[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 3 (Friday, January 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S99-S100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          AMENDMENT SUBMITTED

                                 ______


                 THE VA AUTHORITY EXTENSION ACT OF 1996

                                 ______


                       SIMPSON AMENDMENT NO. 3116

  Mr. WARNER (for Mr. Simpson) proposed an amendment to the bill (S. 
991) to amend title 38, United States Code, and other statutes, to 
extend VA's authority to operate various programs, collect copayments 
associated with provision of medical benefits, and obtain reimbursement 
from insurance companies for care furnished; as follows:

       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
     thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES.

       (a) Authority To Provide Priority Health Care for Certain 
     Veterans Exposed to Toxic Substances.--(1) Effective June 29, 
     1995, section 1710(e)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking out ``after June 30, 1995,'' and all that 
     follows through ``December 31, 1995'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``after December 31, 1996''.
       (2) Section 1712(a)(1)(D) of such title is amended by 
     striking out ``December 31, 1995,'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``December 31, 1996,''.
       (b) Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Dependence.--Section 
     1720A(e) of such title is amended by striking out ``December 
     31, 1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 
     1997''.
       (c) Pilot Program for Noninstitutional Alternatives to 
     Nursing Home Care.--Section 1720C(a) of such title is amended 
     by striking out ``September 30, 1995,'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``December 31, 1997,''.
       (d) Negotiated Interest Rates.--Section 3703(c)(4)(D) of 
     such title is amended by striking out ``December 31, 1995'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
       (e) Mortgages for Energy Efficient Improvements.--Section 
     3710(d)(7) of such title is amended by striking out 
     ``December 31, 1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``December 31, 1997''.
       (f) Enhanced Loan Asset Sale Authority.--Section 3720(h)(2) 
     of such title is amended by striking out ``December 31, 
     1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1996''.
       (g) Authority of Lenders of Automatically Guaranteed Loans 
     To Review Appraisals.--Section 3731(f)(3) of such title is 
     amended by striking out ``December 31, 1995'' and inserting 
     in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
       (h) Agreements for Housing Assistance for Homeless 
     Veterans.--Section 3735(c) of such title is amended by 
     striking out ``December 31, 1995'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
       (i) Use of Data on Compensation for Certified Registered 
     Nurse Anesthetists.--Effective March 31, 1995, section 
     7451(d)(3)(C)(iii) of such title is amended by striking out 
     ``April 1, 1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 
     31, 1997''.
       (j) Health Professional Scholarship Program.--Section 7618 
     of such title is amended by striking out ``December 31, 
     1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
       (k) Enhanced-Use Leases of Real Property.--Section 8169 of 
     such title is amended by striking out ``December 31, 1995'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
       (l) Authority for Community-Based Residential Care for 
     Homeless Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans and Other 
     Veterans.--Section 115(d) of the Veterans' Benefits and 
     Services Act of 1988 (38 U.S.C. 1712 note) is amended by 
     striking out ``September 30, 1995'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
       (m) Demonstration Program of Compensated Work Therapy.--
     Section 7(a) of Public Law 102-54 (38 U.S.C. 1718 note) is 
     amended by striking out ``fiscal years 1991 through 1995'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``the period beginning on 
     October 1, 1991, and ending on December 31, 1997,''.
       (n) Authority To Make Grants for Assistance in Furnishing 
     Services and Assistance to Homeless Veterans.--(1) Section 
     3(a) of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs 
     Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-590; 106 Stat. 5136; 38 U.S.C. 
     7721 note) is amended by striking out ``fiscal years 1993, 
     1994, and 1995,'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``fiscal 
     years 1993 through 1997,''.
       (2) Section 12 of such Act (106 Stat. 5142) is amended by 
     striking out ``each of the fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 
     1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``each of fiscal years 
     1993 through 1997''.
       (o) Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Projects.--(1) Section 
     738(e)(1) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 11448(e)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(D) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.
       ``(E) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1997.''.
       (2) Section 741 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 11450) is amended by 
     striking out ``October 1, 1995'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``October 1, 1997''.
       (p) Effective Date.--Except as provided in subsections 
     (a)(1) and (i), the amendments made by this section shall 
     take effect on October 1, 1995.
       (q) Ratification of Actions.--The following actions are 
     hereby ratified:
       (1) The furnishing by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of 
     care and services by virtue of section 1710(a)(1)(G) of title 
     38, United States Code, during the period beginning on July 
     1, 1995, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) The furnishing by the Secretary of services in 
     noninstitutional settings by virtue of section 1720C of such 
     title during the period beginning on October 1, 1995, and 
     ending on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (3) The use by any director of a Department of Veterans 
     Affairs health-care facility of data on rates of compensation 
     paid to certified nurse anesthetists in a labor market area 
     under section 7451(d)(3)(C) of such title during the period 
     beginning on April 1, 1995, and ending on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (4) The furnishing by the Secretary of care for homeless 
     chronically mentally ill and 

[[Page S100]]
     other veterans by virtue of section 115 of the Veterans' Benefits and 
     Services Act of 1988 (38 U.S.C. 1712 note) during the period 
     beginning on October 1, 1995, and ending on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (5) The furnishing by the Secretary of work therapy and 
     therapeutic transitional housing by virtue of section 7 of 
     Public Law 102-54 (38 U.S.C. 1718 note) during the period 
     beginning on October 1, 1995, and ending on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (6) Grants made by the Secretary to furnish services to 
     veterans under section 3 of the Homeless Veterans 
     Comprehensive Services Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 
     note) during the period beginning on October 1, 1995, and 
     ending on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       Amend the title to read as follows: ``To amend title 38, 
     United States Code, to extend the authority of the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs to carry out certain programs and 
     activities, and for other purposes.''.

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