[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11790-S11791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACT

  Mr. NICKLES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 236, Senate bill 714.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 714) to make permanent the Native American 
     Veteran Housing Loan Pilot Program of the Department of 
     Veterans' Affairs.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?

[[Page S11791]]

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill 
which had been reported from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, with 
an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and inserting in 
lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF NATIVE AMERICAN 
                   VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM.

       (a) Extension.--Section 3761(c) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by striking out ``September 30, 1997'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 2003''.
       (b) Outreach.--Section 3762(i) of such title is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(i)'';
       (2) in paragraph (1), as so designated--
       (A) by inserting ``, in consultation with tribal 
     organizations (including the National Congress of American 
     Indians and the National American Indian Housing Council),'' 
     after ``The Secretary shall''; and
       (B) by striking out ``tribal organizations and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Activities under the outreach program shall include 
     the following:
       ``(A) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by 
     the National Congress of American Indians in order to work 
     with the National Congress in providing information and 
     training to tribal organizations and Native American veterans 
     regarding the availability of housing benefits under the 
     pilot program and in assisting such organizations and 
     veterans in participating in the pilot program.
       ``(B) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by 
     the National American Indian Housing Council in order to work 
     with the Housing Council in providing information and 
     training to tribal organizations and tribal housing entities 
     regarding the availability of such benefits.
       ``(C) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by 
     the Department of Hawaiian Homelands in order to work with 
     the Department of Hawaiian Homelands in providing information 
     and training to tribal housing entities in Hawaii regarding 
     the availability of such benefits.
       ``(D) Producing and disseminating information to tribal 
     governments, tribal veterans service organizations, and 
     tribal organizations regarding the availability of such 
     benefits.
       ``(E) Assisting tribal organizations and Native American 
     veterans in participating in the pilot program.''.
       (c) Annual Reports.--Section 3762 of such title is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(j) Not later than February 1 of each of 1998 through 
     2003, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
     a report relating to--
       ``(1) the implementation of the pilot program under this 
     subchapter during the fiscal year preceding the date of the 
     report;
       ``(2) the Secretary's exercise during such fiscal year of 
     the authority provided under subsection (c)(1)(B) to make 
     loans exceeding the maximum loan amount;
       ``(3) the appraisals performed for the Secretary during 
     such fiscal year under the authority of subsection (d)(2), 
     including a description of--
       ``(A) the manner in which such appraisals were performed;
       ``(B) the qualifications of the appraisers who performed 
     such appraisals; and
       ``(C) the actions taken by the Secretary with respect to 
     such appraisals to protect the interests of veterans and the 
     United States;
       ``(4) the outreach activities undertaken under subsection 
     (i) during such fiscal year, including--
       ``(A) a description of such activities on a region-by-
     region basis; and
       ``(B) an assessment of the effectiveness of such activities 
     in encouraging the participation of Native American veterans 
     in the pilot program;
       ``(5) the pool of Native American veterans who are eligible 
     for participation in the pilot program, including--
       ``(A) a description and analysis of the pool; and
       ``(B) a description and assessment of the impediments, if 
     any, to full participation in the pilot program of the Native 
     American veterans in the pool; and
       ``(6) the Secretary's recommendations, if any, for 
     additional legislation regarding the pilot program.''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES RELATING TO HOMELESS 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Dependence.--Section 
     1720A(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking out ``December 31, 1997'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``December 31, 1999''.
       (b) Agreements for Housing Assistance for Homeless 
     Veterans.--Section 3735(c) of such title is amended by 
     striking out ``December 31, 1997'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``December 31, 1999''.
       (c) 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 ``December 31, 1998'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``December 31, 1999''.
       (d) 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 ``December 31, 1997'' and inserting 
     in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1999''.
       (e) Services and Assistance to Homeless Veterans.--The 
     Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 
     (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is amended--
       (1) in section 2(a), by striking out ``September 30, 1997'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``September 30, 1999'';
       (2) in section 3(a)(2), by striking out ``September 30, 
     1997'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``September 30, 1999''; 
     and
       (3) in section 12, by striking out ``through 1997'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``through 1999''.
       (f) 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:
       ``(G) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1999.''.
       (2) Section 741 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 11450) is amended by 
     striking out ``December 31, 1997'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``December 31, 1999''.

     SEC. 3. EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF ENHANCED-USE LEASE 
                   AUTHORITY.

       (a) Expansion.--Section 8168(a) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by striking out ``20'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``40''.
       (b) Extension.--Section 8169 of such title is amended by 
     striking out ``December 31, 1997'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``December 31, 1999''.

     SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN OTHER AUTHORITIES OF THE 
                   SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Pilot Program for Noninstitutional Alternatives to 
     Nursing Home Care.--Section 1720C(a) of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking out ``December 31, 1997'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1999''.
       (b) Health Professional Scholarship Program.--Section 7618 
     of such title is amended by striking out ``December 31, 
     1997'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1999''.

  Mr. NICKLES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee amendment be agreed to, the bill be considered a third time, 
and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, the title 
amendment be agreed to, and any statements relating to the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the 
third time, and passed.
  The title was amended so as to read:
       A bill to extend and improve the Native American Veteran 
     Housing Loan Pilot Program of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs, to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs relating to services for homeless veterans, 
     to extend certain other authorities of the Secretary, and for 
     other purposes.

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