrals to facilities 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs for benefits and 
     services, such as health care, substance abuse treatment, 
     counseling, and income assistance.
    TITLE XI--REDUCTIONS IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PERSONNEL

     SEC. 1101. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Under proposals for national health care reform, the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs will be required to provide 
     health care services to veterans on a competitive basis with 
     other health care providers.
       (2) The elimination of positions from the Department that 
     the Office of Management and Budget has scheduled to occur in 
     fiscal years 1995 through 1999 would prevent the Department 
     from meeting the responsibilities of the Department to 
     provide health care to veterans under law and from 
     maintaining the quality of health care that is currently 
     provided to veterans.

     SEC. 1102. REQUIREMENT FOR MINIMUM NUMBER OF FULL-TIME 
                   EQUIVALENT POSITIONS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 7 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 712. Full-time equivalent positions: limitation on 
       reduction

       ``(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     number of full-time equivalent positions in the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs during the period beginning on the date of 
     the enactment of this section and ending on September 30, 
     1999, may not (except as provided in subsection (c)) be less 
     than 224,377.
       ``(b) In determining the number of full-time equivalent 
     positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs during a 
     fiscal year for purposes of ensuring under section 5(b) of 
     the Federal Workforce Restructuring Act of 1994 (Public Law 
     103-226; 108 Stat. 115; 5 U.S.C. 3101 note) that the total 
     number of full-time equivalent positions in all agencies of 
     the Federal Government during a fiscal year covered by that 
     section does not exceed the limit prescribed for that fiscal 
     year under that section, the total number of full-time 
     equivalent positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     during that fiscal year shall be the number equal to--
       ``(1) the number of such positions in the Department during 
     that fiscal year, reduced by
       ``(2) the sum of--
       ``(A) the number of such positions in the Department during 
     that fiscal year that are filled by employees whose salaries 
     and benefits are paid primarily from funds other than 
     appropriated funds; and
       ``(B) the number of such positions held during that fiscal 
     year by persons involved in medical care cost recovery 
     activities under section 1729 of this title.
       ``(c) The Secretary shall not be required to make a 
     reduction in the number of full-time equivalent positions in 
     the Department unless such reduction--
       ``(1) is necessary due to a reduction in funds available to 
     the Department; or
       ``(2) is required under a law that is enacted after the 
     date of the enactment of this section and that refers 
     specifically to this section.
       ``(d) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
     an annual report, through the year 2000, on the number and 
     type of full-time equivalent positions in the Department that 
     are reduced under this section. The report shall include a 
     justification for the reductions and shall be submitted with 
     the materials provided in support of the budget for the 
     Department contained in the President's budget submitted to 
     Congress for a fiscal year pursuant to section 1105 of title 
     31.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``712. Full-time equivalent positions: limitation on reduction.''.

     SEC. 1103. ENHANCED AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT FOR NECESSARY 
                   SERVICES.

       Section 8110(c) is amended by striking out paragraph (7) 
     and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
       ``(7) Paragraphs (1) through (6) shall not be in effect 
     during fiscal years 1995 through 1999.
       ``(8) During the period covered by paragraph (7), whenever 
     an activity at a Department health-care facility is converted 
     from performance by Federal employees to performance by 
     employees of a contractor of the Government, the Secretary 
     shall--
       ``(A) require in the contract for the performance of such 
     activity that the contractor, in hiring employees for the 
     performance of the contract, give priority to former 
     employees of the Department who have been displaced by the 
     award of the contract; and
       ``(B) provide to such former employees of the Department 
     all possible assistance in obtaining other Federal employment 
     or entrance into job training and retraining programs.
       ``(9) The Secretary shall include in the Secretary's annual 
     report to Congress under section 529 of this title, for each 
     fiscal year covered by paragraph (7), a report on the use 
     during the year covered by the report of contracting-out 
     authority made available by reason of paragraph (7). The 
     Secretary shall include in each such report a description of 
     each use of such authority, together with the rationale for 
     the use of such authority and the effect of the use of such 
     authority on patient care and on employees of the 
     Department.''.

     SEC. 1104. STUDY.

       (a) Requirement.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     enter into an agreement with an appropriate non-Federal 
     entity under which the entity shall carry out a study of the 
     feasibility and advisability of alternative organizational 
     structures, such as the establishment of a wholly-owned 
     Government corporation or a Government-sponsored enterprise, 
     for the effective provision of health care services to 
     veterans.
       (b) Submission of Report.--The Secretary shall submit to 
     the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
     of Representatives a report on the study required under 
     subsection (a). The report shall be submitted not later than 
     one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Authorization of Funds.--There is hereby authorized to 
     be appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs the 
     sum of $1,000,000 for the purposes of carrying out the study 
     required under subsection (a).
              TITLE XII--TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS

     SEC. 1201. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

       (a) References to ``Secretary'' and ``Department''.--Title 
     38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Paragraph (1) of section 101 is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(1) The terms `Secretary' and `Department' mean the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs, respectively.''.
       (2) Section 1532(c) is amended by striking out 
     ``Secretary'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Veterans' 
     Administration''.
       (3) Section 3745(a) is amended by striking out 
     ``Secretary'' after ``consult with the'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``Administrator''.
       (4) Section 4102A(e) is amended by striking out ``Regional 
     Secretary'' both places it appears and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``Regional Administrator''.
       (5) Section 4110(d)(9) is amended by striking out 
     ``Secretary of the Small Business Administration'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``Administrator of the Small 
     Business Administration''.
       (b) References to Department of Medicine and Surgery.--
       (1) The following sections of title 38, United States Code, 
     are amended by striking out ``Department of Medicine and 
     Surgery'' each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``Veterans Health Administration'': sections 3120(a), 
     3120(f), 3121(a)(3), 7603(a), 7603(c)(1)(B), 7604(1)(B), 
     7604(2)(D), 7612(c)(1)(B), 7615, 7616(b)(2), 7616(c), 
     7622(b)(1), 7622(c)(2)(A), 7623(b), 7635(a)(1), 7635(a)(2), 
     and 8110(a).
       (2) Section 7622(c)(2)(B) of such title is amended by 
     striking out ``such Department'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``the Veterans Health Administration''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments Relating to Conversion of 
     Positions of Chief Medical Director and Chief Benefits 
     Director to Under Secretary Positions.--Title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 305 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking out ``a Under 
     Secretary'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``an Under 
     Secretary''; and
       (B) in subsection (d)(2)(F), by striking out ``Under 
     Secretary'' the second place it appears and all that follows 
     through the closing parenthesis and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``Chief Medical Director of the Veterans' Administration)''.
       (2) Section 306 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking out ``a Under 
     Secretary'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``an Under 
     Secretary''; and
       (B) in subsection (d)(2)(F), by striking out ``Under 
     Secretary'' the second place it appears and all that follows 
     through the closing parenthesis and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``Chief Benefits Director of the Veterans' Administration)''.
       (3) Section 7306 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) in paragraph (3), by striking out ``Assistant Chief 
     Medical Directors'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Assistant 
     Under Secretaries for Health'';
       (ii) by redesignating the last three paragraphs as 
     paragraphs (8), (7), and (9) respectively;
       (iii) by reversing the order in which the penultimate and 
     antepenultimate paragraphs appear; and
       (iv) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by striking out 
     ``Chief Medical Director'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``Under Secretary for Health'';
       (B) in subsection (b), by striking out ``Assistant Chief 
     Medical Directors'' in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``Assistant Under Secretaries for 
     Health''; and
       (C) in subsection (c), by striking out ``and (7)'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``and (8)''.
       (4) Section 7314(d) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking out ``the Chief Medical Director and the 
     Secretary to carry out'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``the 
     Secretary and the Under Secretary for Health in carrying 
     out''; and
       (ii) by striking out ``the Assistant Chief Medical Director 
     described in section 7306(b)(3)'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``the Assistant Under Secretary for Health described 
     in section 7306(b)(3)''; and
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking out ``Assistant Chief 
     Medical Director'' both places it appears and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``Assistant Under Secretary''.
       (5) Section 7318 is amended by striking out ``Chief Medical 
     Director'' each place it appears and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``Under Secretary for Health''.
       (6) Section 7440(1) is amended by striking out ``Chief 
     Medical Director's'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Under 
     Secretary for Health's''.
       (7) Section 7451(g)(1) is amended by striking out ``Chief 
     Medical Director's'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Under 
     Secretary for Health's''.
       (d) Cross Reference Amendments to Provisions of Title 38.--
     Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 115 is amended by striking out ``sections 230'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``sections 314, 315, 316,''.
       (2) Section 1710(f)(3)(E) is amended by striking out 
     ``section 1712(f)'' and ``section 1712(f)(4)'' inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``section 1712(a)'' and ``section 1712(f)'', 
     respectively.
       (3) Section 1712 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (i)(5), by striking out ``section 
     1722(a)(1)(C)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
     1722(a)(3)''; and
       (B) in subsection (j), by striking out ``Section 4116'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``Section 7316''.
       (4) Section 3018A(d)(3) is amended by striking out 
     ``section 3015(e)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
     3015(f)''.
       (5) Section 3018B(d)(3) is amended by striking out 
     ``section 3015(e)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
     3015(f)''.
       (6) Section 3032(f)(3) is amended by striking out ``(c), or 
     (d)(1)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``(d), or (e)(1)''.
       (7) Section 3035(b) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by striking out ``section 3015(c)'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 3015(d)''; and
       (B) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking out ``section 
     3015(e)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 3015(f)''.
       (8) Section 3103(b)(3) is amended by striking out ``section 
     3102(1)(A)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
     3102(1)(A)(i)''.
       (9) Section 3106(a) is amended by striking out ``section 
     3102(1)(A) or (B)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``clause 
     (i) or (ii) of section 3102(1)(A)''.
       (10) Section 3113(a) is amended by striking out ``section 
     3102(1)(B) and (2)'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B) of section 3102(1)''.
       (11) Section 3120(b) is amended by striking out ``section 
     3012(1)(A)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
     3102(1)(A)(i)''.
       (12) Section 3241(c) is amended by striking out ``1663,''.
       (13) Section 3735(a)(1)(A) is amended by striking out 
     ``section 3402'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
     5902''.
       (14) Section 4103(c)(2) is amended by striking out 
     ``subchapter IV of chapter 3'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``subchapter II of chapter 77''.
       (15) Section 5104(a) is amended by striking out ``section 
     211(a)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 511''.
       (16) Section 8103(d)(6)(A) is amended by striking out 
     ``section 230(c)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
     316''.
       (17) Section 8110(c)(3)(B) is amended by striking out 
     ``section 213 or 4117'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``section 513 or 7409''.
       (18) Section 8135(a)(3) is amended by striking out 
     ``section 8134(2)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
     8134(a)(2)''.
       (19) Section 8155(a) is amended by striking out ``section 
     4112'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 7312''.
       (20) Section 8201(c) is amended by striking out ``section 
     4112(a)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 7312(a)''.
       (e) Punctuation, Capitalization, Spelling, Etc.--Title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 111(b)(3)(B) is amended by striking out ``the 
     Department facility'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``a 
     Department facility''.
       (2) Sections 305(d)(2)(F) and 306(d)(2)(F) are amended by 
     striking out ``Commission'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``commission''.
       (3) Section 312(a) is amended by striking out ``(5 U.S.C. 
     App. 3)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``(5 U.S.C. App.)''.
       (4) Section 317(b)(2) is amended by striking out 
     ``provided, by the'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``provided 
     by, the''.
       (5) Section 711(d) is amended by striking out 
     ``Committees'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``committees''.
       (6) Section 1116(a)(1)(B) is amended by striking out 
     ``(1)'' and ``(2)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``(i)'' and 
     ``(ii)'', respectively.
       (7) Section 1722A(a)(1) is amended by striking out the 
     closing parenthesis after ``veteran'' in the first sentence.
       (8) Section 1969(e) is amended--
       (A) by striking out ``sections 1971 (a) and (c)'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``subsections (a) and (c) of 
     section 1971''; and
       (B) by striking out ``sections 1971 (d) and (e)'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``subsections (d) and (e) of 
     section 1971''.
       (9) Section 1977(f) is amended by striking out ``sections 
     1971 (d) and (e)'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``subsections (d) and (e) of section 1971''.
       (10) Section 3011(f)(1) is amended by striking out ``whose 
     length'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``the length of 
     which''.
       (11) Section 3018B(d) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking out ``(a)(2)(D) of this 
     subsection'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``(a)(2)(D) of 
     this section''; and
       (B) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) by striking out ``such Account'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``such account''; and
       (ii) by striking out ``this chapter'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``this title''.
       (12) Section 3688(a)(6) is amended by inserting a comma 
     after ``3241(a)(2)''.
       (13) Section 3706 is amended by striking out ``of this 
     chapter'' the second and third places it appears and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``of this title''.
       (14) Section 3712 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (c)(3)--
       (i) by inserting ``of'' in subparagraph (D) after 
     ``subparagraph (B)''; and
       (ii) by striking out ``of this subsection'' in subparagraph 
     (E) and inserting in lieu thereof ``of this paragraph''; and
       (B) in subsection (m), by striking out ``section 3704(d) 
     and section 3721 of this chapter'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``sections 3704(d) and 3721 of this title''.
       (15) Section 3713(b) is amended in the last sentence by 
     striking out ``subsection 5302(b) of this title, if eligible 
     thereunder'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 5302(b) 
     of this title, if the veteran is eligible for relief under 
     that section''.
       (16) Section 5702 is amended--
       (A) by inserting ``(a)'' before ``Any person desiring'';
       (B) by striking out ``custody of'' and all that follows 
     through ``stating'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``custody 
     of the Secretary that may be disclosed under section 5701 of 
     this title must submit to the Secretary an application in 
     writing for such copy. The application shall state''; and
       (C) in subsection (c), by striking out ``is authorized to 
     fix'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``may establish''.
       (17) Section 6101(a) is amended by inserting a comma after 
     ``title 18''.
       (18) Section 6103(d)(1) is amended in the second sentence--
       (A) by striking out ``(a)'' and ``(b)'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``(A)'' and ``(B)'', respectively; and
       (B) by striking out ``prior to'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``before''.
       (19) Section 6105(c) is amended--
       (A) in the first sentence, by striking out ``clauses (2), 
     (3), or (4) of subsection (b) of this section'' and inserting 
     in lieu thereof ``paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subsection 
     (b)'';
       (B) in the second sentence, by striking out ``clause (1) of 
     that subsection'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``paragraph 
     (1) of subsection (b)''; and
       (C) by transposing the two sentences of that subsection (as 
     so amended).
       (20) Section 7312(d) is amended by striking out ``the 
     advisory groups activities'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``the activities of the advisory group''.
       (21) Section 7408(a) is amended by striking out ``civil-
     service'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``civil service''.
       (22) Sections 7433(b)(3)(A) and 7435(b)(3)(A) are amended 
     by striking out ``nation-wide'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``nationwide''.
       (23) Section 7451(d)(3)(C)(i)(I) is amended by striking out 
     ``labor market area'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``labor-
     market area''.
       (24) Section 7453 is amended by striking out 
     ``subsections'' in subsections (f) and (g) and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``subsection''.
       (25) Section 7601(a) is amended by striking out the comma 
     at the end of paragraph (1) and inserting in lieu thereof a 
     semicolon.
       (26) Section 7604 is amended by striking out 
     ``subchapters'' in paragraphs (1)(A), (2)(D), and (5) and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``subchapter''.
       (27) Section 8126 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (e)(1)(A), by striking out ``1-year'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``one-year''; and
       (B) in subsection (f)(2), by striking out ``, and'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof a period.
       (f) Date of Enactment References.--Title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 1922A(b) is amended by striking out ``insurance 
     not later than'' and all that follows through ``that the 
     Department'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``insurance. Such 
     application must be filed not later than (1) October 31, 
     1993, or (2) the end of the one-year period beginning on the 
     date on which the Secretary''.
       (2) Sections 3011(e) and 3012(f) are amended by striking 
     out ``the end of the 24-month period beginning on the date of 
     the enactment of this subsection'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``October 28, 1994,''.
       (3) Section 3018B(a)(2)(A) is amended by striking out ``the 
     date of enactment of this section'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``October 23, 1992,''.
       (4) Section 3702(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking out ``For 
     the 7-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this 
     subparagraph,'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``For the 
     period beginning on October 28, 1992, and ending on October 
     27, 1999,''.
       (5) Section 6103(d)(2) is amended by striking out ``the 
     date of enactment of this amendatory Act'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``June 30, 1972''.
       (6) Section 8126 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (e)(1)(A), by striking out ``30 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this section'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``December 4, 1992''; and
       (B) in subsection (g), by striking out ``the date of the 
     enactment of this section'' in paragraphs (1) and (2) and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``November 4, 1992''.
       (g) Obsolete or Executed Provisions.--Title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 312(b) is amended by striking out paragraph 
     (3).
       (2) Section 1524(a)(2) is amended by striking out ``Subject 
     to paragraph (3) of this subsection, if'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``If''.
       (3) Section 4110(c)(1) is amended by striking out ``shall, 
     within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     section, appoint'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``shall 
     appoint''.
       (4)(A) Section 5505 is repealed.
       (B) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 55 is 
     amended by striking out the item relating to section 5505.
       (5) Section 7311 is amended by striking out subsections (f) 
     and (g).
       (6) Section 7453(i)(3) is amended by striking out ``of 
     title 5''.
       (7) Section 8110(c) is amended by striking out paragraph 
     (7).
       (8) Section 8111(b) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by striking out ``During fiscal years 1982 and 1983'' 
     in the second sentence and inserting in lieu thereof ``During 
     odd-numbered fiscal years'';
       (ii) by striking out ``During fiscal year 1984'' in the 
     third sentence and inserting in lieu thereof ``During even-
     numbered fiscal years''; and
       (iii) by striking out the fourth sentence; and
       (B) in paragraph (4), by striking out ``Within nine months 
     of the date of the enactment of this subsection and at such 
     times thereafter as'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``At such 
     times as''.
       (h) Amendments to Headings and Tables of Contents.--Title 
     38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) The table of chapters before part I and the table of 
     chapters at the beginning of part III are amended by striking 
     out the item relating to chapter 42 and inserting in lieu 
     thereof the following:

``42. Employment and Training of Veterans...................4211''.....

       (2) The heading of section 2106 is amended by revising each 
     word after the first word so that the initial letter of each 
     such word is lower case.
       (3) The item relating to subchapter III in the table of 
     sections at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended to read as 
     follows:

           ``subchapter iii--protection of patient rights''.

       (4) The heading of section 7458 is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``Sec. 7458. Recruitment and retention bonus pay''.

       (5) The heading of chapter 81 is amended by inserting 
     ``ENHANCED-USE'' before ``LEASES OF REAL''.
       (6) The item relating to section 8126 in the table of 
     sections at the beginning of chapter 81 is amended to read as 
     follows:

``8126. Limitation on prices of drugs procured by Department and 
              certain other Federal agencies.''.

       (i) Other Miscellaneous Corrections.--Title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 1718(c)(1) is amended by inserting ``of 
     Veterans Affairs'' after ``Department'' in the first 
     sentence.
       (2) Section 1922(b)(4) is amended by striking out 
     ``Notwithstanding'' and all that follows through ``title,'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``Notwithstanding section 1917 
     of this title,''.
       (3) Section 1969(d)(3) is amended by striking out 
     ```General Operating Expenses, Department''' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ```General Operating Expenses, Department of 
     Veterans Affairs'''.
       (4) Section 3018A(a)(1) is amended by striking ``after 
     December 31, 1990,'' and all that follows through ``whichever 
     is later,'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``after February 2, 
     1991,''.
       (5) Section 3121(a)(3) is amended by striking out 
     ``Department of Veterans' Benefits'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``Veterans Benefits Administration''.
       (6) Section 3680(a)(C) is amended by striking out ``1 
     full'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``one full''.
       (7) Section 4110(e)(3)(B) is amended--
       (A) by striking out ``, United States Code,''; and
       (B) by striking out ``the Board'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``the advisory committee''.
       (8) Section 5110 is amended by striking out subsection (m).
       (9) Section 7315(b)(2) is amended by striking out 
     ``Department'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Veterans' 
     Administration''.
       (10) Section 8111(f)(6) is amended by inserting ``of 
     Defense'' after ``the Secretary'' the second place it 
     appears.
       (11) Section 8502(d) is amended by striking out ``General 
     Post Fund, National Homes, Department,'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``General Post Fund, National Homes, Department 
     of Veterans Affairs,''.

     SEC. 1202. AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY SECRETARY 
                   OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Public Law 102-54.--Effective as of June 13, 1991, and 
     as if included in the enactment of Public Law 102-54, Public 
     Law 102-54 is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 13(e) (105 Stat. 275) is amended by striking 
     out ``subsection (b)(10)'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``subsection (c)(10)''.
       (2) Section 15(a)(1)(A) (105 Stat. 289) is amended by 
     inserting ``the first place it appears'' before ``in the 
     first sentence''.
       (b) Public Law 102-83.--Effective as of August 6, 1991, and 
     as if included in the enactment of Public Law 102-83, section 
     4(a) of Public Law 102-83 (105 Stat. 403) is amended as 
     follows:
       (1) Paragraph (2)(E) is amended by striking out ``Section 
     601(4)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Section 601(3)''.
       (2) Paragraph (4) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(E) Sections 7314(b)(1) and 7315(b)(2).''.
       (c) Public Law 102-86.--Section 403(b)(4) of the Veterans' 
     Benefits Programs Improvement Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-86; 
     105 Stat. 423; 36 U.S.C. 493(b)(4)) is amended by striking 
     out ``section 235'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
     707''.
       (d) Public Law 102-547.--Section 10(b)(2) of the Veterans 
     Home Loan Program Amendments of 1992 (106 Stat. 3643; 38 
     U.S.C. 3703 note) is amended by striking out ``paragraph 4'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``paragraph (4)''.
       (e) Public Law 102-585.--The Veterans Health Care Act of 
     1992 (Public Law 102-585) is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 202 (38 U.S.C. 8111 note) is amended by 
     striking out ``the Chief Medical Director'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``the Under Secretary for Health of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs''.
       (2) Section 511(c) (38 U.S.C. 7318 note) is amended by 
     striking out ``Chief Medical Director'' each place it appears 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``Under Secretary for Health''.

     SEC. 1203. AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS.

       (a) Public Health Service Act.--The Public Health Service 
     Act is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 502(b)(2)(D) (42 U.S.C. 290aa-1(b)(2)(D)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(D) the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs;''.
       (2) Section 542(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 290dd-1(b)(2)) is amended 
     by striking out ``Chief Medical Director'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``Under Secretary for Health''.
       (3) Section 2604(b)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 300ff-14(b)(2)(A)) is 
     amended by striking out ``Veterans Administration 
     facilities'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Department of 
     Veterans Affairs facilities''.
       (b) Miscellaneous Department and Secretary References.--
     Section 5102(c)(3) of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking out the comma after ``Department of Veterans 
     Affairs''.
       (c) Miscellaneous Cross-Reference Corrections.--
       (1) Section 1204(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking out ``section 4323'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``section 4303''.
       (2) Section 441(b)(2)(B) of the Job Training Partnership 
     Act (29 U.S.C. 1721(b)(2)(B)) is amended--
       (A) by striking out ``subchapter IV of chapter 3'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``subchapter II of chapter 77''; 
     and
       (B) by striking out ``sections 612A, 620A, 1787, and 
     2003A'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``sections 1712A, 
     1720A, 3687, and 4103A''.
       (3) Section 107 of the Local Public Works Capital 
     Development and Investment Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6706) is 
     amended by striking out ``section 4211(2)(A)'' and ``section 
     2011(1)'' inserting in lieu thereof ``section 4211(2)'' and 
     ``section 4211(1)'', respectively.
       (4) Section 4(g)(2) of the Employment Act of 1946 (15 
     U.S.C. 1022a(g)(2)) is amended--
       (A) by striking out ``this subsection'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``this section''; and
       (B) by striking out ``section 2011(1) or (2)(A)'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``section 4211(1) or (2)''.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to amend title 38, 
     United States Code, to revise and improve veterans' benefits 
     programs, and for other purposes.''.

                          ____________________