[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H901-H903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXTENDING AUTHORITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS RELATING TO
DELIVERY OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE
Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2353) to amend title 38, United States
Code, to extend certain expiring authorities of the Department of
Veterans Affairs relating to delivery of health and medical care, and
for other purposes, with Senate amendments thereto, and to concur in
the Senate amendments with amendments.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The Clerk read the Senate amendments and the House amendments to the
Senate amendments, as follows:
Senate amendments:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
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''.
[[Page H902]]
(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 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 of 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.
House amendments to the Senate amendments:
In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Senate
amendment to the text of the bill, insert the following:
TITLE I--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY
SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES UNDER TITLE 38, UNITED
STATES CODE.
(a) Authority To Provide Priority Health Care for Certain
Veterans Exposed to Toxic Substances.--(1) 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) of such
title is amended by striking out subparagraph (D).
(e) Mortgages for Energy Efficient Improvements.--Section
3710(d) of such title is amended by striking out paragraph
(7).
(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) of such title is
amended by striking out paragraph (3).
(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.--Section 7451(d)(3)(C)(iii) of such title
is amended by striking out ``April 1, 1995'' and inserting in
lieu thereof ``January 1, 1998''.
(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''.
SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES UNDER OTHER PROVISIONS OF
LAW.
(a) 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''.
(b) 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, 1977''.
(c) Services and Assistance to Homeless Veterans.--The
Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992
(Public Law 102-590; 38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended--
(1) in section 2, by striking out ``September 30, 1995,''
and inserting in lieu thereof ``September 30, 1997,'';
(2) in section 3(a)--
(A) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``Subject to'';
(B) by striking out ``fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995,'';
and
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) The authority of the Secretary to make grants under
this section expires on September 30, 1997.''; and
(3) in section 12, by striking out ``each of the fiscal
years 1993, 1994, and 1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof
``each of fiscal years 1993 through 1997''.
(d) 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.''.
(2) Section 741 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 11450) is amended by
striking out ``October 1, 1995'' and inserting in lieu
thereof ``December 31, 1997''.
SEC. 103. RATIFICATION OF ACTIONS TAKEN DURING PERIOD OF
EXPIRED AUTHORITY.
Any action taken by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
before the date of the enactment of this Act under a
provision of law amended by this title was taken during the
period beginning on the date on which the authority of the
Secretary under that provision of law expired and ending on
the date of the enactment of this Act shall be considered to
have the same force and effect as if the amendment to that
provision of law made by this title had been in effect at the
time of that action.
TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. CODIFICATION OF HOUSING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND
CHANGES IN THEIR FREQUENCY.
(a) Codification of Housing Related Reporting
Requirements.--(1) Chapter 37 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding after section 3735 the following
new section:
``Sec. 3736. Reporting requirements
``The annual report required by section 529 of this title
shall include a discussion of the activities under this
chapter. Beginning with the report submitted at the close of
fiscal year 1996, and every second year thereafter, this
discussion shall include information regarding the following:
``(1) Loans made to veterans whose only qualifying service
was in the Selected Reserve.
``(2) Interest rates and discount points which were
negotiated between the lender and the veteran pursuant to
section 3703(c)(4)(A)(i) of this title.
``(3) The determination of reasonable value by lenders
pursuant to section 3731(f) of this title.
``(4) Loans that include funds for energy efficiency
improvements pursuant to section 3710(a)(10) of this title.
``(5) Direct loans to Native American veterans made
pursuant to subchapter V of this chapter.''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
3735 the following new item:
``3736. Reporting requirements.''.
[[Page H903]]
(b) Repeal of Superseded Reporting Requirements.--The
Veterans Home Loan Program Amendments of 1992 (Public Law
102-547; 106 Stat. 3633) is amended by striking out sections
2(c), 3(b), 8(d), 9(c), and 10(b).
SEC. 202. OTHER REPORT REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Report on Consolidation of Certain Programs.--The
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress, not
later than March 1, 1997, a report on the advantages and
disadvantages of consolidating into one program the following
three programs:
(1) The alcohol and drug abuse contract care program under
section 1720A of title 38, United States Code.
(2) The program to provide community-based residential care
to homeless chronically mentally ill veterans under section
115 of the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 (38
U.S.C. 1712 note).
(3) The demonstration program under section 7 of Public Law
102-54 (38 U.S.C. 1718 note).
(b) Health Professional Scholarship Program.--(1) The
Secretary shall submit to Congress, not later than March 31,
1997, a report setting forth the results of a study
evaluating the operation of the health professional
scholarship program under subchapter II of chapter 76 of
title 38, United States Code. The study shall evaluate the
efficacy of the program with respect to recruitment and
retention of health care personnel for the Department of
Veterans Affairs and shall compare the costs and benefits of
the program with the costs and benefits of alternative
methods of ensuring adequate recruitment and retention of
such personnel.
(2) The Secretary shall carry out the study under this
paragraph through a private contractor. The report under
paragraph (1) shall include the report of the contractor and
the comments, if any, of the Secretary on that report.
(c) Enhanced Use Leases.--The Secretary shall submit to
Congress, not later than March 31, 1997, a report evaluating
the operation of the program under subchapter V of chapter 81
of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 203. CONTRACTS FOR UTILITIES, AUDIE L. MURPHY MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL.
(a) Authority To Contract.--Subject to subsection (b), the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into contracts for
the provision of utilities (including steam and chilled
water) to the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Hospital in San
Antonio, Texas. Each such contract may--
(1) be for a period not to exceed 35 years;
(2) provide for the construction and operation of a
production facility on or near property under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary;
(3) require capital contributions by the parties involved
for the construction of such a facility, such contribution to
be in the form of cash, equipment, or other in-kind
contribution; and
(4) provide for a predetermined formula to compute the cost
of providing such utilities to the parties for the duration
of the contract.
(b) Funds.--A contract may be entered into under subsection
(a) only to the extent as provided for in advance in
appropriations Acts.
(c) Additional Terms.--The Secretary may include in a
contract under subsection (a) such additional provisions as
the Secretary considers necessary to secure the provision of
utilities and to protect the interests of the United States.
In lieu of the Senate amendment to the title of the bill,
amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to amend title 38,
United States Code, to extend the authority of the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to carry out certain programs and
activities, to require certain reports from the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.''.
Mr. STUMP (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that the amendments be considered as read and printed in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request
of the gentleman from Arizona?
Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I do not
plan to object, and I yield to the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump]
for an explanation of his request.
Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, in 1995 the House passed H.R. 1536, H.R. 1575, H.R.
2289, and H.R. 2353. These bills extended a variety of VA authority for
veterans health care and benefits. The other body combined the
provisions of these 4 bills and substituted them in the bill S. 991 as
an amendment to H.R. 2353 on January 5, 1996.
We now have been able to work out these compromises on those expiring
authorities. This agreement is reflected in the amendments we are
asking unanimous consent for now.
The amendment also authorized utility contracts for the Audie L.
Murphy Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Chairman Simpson has given
his commitment to address the remaining unresolved issues during the
second session of the Congress.
We are seeking unanimous consent now because these must be enacted
quickly. We hope the Senate will act on it tomorrow so that the
expiration of these authorities will not adversely impact veterans
depending on the VA for benefits and services. I hope all Members will
support this amendment.
general leave
Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 2353, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take one moment and thank my
colleague and the ranking member on the other side, the gentleman from
Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery], for his help in finalizing these bills.
Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I
will be brief.
As the distinguished chairman has indicated, this bill was actually
necessary. It was not passed in the first session, it was sent to the
Senate. They did not act on it. This will help the veterans to be able
to do some wonderful things.
Mr. Speaker, with that brief explanation, I withdraw my reservation
of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request
of the gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________