[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 17, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H9918-H9947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       VETERANS BENEFITS AND HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2000

  Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendments to the House amendments to the Senate bill (S. 
1402) to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance programs 
providing education benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Senate amendments to house amendments:
       In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the House 
     amendment to the text of the bill, insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans 
     Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

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

               TITLE I--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS

         Subtitle A--Montgomery GI Bill Educational Assistance

Sec. 101. Increase in rates of basic educational assistance under 
              Montgomery GI Bill.
Sec. 102. Uniform requirement for high school diploma or equivalency 
              before application for Montgomery GI Bill benefits.
Sec. 103. Repeal of requirement for initial obligated period of active 
              duty as condition of eligibility for Montgomery GI Bill 
              benefits.
Sec. 104. Additional opportunity for certain VEAP participants to 
              enroll in basic educational assistance under Montgomery 
              GI Bill.
Sec. 105. Increased active duty educational assistance benefit for 
              contributing members.

     Subtitle B--Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance

Sec. 111. Increase in rates of survivors' and dependents' educational 
              assistance.
Sec. 112. Election of certain recipients of commencement of period of 
              eligibility for survivors' and dependents' educational 
              assistance.
Sec. 113. Adjusted effective date for award of survivors' and 
              dependents' educational assistance.
Sec. 114. Availability under survivors' and dependents' educational 
              assistance of preparatory courses for college and 
              graduate school entrance exams.

               Subtitle C--General Educational Assistance

Sec. 121. Revision of educational assistance interval payment 
              requirements.
Sec. 122. Availability of education benefits for payment for licensing 
              or certification tests.
Sec. 123. Increase for fiscal years 2001 and 2002 in aggregate annual 
              amount available for State approving agencies for 
              administrative expenses.

                      TITLE II--HEALTH PROVISIONS

                     Subtitle A--Personnel Matters

Sec. 201. Annual national pay comparability adjustment for nurses 
              employed by Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 202. Special pay for dentists.
Sec. 203. Exemption for pharmacists from ceiling on special salary 
              rates.
Sec. 204. Temporary full-time appointments of certain medical 
              personnel.
Sec. 205. Qualifications of social workers.
Sec. 206. Physician assistant adviser to Under Secretary for Health.
Sec. 207. Extension of voluntary separation incentive payments.

                  Subtitle B--Military Service Issues

Sec. 211. Findings and sense of Congress concerning use of military 
              histories of veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs 
              health care.
Sec. 212. Study of post-traumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans.

                   Subtitle C--Medical Administration

Sec. 221. Department of Veterans Affairs Fisher Houses.
Sec. 222. Exception to recapture rule.
Sec. 223. Sense of Congress concerning cooperation between the 
              Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of 
              Defense in the procurement of medical items.
Sec. 224. Technical and conforming changes.

[[Page H9919]]

                 Subtitle D--Construction Authorization

Sec. 231. Authorization of major medical facility projects.
Sec. 232. Authorization of appropriations.

                   Subtitle E--Real Property Matters

Sec. 241. Change to enhanced use lease congressional notification 
              period.
Sec. 242. Release of reversionary interest of the United States in 
              certain real property previously conveyed to the State of 
              Tennessee.
Sec. 243. Demolition, environmental cleanup, and reversion of 
              Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Allen 
              Park, Michigan.
Sec. 244. Conveyance of certain property at the Carl Vinson Department 
              of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dublin, Georgia.
Sec. 245. Land conveyance, Miles City Department of Veterans Affairs 
              Medical Center complex, Miles City, Montana.
Sec. 246. Conveyance of Fort Lyon Department of Veterans Affairs 
              Medical Center, Colorado, to the State of Colorado.
Sec. 247. Effect of closure of Fort Lyon Department of Veterans Affairs 
              Medical Center on administration of health care for 
              veterans.

 TITLE III--COMPENSATION, INSURANCE, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND MEMORIAL 
                           AFFAIRS PROVISIONS

                Subtitle A--Compensation Program Changes

Sec. 301. Strokes and heart attacks incurred or aggravated by members 
              of reserve components in the performance of duty while 
              performing inactive duty training to be considered to be 
              service-connected.
Sec. 302. Special monthly compensation for women veterans who lose a 
              breast as a result of a service-connected disability.
Sec. 303. Benefits for persons disabled by participation in compensated 
              work therapy program.
Sec. 304. Revision to limitation on payments of benefits to incompetent 
              institutionalized veterans.
Sec. 305. Review of dose reconstruction program of the Defense Threat 
              Reduction Agency.

                   Subtitle B--Life Insurance Matters

Sec. 311. Premiums for term Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance for 
              veterans older than age 70.
Sec. 312. Increase in automatic maximum coverage under Servicemembers' 
              Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance.
Sec. 313. Eligibility of certain members of the Individual Ready 
              Reserve for Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.

              Subtitle C--Housing and Employment Programs

Sec. 321. Elimination of reduction in assistance for specially adapted 
              housing for disabled veterans for veterans having joint 
              ownership of housing units.
Sec. 322. Veterans employment emphasis under Federal contracts for 
              recently separated veterans.
Sec. 323. Employers required to grant leave of absence for employees to 
              participate in honor guards for funerals of veterans.

              Subtitle D--Cemeteries and Memorial Affairs

Sec. 331. Eligibility for interment of certain Filipino veterans of 
              World War II in national cemeteries.
Sec. 332. Payment rate of certain burial benefits for certain Filipino 
              veterans of World War II.
Sec. 333. Plot allowance for burial in State veterans cemeteries.

                        TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 401. Benefits for the children of women Vietnam veterans who 
              suffer from certain birth defects.
Sec. 402. Extension of certain expiring authorities.
Sec. 403. Preservation of certain reporting requirements.
Sec. 404. Technical amendments.

     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--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS

         Subtitle A--Montgomery GI Bill Educational Assistance

     SEC. 101. INCREASE IN RATES OF BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
                   UNDER MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

       (a) Active Duty Educational Assistance.--Section 3015 is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``$528'' and 
     inserting ``$650''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``$429'' and 
     inserting ``$528''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on November 1, 2000, and shall apply with 
     respect to educational assistance allowances paid under 
     chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code, for months after 
     October 2000.

     SEC. 102. UNIFORM REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR 
                   EQUIVALENCY BEFORE APPLICATION FOR MONTGOMERY 
                   GI BILL BENEFITS.

       (a) Active Duty Program.--(1) Section 3011 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (2) and 
     inserting the following new paragraph (2):
       ``(2) who completes the requirements of a secondary school 
     diploma (or equivalency certificate), or successfully 
     completes (or otherwise receives academic credit for) the 
     equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education 
     leading to a standard college degree, before applying for 
     benefits under this section; and''; and
       (B) by striking subsection (e).
       (2) Section 3017(a)(1)(A)(ii) is amended by striking 
     ``clause (2)(A)'' and inserting ``clause (2)''.
       (b) Selected Reserve Program.--Section 3012 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (2) and 
     inserting the following new paragraph (2):
       ``(2) who completes the requirements of a secondary school 
     diploma (or equivalency certificate), or successfully 
     completes (or otherwise receives academic credit for) the 
     equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education 
     leading to a standard college degree, before applying for 
     benefits under this section; and''; and
       (2) by striking subsection (f).
       (c) Withdrawal of Election Not To Enroll.--Paragraph (4) of 
     section 3018(b) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(4) before applying for benefits under this section--
       ``(A) completes the requirements of a secondary school 
     diploma (or equivalency certificate); or
       ``(B) successfully completes (or otherwise receives 
     academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a 
     program of education leading to a standard college degree; 
     and''.
       (d) Educational Assistance Program for Members of Selected 
     Reserve.--Paragraph (2) of section 16132(a) of title 10, 
     United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
       ``(2) before applying for benefits under this section, has 
     completed the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or 
     an equivalency certificate);''.
       (e) Delimiting Period.--(1) In the case of an individual 
     described in paragraph (2), with respect to the time 
     limitation under section 3031 of title 38, United States 
     Code, for use of eligibility and entitlement of basic 
     educational assistance under chapter 30 of such title, the 
     10-year period applicable under such section shall begin on 
     the later of--
       (A) the date of the enactment of this Act; or
       (B) the date of the individual's last discharge or release 
     from active duty.
       (2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an 
     individual who--
       (A) before the date of the enactment of this Act, was not 
     eligible for such basic educational assistance by reason of 
     the requirement of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency 
     certificate) as a condition of eligibility for such 
     assistance as in effect on the date preceding the date of the 
     enactment of this Act; and
       (B) becomes entitled to basic educational assistance under 
     section 3011(a)(2), 3012(a)(2), or 3018(b)(4) of title 38, 
     United States Code, by reason of the amendments made by this 
     section.

     SEC. 103. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR INITIAL OBLIGATED PERIOD 
                   OF ACTIVE DUTY AS CONDITION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR 
                   MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS.

       (a) Active Duty Program.--Section 3011 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)(A)--
       (A) by striking clause (i) and inserting the following new 
     clause (i):
       ``(i) who serves an obligated period of active duty of at 
     least two years of continuous active duty in the Armed 
     Forces; or''; and
       (B) in clause (ii)(II), by striking ``in the case of an 
     individual who completed not less than 20 months'' and all 
     that follows through ``was at least three years'' and 
     inserting ``if, in the case of an individual with an 
     obligated period of service of two years, the individual 
     completes not less than 20 months of continuous active duty 
     under that period of obligated service, or, in the case of an 
     individual with an obligated period of service of at least 
     three years, the individual completes not less than 30 months 
     of continuous active duty under that period of obligated 
     service'';
       (2) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``individual's 
     initial obligated period of active duty'' and inserting 
     ``obligated period of active duty on which an individual's 
     entitlement to assistance under this section is based'';
       (3) in subsection (h)(2)(A), by striking ``during an 
     initial period of active duty,'' and inserting ``during the 
     obligated period of active duty on which entitlement to 
     assistance under this section is based,''; and
       (4) in subsection (i), by striking ``initial''.
       (b) Selected Reserve Program.--Section 3012 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)(A)(i), by striking ``, as the 
     individual's'' and all that follows through ``Armed Forces'' 
     and inserting ``an obligated period of active duty of at 
     least two years of continuous active duty in the Armed 
     Forces''; and
       (2) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``initial''.
       (c) Duration of Assistance.--Section 3013 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``individual's 
     initial obligated period of active duty'' and inserting 
     ``obligated period of active duty on which such entitlement 
     is based''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``individual's 
     initial obligated period of active duty'' and inserting 
     ``obligated period of active duty on which such entitlement 
     is based''.
       (d) Amount of Assistance.--Section 3015 is amended--
       (1) in the second sentence of subsection (a), by inserting 
     before ``a basic educational assistance allowance'' the 
     following: ``in the case of an individual entitled to an 
     educational assistance allowance under this chapter whose 
     obligated

[[Page H9920]]

     period of active duty on which such entitlement is based is 
     three years,'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``and whose initial 
     obligated period of active duty is two years,'' and inserting 
     ``whose obligated period of active duty on which such 
     entitlement is based is two years,''; and
       (3) in subsection (c)(2), by striking subparagraphs (A) and 
     (B) and inserting the following new subparagraphs (A) and 
     (B):
       ``(A) whose obligated period of active duty on which such 
     entitlement is based is less than three years;
       ``(B) who, beginning on the date of the commencement of 
     such obligated period of active duty, serves a continuous 
     period of active duty of not less than three years; and''.
       (e) Delimiting Period.--(1) In the case of an individual 
     described in paragraph (2), with respect to the time 
     limitation under section 3031 of title 38, United States 
     Code, for use of eligibility and entitlement of basic 
     educational assistance under chapter 30 of such title, the 
     10-year period applicable under such section shall begin on 
     the later of--
       (A) the date of the enactment of this Act; or
       (B) the date of the individual's last discharge or release 
     from active duty.
       (2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an 
     individual who--
       (A) before the date of the enactment of this Act, was not 
     eligible for basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of 
     such title by reason of the requirement of an initial 
     obligated period of active duty as condition of eligibility 
     for such assistance as in effect on the date preceding the 
     date of the enactment of this Act; and
       (B) on or after such date becomes eligible for such 
     assistance by reason of the amendments made by this section.

     SEC. 104. ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CERTAIN VEAP 
                   PARTICIPANTS TO ENROLL IN BASIC EDUCATIONAL 
                   ASSISTANCE UNDER MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

       (a) Special Enrollment Period.--Section 3018C is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e)(1) A qualified individual (described in paragraph 
     (2)) may make an irrevocable election under this subsection, 
     during the one-year period beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of this subsection, to become entitled to basic 
     educational assistance under this chapter. Such an election 
     shall be made in the same manner as elections made under 
     subsection (a)(5).
       ``(2) A qualified individual referred to in paragraph (1) 
     is an individual who meets each of the following 
     requirements:
       ``(A) The individual was a participant in the educational 
     benefits program under chapter 32 of this title on or before 
     October 9, 1996.
       ``(B) The individual has continuously served on active duty 
     since October 9, 1996 (excluding the periods referred to in 
     section 3202(1)(C) of this title), through at least April, 1, 
     2000.
       ``(C) The individual meets the requirements of subsection 
     (a)(3).
       ``(D) The individual, when discharged or released from 
     active duty, is discharged or released therefrom with an 
     honorable discharge.
       ``(3)(A) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this 
     paragraph, with respect to a qualified individual who makes 
     an election under paragraph (1) to become entitled to basic 
     education assistance under this chapter--
       ``(i) the basic pay of the qualified individual shall be 
     reduced (in a manner determined by the Secretary concerned) 
     until the total amount by which such basic pay is reduced is 
     $2,700; and
       ``(ii) to the extent that basic pay is not so reduced 
     before the qualified individual's discharge or release from 
     active duty as specified in subsection (a)(4), at the 
     election of the qualified individual--
       ``(I) the Secretary concerned shall collect from the 
     qualified individual; or
       ``(II) the Secretary concerned shall reduce the retired or 
     retainer pay of the qualified individual by,
     an amount equal to the difference between $2,700 and the 
     total amount of reductions under clause (i), which shall be 
     paid into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous 
     receipts.
       ``(B)(i) The Secretary concerned shall provide for an 18-
     month period, beginning on the date the qualified individual 
     makes an election under paragraph (1), for the qualified 
     individual to pay that Secretary the amount due under 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(ii) Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed as 
     modifying the period of eligibility for and entitlement to 
     basic education assistance under this chapter applicable 
     under section 3031 of this title.
       ``(C) The provisions of subsection (c) shall apply to 
     qualified individuals making elections under this subsection 
     in the same manner as they applied to individuals making 
     elections under subsection (a)(5).
       ``(4) With respect to qualified individuals referred to in 
     paragraph (3)(A)(ii), no amount of educational assistance 
     allowance under this chapter shall be paid to the qualified 
     individual until the earlier of the date on which--
       ``(A) the Secretary concerned collects the applicable 
     amount under subclause (I) of such paragraph; or
       ``(B) the retired or retainer pay of the qualified 
     individual is first reduced under subclause (II) of such 
     paragraph.
       ``(5) The Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of 
     Defense, shall provide for notice to participants in the 
     educational benefits program under chapter 32 of this title 
     of the opportunity under this subsection to elect to become 
     entitled to basic educational assistance under this 
     chapter.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3018C(b) is amended by 
     striking ``subsection (a)'' and inserting ``subsection (a) or 
     (e)''.
       (c) Coordination Provisions.--(1) If this Act is enacted 
     before the provisions of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 are enacted into law, 
     section 1601 of that Act, including the amendments made by 
     that section, shall not take effect. If this Act is enacted 
     after the provisions of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 are enacted into law, 
     then as of the enactment of this Act, the amendments made by 
     section 1601 of that Act shall be deemed for all purposes not 
     to have taken effect and that section shall cease to be in 
     effect.
       (2) If the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 is 
     enacted before the provisions of the Floyd D. Spence National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 are enacted 
     into law, section 1611 of the Floyd D. Spence National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001, including the 
     amendments made by that section, shall not take effect. If 
     the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 is enacted after 
     the provisions of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 are enacted into law, 
     then as of the enactment of the Veterans Claims Assistance 
     Act of 2000, the amendments made by section 1611 of the Floyd 
     D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2001 shall be deemed for all purposes not to have taken 
     effect and that section shall cease to be in effect.

     SEC. 105. INCREASED ACTIVE DUTY EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
                   BENEFIT FOR CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS.

       (a) Authority To Make Contributions for Increased 
     Assistance Amount.--(1) Section 3011, as amended by section 
     102(a)(1)(B), is amended by inserting after subsection (d) 
     the following new subsection (e):
       ``(e)(1) Any individual eligible for educational assistance 
     under this section who does not make an election under 
     subsection (c)(1) may contribute amounts for purposes of 
     receiving an increased amount of basic educational assistance 
     as provided for under section 3015(g) of this title. Such 
     contributions shall be in addition to any reductions in the 
     basic pay of such individual under subsection (b).
       ``(2) An individual covered by paragraph (1) may make the 
     contributions authorized by that paragraph at any time while 
     on active duty.
       ``(3) The total amount of the contributions made by an 
     individual under paragraph (1) may not exceed $600. Such 
     contributions shall be made in multiples of $4.
       ``(4) Contributions under this subsection shall be made to 
     the Secretary. The Secretary shall deposit any amounts 
     received by the Secretary as contributions under this 
     subsection into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.''.
       (2) Section 3012, as amended by section 102(b)(2), is 
     amended by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
     subsection (f):
       ``(f)(1) Any individual eligible for educational assistance 
     under this section who does not make an election under 
     subsection (d)(1) may contribute amounts for purposes of 
     receiving an increased amount of basic educational assistance 
     as provided for under section 3015(g) of this title. Such 
     contributions shall be in addition to any reductions in the 
     basic pay of such individual under subsection (c).
       ``(2) An individual covered by paragraph (1) may make the 
     contributions authorized by that paragraph at any time while 
     on active duty.
       ``(3) The total amount of the contributions made by an 
     individual under paragraph (1) may not exceed $600. Such 
     contributions shall be made in multiples of $4.
       ``(4) Contributions under this subsection shall be made to 
     the Secretary. The Secretary shall deposit any amounts 
     received by the Secretary as contributions under this 
     subsection into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.''.
       (b) Increased Assistance Amount.--Section 3015 is amended--
       (1) by striking ``subsection (g)'' each place it appears in 
     subsections (a)(1) and (b)(1) and inserting ``subsection 
     (h)'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new 
     subsection (g):
       ``(g) In the case of an individual who has made 
     contributions authorized by section 3011(e) or 3012(f) of 
     this title, the monthly amount of basic educational 
     assistance allowance applicable to such individual under 
     subsection (a), (b), or (c) shall be the monthly rate 
     otherwise provided for under the applicable subsection 
     increased by--
       ``(1) an amount equal to $1 for each $4 contributed by such 
     individual under section 3011(e) or 3012(f), as the case may 
     be, for an approved program of education pursued on a full-
     time basis; or
       ``(2) an appropriately reduced amount based on the amount 
     so contributed, as determined under regulations which the 
     Secretary shall prescribe, for an approved program of 
     education pursued on less than a full-time basis.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on May 1, 2001.
       (d) Transitional Provision for Individuals Discharged 
     Between Enactment and Effective Date.--(1) During the period 
     beginning on May 1, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2001, an 
     individual described in paragraph (2) may make contributions 
     under section 3011(e) or 3012(f) of title 38, United States 
     Code (as added by subsection (a)), whichever is applicable to 
     that individual, without regard to paragraph (2) of that 
     section and otherwise in the same manner as an individual 
     eligible for educational assistance under chapter 30 of such 
     title who is on active duty.
       (2) Paragraph (1) applies in the case of an individual 
     who--
       (A) is discharged or released from active duty during the 
     period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
     ending on April 30, 2001; and
       (B) is eligible for educational assistance under chapter 30 
     of title 38, United States Code.

[[Page H9921]]

     Subtitle B--Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance

     SEC. 111. INCREASE IN RATES OF SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance.--
     Section 3532 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
       (A) by striking ``$485'' and inserting ``$588'';
       (B) by striking ``$365'' and inserting ``$441''; and
       (C) by striking ``$242'' and inserting ``$294'';
       (2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``$485'' and 
     inserting ``$588'';
       (3) in subsection (b), by striking ``$485'' and inserting 
     ``$588''; and
       (4) in subsection (c)(2)--
       (A) by striking ``$392'' and inserting ``$475'';
       (B) by striking ``$294'' and inserting ``$356''; and
       (C) by striking ``$196'' and inserting ``$238''.
       (b) Correspondence Course.--Section 3534(b) is amended by 
     striking ``$485'' and inserting ``$588''.
       (c) Special Restorative Training.--Section 3542(a) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``$485'' and inserting ``$588'';
       (2) by striking ``$152'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``$184''; and
       (3) by striking ``$16.16'' and all that follows and 
     inserting ``such increased amount of allowance that is equal 
     to one-thirtieth of the full-time basic monthly rate of 
     special training allowance.''.
       (d) Apprenticeship Training.--Section 3687(b)(2) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``$353'' and inserting ``$428'';
       (2) by striking ``$264'' and inserting ``$320'';
       (3) by striking ``$175'' and inserting ``$212''; and
       (4) by striking ``$88'' and inserting ``$107''.
       (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     through (d) shall take effect on November 1, 2000, and shall 
     apply with respect to educational assistance allowances paid 
     under chapter 35 of title 38, United States Code, for months 
     after October 2000.
       (f) Annual Adjustments to Amounts of Assistance.--
       (1) Chapter 35.--(A) Subchapter VI of chapter 35 is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 3564. Annual adjustment of amounts of educational 
       assistance

       ``With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
     provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) 
     in the rates payable under sections 3532, 3534(b), and 
     3542(a) of this title equal to the percentage by which--
       ``(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States 
     city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 
     preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the 
     increase is made, exceeds
       ``(2) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
     preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).''.
       (B) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 35 is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3563 
     the following new item:

``3564. Annual adjustment of amounts of educational assistance.''.
       (2) Chapter 36.--Section 3687 is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(d) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
     provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) 
     in the rates payable under subsection (b)(2) equal to the 
     percentage by which--
       ``(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States 
     city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 
     preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the 
     increase is made, exceeds
       ``(2) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
     preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).''.
       (3) Effective date.--Sections 3654 and 3687(d) of title 38, 
     United States Code, as added by this subsection, shall take 
     effect on October 1, 2001.

     SEC. 112. ELECTION OF CERTAIN RECIPIENTS OF COMMENCEMENT OF 
                   PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SURVIVORS' AND 
                   DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       Section 3512(a)(3) is amended by striking ``8 years 
     after,'' and all that follows through the end and inserting 
     ``8 years after the date that is elected by that person to be 
     the beginning date of entitlement under section 3511 of this 
     title or subchapter V of this chapter if--
       ``(A) the Secretary approves that beginning date;
       ``(B) the eligible person makes that election after the 
     person's eighteenth birthday but before the person's twenty-
     sixth birthday; and
       ``(C) that beginning date--
       ``(i) in the case of a person whose eligibility is based on 
     a parent who has a service-connected total disability 
     permanent in nature, is between the dates described in 
     subsection (d); and
       ``(ii) in the case of a person whose eligibility is based 
     on the death of a parent, is between--

       ``(I) the date of the parent's death; and
       ``(II) the date of the Secretary's decision that the death 
     was service-connected;''.

     SEC. 113. ADJUSTED EFFECTIVE DATE FOR AWARD OF SURVIVORS' AND 
                   DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Section 5113 is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);
       (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``subsection (b) of this 
     section'' and inserting ``subsections (b) and (c)''; and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(b)(1) When determining the effective date of an award 
     under chapter 35 of this title for an individual described in 
     paragraph (2) based on an original claim, the Secretary may 
     consider the individual's application as having been filed on 
     the eligibility date of the individual if that eligibility 
     date is more than one year before the date of the initial 
     rating decision.
       ``(2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an 
     eligible person who--
       ``(A) submits to the Secretary an original application for 
     educational assistance under chapter 35 of this title within 
     one year of the date that the Secretary makes the rating 
     decision;
       ``(B) claims such educational assistance for pursuit of an 
     approved program of education during a period preceding the 
     one-year period ending on the date on which the application 
     was received by the Secretary; and
       ``(C) would have been entitled to such educational 
     assistance for such course pursuit if the individual had 
     submitted such an application on the individual's eligibility 
     date.
       ``(3) In this subsection:
       ``(A) The term `eligibility date' means the date on which 
     an individual becomes an eligible person.
       ``(B) The term `eligible person' has the meaning given that 
     term under section 3501(a)(1) of this title under 
     subparagraph (A)(i), (A)(ii), (B), or (D) of such section by 
     reason of either (i) the service-connected death or (ii) 
     service-connected total disability permanent in nature of the 
     veteran from whom such eligibility is derived.
       ``(C) The term `initial rating decision' means with respect 
     to an eligible person a decision made by the Secretary that 
     establishes (i) service connection for such veteran's death 
     or (ii) the existence of such veteran's service-connected 
     total disability permanent in nature, as the case may be.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply to applications first made under section 3513 of 
     title 38, United States Code, that--
       (1) are received on or after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act; or
       (2) on the date of the enactment of this Act, are pending 
     (A) with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (B) exhaustion 
     of available administrative and judicial remedies.

     SEC. 114. AVAILABILITY UNDER SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE OF PREPARATORY COURSES 
                   FOR COLLEGE AND GRADUATE SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3501(a)(5) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new sentence: ``Such term also includes 
     any preparatory course described in section 3002(3)(B) of 
     this title.''.
       (b) Scope of Availability.--Section 3512(a) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (5);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (6) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) if the person is pursuing a preparatory course 
     described in section 3002(3)(B) of this title, such period 
     may begin on the date that is the first day of such course 
     pursuit, notwithstanding that such date may be before the 
     person's eighteenth birthday, except that in no case may such 
     person be afforded educational assistance under this chapter 
     for pursuit of secondary schooling unless such course pursuit 
     would otherwise be authorized under this subsection.''.

               Subtitle C--General Educational Assistance

     SEC. 121. REVISION OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE INTERVAL PAYMENT 
                   REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Subclause (C) of the third sentence of 
     section 3680(a) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(C) during periods between school terms where the 
     educational institution certifies the enrollment of the 
     eligible veteran or eligible person on an individual term 
     basis if (i) the period between those terms does not exceed 
     eight weeks, and (ii) both the terms preceding and following 
     the period are not shorter in length than the period.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to payments of educational 
     assistance under title 38, United States Code, for months 
     beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 122. AVAILABILITY OF EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR PAYMENT FOR 
                   LICENSING OR CERTIFICATION TESTS.

       (a) In General.--Sections 3452(b) and 3501(a)(5) (as 
     amended by section 114(a)) are each amended by adding at the 
     end the following new sentence: ``Such term also includes 
     licensing or certification tests, the successful completion 
     of which demonstrates an individual's possession of the 
     knowledge or skill required to enter into, maintain, or 
     advance in employment in a predetermined and identified 
     vocation or profession, provided such tests and the licensing 
     or credentialing organizations or entities that offer such 
     tests are approved by the Secretary in accordance with 
     section 3689 of this title.''.
       (b) Amount of Payment.--
       (1) Chapter 30.--Section 3032 is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(f)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of 
     educational assistance payable under this chapter for a 
     licensing or certification test described in section 3452(b) 
     of this title is the lesser of $2,000 or the fee charged for 
     the test.
       ``(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the 
     case of any individual for such licensing or certification 
     test is equal to the number (including any fraction) 
     determined by dividing the total amount of educational 
     assistance paid such individual for such test by the full-
     time monthly institutional rate of educational assistance 
     which, except for paragraph (1), such individual would 
     otherwise be paid under subsection (a)(1), (b)(1), (d), or 
     (e)(1) of section 3015 of this title, as the case may be.
       ``(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance 
     under this subsection for such a test

[[Page H9922]]

     exceed the amount of the individual's available entitlement 
     under this chapter.''.
       (2) Chapter 32.--Section 3232 is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(c)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of 
     educational assistance payable under this chapter for a 
     licensing or certification test described in section 3452(b) 
     of this title is the lesser of $2,000 or the fee charged for 
     the test.
       ``(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the 
     case of any individual for such licensing or certification 
     test is equal to the number (including any fraction) 
     determined by dividing the total amount paid to such 
     individual for such test by the full-time monthly 
     institutional rate of the educational assistance allowance 
     which, except for paragraph (1), such individual would 
     otherwise be paid under this chapter.
       ``(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance 
     under this subsection for such a test exceed the amount of 
     the individual's available entitlement under this chapter.''.
       (3) Chapter 34.--Section 3482 is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(h)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of 
     educational assistance payable under this chapter for a 
     licensing or certification test described in section 3452(b) 
     of this title is the lesser of $2,000 or the fee charged for 
     the test.
       ``(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the 
     case of any individual for such licensing or certification 
     test is equal to the number (including any fraction) 
     determined by dividing the total amount paid to such 
     individual for such test by the full-time monthly 
     institutional rate of the educational assistance allowance 
     which, except for paragraph (1), such individual would 
     otherwise be paid under this chapter.
       ``(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance 
     under this subsection for such a test exceed the amount of 
     the individual's available entitlement under this chapter.''.
       (4) Chapter 35.--Section 3532 is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(f)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of 
     educational assistance payable under this chapter for a 
     licensing or certification test described in section 
     3501(a)(5) of this title is the lesser of $2,000 or the fee 
     charged for the test.
       ``(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the 
     case of any individual for such licensing or certification 
     test is equal to the number (including any fraction) 
     determined by dividing the total amount paid to such 
     individual for such test by the full-time monthly 
     institutional rate of the educational assistance allowance 
     which, except for paragraph (1), such individual would 
     otherwise be paid under this chapter.
       ``(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance 
     under this subsection for such a test exceed the amount of 
     the individual's available entitlement under this chapter.''.
       (c) Requirements for Licensing and Credentialing Testing.--
     (1) Chapter 36 is amended by inserting after section 3688 the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 3689. Approval requirements for licensing and 
       certification testing

       ``(a) In General.--(1) No payment may be made for a 
     licensing or certification test described in section 3452(b) 
     or 3501(a)(5) of this title unless the Secretary determines 
     that the requirements of this section have been met with 
     respect to such test and the organization or entity offering 
     the test. The requirements of approval for tests and 
     organizations or entities offering tests shall be in 
     accordance with the provisions of this chapter and chapters 
     30, 32, 34, and 35 of this title and with regulations 
     prescribed by the Secretary to carry out this section.
       ``(2) To the extent that the Secretary determines 
     practicable, State approving agencies may, in lieu of the 
     Secretary, approve licensing and certification tests, and 
     organizations and entities offering such tests, under this 
     section.
       ``(b) Requirements for Tests.--(1) Subject to paragraph 
     (2), a licensing or certification test is approved for 
     purposes of this section only if--
       ``(A) the test is required under Federal, State, or local 
     law or regulation for an individual to enter into, maintain, 
     or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified 
     vocation or profession; or
       ``(B) the Secretary determines that the test is generally 
     accepted, in accordance with relevant government, business, 
     or industry standards, employment policies, or hiring 
     practices, as attesting to a level of knowledge or skill 
     required to qualify to enter into, maintain, or advance in 
     employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or 
     profession.
       ``(2) A licensing or certification test offered by a State, 
     or a political subdivision of a State, is deemed approved by 
     the Secretary for purposes of this section.
       ``(c) Requirements for Organizations or Entities Offering 
     Tests.--(1) Each organization or entity that is not an entity 
     of the United States, a State, or political subdivision of a 
     State, that offers a licensing or certification test for 
     which payment may be made under chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of 
     this title and that meets the following requirements, shall 
     be approved by the Secretary to offer such test:
       ``(A) The organization or entity certifies to the Secretary 
     that the licensing or certification test offered by the 
     organization or entity is generally accepted, in accordance 
     with relevant government, business, or industry standards, 
     employment policies, or hiring practices, as attesting to a 
     level of knowledge or skill required to qualify to enter 
     into, maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined 
     and identified vocation or profession.
       ``(B) The organization or entity is licensed, chartered, or 
     incorporated in a State and has offered the test for a 
     minimum of two years before the date on which the 
     organization or entity first submits to the Secretary an 
     application for approval under this section.
       ``(C) The organization or entity employs, or consults with, 
     individuals with expertise or substantial experience with 
     respect to all areas of knowledge or skill that are measured 
     by the test and that are required for the license or 
     certificate issued.
       ``(D) The organization or entity has no direct financial 
     interest in--
       ``(i) the outcome of the test; or
       ``(ii) organizations that provide the education or training 
     of candidates for licenses or certificates required for 
     vocations or professions.
       ``(E) The organization or entity maintains appropriate 
     records with respect to all candidates who take the test for 
     a period prescribed by the Secretary, but in no case for a 
     period of less than three years.
       ``(F)(i) The organization or entity promptly issues notice 
     of the results of the test to the candidate for the license 
     or certificate.
       ``(ii) The organization or entity has in place a process to 
     review complaints submitted against the organization or 
     entity with respect to the test or the process for obtaining 
     a license or certificate required for vocations or 
     professions.
       ``(G) The organization or entity furnishes to the Secretary 
     such information with respect to the test as the Secretary 
     requires to determine whether payment may be made for the 
     test under chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, including 
     personal identifying information, fee payment, and test 
     results. Such information shall be furnished in the form 
     prescribed by the Secretary.
       ``(H) The organization or entity furnishes to the Secretary 
     the following information:
       ``(i) A description of the licensing or certification test 
     offered by the organization or entity, including the purpose 
     of the test, the vocational, professional, governmental, and 
     other entities that recognize the test, and the license of 
     certificate issued upon successful completion of the test.
       ``(ii) The requirements to take the test, including the 
     amount of the fee charged for the test and any prerequisite 
     education, training, skills, or other certification.
       ``(iii) The period for which the license or certificate 
     awarded upon successful completion of the test is valid, and 
     the requirements for maintaining or renewing the license or 
     certificate.
       ``(I) Upon request of the Secretary, the organization or 
     entity furnishes such information to the Secretary that the 
     Secretary determines necessary to perform an assessment of--
       ``(i) the test conducted by the organization or entity as 
     compared to the level of knowledge or skills that a license 
     or certificate attests; and
       ``(ii) the applicability of the test over such periods of 
     time as the Secretary determines appropriate.
       ``(2) With respect to each organization or entity that is 
     an entity of the United States, a State, or political 
     subdivision of a State, that offers a licensing or 
     certification test for which payment may be made under 30, 
     32, 34, or 35 of this title, the following provisions of 
     paragraph (1) shall apply to the entity: subparagraphs (E), 
     (F), (G), and (H).
       ``(d) Administration.--Except as otherwise specifically 
     provided in this section or chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this 
     title, in implementing this section and making payment under 
     any such chapter for a licensing or certification test, the 
     test is deemed to be a `course' and the organization or 
     entity that offers such test is deemed to be an `institution' 
     or `educational institution', respectively, as those terms 
     are applied under and for purposes of sections 3671, 3673, 
     3674, 3678, 3679, 3681, 3682, 3683, 3685, 3690, and 3696 of 
     this title.
       ``(e) Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory 
     Committee.--(1) There is established within the Department a 
     committee to be known as the Professional Certification and 
     Licensure Advisory Committee (hereinafter in this section 
     referred to as the `Committee').
       ``(2) The Committee shall advise the Secretary with respect 
     to the requirements of organizations or entities offering 
     licensing and certification tests to individuals for which 
     payment for such tests may be made under chapter 30, 32, 34, 
     or 35 of this title, and such other related issues as the 
     Committee determines to be appropriate.
       ``(3)(A) The Secretary shall appoint seven individuals with 
     expertise in matters relating to licensing and certification 
     tests to serve as members of the Committee.
       ``(B) The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Defense 
     shall serve as ex officio members of the Committee.
       ``(C) A vacancy in the Committee shall be filled in the 
     manner in which the original appointment was made.
       ``(4)(A) The Secretary shall appoint the chairman of the 
     Committee.
       ``(B) The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairman.
       ``(5) The Committee shall terminate December 31, 2006.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 36 is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3688 
     the following new item:

``3689. Approval requirements for licensing and certification 
              testing.''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on March 1, 2001, and shall apply with 
     respect to licensing and certification tests approved by the 
     Secretary on Veterans Affairs on or after such date.
       (e) Startup Funding.--From amounts appropriated to the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2001 for 
     readjustment benefits, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall use an amount not to exceed $3,000,000 to develop the 
     systems and procedures required to make payments under 
     chapters 30, 32, 34, and 35 of title

[[Page H9923]]

     38, United States Code, for licensing and certification 
     tests.

     SEC. 123. INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEARS 2001 AND 2002 IN 
                   AGGREGATE ANNUAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR STATE 
                   APPROVING AGENCIES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

       Section 3674(a)(4) is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence, by inserting ``or, for each of 
     fiscal years 2001 and 2002, $14,000,000'' after 
     ``$13,000,000''; and
       (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``$13,000,000'' 
     both places it appears and inserting ``the amount applicable 
     to that fiscal year under the preceding sentence''.

                      TITLE II--HEALTH PROVISIONS

                     Subtitle A--Personnel Matters

     SEC. 201. ANNUAL NATIONAL PAY COMPARABILITY ADJUSTMENT FOR 
                   NURSES EMPLOYED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) Revised Pay Adjustment Procedures.--(1) Subsection (d) 
     of section 7451 is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking ``The rates'' and inserting ``Subject to 
     subsection (e), the rates''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (A)--
       (I) by striking ``section 5305'' and inserting ``section 
     5303''; and
       (II) by inserting ``and to be by the same percentage'' 
     after ``to have the same effective date'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Such'' in the second 
     sentence and inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph 
     (1)(A), such'';
       (C) in paragraph (3)(B)--
       (i) by inserting after the first sentence the following new 
     sentence: ``To the extent practicable, the director shall use 
     third-party industry wage surveys to meet the requirements of 
     the preceding sentence.'';
       (ii) by inserting before the penultimate sentence the 
     following new sentence: ``To the extent practicable, all 
     surveys conducted pursuant to this subparagraph or 
     subparagraph (A) shall include the collection of salary 
     midpoints, actual salaries, lowest and highest salaries, 
     average salaries, bonuses, incentive pays, differential pays, 
     actual beginning rates of pay, and such other information 
     needed to meet the purpose of this section.''; and
       (iii) in the penultimate sentence, by inserting ``or 
     published'' after ``completed''; and
       (D) by striking clause (iii) of paragraph (3)(C).
       (2) Subsection (e) of such section is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(e)(1) An adjustment in a rate of basic pay under 
     subsection (d) may not reduce the rate of basic pay 
     applicable to any grade of a covered position.
       ``(2) The director of a Department health-care facility, in 
     determining whether to carry out a wage survey under 
     subsection (d)(3) with respect to rates of basic pay for a 
     grade of a covered position, may not consider as a factor in 
     such determination the absence of a current recruitment or 
     retention problem for personnel in that grade of that 
     position. The director shall make such a determination based 
     upon whether, in accordance with criteria established by the 
     Secretary, there is a significant pay-related staffing 
     problem at that facility in any grade for a position. If the 
     director determines that there is such a problem, or that 
     such a problem is likely to exist in the near future, the 
     Director shall provide for a wage survey in accordance with 
     subsection (d)(3).
       ``(3) The Under Secretary for Health may, to the extent 
     necessary to carry out the purposes of subsection (d), modify 
     any determination made by the director of a Department 
     health-care facility with respect to adjusting the rates of 
     basic pay applicable to covered positions. If the 
     determination of the director would result in an adjustment 
     in rates of basic pay applicable to covered positions, any 
     action by the Under Secretary under the preceding sentence 
     shall be made before the effective date of such pay 
     adjustment. Upon such action by the Under Secretary, any 
     adjustment shall take effect on the first day of the first 
     pay period beginning after such action. The Secretary shall 
     ensure that the Under Secretary establishes a mechanism for 
     the timely exercise of the authority in this paragraph.
       ``(4) Each director of a Department health-care facility 
     shall provide to the Secretary, not later than July 31 each 
     year, a report on staffing for covered positions at that 
     facility. The report shall include the following:
       ``(A) Information on turnover rates and vacancy rates for 
     each grade in a covered position, including a comparison of 
     those rates with the rates for the preceding three years.
       ``(B) The director's findings concerning the review and 
     evaluation of the facility's staffing situation, including 
     whether there is, or is likely to be, in accordance with 
     criteria established by the Secretary, a significant pay-
     related staffing problem at that facility for any grade of a 
     covered position and, if so, whether a wage survey was 
     conducted, or will be conducted with respect to that grade.
       ``(C) In any case in which the director conducts such a 
     wage survey during the period covered by the report, 
     information describing the survey and any actions taken or 
     not taken based on the survey, and the reasons for taking (or 
     not taking) such actions.
       ``(D) In any case in which the director, after finding that 
     there is, or is likely to be, in accordance with criteria 
     established by the Secretary, a significant pay-related 
     staffing problem at that facility for any grade of a covered 
     position, determines not to conduct a wage survey with 
     respect to that position, a statement of the reasons why the 
     director did not conduct such a survey.
       ``(5) Not later than September 30 of each year, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on 
     staffing for covered positions at Department health care 
     facilities. Each such report shall include the following:
       ``(A) A summary and analysis of the information contained 
     in the most recent reports submitted by facility directors 
     under paragraph (4).
       ``(B) The information for each such facility specified in 
     paragraph (4).''.
       (3) Subsection (f) of such section is amended--
       (A) by striking ``February 1 of 1991, 1992, and 1993'' and 
     inserting ``March 1 of each year''; and
       (B) by striking ``subsection (d)(1)(A)'' and inserting 
     ``subsection (d)''.
       (4) Such section is further amended by striking subsection 
     (g) and redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g).
       (b) Required Consultations With Nurses.--(1) Subchapter II 
     of chapter 73 is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 7323. Required consultations with nurses

       ``The Under Secretary for Health shall ensure that--
       ``(1) the director of a geographic service area, in 
     formulating policy relating to the provision of patient care, 
     shall consult regularly with a senior nurse executive or 
     senior nurse executives; and
       ``(2) the director of a medical center shall include a 
     registered nurse as a member of any committee used at that 
     medical center to provide recommendations or decisions on 
     medical center operations or policy affecting clinical 
     services, clinical outcomes, budget, or resources.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
     7322 the following new item:

``7323. Required consultations with nurses.''.

     SEC. 202. SPECIAL PAY FOR DENTISTS.

       (a) Full-Time Status Pay.--Paragraph (1) of section 7435(b) 
     is amended by striking ``$3,500'' and inserting ``$9,000''.
       (b) Tenure Pay.--The table in paragraph (2)(A) of that 
     section is amended to read as follows:


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Rate
              ``Length of Service              -------------------------
                                                  Minimum      Maximum
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 year but less than 2 years..................       $1,000       $2,000
2 years but less than 4 years.................        4,000        5,000
4 years but less than 8 years.................        5,000        8,000
8 years but less than 12 years................        8,000       12,000
12 years but less than 20 years...............       12,000       15,000
20 years or more..............................       15,000   18,000.''.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

       (c) Scarce Specialty Pay.--Paragraph (3)(A) of that section 
     is amended by striking ``$20,000'' and inserting ``$30,000''.
       (d) Responsibility Pay.--(1) The table in paragraph (4)(A) 
     of that section is amended to read as follows:


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Rate
                  ``Position                   -------------------------
                                                  Minimum      Maximum
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chief of Staff or in an Executive Grade.......      $14,500      $25,000
Director Grade................................            0       25,000
Service Chief (or in a comparable position as         4,500   15,000.''.
 determined by the Secretary).................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

       (2) The table in paragraph (4)(B) of that section is 
     amended to read as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         ``Position                              Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deputy Service Director....................................      $20,000
Service Director...........................................       25,000
Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health................       27,500
Assistant Under Secretary for Health (or in a comparable      30,000.''.
 position as determined by the Secretary)..................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

       (e) Geographic Pay.--Paragraph (6) of that section is 
     amended by striking ``$5,000'' and inserting ``$12,000''.
       (f) Special Pay for Post-Graduate Training.--Such section 
     is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(8) For a dentist who has successfully completed a post-
     graduate year of hospital-based training in a program 
     accredited by the American Dental Association, an annual rate 
     of $2,000 for each of the first two years of service after 
     successful completion of that training.''.
       (g) Crediting of Increased Tenure Pay for Civil Service 
     Retirement.--Section 7438(b) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
     paragraph (5):
       ``(5) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), a dentist 
     employed as a dentist in the Veterans Health Administration 
     on the date of the enactment of the Veterans Benefits and 
     Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 shall be entitled to have 
     special pay paid to the dentist under section 7435(b)(2)(A) 
     of this title (referred to as `tenure pay') considered basic 
     pay for the purposes of chapter 83 or 84, as appropriate, of 
     title 5 only as follows:
       ``(A) In an amount equal to the amount that would have been 
     so considered under such section on the day before such date 
     based on the rates of special pay the dentist was entitled to 
     receive under that section on the day before such date.
       ``(B) With respect to any amount of special pay received 
     under that section in excess of the amount such dentist was 
     entitled to receive under such section on the day before such 
     date, in an amount equal to 25 percent of such excess amount 
     for each two years that the physician or dentist has 
     completed as a physician or dentist in the Veterans Health 
     Administration after such date.''.
       (h) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to agreements entered into by 
     dentists under subchapter III of chapter 74 of title 38, 
     United States Code, on or after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

[[Page H9924]]

       (i) Transition.--In the case of an agreement entered into 
     by a dentist under subchapter III of chapter 74 of title 38, 
     United States Code, before the date of the enactment of this 
     Act that expires after that date, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs and the dentist concerned may agree to terminate that 
     agreement as of the date of the enactment of this Act in 
     order to permit a new agreement in accordance with section 
     7435 of such title, as amended by this section, to take 
     effect as of that date.

     SEC. 203. EXEMPTION FOR PHARMACISTS FROM CEILING ON SPECIAL 
                   SALARY RATES.

       Section 7455(c)(1) is amended by inserting ``, 
     pharmacists,'' after ``anesthetists''.

     SEC. 204. TEMPORARY FULL-TIME APPOINTMENTS OF CERTAIN MEDICAL 
                   PERSONNEL.

       (a) Physician Assistants Awaiting Certification or 
     Licensure.--Paragraph (2) of section 7405(c) is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(2) A temporary full-time appointment may not be made for 
     a period in excess of two years in the case of a person who--
       ``(A) has successfully completed--
       ``(i) a full course of nursing in a recognized school of 
     nursing, approved by the Secretary; or
       ``(ii) a full course of training for any category of 
     personnel described in paragraph (3) of section 7401 of this 
     title, or as a physician assistant, in a recognized education 
     or training institution approved by the Secretary; and
       ``(B) is pending registration or licensure in a State or 
     certification by a national board recognized by the 
     Secretary.''.
       (b) Medical Support Personnel.--That section is further 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
     paragraph (3):
       ``(3)(A) Temporary full-time appointments of persons in 
     positions referred to in subsection (a)(1)(D) shall not 
     exceed three years.
       ``(B) Temporary full-time appointments under this paragraph 
     may be renewed for one or more additional periods not in 
     excess of three years each.''.

     SEC. 205. QUALIFICATIONS OF SOCIAL WORKERS.

       Section 7402(b)(9) is amended by striking ``a person must'' 
     and all that follows and inserting ``a person must--
       ``(A) hold a master's degree in social work from a college 
     or university approved by the Secretary; and
       ``(B) be licensed or certified to independently practice 
     social work in a State, except that the Secretary may waive 
     the requirement of licensure or certification for an 
     individual social worker for a reasonable period of time 
     recommended by the Under Secretary for Health.''.

     SEC. 206. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ADVISER TO UNDER SECRETARY FOR 
                   HEALTH.

       Section 7306(a) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new 
     paragraph (9):
       ``(9) The Advisor on Physician Assistants, who shall be a 
     physician assistant with appropriate experience and who shall 
     advise the Under Secretary for Health on all matters relating 
     to the utilization and employment of physician assistants in 
     the Administration.''.

     SEC. 207. EXTENSION OF VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE 
                   PAYMENTS.

       The Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Reduction 
     Assistance Act of 1999 (title XI of Public Law 106-117; 5 
     U.S.C. 5597 note) is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 1102(c) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(c) Limitation.--The plan under subsection (a) shall be 
     limited to a total of 7,734 positions within the Department, 
     allocated among the elements of the Department as follows:
       ``(1) The Veterans Health Administration, 6,800 positions.
       ``(2) The Veterans Benefits Administration, 740 positions.
       ``(3) Department of Veterans Affairs Staff Offices, 156 
     positions.
       ``(4) The National Cemetery Administration, 38 
     positions.''.
       (2) Section 1105(a) is amended by striking ``26 percent'' 
     and inserting ``15 percent''.
       (3) Section 1109(a) is amended by striking ``December 31, 
     2000'' and inserting ``December 31, 2002''.

                  Subtitle B--Military Service Issues

     SEC. 211. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING USE OF 
                   MILITARY HISTORIES OF VETERANS IN DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Pertinent military experiences and exposures may affect 
     the health status of Department of Veterans Affairs patients 
     who are veterans.
       (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun to 
     implement a Veterans Health Initiative to develop systems to 
     ensure that both patient care and medical education in the 
     Veterans Health Administration are specific to the special 
     needs of veterans and should be encouraged to continue these 
     efforts.
       (3) Protocols eliciting pertinent information relating to 
     the military history of veterans may be beneficial to 
     understanding certain conditions for which veterans may be at 
     risk and thereby facilitate the treatment of veterans for 
     those conditions.
       (4) The Department of Veterans Affairs is in the process of 
     developing a Computerized Patient Record System that offers 
     the potential to aid in the care and monitoring of such 
     conditions.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--Congress--
       (1) urges the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assess the 
     feasibility and desirability of using a computer-based system 
     to conduct clinical evaluations relevant to military 
     experiences and exposures; and
       (2) recommends that the Secretary accelerate efforts within 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that relevant 
     military histories of veterans are included in Department 
     medical records.

     SEC. 212. STUDY OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN VIETNAM 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) Study on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.--Not later 
     than 10 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into a contract 
     with an appropriate entity to carry out a study on post-
     traumatic stress disorder.
       (b) Follow-Up Study.--The contract under subsection (a) 
     shall provide for a follow-up study to the study conducted in 
     accordance with section 102 of the Veterans Health Care 
     Amendments of 1983 (Public Law 98-160). Such follow-up study 
     shall use the data base and sample of the previous study.
       (c) Information To Be Included.--The study conducted 
     pursuant to this section shall be designed to yield 
     information on--
       (1) the long-term course of post-traumatic stress disorder;
       (2) any long-term medical consequences of post-traumatic 
     stress disorder;
       (3) whether particular subgroups of veterans are at greater 
     risk of chronic or more severe problems with such disorder; 
     and
       (4) the services used by veterans who have post-traumatic 
     stress disorder and the effect of those services on the 
     course of the disorder.
       (d) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
     of Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives a report on the results of the study under 
     this section. The report shall be submitted no later than 
     October 1, 2004.

                   Subtitle C--Medical Administration

     SEC. 221. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FISHER HOUSES.

       (a) Authority.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 1708. Temporary lodging

       ``(a) The Secretary may furnish persons described in 
     subsection (b) with temporary lodging in a Fisher house or 
     other appropriate facility in connection with the 
     examination, treatment, or care of a veteran under this 
     chapter or, as provided for under subsection (e)(5), in 
     connection with benefits administered under this title.
       ``(b) Persons to whom the Secretary may provide lodging 
     under subsection (a) are the following:
       ``(1) A veteran who must travel a significant distance to 
     receive care or services under this title.
       ``(2) A member of the family of a veteran and others who 
     accompany a veteran and provide the equivalent of familial 
     support for such veteran.
       ``(c) In this section, the term `Fisher house' means a 
     housing facility that--
       ``(1) is located at, or in proximity to, a Department 
     medical facility;
       ``(2) is available for residential use on a temporary basis 
     by patients of that facility and others described in 
     subsection (b)(2); and
       ``(3) is constructed by, and donated to the Secretary by, 
     the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Armed Services 
     Foundation.
       ``(d) The Secretary may establish charges for providing 
     lodging under this section. The proceeds from such charges 
     shall be credited to the medical care account and shall be 
     available until expended for the purposes of providing such 
     lodging.
       ``(e) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry 
     out this section. Such regulations shall include provisions--
       ``(1) limiting the duration of lodging provided under this 
     section;
       ``(2) establishing standards and criteria under which 
     charges are established for such lodging under subsection 
     (d);
       ``(3) establishing criteria for persons considered to be 
     accompanying a veteran under subsection (b)(2);
       ``(4) establishing criteria for the use of the premises of 
     temporary lodging facilities under this section; and
       ``(5) establishing any other limitations, conditions, and 
     priorities that the Secretary considers appropriate with 
     respect to lodging under this section.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 1707 the following new item:

``1708. Temporary lodging.''.

     SEC. 222. EXCEPTION TO RECAPTURE RULE.

       Section 8136 is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(a)'' at the beginning of the text of 
     the section; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) The establishment and operation by the Secretary of 
     an outpatient clinic in facilities described in subsection 
     (a) shall not constitute grounds entitling the United States 
     to any recovery under that subsection.''.

     SEC. 223. SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING COOPERATION BETWEEN 
                   THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN THE PROCUREMENT OF 
                   MEDICAL ITEMS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The procurement and distribution of medical items, 
     including prescription drugs, is a multibillion-dollar annual 
     business for both the Department of Defense and the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.

[[Page H9925]]

       (2) Those departments prescribe common high-use drugs to 
     many of their 12,000,000 patients who have similar medical 
     profiles.
       (3) The health care systems of those departments should 
     have management systems that can share and communicate 
     clinical and management information useful for both systems.
       (4) The institutional barriers separating the two 
     departments have begun to be overcome in the area of medical 
     supplies, in part as a response to recommendations by the 
     General Accounting Office and the Commission on 
     Servicemembers and Veterans Transition Assistance.
       (5) There is significant potential for improved savings and 
     services by improving cooperation between the two departments 
     in the procurement and management of prescription drugs, 
     while remaining mindful that the two departments have 
     different missions.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs should increase, to the maximum extent consistent 
     with their respective missions, their level of cooperation in 
     the procurement and management of prescription drugs.

     SEC. 224. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES.

       (a) Requirement To Provide Care.--Section 1710A(a) is 
     amended by inserting ``(subject to section 1710(a)(4) of this 
     title)'' after ``Secretary'' the first place it appears.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1710(a)(4) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``the requirement in section 1710A(a) of 
     this title that the Secretary provide nursing home care,'' 
     after ``medical services,''; and
       (2) by striking the comma after ``extended care services''.
       (c) Outpatient Treatment.--Section 201 of the Veterans 
     Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act (Public Law 106-117; 
     113 Stat. 1561) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection 
     (b) shall apply with respect to medical services furnished 
     under section 1710(a) of title 38, United States Code, on or 
     after the effective date of the regulations prescribed by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the amounts 
     required to be established under paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
     section 1710(g) of that title, as amended by subsection 
     (b).''.
       (d) Ratification.--Any action taken by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs under section 1710(g) of title 38, United 
     States Code, during the period beginning on November 30, 
     1999, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act is 
     hereby ratified.

                 Subtitle D--Construction Authorization

     SEC. 231. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS.

       (a) Fiscal Year 2001 Projects.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may carry out the following major medical facility 
     projects, with each project to be carried out in an amount 
     not to exceed the amount specified for that project:
       (1) Construction of a 120-bed gero-psychiatric facility at 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care 
     System, Menlo Park Division, California, $26,600,000.
       (2) Construction of a nursing home at the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Beckley, West Virginia, 
     $9,500,000.
       (3) Seismic corrections, clinical consolidation, and other 
     improvements at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
     Center, Long Beach, California, $51,700,000.
       (4) Construction of a utility plant and electrical vault at 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, 
     Florida, $23,600,000.
       (b) Additional Fiscal Year 2000 Project.--The Secretary is 
     authorized to carry out a project for the renovation of 
     psychiatric nursing units at the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Medical Center, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in an amount 
     not to exceed $14,000,000.

     SEC. 232. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Construction, Major 
     Projects, account--
       (1) for fiscal years 2001 and 2002, a total of $87,800,000 
     for the projects authorized in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) 
     of section 231(a);
       (2) for fiscal year 2001, an additional amount of 
     $23,600,000 for the project authorized in paragraph (4) of 
     that section; and
       (3) for fiscal year 2002, an additional amount of 
     $14,500,000 for the project authorized in section 401(1) of 
     the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act (Public 
     Law 106-117; 113 Stat. 1572).
       (b) Limitation.--The projects authorized in section 231(a) 
     may only be carried out using--
       (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2001 or fiscal year 
     2002 (or, in the case of the project authorized in section 
     231(a)(4), for fiscal year 2001) pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations in subsection (a);
       (2) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
     for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2001 that remain 
     available for obligation; and
       (3) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
     for fiscal year 2001 or fiscal year 2002 (or, in the case of 
     the project authorized in section 231(a)(4), for fiscal year 
     2001) for a category of activity not specific to a project.
       (c) Revision to Prior Limitation.--Notwithstanding the 
     limitation in section 403(b) of the Veterans Millennium 
     Health Care and Benefits Act (Public Law 106-117; 113 Stat. 
     1573), the project referred to in subsection (a)(3) may be 
     carried out using--
       (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2002 pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations in subsection (a)(3);
       (2) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
     for fiscal year 2001 that remain available for obligation; 
     and
       (3) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
     for fiscal year 2001 or fiscal year 2002 for a category of 
     activity not specific to a project.

                   Subtitle E--Real Property Matters

     SEC. 241. CHANGE TO ENHANCED USE LEASE CONGRESSIONAL 
                   NOTIFICATION PERIOD.

       Paragraph (2) of section 8163(c) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(2) The Secretary may not enter into an enhanced use 
     lease until the end of the 90-day period beginning on the 
     date of the submission of notice under paragraph (1).''.

     SEC. 242. RELEASE OF REVERSIONARY INTEREST OF THE UNITED 
                   STATES IN CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY PREVIOUSLY 
                   CONVEYED TO THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.

       (a) Release of Interest.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall execute such legal instruments as necessary to release 
     the reversionary interest of the United States described in 
     subsection (b) in a certain parcel of real property conveyed 
     to the State of Tennessee pursuant to the Act entitled ``An 
     Act authorizing the transfer of certain property of the 
     Veterans' Administration (in Johnson City, Tennessee) to the 
     State of Tennessee'', approved June 6, 1953 (67 Stat. 54).
       (b) Specified Reversionary Interest.--Subsection (a) 
     applies to the reversionary interest of the United States 
     required under section 2 of the Act referred to in subsection 
     (a), requiring use of the property conveyed pursuant to that 
     Act to be primarily for training of the National Guard and 
     for other military purposes.
       (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2 of such Act is 
     repealed.

     SEC. 243. DEMOLITION, ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP, AND REVERSION OF 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, 
                   ALLEN PARK, MICHIGAN.

       (a) Authority.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     enter into a multiyear contract with the Ford Motor Land 
     Development Corporation (hereinafter in this section referred 
     to as the ``Corporation'') to undertake project management 
     responsibility to--
       (A) demolish the buildings and auxiliary structures 
     comprising the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 
     Allen Park, Michigan; and
       (B) remediate the site of all hazardous material and 
     environmental contaminants found on the site.
       (2) The contract under paragraph (1) may be entered into 
     notwithstanding sections 303 and 304 of the Federal Property 
     and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 253, 254). 
     The contract shall be for a period specified in the contract 
     not to exceed seven years.
       (b) Contract Cost and Source of Funding.--(1) The Secretary 
     may expend no more than $14,000,000 for the contract required 
     by subsection (a). The contract shall provide that all costs 
     for the demolition and site remediation under the contract in 
     excess of $14,000,000 shall be borne by the Corporation.
       (2) Payments by the Secretary under the contract shall be 
     made in annual increments of no more than $2,000,000, 
     beginning with fiscal year 2001, for the duration of the 
     contract. Such payments shall be made from the nonrecurring 
     maintenance portion of the annual Department of Veterans 
     Affairs medical care appropriation.
       (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amount 
     obligated upon the award of the contract may not exceed 
     $2,000,000 and the amount obligated with respect to any 
     succeeding fiscal year may not exceed $2,000,000. Any funds 
     obligated for the contact shall be subject to the 
     availability of appropriated funds.
       (c) Reversion of Property.--Upon completion of the 
     demolition and remediation project under the contract to the 
     satisfaction of the Secretary, the Secretary shall, on behalf 
     of the United States, formally abandon the Allen Park 
     property (title to which will then revert in accordance with 
     the terms of the 1937 deed conveying such property to the 
     United States).
       (d) Flagpole and Memorial.--The contract under subsection 
     (a) shall require that the Corporation shall erect and 
     maintain on the property abandoned by the United States under 
     subsection (c) a flagpole and suitable memorial identifying 
     the property as the location of the former Allen Park Medical 
     Center. The Secretary and the Corporation shall jointly 
     determine the placement of the memorial and flagpole and the 
     form of, and appropriate inscription on, the memorial.
       (e) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may 
     require such additional terms and conditions with regard to 
     the contract with the Corporation under subsection (a) and 
     with the reversion of the property under subsection (c) as 
     the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interest 
     of the United States.

     SEC. 244. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY AT THE CARL VINSON 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, 
                   DUBLIN, GEORGIA.

       (a) Conveyance to State Board of Regents.--The Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall convey, without consideration, to the 
     Board of Regents of the State of Georgia all right, title, 
     and interest of the United States in and to two tracts of 
     real property, including any improvements thereon, at the 
     Carl Vinson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 
     Dublin, Georgia, consisting of 39 acres, more or less, in 
     Laurens County, Georgia.
       (b) Conveyance to Community Service Board of Middle 
     Georgia.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall convey, 
     without consideration, to the Community Service Board of 
     Middle Georgia all right, title, and interest of the

[[Page H9926]]

     United States in and to three tracts of real property, 
     including any improvements thereon, at the Carl Vinson 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dublin, 
     Georgia, consisting of 58 acres, more or less, in Laurens 
     County, Georgia.
       (c) Conditions on Conveyance.--The conveyance under 
     subsection (a) shall be subject to the condition that the 
     real property conveyed under that subsection be used in 
     perpetuity solely for education purposes. The conveyance 
     under subsection (b) shall be subject to the condition that 
     the real property conveyed under that subsection be used in 
     perpetuity solely for education and health care purposes.
       (d) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the 
     real property to be conveyed under this section shall be 
     determined by a survey or surveys satisfactory to the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The cost of any such survey 
     shall not be borne by the Secretary.
       (e) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs may require such additional terms and 
     conditions in connection with the conveyances under this 
     section as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the 
     interests of the United States.

     SEC. 245. LAND CONVEYANCE, MILES CITY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER COMPLEX, MILES CITY, 
                   MONTANA.

       (a) Conveyance Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall convey, without consideration, to Custer County, 
     Montana (in this section referred to as the ``County''), all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     parcels of real property consisting of the Miles City 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center complex, which 
     has served as a medical and support complex for the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs in Miles City, Montana.
       (b) Timing of Conveyance.--The conveyance required by 
     subsection (a) shall be made as soon as practicable after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Conditions of Conveyance.--The conveyance required by 
     subsection (a) shall be subject to the condition that the 
     County--
       (1) use the parcels conveyed, whether directly or through 
     an agreement with a public or private entity, for veterans 
     activities, community and economic development, or such other 
     public purposes as the County considers appropriate; or
       (2) convey the parcels to an appropriate public or private 
     entity for use for the purposes specified in paragraph (1).
       (d) Conveyance of Improvements.--(1) As part of the 
     conveyance required by subsection (a), the Secretary may also 
     convey to the County any improvements, equipment, fixtures, 
     and other personal property located on the parcels conveyed 
     under that subsection that are not required by the Secretary.
       (2) Any conveyance under this subsection shall be without 
     consideration.
       (e) Use Pending Conveyance.--Until such time as the real 
     property to be conveyed under subsection (a) is conveyed by 
     deed under this section, the Secretary may continue to lease 
     the real property, together with any improvements thereon, 
     under the terms and conditions of the current lease of the 
     real property.
       (f) Maintenance Pending Conveyance.--The Secretary shall be 
     responsible for maintaining the real property to be conveyed 
     under subsection (a), and any improvements, equipment, 
     fixtures, and other personal property to be conveyed under 
     subsection (d), in its condition as of the date of the 
     enactment of this Act until such time as the real property, 
     and such improvements, equipment, fixtures, and other 
     personal property are conveyed by deed under this section.
       (g) Legal Description.--The exact acreage and legal 
     description of the real property to be conveyed under 
     subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory 
     to the Secretary.
       (h) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may 
     require such additional terms and conditions in connection 
     with the conveyance under this section as the Secretary 
     determines appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
     States.

     SEC. 246. CONVEYANCE OF FORT LYON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, COLORADO, TO THE STATE 
                   OF COLORADO.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may convey, without consideration, to the State of 
     Colorado all right, title, and interest of the United States 
     in and to a parcel of real property, including improvements 
     thereon, consisting of approximately 512 acres and comprising 
     the Fort Lyon Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. 
     The purpose of the conveyance is to permit the State of 
     Colorado to use the property for purposes of a correctional 
     facility.
       (b) Public Access.--(1) The Secretary may not make the 
     conveyance of real property authorized by subsection (a) 
     unless the State of Colorado agrees to provide appropriate 
     public access to Kit Carson Chapel (located on that real 
     property) and the cemetery located adjacent to that real 
     property.
       (2) The State of Colorado may satisfy the condition 
     specified in paragraph (1) with respect to Kit Carson Chapel 
     by relocating the chapel to Fort Lyon National Cemetery, 
     Colorado, or another appropriate location approved by the 
     Secretary.
       (c) Plan Regarding Conveyance.--(1) The Secretary may not 
     make the conveyance authorized by subsection (a) before the 
     date on which the Secretary implements a plan providing the 
     following:
       (A) Notwithstanding sections 1720(a)(3) and 1741 of title 
     38, United States Code, that veterans who are receiving 
     inpatient or institutional long-term care at Fort Lyon 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center as of the date 
     of the enactment of this Act are provided appropriate 
     inpatient or institutional long-term care under the same 
     terms and conditions as such veterans are receiving inpatient 
     or institutional long-term care as of that date.
       (B) That the conveyance of the Fort Lyon Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center does not result in a 
     reduction of health care services available to veterans in 
     the catchment area of the Medical Center.
       (C) Improvements in veterans' overall access to health care 
     in the catchment area through, for example, the opening of 
     additional outpatient clinics.
       (2) The Secretary shall prepare the plan referred to in 
     paragraph (1) in consultation with appropriate 
     representatives of veterans service organizations and other 
     appropriate organizations.
       (3) The Secretary shall publish a copy of the plan referred 
     to in paragraph (1) before implementation of the plan.
       (d) Environmental Restoration.--The Secretary may not make 
     the conveyance authorized by subsection (a) until the 
     Secretary completes the evaluation and performance of any 
     environmental restoration activities required by the 
     Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
     Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), and by any 
     other provision of law.
       (e) Personal Property.--As part of the conveyance 
     authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary may convey, 
     without consideration, to the State of Colorado any 
     furniture, fixtures, equipment, and other personal property 
     associated with the property conveyed under that subsection 
     that the Secretary determines is not required for purposes of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities to 
     be established by the Secretary in southern Colorado or for 
     purposes of Fort Lyon National Cemetery.
       (f) Legal Description.--The exact acreage and legal 
     description of the real property to be conveyed under 
     subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory 
     to the Secretary. Any costs associated with the survey shall 
     be borne by the State of Colorado.
       (g) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may 
     require such other terms and conditions in connection with 
     the conveyances authorized by subsections (a) and (e) as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of 
     the United States.

     SEC. 247. EFFECT OF CLOSURE OF FORT LYON DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER ON 
                   ADMINISTRATION OF HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS.

       (a) Payment for Nursing Home Care.--Notwithstanding any 
     limitation under section 1720 or 1741 of title 38, United 
     States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may pay the 
     State of Colorado, or any private nursing home care facility, 
     for costs incurred in providing nursing home care to any 
     veteran who is relocated from the Fort Lyon Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Colorado, to a facility of 
     the State of Colorado or such private facility, as the case 
     may be, as a result of the closure of the Fort Lyon 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
       (b) Obligation To Provide Extended Care Services.--Nothing 
     in section 246 or this section may be construed to alter or 
     otherwise affect the obligation of the Secretary to meet the 
     requirements of section 1710B(b) of title 38, United States 
     Code, relating to staffing and levels of extended care 
     services in fiscal years after fiscal year 1998.
       (c) Report on Veterans Health Care in Southern Colorado.--
     Not later than one year after the conveyance, if any, 
     authorized by section 246, the Under Secretary for Health of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs, acting through the 
     Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, 
     shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the 
     status of the health care system for veterans under that 
     Network in southern Colorado. The report shall describe any 
     improvements to the system in southern Colorado that have 
     been put into effect in the period beginning on the date of 
     the conveyance and ending on the date of the report.

 TITLE III--COMPENSATION, INSURANCE, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND MEMORIAL 
                           AFFAIRS PROVISIONS

                Subtitle A--Compensation Program Changes

     SEC. 301. STROKES AND HEART ATTACKS INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED BY 
                   MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS IN THE 
                   PERFORMANCE OF DUTY WHILE PERFORMING INACTIVE 
                   DUTY TRAINING TO BE CONSIDERED TO BE SERVICE-
                   CONNECTED.

       (a) Scope of Term ``Active Military, Naval, or Air 
     Service''.--Section 101(24) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(24) The term `active military, naval, or air service' 
     includes--
       ``(A) active duty;
       ``(B) any period of active duty for training during which 
     the individual concerned was disabled or died from a disease 
     or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty; and
       ``(C) any period of inactive duty training during which the 
     individual concerned was disabled or died--
       ``(i) from an injury incurred or aggravated in line of 
     duty; or
       ``(ii) from an acute myocardial infarction, a cardiac 
     arrest, or a cerebrovascular accident occurring during such 
     training.''.
       (b) Travel to or From Training Duty.--Section 106(d) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(d)'';
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
       (3) by inserting ``or covered disease'' after ``injury'' 
     each place it appears;
       (4) by designating the second sentence as paragraph (2);

[[Page H9927]]

       (5) by designating the third sentence as paragraph (3); and
       (6) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term `covered 
     disease' means any of the following:
       ``(A) Acute myocardial infarction.
       ``(B) A cardiac arrest.
       ``(C) A cerebrovascular accident.''.

     SEC. 302. SPECIAL MONTHLY COMPENSATION FOR WOMEN VETERANS WHO 
                   LOSE A BREAST AS A RESULT OF A SERVICE-
                   CONNECTED DISABILITY.

       Section 1114(k) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``or has suffered'' and inserting ``has 
     suffered''; and
       (2) by inserting after ``air and bone conduction,'' the 
     following: ``or, in the case of a woman veteran, has suffered 
     the anatomical loss of one or both breasts (including loss by 
     mastectomy),''.

     SEC. 303. BENEFITS FOR PERSONS DISABLED BY PARTICIPATION IN 
                   COMPENSATED WORK THERAPY PROGRAM.

       Section 1151(a)(2) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``proximately caused''; and
       (2) by inserting before the period at the end the 
     following: ``, or (B) by participation in a program (known as 
     a `compensated work therapy program') under section 1718 of 
     this title''.

     SEC. 304. REVISION TO LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS OF BENEFITS TO 
                   INCOMPETENT INSTITUTIONALIZED VETERANS.

       Section 5503(b)(1) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) by striking ``$1,500'' and inserting ``the amount equal 
     to five times the section 1114(j) rate''; and
       (B) by striking ``$500'' and inserting ``one-half that 
     amount''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(D) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `section 
     1114(j) rate' means the monthly rate of compensation in 
     effect under section 1114(j) of this title for a veteran with 
     a service-connected disability rated as total.''.

     SEC. 305. REVIEW OF DOSE RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM OF THE 
                   DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY.

       (a) Review by National Academy of Sciences.--Not later than 
     30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall enter into a contract with the 
     National Academy of Sciences to carry out periodic reviews of 
     the program of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency of the 
     Department of Defense known as the ``dose reconstruction 
     program''.
       (b) Review Activities.--The periodic reviews of the dose 
     reconstruction program under the contract under subsection 
     (a) shall consist of the periodic selection of random samples 
     of doses reconstructed by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency 
     in order to determine--
       (1) whether or not the reconstruction of the sampled doses 
     is accurate;
       (2) whether or not the reconstructed dosage number is 
     accurately reported;
       (3) whether or not the assumptions made regarding radiation 
     exposure based upon the sampled doses are credible; and
       (4) whether or not the data from nuclear tests used by the 
     Defense Threat Reduction Agency as part of the reconstruction 
     of the sampled doses is accurate.
       (c) Duration of Review.--The periodic reviews under the 
     contract under subsection (a) shall occur over a period of 24 
     months.
       (d) Report.--(1) Not later than 60 days after the 
     conclusion of the period referred to in subsection (c), the 
     National Academy of Sciences shall submit to Congress a 
     report on its activities under the contract under this 
     section.
       (2) The report shall include the following:
       (A) A detailed description of the activities of the 
     National Academy of Sciences under the contract.
       (B) Any recommendations that the National Academy of 
     Sciences considers appropriate regarding a permanent system 
     of review of the dose reconstruction program of the Defense 
     Threat Reduction Agency.

                   Subtitle B--Life Insurance Matters

     SEC. 311. PREMIUMS FOR TERM SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS' 
                   INSURANCE FOR VETERANS OLDER THAN AGE 70.

       (a) Cap on Premiums.--Section 1922 is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c) The premium rate of any term insurance issued under 
     this section shall not exceed the renewal age 70 premium 
     rate.''.
       (b) Report.--Not later than September 30, 2001, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a 
     report setting forth a plan to liquidate the unfunded 
     liability under the life insurance program under section 1922 
     of title 38, United States Code, not later than October 1, 
     2011.

     SEC. 312. INCREASE IN AUTOMATIC MAXIMUM COVERAGE UNDER 
                   SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE AND 
                   VETERANS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE.

       (a) Maximum Under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.--
     Section 1967 is amended in subsections (a), (c), and (d) by 
     striking ``$200,000'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``$250,000''.
       (b) Maximum Under Veterans' Group Life Insurance.--Section 
     1977(a) is amended by striking ``$200,000'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``$250,000''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the first day of the first month that 
     begins more than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 313. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE INDIVIDUAL 
                   READY RESERVE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE 
                   INSURANCE.

       (a) Eligibility.--Section 1965(5) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
       (2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); 
     and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
     subparagraph (C):
       ``(C) a person who volunteers for assignment to a 
     mobilization category in the Individual Ready Reserve, as 
     defined in section 12304(i)(1) of title 10; and''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Sections 1967(a), 1968(a), and 
     1969(a)(2)(A) are amended by striking ``section 1965(5)(B) of 
     this title'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(5) of this title''.

              Subtitle C--Housing and Employment Programs

     SEC. 321. ELIMINATION OF REDUCTION IN ASSISTANCE FOR 
                   SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING FOR DISABLED VETERANS 
                   FOR VETERANS HAVING JOINT OWNERSHIP OF HOUSING 
                   UNITS.

       Section 2102 is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(c) The amount of assistance afforded under subsection 
     (a) for a veteran authorized assistance by section 2101(a) of 
     this title shall not be reduced by reason that title to the 
     housing unit, which is vested in the veteran, is also vested 
     in any other person, if the veteran resides in the housing 
     unit.''.

     SEC. 322. VETERANS EMPLOYMENT EMPHASIS UNDER FEDERAL 
                   CONTRACTS FOR RECENTLY SEPARATED VETERANS.

       (a) Employment Emphasis.--Subsection (a) of section 4212 is 
     amended in the first sentence by inserting ``recently 
     separated veterans,'' after ``veterans of the Vietnam era,''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Subsection (d)(1) of that 
     section is amended by inserting ``recently separated 
     veterans,'' after ``veterans of the Vietnam era,'' each place 
     it appears in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
       (c) Recently Separated Veteran Defined.--Section 4211 is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(6) The term `recently separated veteran' means any 
     veteran during the one-year period beginning on the date of 
     such veteran's discharge or release from active duty.''.

     SEC. 323. EMPLOYERS REQUIRED TO GRANT LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR 
                   EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN HONOR GUARDS FOR 
                   FUNERALS OF VETERANS.

       (a) Definition of Service in the Uniformed Services.--
     Section 4303(13) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' after ``National Guard duty''; and
       (2) by inserting before the period at the end ``, and a 
     period for which a person is absent from employment for the 
     purpose of performing funeral honors duty as authorized by 
     section 12503 of title 10 or section 115 of title 32.''.
       (b) Required Leave of Absence.--Section 4316 is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e)(1) An employer shall grant an employee who is a 
     member of a reserve component an authorized leave of absence 
     from a position of employment to allow that employee to 
     perform funeral honors duty as authorized by section 12503 of 
     title 10 or section 115 of title 32.
       ``(2) For purposes of section 4312(e)(1) of this title, an 
     employee who takes an authorized leave of absence under 
     paragraph (1) is deemed to have notified the employer of the 
     employee's intent to return to such position of 
     employment.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall take effect 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.

              Subtitle D--Cemeteries and Memorial Affairs

     SEC. 331. ELIGIBILITY FOR INTERMENT OF CERTAIN FILIPINO 
                   VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II IN NATIONAL 
                   CEMETERIES.

       (a) Eligibility of Certain Commonwealth Army Veterans.--
     Section 2402 is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(8) Any individual whose service is described in section 
     107(a) of this title if such individual at the time of 
     death--
       ``(A) was a citizen of the United States or an alien 
     lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United 
     States; and
       ``(B) resided in the United States.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 107(a)(3) is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(3) chapters 11, 13 (except section 1312(a)), 23, and 24 
     (to the extent provided for in section 2402(8)) of this 
     title.''.
       (c) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 332. PAYMENT RATE OF CERTAIN BURIAL BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN 
                   FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II.

       (a) Payment Rate.--Section 107 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Payments'' and 
     inserting ``Subject to subsection (c), payments''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new section:
       ``(c)(1) In the case of an individual described in 
     paragraph (2), the second sentence of subsection (a) shall 
     not apply.
       ``(2) Paragraph (1) applies to any individual whose service 
     is described in subsection (a) and who dies after the date of 
     the enactment of this subsection if the individual, on the 
     individual's date of death--
       ``(A) is a citizen of, or an alien lawfully admitted for 
     permanent residence in, the United States;
       ``(B) is residing in the United States; and
       ``(C) either--
       ``(i) is receiving compensation under chapter 11 of this 
     title; or
       ``(ii) if the individual's service had been deemed to be 
     active military, naval, or air service, would have been paid 
     pension under section

[[Page H9928]]

     1521 of this title without denial or discontinuance by reason 
     of section 1522 of this title.''.
       (b) Applicability.--No benefits shall accrue to any person 
     for any period before the date of the enactment of this Act 
     by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a).

     SEC. 333. PLOT ALLOWANCE FOR BURIAL IN STATE VETERANS 
                   CEMETERIES.

       (a) In General.--Section 2303(b)(1)(A) is amended to read 
     as follows: ``(A) is used solely for the interment of persons 
     who are (i) eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and 
     (ii) members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces not 
     otherwise eligible for such burial or former members of such 
     a reserve component not otherwise eligible for such burial 
     who are discharged or released from service under conditions 
     other than dishonorable, and''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to the burial of persons dying on or 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

                        TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 401. BENEFITS FOR THE CHILDREN OF WOMEN VIETNAM VETERANS 
                   WHO SUFFER FROM CERTAIN BIRTH DEFECTS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 18 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subchapter:

 ``SUBCHAPTER II--CHILDREN OF WOMEN VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH CERTAIN 
                             BIRTH DEFECTS

     ``Sec. 1811. Definitions

       ``In this subchapter:
       ``(1) The term `eligible child' means an individual who--
       ``(A) is the child (as defined in section 1821(1) of this 
     title) of a woman Vietnam veteran; and
       ``(B) was born with one or more covered birth defects.
       ``(2) The term `covered birth defect' means a birth defect 
     identified by the Secretary under section 1812 of this title.

     ``Sec. 1812. Covered birth defects

       ``(a) Identification.--The Secretary shall identify the 
     birth defects of children of women Vietnam veterans that--
       ``(1) are associated with the service of those veterans in 
     the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era; and
       ``(2) result in permanent physical or mental disability.
       ``(b) Limitations.--(1) The birth defects identified under 
     subsection (a) may not include birth defects resulting from 
     the following:
       ``(A) A familial disorder.
       ``(B) A birth-related injury.
       ``(C) A fetal or neonatal infirmity with well-established 
     causes.
       ``(2) In any case where affirmative evidence establishes 
     that a covered birth defect of a child of a woman Vietnam 
     veteran results from a cause other than the active military, 
     naval, or air service of that veteran in the Republic of 
     Vietnam during the Vietnam era, no benefits or assistance may 
     be provided the child under this subchapter.

     ``Sec. 1813. Health care

       ``(a) Needed Care.--The Secretary shall provide an eligible 
     child such health care as the Secretary determines is needed 
     by the child for that child's covered birth defects or any 
     disability that is associated with those birth defects.
       ``(b) Authority for Care To Be Provided Directly or by 
     Contract.--The Secretary may provide health care under this 
     section directly or by contract or other arrangement with a 
     health care provider.
       ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the 
     definitions in section 1803(c) of this title shall apply with 
     respect to the provision of health care under this section, 
     except that for such purposes--
       ``(1) the reference to `specialized spina bifida clinic' in 
     paragraph (2) of that section shall be treated as a reference 
     to a specialized clinic treating the birth defect concerned 
     under this section; and
       ``(2) the reference to `vocational training under section 
     1804 of this title' in paragraph (8) of that section shall be 
     treated as a reference to vocational training under section 
     1814 of this title.

     ``Sec. 1814. Vocational training

       ``(a) Authority.--The Secretary may provide a program of 
     vocational training to an eligible child if the Secretary 
     determines that the achievement of a vocational goal by the 
     child is reasonably feasible.
       ``(b) Applicable Provisions.--Subsections (b) through (e) 
     of section 1804 of this title shall apply with respect to any 
     program of vocational training provided under subsection (a).

     ``Sec. 1815. Monetary allowance

       ``(a) Monetary Allowance.--The Secretary shall pay a 
     monthly allowance to any eligible child for any disability 
     resulting from the covered birth defects of that child.
       ``(b) Schedule for Rating Disabilities.--(1) The amount of 
     the monthly allowance paid under this section shall be based 
     on the degree of disability suffered by the child concerned, 
     as determined in accordance with a schedule for rating 
     disabilities resulting from covered birth defects that is 
     prescribed by the Secretary.
       ``(2) In prescribing a schedule for rating disabilities for 
     the purposes of this section, the Secretary shall establish 
     four levels of disability upon which the amount of the 
     allowance provided by this section shall be based. The levels 
     of disability established may take into account functional 
     limitations, including limitations on cognition, 
     communication, motor abilities, activities of daily living, 
     and employability.
       ``(c) Amount of Monthly Allowance.--The amount of the 
     monthly allowance paid under this section shall be as 
     follows:
       ``(1) In the case of a child suffering from the lowest 
     level of disability prescribed in the schedule for rating 
     disabilities under subsection (b), $100.
       ``(2) In the case of a child suffering from the lower 
     intermediate level of disability prescribed in the schedule 
     for rating disabilities under subsection (b), the greater 
     of--
       ``(A) $214; or
       ``(B) the monthly amount payable under section 1805(b)(3) 
     of this title for the lowest level of disability prescribed 
     for purposes of that section.
       ``(3) In the case of a child suffering from the higher 
     intermediate level of disability prescribed in the schedule 
     for rating disabilities under subsection (b), the greater 
     of--
       ``(A) $743; or
       ``(B) the monthly amount payable under section 1805(b)(3) 
     of this title for the intermediate level of disability 
     prescribed for purposes of that section.
       ``(4) In the case of a child suffering from the highest 
     level of disability prescribed in the schedule for rating 
     disabilities under subsection (b), the greater of--
       ``(A) $1,272; or
       ``(B) the monthly amount payable under section 1805(b)(3) 
     of this title for the highest level of disability prescribed 
     for purposes of that section.
       ``(d) Indexing to Social Security Benefit Increases.--
     Amounts under paragraphs (1), (2)(A), (3)(A), and (4)(A) of 
     subsection (c) shall be subject to adjustment from time to 
     time under section 5312 of this title.

     ``Sec. 1816. Regulations

       ``The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for purposes of 
     the administration of this subchapter.''.
       (b) Consolidation of Provisions Applicable to Both 
     Subchapters.--Chapter 18 is further amended by adding after 
     subchapter II, as added by subsection (a), the following new 
     subchapter:

                  ``SUBCHAPTER III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

     ``Sec. 1821. Definitions

       ``In this chapter:
       ``(1) The term `child' means an individual, regardless of 
     age or marital status, who--
       ``(A) is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran; and
       ``(B) was conceived after the date on which that veteran 
     first entered the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.
       ``(2) The term `Vietnam veteran' means an individual who 
     performed active military, naval, or air service in the 
     Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era, without regard to 
     the characterization of that individual's service.
       ``(3) The term `Vietnam era' with respect to--
       ``(A) subchapter I of this chapter, means the period 
     beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; and
       ``(B) subchapter II of this chapter, means the period 
     beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975.

     ``Sec. 1822. Applicability of certain administrative 
       provisions

       ``(a) Applicability of Certain Provisions Relating to 
     Compensation.--The provisions of this title specified in 
     subsection (b) apply with respect to benefits and assistance 
     under this chapter in the same manner as those provisions 
     apply to compensation paid under chapter 11 of this title.
       ``(b) Specified Provisions.--The provisions of this title 
     referred to in subsection (a) are the following:
       ``(1) Section 5101(c).
       ``(2) Subsections (a), (b)(2), (g), and (i) of section 
     5110.
       ``(3) Section 5111.
       ``(4) Subsection (a) and paragraphs (1), (6), (9), and (10) 
     of subsection (b) of section 5112.

     ``Sec. 1823. Treatment of receipt of monetary allowance and 
       other benefits

       ``(a) Coordination With Other Benefits Paid to the 
     Recipient.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     receipt by an individual of a monetary allowance under this 
     chapter shall not impair, infringe, or otherwise affect the 
     right of the individual to receive any other benefit to which 
     the individual is otherwise entitled under any law 
     administered by the Secretary.
       ``(b) Coordination With Benefits Based on Relationship of 
     Recipients.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     receipt by an individual of a monetary allowance under this 
     chapter shall not impair, infringe, or otherwise affect the 
     right of any other individual to receive any benefit to which 
     such other individual is entitled under any law administered 
     by the Secretary based on the relationship of such other 
     individual to the individual who receives such monetary 
     allowance.
       ``(c) Monetary Allowance Not To Be Considered as Income or 
     Resources for Certain Purposes.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, a monetary allowance paid an individual 
     under this chapter shall not be considered as income or 
     resources in determining eligibility for, or the amount of 
     benefits under, any Federal or federally assisted program.

     ``Sec. 1824. Nonduplication of benefits

       ``(a) Monetary Allowance.--In the case of an eligible child 
     under subchapter II of this chapter whose only covered birth 
     defect is spina bifida, a monetary allowance shall be paid 
     under subchapter I of this chapter. In the case of an 
     eligible child under subchapter II of this chapter who has 
     spina bifida and one or more additional covered birth 
     defects, a monetary allowance shall be paid under subchapter 
     II of this chapter.
       ``(b) Vocational Rehabilitation.--An individual may only be 
     provided one program of vocational training under this 
     chapter.''.
       (c) Repeal of Recodified Provisions.--The following 
     provisions are repealed:

[[Page H9929]]

       (1) Section 1801.
       (2) Subsections (c) and (d) of section 1805.
       (3) Section 1806.
       (d) Designation of Subchapter I.--Chapter 18 is further 
     amended by inserting before section 1802 the following:

 ``SUBCHAPTER I--CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA''.

       (e) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 1802 is amended by 
     striking ``this chapter'' and inserting ``this subchapter''.
       (2) Section 1805(a) is amended by striking ``this chapter'' 
     and inserting ``this section''.
       (f) Clerical Amendments.--(1) The chapter heading of 
     chapter 18 is amended to read as follows:

       ``CHAPTER 18--BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS''.

       (2) The tables of chapters before part I, and at the 
     beginning of part II, are each amended by striking the item 
     relating to chapter 18 and inserting the following new item:

``18. Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans.............1802''.....

       (3) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 18 is 
     amended--
       (A) by inserting at the beginning the following:

 ``SUBCHAPTER I--CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA'';

       (B) by striking the items relating to sections 1801 and 
     1806; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:

 ``SUBCHAPTER II--CHILDREN OF WOMEN VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH CERTAIN 
                             BIRTH DEFECTS

``1811. Definitions.
``1812. Covered birth defects.
``1813. Health care.
``1814. Vocational training.
``1815. Monetary allowance.
``1816. Regulations.

                  ``SUBCHAPTER III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

``1821. Definitions.
``1822. Applicability of certain administrative provisions.
``1823. Treatment of receipt of monetary allowance and other benefits.
``1824. Nonduplication of benefits.''.
       (g) Effective Date.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph 
     (2), the amendments made by this section shall take effect on 
     the first day of the first month beginning more than one year 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall identify birth 
     defects under section 1812 of title 38, United States Code 
     (as added by subsection (a) of this section), and shall 
     prescribe the regulations required by subchapter II of 
     chapter 18 of that title (as so added), not later than the 
     effective date specified in paragraph (1).

     SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING AUTHORITIES.

       (a) Enhanced Loan Asset Sale Authority.--Section 3720(h)(2) 
     is amended by striking ``December 31, 2002'' and inserting 
     ``December 31, 2008''.
       (b) Home Loan Fees.--Section 3729 is amended by striking 
     everything after the section heading and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(a) Requirement of Fee.--(1) Except as provided in 
     subsection (c), a fee shall be collected from each person 
     obtaining a housing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under 
     this chapter, and each person assuming a loan to which 
     section 3714 of this title applies. No such loan may be 
     guaranteed, insured, made, or assumed until the fee payable 
     under this section has been remitted to the Secretary.
       ``(2) The fee may be included in the loan and paid from the 
     proceeds thereof.
       ``(b) Determination of Fee.--(1) The amount of the fee 
     shall be determined from the loan fee table in paragraph (2). 
     The fee is expressed as a percentage of the total amount of 
     the loan guaranteed, insured, or made, or, in the case of a 
     loan assumption, the unpaid principal balance of the loan on 
     the date of the transfer of the property.
       ``(2) The loan fee table referred to in paragraph (1) is as 
     follows:

                            ``LOAN FEE TABLE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Active duty                    Other
         Type of loan              veteran      Reservist      obligor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(i) Initial loan described          2.00          2.75            NA
 in section 3710(a) to
 purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 0-down, or any
 other initial loan described
 in section 3710(a) other than
 with 5-down or 10-down
 (closed before October 1,
 2008)........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(ii) Initial loan described         1.25          2.00            NA
 in section 3710(a) to
 purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 0-down, or any
 other initial loan described
 in section 3710(a) other than
 with 5-down or 10-down
 (closed on or after October
 1, 2008).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B)(i) Subsequent loan                 3.00          3.00            NA
 described in section 3710(a)
 to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 0-down, or any
 other subsequent loan
 described in section 3710(a)
 (closed before October 1,
 2008)........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B)(ii) Subsequent loan                1.25          2.00            NA
 described in section 3710(a)
 to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 0-down, or any
 other subsequent loan
 described in section 3710(a)
 (closed on or after October
 1, 2008).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C)(i) Loan described in               1.50          2.25            NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase
 or construct a dwelling with
 5-down (closed before October
 1, 2008).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page H9930]]

 
(C)(ii) Loan described in               .75          1.50            NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase
 or construct a dwelling with
 5-down (closed on or after
 October 1, 2008).............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D)(i) Initial loan described          1.25          2.00            NA
 in section 3710(a) to
 purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 10-down (closed
 before October 1, 2008)......
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D)(ii) Initial loan described          .50          1.25            NA
 in section 3710(a) to
 purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 10-down (closed
 on or after October 1, 2008).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(E) Interest rate reduction            0.50          0.50            NA
 refinancing loan.............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(F) Direct loan under section          1.00          1.00            NA
 3711.........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(G) Manufactured home loan             1.00          1.00            NA
 under section 3712 (other
 than an interest rate
 reduction refinancing loan)..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(H) Loan to Native American            1.25          1.25            NA
 veteran under section 3762
 (other than an interest rate
 reduction refinancing loan)..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(I) Loan assumption under              0.50          0.50          0.50
 section 3714.................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(J) Loan under section 3733(a)         2.25          2.25       2.25''.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

       ``(3) Any reference to a section in the `Type of loan' 
     column in the loan fee table in paragraph (2) refers to a 
     section of this title.
       ``(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2):
       ``(A) The term `active duty veteran' means any veteran 
     eligible for the benefits of this chapter other than a 
     Reservist.
       ``(B) The term `Reservist' means a veteran described in 
     section 3701(b)(5)(A) of this title.
       ``(C) The term `other obligor' means a person who is not a 
     veteran, as defined in section 101 of this title or other 
     provision of this chapter.
       ``(D) The term `initial loan' means a loan to a veteran 
     guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of 
     this title if the veteran has never obtained a loan 
     guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of 
     this title.
       ``(E) The term `subsequent loan' means a loan to a veteran, 
     other than an interest rate reduction refinancing loan, 
     guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of 
     this title if the veteran has previously obtained a loan 
     guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of 
     this title.
       ``(F) The term `interest rate reduction refinancing loan' 
     means a loan described in section 3710(a)(8), 
     3710(a)(9)(B)(i), 3710(a)(11), 3712(a)(1)(F), or 3762(h) of 
     this title.
       ``(G) The term `0-down' means a downpayment, if any, of 
     less than 5 percent of the total purchase price or 
     construction cost of the dwelling.
       ``(H) The term `5-down' means a downpayment of at least 5 
     percent or more, but less than 10 percent, of the total 
     purchase price or construction cost of the dwelling.
       ``(I) The term `10-down' means a downpayment of 10 percent 
     or more of the total purchase price or construction cost of 
     the dwelling.
       ``(c) Waiver of Fee.--A fee may not be collected under this 
     section from a veteran who is receiving compensation (or who, 
     but for the receipt of retirement pay, would be entitled to 
     receive compensation) or from a surviving spouse of any 
     veteran (including a person who died in the active military, 
     naval, or air service) who died from a service-connected 
     disability.''.
       (c) Procedures Applicable to Liquidation Sales on Defaulted 
     Home Loans Guaranteed by the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs.--Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking 
     ``October 1, 2002'' and inserting ``October 1, 2008''.
       (d) Income Verification Authority.--Section 5317(g) is 
     amended by striking ``September 30, 2002'' and inserting 
     ``September 30, 2008''.
       (e) Limitation on Pension for Certain Recipients of 
     Medicaid-Covered Nursing Home Care.--Section 5503(f)(7) is 
     amended by striking ``September 30, 2002'' and inserting 
     ``September 30, 2008''.
       (f) Annual Report of Committee on Mentally Ill Veterans.--
     Section 7321(d)(2) is amended by striking ``three'' and 
     inserting ``six''.
       (g) Authority To Establish Research and Education 
     Corporations.--Section 7368 is amended by striking ``December 
     31, 2000'' and inserting ``December 31, 2003''.

     SEC. 403. PRESERVATION OF CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Inapplicability of Prior Reports Termination Provision 
     to Certain Reports of the Department of Veterans Affairs.--
     Section 3003(a)(1) of the Federal Reports Elimination and 
     Sunset Act of 1995 (31 U.S.C. 1113 note) does not apply to 
     any report required to be submitted under any of the 
     following: sections 503(c), 529, 541(c), 542(c), 3036, and 
     7312(d) of title 38, United States Code.
       (b) Repeal of Reporting Requirements Terminated by Prior 
     Law.--Sections 8111A(f) and 8201(h) are repealed.
       (c) Sunset of Certain Reporting Requirements.--
       (1) Annual report on equitable relief cases.--Section 
     503(c) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     sentence: ``No report shall be required under this subsection 
     after December 31, 2004.''.
       (2) Biennial report of advisory committee on former 
     prisoners of war.--Section 541(c)(1) is amended by inserting 
     ``through 2003'' after ``each odd-numbered year''.
       (3) Biennial report of advisory committee on women 
     veterans.--Section 542(c)(1) is amended by inserting 
     ``through 2004'' after ``each even-numbered year''.
       (4) Biennial reports on montgomery gi bill.--Subsection (d) 
     of section 3036 is amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) No report shall be required under this section after 
     January 1, 2005.''.
       (5) Annual report of special medical advisory group.--
     Section 7312(d) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new sentence: ``No report shall be required under this 
     subsection after December 31, 2004.''.
       (d) Cost Information To Be Provided With Each Report 
     Required by Congress.--(1)(A) Chapter 1 is amended by adding 
     at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 116. Reports to Congress: cost information

       ``Whenever the Secretary submits to Congress, or any 
     committee of Congress, a report that is required by law or by 
     a joint explanatory statement of a committee of conference of 
     the Congress, the Secretary shall include with the report--
       ``(1) a statement of the cost of preparing the report; and
       ``(2) a brief explanation of the methodology used in 
     preparing that cost statement.''.

[[Page H9931]]

       (B) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``116. Reports to Congress: cost information.''.

       (2) Section 116 of title 38, United States Code, as added 
     by paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall apply with respect 
     to any report submitted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 404. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Title 38.--Title 38, United States Code, is amended as 
     follows:
       (1) Section 1116(a)(2)(F) is amended by inserting ``of 
     disability'' after ``to a degree''
       (2) Section 1318(b)(3) is amended by striking ``not later 
     than'' and inserting ``not less than''.
       (3) Section 1712(a)(4)(A) is amended by striking 
     ``subsection (a) of this section (other than paragraphs 
     (3)(B) and (3)(C) of that subsection)'' and inserting ``this 
     subsection''.
       (4) Section 1720A(c)(1) is amended by striking ``for such 
     disability'' and all that follows through ``to such member'' 
     and inserting ``for such disability. Care and services 
     provided to a member so transferred''.
       (5) Section 2402(7) is amended by striking ``chapter 67 of 
     title 10'' and inserting ``chapter 1223 of title 10''.
       (6) Section 3012(g)(2) is amended by striking 
     ``subparagraphs'' both places it appears and inserting 
     ``subparagraph''.
       (7) Section 3684(c) is amended by striking ``calender'' and 
     inserting ``calendar''.
       (8) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 41 is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 4110A 
     the following new item:

``4110B. Coordination and nonduplication.''.
       (9) The text of section 4213 is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) Amounts and periods of time specified in subsection 
     (b) shall be disregarded in determining eligibility under any 
     of the following:
       ``(1) Any public service employment program.
       ``(2) Any emergency employment program.
       ``(3) Any job training program assisted under the Economic 
     Opportunity Act of 1964.
       ``(4) Any employment or training program carried out under 
     title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
     2801 et seq.).
       ``(5) Any other employment or training (or related) program 
     financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.
       ``(b) Subsection (a) applies with respect to the following 
     amounts and periods of time:
       ``(1) Any amount received as pay or allowances by any 
     person while serving on active duty.
       ``(2) Any period of time during which such person served on 
     active duty.
       ``(3) Any amount received under chapters 11, 13, 30, 31, 
     32, and 36 of this title by an eligible veteran.
       ``(4) Any amount received by an eligible person under 
     chapters 13 and 35 of this title.
       ``(5) Any amount received by an eligible member under 
     chapter 106 of title 10.''.
       (10) Section 7603(a)(1) is amended by striking 
     ``subsection'' and inserting ``subchapter''.
       (b) Other Laws.--
       (1) Effective November 30, 1999, and as if included therein 
     as originally enacted, section 208(c)(2) of the Veterans 
     Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act (Public Law 106-117; 
     113 Stat. 1568) is amended by striking ``subsection (c)(1)'' 
     and inserting ``subsection (c)(3)''.
       (2) Effective November 21, 1977, and as if included therein 
     as originally enacted, section 402(e) of the Veterans' 
     Benefits Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-114; 111 Stat. 2294) is 
     amended by striking ``second sentence'' and inserting ``third 
     sentence''.

       Amend the amendment of the House to the title so as to 
     read: ``An Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
     increase the rates of educational assistance under the 
     Montgomery GI Bill, to improve procedures for the adjustment 
     of rates of pay for nurses employed by the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, to make other improvements in veterans 
     educational assistance, health care, and benefits programs, 
     and for other purposes.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Stump) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump).


                             General Leave

  Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 1402, the legislation 
now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. STUMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, this bill represents an agreement we have 
reached before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on issues 
brought before the House and Senate in this session of the 106th 
Congress. It improves many of the benefits and health care programs 
serving veterans today.
  Let me touch on just a few of the major provisions. This bill makes a 
number of improvements to the Montgomery GI Bill, the veterans' 
education assistance program named for our former colleague, the 
gentleman from Mississippi, Sonny Montgomery. I saw him here on the 
floor earlier, and I would like to welcome him back. It raises the 
monthly benefit rate from $552 to $650, and permits GIs to earn an 
additional $150 a month by contributing $600 to their account while 
they are in service.
  Since 1998, we have raised the GI bill monthly allowance by some 48 
percent. This bill also increases the educational benefit payable each 
month to a student who is a child or a spouse of a veteran who is 
totally disabled or who died of a service-connected cause.
  Additionally, the bill authorizes the VA to provide an annual pay 
increase to some 35,000 VA nurses as well as the VA dentists.
  There are a good many provisions in this bill, and at this time I 
would like to commend the chairman of our Subcommittee on Health, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) for the outstanding job he has 
done. Overseeing the VA health care system is a very challenging task 
at times, and the gentleman from Florida has done a magnificent job of 
doing just that.
  Madam Speaker, I submit for the Record an explanatory statement on 
the Senate amendments to the House amendments to S. 1402.

       The Senate amendments to the House amendments to S. 1402, 
     as amended, reflect a compromise agreement that the House and 
     Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs have reached on H.R. 
     284, H.R. 4268, H.R. 4850, H.R. 5109, H.R. 5139, H.R. 5346, 
     H. Con. Res. 413, S. 1076, S. 1402, and S. 1810. On May 23, 
     2000, the House passed S. 1402 with an amendment consisting 
     of the text of H.R. 4268 as reported. H.R. 4850 passed the 
     House on July 25, 2000. H.R. 5109 passed the House on 
     September 21, 2000. H.R. 284 passed the House on October 3, 
     2000. S. 1076 passed the Senate on September 8, 1999, and S. 
     1810 passed the Senate on September 21, 2000. S. 1402 passed 
     the Senate on July 26, 1999. H. Con. Res. 413 was introduced 
     on September 28, 2000. H.R. 5346 was introduced on September 
     29, 2000. H.R. 5139 passed the House on October 3, 2000.
       The House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs have 
     prepared the following explanation of S. 1402, as amended 
     (hereinafter referred to as the ``Compromise Agreement''). 
     Differences between the provisions contained in the 
     Compromise Agreement and the related provisions of H.R. 284, 
     H.R. 4268, H.R. 4850, H.R. 5109, S. 1076, S. 1402, and S. 
     1810 are noted in this document, except for clerical 
     corrections, conforming changes made necessary by the 
     Compromise Agreement and minor drafting, technical and 
     clarifying changes.

               TITLE I--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS

         Subtitle A--Montgomery GI Bill Educational Assistance


increase in rates on basic educational assistance under the montgomery 
                                gi bill

     Current Law
       Section 3011 of title 38, United States Code, establishes 
     basic educational assistance entitlement under the All-
     Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program (commonly 
     referred to as the ``Montgomery GI Bill'' or ``MGIB'') Active 
     Duty program. Section 3015 establishes the base amount of 
     such educational assistance at the monthly rate of $528 for a 
     3-year period of service and $429 for a 2-year period of 
     service. These amounts increased to $552 per month and $449 
     per month, respectively, on October 1, 2000.
     House Bill
       Section 2 of the House amendments to S. 1402 would increase 
     the current monthly rate of basic education benefits to $600 
     per month effective October 1, 2000, and to $720 per month on 
     October 1, 2002, for full-time students. The monthly rate for 
     2-year enlistees would increase to $487 per month effective 
     October 1, 2000, and to $585 per month on October 1, 2002. 
     This section provides parallel increases for part-time 
     students and similar adjustments to the rates paid for 
     correspondence and other types of training. No cost-of-living 
     increases would be made in fiscal years 2001 and 2003.
     Senate Bill
       Section 4 of S. 1402 would increase the monthly rate of 
     basic education benefits to $600 per month for 3-year 
     enlistees and $488 per month for 2-year enlistees.
     Compromise Agreement
       Under section 101 of the compromise agreement, effective 
     November 1, 2000, the basic education benefit would be 
     increased from $552 per month (effective October 1, 2000) to 
     $650 per month for a 3-year period of service, and $528 per 
     month for a 2-year period of service.


   UNIFORM REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENCY BEFORE 
              APPLICATION FOR MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS

     Current Law
       To be eligible to receive educational assistance, section 
     3011(a)(2) of title 38, United

[[Page H9932]]

     States Code, requires that a servicemember complete the 
     requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalent 
     certificate) before the end of the individual's initial 
     obligation period of active duty. Section 3012(a)(2) contains 
     a similar requirement for servicemembers who serve 2 years of 
     active duty as part of a 6-year Selected Reserve commitment.
     Senate Bill
       Section 111 of S. 1810 would create a single, uniform 
     secondary school diploma requirement as a prerequisite for 
     eligibility for education benefits--a requirement that, prior 
     to applying for benefits, the applicant will have received a 
     high school diploma or equivalency certificate, or will have 
     completed the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of 
     education leading to a standard college degree.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provisions.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 102 of the compromise agreement follows the Senate 
     language, modified to reflect a new 10-year eligibility 
     period for individuals affected by this provision, which 
     would begin tolling on such individual's last discharge (or 
     release from active duty) or the effective date of this Act, 
     whichever is later.


 repeal of requirement for initial obligated period of active duty as 
        condition of eligibility for montgomery gi bill benefits

     Current Law
       Sections 3011(a)(1)(A)(i) and 3012(a)(1)(A)(i) of title 38, 
     United States Code, set forth initial-period-of-active-duty 
     requirements to earn basic educational assistance entitlement 
     under the Montgomery GI Bill. The period within which a 
     servicemember's eligibility for educational assistance can be 
     established is currently restricted to the initial period of 
     active duty service.
     Senate Bill
       Section 112 of S. 1810 would strike the requirement that 
     MGIB benefit entitlement be predicated on serving an 
     ``initial'' period of obligated service and substitute in its 
     place a requirement that an obligated period of active duty 
     be served.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 103 of the compromise agreement follows the Senate 
     language with a clarifying amendment that for an obligated 
     period of service of at least 3 years, the servicemember 
     would have to complete at least 30 months of continuous 
     active duty under that period of obligated service. In 
     addition, the compromise agreement contains a modification to 
     reflect a new 10-year eligibility period for individuals 
     affected by this provision, which would begin tolling on such 
     individual's last discharge (or release from active duty) or 
     the effective date of this Act, whichever is later.


additional opportunity for certain veap participants to enroll in basic 
            educational assistance under montgomery gi bill

     Current Law
       Section 3018C of title 38, United States Code, furnishes an 
     opportunity for certain post-Vietnam-era Veterans' 
     Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) participants to convert 
     to the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) if the individual was a 
     participant in VEAP on October 9, 1996, was serving on active 
     duty on that date, meets high school diploma or equivalency 
     requirements before applying for MGIB benefits, is discharged 
     from active duty after the individual makes the election to 
     convert, and during the 1-year period beginning on October 9, 
     1996, makes an irrevocable election to receive benefits under 
     the MGIB in lieu of VEAP, and also elects a $1,200 pay 
     reduction.
     House Bill
       Section 3 of the House amendments to S. 1402 would furnish 
     individuals who have served continuously on active duty since 
     October 9, 1996, through at least April 1, 2000, and who 
     either turned down a previous opportunity to convert to the 
     MBIB or had a zero balance in their VEAP account, the option 
     to pay $2,700 to convert to the MGIB program; individuals 
     would have 12 months to elect to convert and 18 months to 
     make payment.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 104 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


 increased active duty educational assistance benefit for contributing 
                                members

     Current Law
       Section 3011(b) of title 38, United States Code, requires 
     servicemembers who elect to participate in the Montgomery GI 
     Bill program to participate in a voluntary pay reduction of 
     $100 per month for the first 12 months of active service to 
     establish entitlement to basic educational assistance.
     Senate Bill
       Section 6 of S. 1810 would allow service- 
     members who have not opted out of MGIB participation to 
     increase the monthly rate of educational benefits they will 
     receive after service by making contributions, at any time 
     prior to leaving service, over and above the $1,200 basic pay 
     reduction necessary to establish MGIB eligibility. Under 
     section 6, a servicemember could contribute up to an 
     additional $600 in multiple of $4. The monthly rate of basic 
     educational assistance would be increased by $1 per month for 
     each $4 so contributed. Thus, MGIB participants who ``use 
     up'' their full 36 months of MGIB benefits would receive a 9-
     to-1 return on their additional contribution investment. A 
     maximum in-service contribution of $600 would yield an 
     additional $5,400 of entitlement to the 36-month MGIB 
     benefit.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 105 of the compromise agreement follows the Senate 
     language with amendments to make this provision effective May 
     1, 2001, and to make eligible any servicemember who was on 
     active duty on the date of enactment and subsequently 
     discharged between date of enactment and May 1, 2001 to have 
     until July 31, 2001. These individuals would have until July 
     31, 2001, to make an election to ``buy up'' additional 
     benefits.

     Subtitle B--Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance


 increase in rates of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance

     Current Law
       Section 3532 of title 38, United States Code, provides 
     survivors' and dependents' educational assistance (DEA) 
     allowances of $485 per month for full-time school attendance, 
     with lesser amounts for part-time training. Generally, 
     eligible survivors and dependents include unremarried spouses 
     of veterans who died or are permanently or totally disabled 
     or servicemembers who are missing in action or captured for 
     more than 90 days by a hostile force or detained or interned 
     for more than 90 days by a foreign government. Under section 
     3534, such benefits are also available for correspondence 
     courses, special restorative training, and apprenticeship 
     training.
     House Bill
       Section 4 of the House amendments to S. 1402 would increase 
     DEA benefits for full-time classroom training students to 
     $600 per month effective October 1, 2000, and $720 per month 
     effective October 1, 2002, with parallel increases for part-
     time students and similar adjustments to the rates paid for 
     correspondence and other types of training. Apprenticeship 
     training would increase from $353 to $437 per month effective 
     October 1, 2000, and $524 per month effective October 1, 
     2002. This provision also requires annual cost-of-living 
     allowances for DEA benefits.
     Senate Bill
       Section 5 of S. 1402 would increase the full-time rate of 
     DEA benefits by 13.6 percent to $550 per month, and make 
     parallel increases in the benefit rates afforded to three-
     quarter time and half-time students. Increases of 13.6 
     percent in the amounts for correspondence courses, special 
     restorative training, and apprenticeship training would also 
     be afforded.
     Compromise Agreement
       Under section 111 of the compromise agreement, effective 
     November 1, 2000, the basic education benefit for survivors 
     and dependents would increase from $485 per month to $588 per 
     month, with future annual cost-of-living increases effective 
     October 1, 2001.


 election of certain recipients of commencement period of eligibility 
         for survivors' and dependents' educational assistance

     Current Law
       Section 3512(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, 
     provides that if the Secretary first finds that the parent 
     from whom eligibility for DEA benefits is derived has a total 
     and permanent service-connected disability, or if the death 
     of the parent from whom eligibility is derived occurs between 
     an eligible child's 18th and 26th birthdays, then such 
     eligibility period shall end 8 years after whichever date 
     last occurs: 1) the date on which the Secretary first finds 
     that the parent from whom eligibility is derived has a total 
     and permanent service-connected disability, or 2) the date of 
     death of the parent from whom eligibility is derived. ``First 
     finds'' is defined in this section as either the date the 
     Secretary notifies an eligible parent of total and permanent 
     service-connected disability or the effective date of such 
     disability award.
     Senate Bill
       Section 114 of S. 1810 would allow a child to elect the 
     beginning date of eligibility for DEA benefits that is 
     between 1) in the case of a child whose eligibility is based 
     on a parent who has a total and permanent service-connected 
     disability, the effective date of the rating determination 
     and the date of notification by the Secretary for such 
     disability, 2) in the case of a child whose eligibility is 
     based on the death of a parent, the date of the parent's 
     death and the date of the Secretary's decision that the death 
     was service-connected.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 112 of the compromise agreement contains the Senate 
     language.

[[Page H9933]]

    adjusted effective date for award of survivors' and dependents' 
                         educational assistance

     Current Law
       Section 5113 of title 38, United States Code, states that 
     except for the effective date of adjusted benefits, dates 
     relating to awards under chapters 30, 31, 32, 34, and 35, or 
     chapter 1606 of title 10 shall, to the extent feasible, 
     correspond to effective dates relating to awards of 
     disability compensation.
     House Bill
       Section 4 of the House amendments to S. 1402 would permit 
     the award of DEA benefits to be retroactive to the date of 
     the entitling event, that is, service-connected death or 
     award of a total and permanent service-connected disability. 
     This provision would be limited to eligible person who submit 
     an original claim for DEA benefits within 1 year after the 
     date of the rating decision first establishing the person's 
     entitlement.
     Senate Bill
       Section 115 of S. 1810 would tie the effective date of 
     award for DEA benefits to the date of the entitling event, 
     i.e., the date of a veteran's service-connected death or 
     award of a permanent and total disability rating. This 
     provision would be limited to eligible persons who submit an 
     original claim for DEA benefits within 1 year after the date 
     of the rating decision first establishing the person's 
     entitlement.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 113 of the compromise agreement contains the Senate 
     language.


availability under survivors' and dependents' educational assistance of 
    preparatory courses for college and graduate school requirements

     Current Law
       Sections 3002(3) and 3501(a)(5) of title 38, United States 
     Code, define the ``program of education'' for which veterans 
     and surviving spouses and children, receive educational 
     assistance benefits. Section 701 of Public Law 106-118 
     modified section 3002(3) of title 38, United States Code, to 
     permit a veteran to use benefits for preparatory courses. 
     Examples of preparatory courses include courses for 
     standardized tests used for admission to college or graduate 
     school.
     Senate Bill
       Section 113 of S. 1810 would allow survivors' and 
     dependents' educational assistance benefits to be provided 
     for use on preparatory courses.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 114 of the compromise agreement follows the Senate 
     language with an amendment clarifying that qualifying persons 
     may pursue preparatory courses prior to the person's 18th 
     birthday.

               Subtitle C--General Educational Assistance


    revision of educational assistance interval payment requirements

     Current Law
       Section 3680(a)(C) of title 38, United States Code, allows 
     VA to pay educational assistance for periods between a term, 
     semester, or quarter if the interval between these periods 
     does not exceed one calendar month.
     House Bill
       Section 6 of the House amendments to S. 1402 would allow 
     monthly educational assistance benefits to be paid between 
     term, quarter, or semester intervals of up to 8 weeks.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 121 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


    availability of education benefits for payment for licensing or 
                          certification tests

     Current Law
       Chapters 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, and 36 of title 38, United 
     States Code, do not currently authorize use of VA educational 
     assistance benefits for occupational licensing or 
     certification tests.
     House Bill
       Section 7 of the House amendments to S. 1402 would allow 
     veterans' and DEA benefits to be used for up to $2,000 in 
     fees for civilian occupational licensing or certification 
     examinations that are necessary to enter, maintain, or 
     advance into employment in a vocation or profession. This 
     section would establish various requirements regarding the 
     use of such entitlement and requirements for organizations or 
     entities offering licensing or certification tests. This 
     section also establishes minimum approval requirements of a 
     licensing or certification body, requirements for tests, 
     requirements for organizations or entities offering these 
     tests, VA administrative authority (including a requirement 
     to develop the computer systems and procedures to make 
     payments to beneficiaries for these tests), and a seven-
     member, organization-specific VA Professional Certification 
     and Licensing Advisory Committee.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 122 of the compromise agreement follows the House 
     language with an amendment that the Secretary shall name 
     seven individuals to the VA professional Certification and 
     Licensing Advisory Committee, an amendment that deletes 
     specific names of organizations from which members shall be 
     named, and an amendment that deletes the requirement that 
     members shall service without compensation.


  increase for fiscal years 2001 and 2002 in aggregate annual amount 
   available for state approving agencies for administrative expenses

     Current Law
       Section 3674(a)(4) of title 38, United States Code, makes 
     available amounts not exceeding $13 million in each fiscal 
     year for duties carried out by State Approving Agencies
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 123 of the compromise agreement amends the amount 
     available for State Approving Agencies to $14 million for 
     fiscal year 2001 and fiscal year 2002.


                      title ii--health provisions

                     Subtitle A--Personnel Matters


annual national pay comparability adjustment for nurses employed by the 
                     department of veterans affairs

     Current Law
       The rate of pay for VA nurses is determined using a 
     mechanism contained in Subchapter IV of Chapter 74, title 38, 
     United States Code. The law links changes in total pay to 
     nurse compensation trends in local health care labor markets. 
     This locality pay feature has not always produced the results 
     envisioned by Congress. For example, even though many VA 
     nurses received very substantial one-time increases as a 
     consequence of the 1900 restructuring of basic pay, some VA 
     nurses have not received any additional pay raises since that 
     time.
     House Bill
       Section 101 of H.R. 5109 would reform the local labor 
     market survey process and replace it with a discretionary 
     survey technique. The bill would provide more flexibility to 
     VA medical center directors to obtain the data needed to 
     complete necessary surveys and also restrict their authority 
     to withhold indicated rate increases. Directors would be 
     prohibited from reducing nurse pay. In addition, the House 
     bill would also guarantee VA nurses a national comparability 
     increase equivalent to the amount provided to other federal 
     employees. The bill also would require Veterans Health 
     Administration network directors to consult with nurses on 
     questions of policy affecting the work of VA nurses, and 
     would provide for registered nurses' participation on medical 
     center committees considering clinical care, budget matters, 
     or resource allocation involving the care and treatment of 
     veteran patients.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 201 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


                        special pay for dentists

     Current Law
       Subchapter III of Chapter 74, title 38, United States Code, 
     authorizes special pay to physicians and dentists employed in 
     the Veterans Health Administration. This authority is 
     intended to improve recruitment and retention of dentists and 
     physicians.
     House Bill
       Section 102 of H.R. 5109 would revise and increase the 
     rates of special pay for VA dentists. This is the first 
     proposed change in these rates since 1991.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 202 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language. The Committees urge medical center directors to 
     utilize the full range of pay increases authorized, including 
     increases in the higher range, to optimize dentist 
     recruitment and retention efforts.


     EXEMPTION FOR PHARMACISTS FROM CEILING ON SPECIAL SALARY RATES

     Current Law
       Under section 7455 of title 38, United States Code, VA has 
     authority to increase rates of basic pay for certain health 
     care personnel--either nationally, locally or on another 
     geographic basis--when deemed necessary for successful 
     recruiting and retention. Special rates may be granted in 
     response to salaries in local labor market, but may not 
     enable VA to be a pay leader. With limited exceptions, the 
     law restricts such ``special salary rates'' to a maximum pay 
     rate, but exempts two categories of health care personnel 
     from that statutory ceiling: nurse anesthetists and physical 
     therapists.
     House Bill
       Section 103 of H.R. 5109 adds VA pharmacists to the 
     existing categories of VA personnel exempted from such 
     statutory pay ceilings. This amendment would enable VA to 
     improve retention of the most senior members of the current 
     pharmacy workforce and would improve its competitiveness in 
     recruiting new pharmacists.

[[Page H9934]]

     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 203 of the compromise agreement contains the 
     Housing language.


     TEMPORARY FULL-TIME APPOINTMENTS OF CERTAIN MEDICAL PERSONNEL

     Current Law
       Section 7405 of title 38, United States Code, authorizes VA 
     to provide temporary appointments of individuals in certain 
     professions, including nursing, pharmacy, and respiratory, 
     physical, and occupational therapy, who have successfully 
     completed a full course of study but who are pending 
     registration, licensure, or certification. Upon obtaining the 
     required credentials, these professionals may be converted to 
     career appointments. This temporary appointment authority 
     provides VA a means of recruiting new health professionals 
     still in the process of meeting the technical qualification 
     standards pertinent to their fields.
       However, VA must now limit physician assistants (PAs) 
     waiting to take the PA certification examination to a general 
     1 year, nonrenewable appointment. Since the national 
     certification examination is only offered once a year, this 
     1-year appointment limits VA's efforts to provide a smooth 
     transition from a training appointment to a permanent 
     appointment for such graduates.
     House Bill
       Section 105 of H.R. 5109 would amend section 7405(c)(2) of 
     title 38, United States Code, to add the position of 
     physician assistant to the existing of professional and 
     technical occupations for which VA may make temporary 
     graduate technician appointments, provided these individuals 
     have completed training programs acceptable to the Secretary. 
     Under this appointment authority, graduate physician 
     assistants would have up to 2 years to obtain professionals 
     certification or licensure.
     Senate Bill
       Section 203 of S. 1810 would accomplish the same ends as 
     the above-described language with respect to physician 
     assistant temporary graduate technician appointments.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 204(a) of the compromise agreement contains the 
     House language.


                       MEDICAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL

     Current Law
       Section 7405 of title 38 United States Code, permits the 
     temporary appointment of certain medical support personnel 
     who work primarily in the laboratories and other facilities 
     of VA principal investigators who have been awarded VA 
     research and development funds through VA's scientific merit 
     review process. These technicians are appointed for a maximum 
     term of 2 years. The normal VA cycle of 3-year research 
     awards conflicts with the 2-year maximum term for 
     appointments of these key personnel in VA's research and 
     development program.
     House Bill
       Section 105 of H.R. 5109 would amend section 7405(c)(3) of 
     title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary to 
     make and to renew temporary full time appointments for 
     periods not to exceed 3 years.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 204(b) of the compromise agreement contains the 
     House language.


                    QUALIFICATIONS OF SOCIAL WORKERS

     Current Law
       Section 7402(b)(9) of title 38, United States Code, 
     requires that a VA social worker become licensed, certified, 
     or registered in the state in which he or she works within 3 
     years of initial appointments in this capacity by the VA. 
     Certain states, such as California, impose prerequisites to 
     the licensure examination that routinely require more than 3 
     years to satisfy. Many states do not provide reciprocity 
     in social work licensure, and thus will not grant a 
     license in the absence of a new state licensing 
     examination. At present, VA social workers are the only VA 
     health care practitioners who cannot use their states 
     licenses to gain credentials in other states' VA medical 
     centers.
     House Bill
       Section 106 of H.R. 5109 would allow the Secretary, on the 
     recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, to waive 
     the 3-year requirement in order to provide sufficient time to 
     newly graduated or transferred VA social workers to prepare 
     for their state licensure examinations.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 205 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


     physician assistant advisor to the under secretary for health

     Current Law
       Section 7306 of title 38, United States Code, establishes 
     the Office of the Under Secretary for Health and requires 
     that the office include representatives of certain health 
     care professions. VA is the nation's largest single employer 
     of physician assistants (PAs), with over 1,100 physician 
     assistants on VA's employment rolls. Nevertheless, PAs are 
     not represented by a number of their field in the office of 
     the Under Secretary for Health.
     House Bill
       Section 104 of H.R. 5109 would establish a PA consultant 
     position which would be filled by a VHA physician assistant 
     designated by the Under Secretary for Health. This individual 
     could be assigned to the field with occasional official 
     visits as needed to VHA headquarters or elsewhere as required 
     to fulfill assigned duties of the position. The PA consultant 
     would advise the Under Secretary on all matters relating to 
     the utilization and employment of physician assistants in the 
     Veterans Health Administration.
     Senate Bill
       Section 202 of S. 1810 would add an Advisor on Physician 
     Assistants to the immediate Office of the Under Secretary for 
     Health, would require this individual to serve in an advisory 
     capacity and would require that the PA advisor shall advise 
     the Under Secretary on matters regarding general and expanded 
     utilization, clinical privileges, and employment (including 
     various specific matters associated therewith) of physician 
     assistants in the Veterans health Administration.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 206 of the compromise agreement incorporates 
     portions of both the House and Senate language. The 
     Committees call upon VA to provide the individual selected as 
     Advisor on Physician Assistants with necessary support and 
     resources to enable this consultant to fulfill the assigned 
     responsibilities of the position.


          extension of voluntary separation incentive payments

     Current Law
       Public Law 106-117, the Veterans Millennium Health Care and 
     Benefits Act of 1999, authorized a temporary program of 
     voluntary separation incentive payments to assist VA in 
     restructuring its workforce. This program limited VA to a 15-
     month authorization period for such ``buyouts'' of VA 
     employees, limited to 4,700 the number of staff who could 
     participate, and required VA to make a contribution of 26 
     percent of the average salary of participating employees to 
     the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. This 
     provision also requires a one-for-one employee replacement 
     for each such buyout approved under this policy.
     House Bill
       Section 107 of H.R. 5109 would amend title XI of Public Law 
     106-117 to increase the number of VA positions subject to 
     buyouts to 8,110. The House measure would also adjust the 
     contribution made by VA to the retirement fund to 15 percent, 
     an amount equivalent to the amount that most other Federal 
     agencies must contribute to the fund for their buyout 
     participants. The measure extends VA's buyout authority from 
     December 31, 2000 to December 31, 2002.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 207 of the compromise agreement follows the House 
     language, but limits the number of VA positions subject to 
     buyouts to 7,734 and allocates the position for activities of 
     the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits 
     Administration, National Cemetery Administration, and VA 
     staff offices.

                  Subtitle B--Military Service Issues


                        military service history

     Current Law
       No provision.
     House Bill
       Section 301 of H.R. 5109 would require VA to take and 
     maintain a thorough history of each veteran's health, 
     including a military medical history. Ascertaining that a 
     veteran was a prisoner of war, participated directly in 
     combat, or was exposed to sustained subfreezing conditions, 
     toxic substances, environmental hazards, or nuclear ionizing 
     radiation often facilitates diagnosis and treatment of 
     veterans. The House bill would provide veterans assurance 
     that such a policy becomes a matter of routine clinical 
     practice in VA.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 211 of the compromise agreement adopts the intent 
     of the House proposal, but in the form of a Sense of the 
     Congress Resolution to express the sense of Congress that VA 
     proceed to implement a system of record keeping to record 
     veterans' military history.


   STUDY OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) IN VIETNAM VETERANS

     Current Law
       Public Law 98-160 directed VA to conduct a large-scale 
     survey on the prevalence and incidence of PTSD and other 
     psychological problems in Vietnam veterans. The study found 
     that 15 percent of male and 8.5 percent of female Vietnam 
     veterans suffered from PTSD. Among those exposed to high 
     levels of war zone stress, however, PTSD rates were 
     dramatically higher. Also, the study found that nearly one-
     third of Vietnam veterans had suffered from PTSD at some 
     point after military service.
     House Bill
       Section 302 of HR 5109 would direct the VA to enter into a 
     contract with an ``appropriate entity'' to carry out a 
     follow-up study to the study conducted under Public Law 98-
     160.

[[Page H9935]]

     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 212 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language. The Committees agree the new study should be kept 
     distinct and independent from VA, as in the original. The 
     compromise agreement is not intended to pre-judge the entity 
     that will win this award.

                   Subtitle C--Medical Administration


              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FISHER HOUSES

     Current Law
       Current law does not explicitly provide VA with authority 
     to house veterans overnight to expedite outpatient care or 
     next-day hospital admissions. Nor does current law provide 
     explicit authority for VA to accept, maintain, or operate 
     facilities for housing families or others who accompany 
     veterans to VA facilities. However, most VA medical centers 
     offer veterans who live some distance from a medical facility 
     from which they are receiving care or services help with some 
     form of lodging to facilitate scheduled visits or admissions. 
     Indeed, more than 115 facilities offer lodging of some kind 
     on VA grounds, and services are available in non-VA 
     facilities at a number of other locations. Also, over the 
     years, many VA medical centers have converted unused wards 
     and other available space to establish temporary lodging 
     facilities for use by patients. The Under Secretary for 
     Health has encouraged medical centers to establish such 
     facilities to avert the need for hospitalizing patients when 
     outpatient treatment is more appropriate. This guidance to VA 
     facilities suggested that facilities could provide lodging 
     without charge to outpatients and their family members and 
     others accompanying veterans when ``medically necessary.'' 
     The guidance also sanctioned the use of a revocable license 
     for family members under which an individual could be 
     required to pay VA a fee equal to the fair-market value of 
     the services being furnished.
     House Bill
       Section 404 of H.R. 5109 would clarify VA's authority to 
     provide temporary overnight accommodations in ``Fisher 
     Houses,'' built with funds donated by the Zachary and 
     Elizabeth M. Fisher Foundation. Four such facilities are now 
     being operated in conjunction with VA medical centers and 
     other similar facilities located at or near a VA facility. 
     These accommodations are available to veterans who have 
     business at a VA medical facility and must travel a 
     significant distance to receive Department services, and to 
     other individuals accompany veterans. Section 404 would also 
     give VA clear authority to charge veterans (and those 
     accompanying them) for overnight accommodations and apply 
     fees collected to support continuation of these services. The 
     measure would require VA to promulgate regulations to address 
     matters such as the appropriate limitations on the use of the 
     facilities and the length of time individuals may stay in the 
     facilities.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 221 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


                    exception to the recapture rule

     Current Law
       Section 8136 of title 38, United States Code, requires VA 
     to ``recapture'' the amount of a grant to a state home for 
     purposes of building or renovating a state veterans home, if, 
     within 20 years, the state home ceases to be used for 
     providing domiciliary, nursing home, or hospital care for 
     veterans. This provision could be interpreted to require 
     recapture of the grant if the state home allows VA to 
     establish an outpatient clinic in the home.
     House Bill
       Section 406 of H.R. 5109 would clarify that establishment 
     of an outpatient clinic in a state home would not constitute 
     grounds entitling the United States to recover its grant.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 222 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


  sense of congress concerning cooperation between the department of 
 veterans affairs and the department of defense in the procurement of 
                             medical items

     Current Law
       Under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and 
     Department of Defense (DOD) Health Resources Sharing and 
     Emergency Operations Act, Public Law 97-174, VA and DOD have 
     the authority to share medical resources. In 1999, VA and DOD 
     entered into sharing agreements amounting to $60 million out 
     of combined budgets of approximately $35 billion. This is 
     resource sharing of less than two-tenths of one percent. On 
     May 25, 2000, the General Accounting Office reported that 
     greater joint pharmaceutical procurements alone could lead to 
     as much as $345 million in annual recurring savings.
     House Bill
       H. Con. Res. 413 would encourage expanded joint procurement 
     of medical items, to include prescription drugs.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 223 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.

                 Subtitle D--Construction Authorization


            authorization of major medical facility projects

     Current Law
       Section 8104 of title 38, United States Code, provides that 
     no funds may be appropriated for any fiscal year, and VA may 
     not obligate or expend funds (other than for planning and 
     design) for any medical construction project involving a 
     total expenditure of more than $4 million unless funds for 
     that project have been specifically authorized by law.
     House Bill
       Section 201 of H.R. 5109 would authorize the construction 
     of a gero-psychiatric care building at the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Palo Alto, California ($26.6 
     million); the construction of a utility plant and electrical 
     vault at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 
     Miami, Florida ($23.6 million); and, seismic corrections, 
     clinical consolidation and other improvements at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, 
     California ($51.7 million). Also, the House bill would 
     authorize the renovation of psychiatric nursing units at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Murfreesboro, 
     Tennessee, using funds previously appropriated for this 
     specific purpose ($14 million).
     Senate Bill
       Section 301 of S. 1810 would authorize construction of a 
     120-bed gero-psychiatric facility at the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park 
     Division, California ($26.6 million); and, construction of a 
     nursing home at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
     Center, Beckley, West Virginia ($9.5 million). In section 302 
     of S. 1810, the Senate would amend section 401 of the 
     Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act of 1999, 
     Public Law 106-117, to add as a seventh project authorized by 
     that act for fiscal year 2000-2001 the Murfreesboro 
     construction project ($14 million).
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 231 of the compromise agreement incorporates each 
     of the projects authorized by either body and includes 
     specific authorization for the Murfreesboro project. Also, 
     the compromise agreement provides that the authorizations for 
     Palo Alto, Long Beach, and Beckley will be for 2 years, 
     covering fiscal years 2001 and 2002, while the authorization 
     for the Miami project will be only for fiscal year 2001. The 
     compromise agreement also renews and extends the prior 
     authorization of a project at the Lebanon, Pennsylvania VA 
     Medical Center through the end of fiscal year 2002.
       The Miami electrical plant and utility vault project is 
     authorized only for fiscal year 2001. While the compromise 
     agreement authorizes the project to proceed, we note that the 
     current estimate to replace these facilities is $32 million. 
     Given this level of anticipated expenditure, the Committees 
     urge the Secretary to examine innovative ways to reduce VA's 
     outlay, at least on an initial basis. For example, the 
     Committees note that the Miami facility is located in the 
     midst of a very densely developed community of health and 
     public safety-related institutions, including the Jackson 
     Memorial Hospital and Metro-Dade police headquarters, among 
     others. Given the need for such crucial institutions, 
     including the VA medical center, to have dependable, stable, 
     weather-proof and even fail-safe electrical sources, the 
     Committees urge the Secretary to consider a ``performance-
     based contract'' for these services through the local utility 
     (Florida Power and Light), or by consortium with multiple 
     partners in need of similar improvements, assurances and 
     security of utilities. At a minimum, the Secretary must 
     carefully examine the reported cost of this project to ensure 
     that it is being planned to meet known needs, rather than 
     planned for the ``highest possible use.''


                    authorization of appropriations

     House
       The House bill (H.R. 5109, section 202) would authorize 
     appropriations for fiscal years 2001 and 2002 of $101.9 
     million for construction of the facilities authorized in 
     section 201 thereof.
     Senate Bill
       S. 1810, section 303, would authorize appropriations for 
     fiscal years 2001 and 2002 of $36.1 million for construction 
     for the facilities authorized in section 301. Also, section 
     303 alters the authorization funding level of projects 
     authorized in Public Law 106-117 by including the 
     Murfreesboro project discussed above.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 232 of the compromise agreement authorizes 
     appropriations for the amounts indicated in each measure for 
     these projects, affecting both fiscal year 2001 and fiscal 
     2002, as follows:

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Amount
                                                              authorized
                       Authorizations                            (in
                                                              millions)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beckley....................................................         $9.5

[[Page H9936]]

 
Lebanon*...................................................         14.5
Long Beach.................................................         51.7
Miami**....................................................         23.6
Murfreesboro...............................................         14.0
Palo Alto..................................................         26.6
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Indicates authorization of appropriation in fiscal year 2002 only.
**Indicates authorization of appropriation in fiscal year 2001 only.

extension of construction authorization at the lebanon, pennsylvania va 
                             medical center

     Current Law
       Section 401 of Public Law 106-117 (113 Stat. 1572) 
     authorized a major construction project at the Lebanon, 
     Pennsylvania, VA Medical Center. The project was authorized 
     for fiscal year 2002 and fiscal year 2001.
     House
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 232(a)(3) of the compromise agreement extends 
     through fiscal year 2002 the prior authorization for 
     construction of a long-term care facility at the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in 
     an amount not to exceed $14.5 million.

                   Subtitle E--Real Property Matters


     change to enhanced use lease congressional notification period

     Current Law
       Section 8163(a) of title 38, United States Code, requires 
     the Secretary to notify Congress of VA's intention to pursue 
     an enhanced-use lease of unused VA property, then wait a 
     period of ``60 legislative days'' prior to proceeding with 
     the specific lease objective(s). In the Veterans' Millennium 
     Health care Act, Public Law 106-117, Congress eased limits in 
     law on leasing underused VA property based on a finding that 
     long-term leasing could be used more extensively to enhance 
     health care delivery to veterans.
     House
       Section 407 of H.R. 5109 would amend the waiting period for 
     VA notifications to Congress from 60 ``legislative'' days to 
     90 ``calendar'' days. This change would shorten the length of 
     time VA must wait before entering into an enhanced-use lease.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 241 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


 release of reversionary interest of the united states in certain real 
         property previously conveyed to the state of tennessee

     Current Law
       In 1953, by Act of congress (67 Stat. 54), the federal 
     government transferred certain property of the Veterans 
     Administration (now Department of Veterans Affairs) in 
     Johnson City (now Mountain Home), Tennessee, to the State of 
     Tennessee, for use by the Army National Guard of the State of 
     Tennessee. The act of transfer retained a reversionary 
     interest in the land on the part of the government in the 
     event that the State of Tennessee ceased to use the land as a 
     training area for the guard and for ``other military 
     purposes.'' The land is no longer being used by the Tennessee 
     National Guard and has no practical use by the government. 
     Local municipal officials desire the land as a site for a 
     public park and recreation area, and the State of Tennessee 
     has made a commitment to transfer the land for these purposes 
     but may not do so absent a recision of the federal 
     government's reversionary interest in the property.
     House Bill
       Section 407 of H.R. 5109 would rescind the government's 
     reversionary interest in the Tennessee property.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 242 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


 transfer of the allen park, michigan, va medical center to ford motor 
                      land development corporation

     Current Law
       In 1937, the Henry Ford family donated a 39-acre plot to VA 
     expressly for the establishment of the Allen Park, Michigan 
     VA Hospital. The conveyance provided that VA must return the 
     land, in the same condition as it was received, if VA ceased 
     to utilize it for veterans' health care. In 1996, VA 
     activated a new VA Medical Center in Detroit.
     House Bill
       H.R. 5346 would transfer the land, the site of the former 
     Allen Park, Michigan VA Medical Center, and all improvements 
     thereon, to the Ford Motor Land Development Corporation, a 
     subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Having been replaced in 
     1996 by a new VA Medical Center in Detroit, the facility now 
     is in disrepair. The bill would require up to 7 years of 
     cooperation between VA and Ford in demolition, environmental 
     cleanup (including remediation of hazardous material and 
     environmental contaminants found on the site), and 
     restoration of the property to its prior state. VA 
     contributions would be limited to $2 million per year over 
     the period, and Ford would be responsible for any amount over 
     VA's total contribution ($14 million) required to complete 
     the restoration. At the conclusion of restorative work, the 
     Secretary would formally abandon the property, which would 
     then revert to Ford Motor Land Development Corporation, in 
     accordance with the reversionary clause contained in the 
     original 1937 gift.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 243 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


 transfer of land at the carl vinson va medical center, dublin, georgia

     Current Law
       No provision.
     House Bill
       H.R. 5139 would convey to the Board of Regents of the State 
     of Georgia two tracts of real property, including 
     improvements, consisting of 39 acres at the Carl Vinson 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dublin, 
     Georgia. The bill also conveys to the Community Service Board 
     of Middle Georgia three tracts of property consisting of 58 
     acres, including improvements, at the Carl Vinson facility. 
     The bill requires these properties be used in perpetuity for 
     education or health care.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 244 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


land conveyance of miles city, montana veterans affairs medical center 
                       to custer county, montana

     Current Law
       No provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 312 of S. 1810 would transfer VA medical center 
     facilities in Miles City, Montana, to Custer County, Montana, 
     while authorizing VA to lease space in which VA would operate 
     an outpatient clinic. Custer County would devote the 
     transferred land to assisted living apartments for the 
     elderly and to a number of other economic enhancement and 
     community activity uses, including education and training 
     courses through Miles Community College, a technology center, 
     local fire department training, and use by the Montana Area 
     Food Bank. VA, in turn, is relieved of the requirement to 
     spend over $500,000 per year maintaining a facility that is 
     poorly suited to provide health care to the veterans of 
     eastern Montana. VA would devote the saved funds to expanding 
     Montana veterans' access to care by activating additional 
     community based outpatient clinics in Montana.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 245 of the compromise agreement follows the Senate 
     language. The compromise agreement anticipates that VA will 
     work with the civic leadership of Custer County, Montana in 
     order to identify potential improvements that may be 
     reasonably necessary to effectuate the transfer of the Miles 
     City property to Custer County. Also, the compromise 
     agreement calls for the Secretary to determine to what extent 
     it may be necessary to stipulate any conditions about the 
     transfer, or conditions for VA's future use of this property, 
     prior to the transfer of ownership of this property to Custer 
     County. The compromise agreement further envisions funds 
     appropriated to VA for non-recurring maintenance may be used, 
     as authorized by law, to facilitate the transfer of VA's 
     interest in the Miles City VA Medical Center to Custer 
     County.


transfer of the fort lyon, colorado, va medical center to the state of 
                                colorado

     Current Law
       No provision.
     Senate Bill
       Sections 313 and 314 of S. 1810 would transfer the VA 
     Medical Center, Ft. Lyon, Colorado to the State of Colorado 
     for use by the State as a corrections facility. Under the 
     terms of the bill, the conveyance would take place only when 
     arrangements are made to protect the interests of affected 
     patients and employees of the facility. With respect to 
     patients, the bill would require VA to make alternate 
     arrangements to ensure that appropriate medical care and 
     nursing home care services continue to be provided, on the 
     same basis that care had been provided at Ft. Lyon, to all 
     veterans receiving such services at the medical center. Under 
     the bill, the VA would be authorized to provide care in 
     community facilities at VA expense, notwithstanding other 
     statutory limitations--e.g., title 38, United States Code, 
     section 1720, which limits to 6 months the duration for which 
     such care might be provided to veterans for nonservice-
     connected disabilities--or by state homes where VA would pay 
     full costs and reimburse the veterans' share of copayments. 
     Further, VA would be authorized to offer voluntary separation 
     incentive

[[Page H9937]]

     payments to eligible employees of the Ft. Lyon VA medical 
     center. In addition, the State would be required to allow 
     public access to the Kit Carson Chapel located on the grounds 
     of the VA medical center. And, finally, the VA would report 
     on the status of the VA health care system in southern 
     Colorado, not later than 1 year after the conveyance.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparabale provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Sections 246 and 247 of the compromise agreement follow the 
     Senate language, except for the provision extending VA's 
     authority to offer voluntary separation incentive payments 
     [subsection (c) of section 314 of S. 1810].
       The inclusion of this language in this legislation should 
     not be misconstrued as an erosion of, or acquiescence in, the 
     requirement enacted in Public Law 106-117, the Veterans 
     Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act of 1999, for VA to 
     maintain VA-provided long-term care capacity at the 1998 
     level. VA continues to be obligated by law to ensure that the 
     cumulative effect of its actions does not result in a 
     reduction in VA's ability to provide institutional long-term 
     care.
       It should be noted that section 207 of this bill provides a 
     2-year extension of VA-wide authority to offer voluntary 
     separation incentive payments to VA employees. The Committees 
     find that the provision specifically granting the Fort Lyon 
     facility a 1-year authority to offer voluntary separation 
     incentive payments is redundant. Further, the Committees were 
     concerned that retaining the Fort Lyon-specific provision in 
     final legislation could have the unintended effect of 
     limiting the 2-year, VA-wide buyout authority, granted in 
     section 207, to 1 year when applied in the case of Fort Lyon. 
     The Committees expect VA to use the authority granted in 
     section 207, as an important human resources management tool, 
     in its conveyance of the Fort Lyon facility.

 TITLE III--COMPENSATION, INSURANCE, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND MEMORIAL 
                           AFFAIRS PROVISIONS

               Subtitle A--Compensation Programs Changes


 presumption of service connection for heart attack or stroke suffered 
  by a member of a reserve component in the performance of duty while 
                   performing in active duty training

     Current Law
       Under section 101(24) of title 38, United States Code, 
     guardsmen and reservists who sustain an ``injury'' during 
     inactive duty training are eligible for certain veterans' 
     benefits, but are not eligible to receive disability 
     compensation for a condition characterized as a ``disease'' 
     that is incurred or aggravated during such training.
     House Bill
       Section 201(a) of H.R. 4850 would amend section 101(24) to 
     include an acute myocardial infarction, a cardiac arrest, or 
     a cerebrovascular accident resulting in disability or death 
     and occurring during any period of inactive duty training for 
     the purposes of service-connected benefits administered by 
     VA.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 301 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     provision.


special monthly compensation for women veterans who lose a breast as a 
                result of a service-connected disability

     Current Law
       Section 1114(k) of title 38, United States Code, authorizes 
     a special rate of compensation if a veteran, as the result of 
     a service-connected disability, has suffered the anatomical 
     loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs, or one 
     foot, or one hand, or both buttocks, or blindness of one eye, 
     having only light perception, or has suffered complete loss 
     of the ability to speak, or deafness of both ears. The 
     special monthly compensation is payable in addition to the 
     compensation payable by reason of ratings assigned under the 
     rating schedule.
     House Bill
       Section 202 of H.R. 4850 would amend section 1114(k) by 
     making veterans eligible for special monthly compensation due 
     to the service-connected loss of one or both breasts due to a 
     radical mastectomy or modified radical mastectomy.
     Senate Bill
       Section 103 of S. 1810 would amend section 1114(k) by 
     making female veterans eligible for special monthly 
     compensation due to the loss of one or both breasts, 
     including loss by mastectomy.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 302 of the compromise agreement contains the Senate 
     provision.


  benefits for persons disabled by participation in compensated work 
                            therapy program

     Current Law
       Section 1151 of title 38, United States Code, provides 
     compensation, under certain circumstances, to veterans who 
     are injured as a result of VA health care or participation in 
     VA vocational rehabilitation. Section 1718 of title 38, 
     United States Code, authorizes the ``Compensated Work Therapy 
     Program (CWT),'' which pays veterans to work in a variety of 
     positions on contracts with governmental and industrial 
     entities. CWT work is intended to be therapeutic by helping 
     veterans re-enter the work force, enabling them to increase 
     self-confidence and by improving their ability to adjust to 
     the work setting. However, current law provides no mechanism 
     to compensate CWT participants who may be injured as a result 
     of participation.
     House Bill
       Section 402 of H.R. 5109 would allow VA to provide 
     disability benefits under section 1151 to CWT participants 
     injured while participating in this program.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 303 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


     revision to limitation on payments of benefits to incompetent 
                       institutionalized veterans

     Current Law
       Under section 5503 of title 38, United States Code, VA is 
     prohibited from paying compensation and pension benefits to 
     an incompetent veteran who has assets of $1,500 or more if 
     the veteran is being provided institutional care with or 
     without charge by VA (or another governmental provider) and 
     he or she has no dependents. Such payments are restored if 
     the veteran's assets drop to $500 in value. If VA later 
     determines that the veteran is competent for at least 6 
     months, the withheld payments are made in a lump sum.
     Senate Bill
       Section 205 of S. 1076 would repeal the limitation on 
     benefit payments imposed by section 5503 of title 38, United 
     States Code.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Under section 304 of the compromise agreement, the amount 
     of resources that an incompetent veteran may retain and still 
     qualify for payments is increased from $1,500 to five times 
     the benefit amount payable to a service-connected disabled 
     veteran rated at 100 percent. If payments are withheld, they 
     may be restored if the veteran's assets drop to one-half of 
     that amount. The Committees expect that in notifying veterans 
     and fiduciaries of the applicability of this requirement, VA 
     will briefly indicate the assets that are counted or excluded 
     in determining net worth. (See 38 C.F.R. Sec. 13.109)


 review of dose reconstruction program of the defense threat reduction 
                                 agency

     Current Law
       VA provides service-connected compensation benefits to 
     veterans who were exposed to ionizing radiation in service 
     (due to participation in the occupation forces of Hiroshima 
     or Nagasaki immediately after World War II, or in nuclear 
     testing activities during the Cold War era) and who, 
     subsequently, are diagnosed with the presumptive diseases 
     listed in section 1112(c)(2) of title 38, United States Code. 
     VA may also compensate radiation-exposed veterans with 
     diseases not presumed to be service-connected if it 
     determines that it is as likely as not that the disease is 
     the result of exposure, taking into account the amount of 
     exposure and the radiogenic properties of the disease; but VA 
     utilizes dose reconstruction analysis provided by the 
     Department of Defense to determine the estimated exposure.
     Senate Bill
       Section 171 of S. 1810 specifies that the Department of 
     Defense (DOD) shall contract with the National Academy of 
     Sciences (NAS) to carry out periodic reviews of the dose 
     reconstruction program. NAS would review whether DOD's 
     reconstruction of sampled doses is accurate, whether DOD 
     assumptions regarding exposure based upon sampled doses are 
     credible, and whether data from nuclear testing used by DOD 
     in its reconstructions are accurate. The review would last 24 
     months and culminate in a report detailing NAS' findings and 
     recommendations, if any, for a permanent review program.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 305 of the compromise agreement follows the Senate 
     language.

                   Subtitle B--Life Insurance Matters


  premiums for term service disabled veterans' insurance for veterans 
                           older than age 70

     Current Law
       VA Administers the Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance 
     (SDVI) program under chapter 19 of title 38, United States 
     Code. SDVI term policy premiums increase every 5 years to 
     reflect the increased risk of death as individuals age.
     Senate Bill
       Section 131 of S. 1810 would cap premiums for SDVI term 
     policies at the age 70 renewal rate.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 311 of the compromise agreement follows the Senate 
     language with an amendment requiring VA to report to 
     Congress, not

[[Page H9938]]

     later than September 30, 2001, on plans to liquidate the 
     unfunded liability in the SDVI program not later than October 
     1, 2011.


increase in automatic maximum coverage under servicemembers' group life 
              insurance and veterans' group life insurance

     Current Law
       The Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program 
     provides up to $200,000 in coverage to individuals on active 
     duty in the Armed Forces, members of the Ready Reserves, the 
     Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration, the Public Health Service, cadets and 
     midshipmen of the four service academies, and members of the 
     Reserve Officer Training Corps. The maximum coverage of 
     $200,000 is automatically provided unless the servicemember 
     declines coverage are elects coverage at a reduced amount.
     Senate Bill
       Section 132 of S. 1810 would increase the maximum amount of 
     coverage available through the SGLI program from $200,000 to 
     $250,000.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 312 of the compromise agreement contains the Senate 
     language.


  eligibility of certain members of the individual ready reserve for 
                                service-
                     members' group life insurance

     Current Law
       Members of the Selected Reserve are eligible for enrollment 
     in the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program. 
     Members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) are eligible 
     for SGLI only when called to active duty. Members of the IRR 
     are currently eligible for Veterans Group Life Insurance, but 
     only a small percentage participates.
     House Bill
       Section 301 of H.R. 4850 would provide those members of the 
     IRR who are subject to involuntary call-up authority to 
     enroll in the Serivcemembers' Group Life Insurance program.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 313 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.

              Subtitle C--Housing and Employment Programs


 elimination of reduction in assistance for specially adapted housing 
     for disabled veterans having joint ownership of housing units

     Current Law
       Under chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, veterans 
     with severe disabilities such as loss of ambulatory function 
     are eligible for specially adapted housing grants of up to 
     $43,000 to finance the purchase or remodeling of housing 
     units with special adaptions necessary to accommodate their 
     disabilities. No particular form of ownership is specified in 
     current law. Under regulations promulgated by the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs, co-ownership of the property by the 
     veteran and another person is not relevant to the amount of 
     the grant if the co-owner is the veteran's spouse. If, 
     however, the co-owner is a person other than the veteran's 
     spouse, the maximum grant amount is reduced by regulation to 
     reflect the veteran's partial ownership of the property 
     interest, e.g., if the veteran jointly owns the property with 
     one other person such as a sibling, the maximum grant is 
     $21,500. (See 38 CFR Sec. 36.4402)
     Senate Bill
       Section 121 of S. 1810 would amend section 2102 of chapter 
     21 of title 38, United States Code, to allow VA to make non-
     reduced grants for specially adapted housing in cases where 
     title to the housing unit is not vested solely in the 
     veteran, if the veteran resides in the housing unit.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 321 of the compromise agreement contains the Senate 
     language.


  veteran's employment emphasis under federal contracts for recently 
                           separated veterans

     Current Law
       Section 4212 of title 38, United States Code, requires that 
     certain Federal contractors and subcontractors take 
     affirmative action to employ and advance ``special disabled 
     veterans'' (generally, veterans with serious employment 
     handicaps or disability ratings of 30 percent or higher), 
     Vietnam-era veterans, and other veterans who are ``preference 
     eligible'' (generally, veterans who have served during 
     wartime or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign 
     badge has been authorized).
     Senate Bill
       Section 151 of S. 1810 would add recently separated 
     veterans (veterans who have been discharged or released from 
     active duty within a 1-year period) to the definition of 
     veterans to whom Federal contractors and subcontractors must 
     extend affirmative action to employ and advance in 
     employment.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 322 of the compromise agreement contains the Senate 
     language.


     employers required to grant leave of absence for employees to 
          participate as honor guards for funerals of veterans

     Current Law
       Section 4303(13) of title 38, United States Code, defines 
     ``service in the uniformed services,'' as the performance of 
     duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis. Section 4316 
     defines the rights, benefits, and obligations of persons 
     absent from employment for service in a uniformed service.
     House Bill
       H.R. 284 would add to the definition of ``service in the 
     uniformed services'' a period for which a person is absent 
     from employment for the purpose of performing funeral honors 
     authorized duty under section 12503 of title 10, United 
     States Code, or section 115 of title 32, United States Code. 
     An employer would be required to grant an employee who is a 
     member of a reserve component an authorized leave of absence 
     from a position of employment to allow the employee to 
     perform funeral duties. For purposes of intent to return to a 
     position of employment with an employer, H.R. 284 would 
     stipulate that an employee who takes an authorized leave of 
     absence to perform funeral honors duty would be deemed to 
     have notified the employer of the employee's intent to return 
     to such position of employment.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 323 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.

              Subtitle D--Cemeteries and Memorial Affairs


eligibility of certain filipino veterans of world war ii for interment 
                         in national cemeteries

     Current Law
       Section 2402(4) of title 38, United States Code, provides 
     that eligibility for burial in any open VA national cemetery 
     include any citizen of the United States who, during any war 
     in which the United States is or has been engaged, served in 
     the armed forces of any government allied with the United 
     States during that war, and whose last such service 
     terminated honorably.
     Senate Bill
       Section 141 of S. 1810 would amend section 2402(4) of title 
     38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility of a 
     Philippine Commonwealth Army veteran for burial in a national 
     cemetery if, at the time of death, the Commonwealth Army 
     veteran is a naturalized citizen of the United States, and he 
     is a resident of the United States.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 331 of the compromise agreement follows the Senate 
     language with an amendment requiring that the veteran be a 
     citizen of, or lawfully admitted for permanent residence in, 
     the United States, and be receiving compensation or be 
     determined to have been eligible for pension had the 
     veteran's service been deemed to be active military, naval, 
     or air service.


payment rate of burial benefits for certain filipino veterans of world 
                                 war ii

     Current Law
       Former members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army may 
     qualify for VA disability compensation, burial benefits, and 
     National Service Life Insurance benefits, and their survivors 
     may qualify for dependency and indemnity compensation. These 
     benefits are paid at one-half the rate they are provided to 
     U.S. veterans. (See 38 U.S.C. Sec. 107).
     Senate Bill
       Section 201 of S. 1076 would authorize payment of the full-
     rate funeral expense and plot allowance to survivors of 
     Philippine Commonwealth Army veterans who, at the time of 
     death, a) are citizens of the United States residing in the 
     U.S. and b) are receiving compensation for a service-
     connected disability or would have been eligible for VA 
     pension benefits had their service been deemed to have been 
     active military, naval, or air service.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 332 of the compromise agreement follows the Senate 
     language with an amendment that as an alternate requirement 
     to citizenship, permanent resident status would suffice for 
     purposes of establishing eligibility.


        plot allowance for burial in state veterans' cemeteries

     Current Law
       Section 2303(b)(1) provides a plot allowance of $150 for 
     each veteran buried in a State-owned veterans' cemetery, 
     provided that only persons eligible for burial in a national 
     cemetery are buried in that cemetery.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.

[[Page H9939]]

     Compromise Agreement
       Section 333 of the compromise agreement would allow a State 
     to bury in a State veterans' cemetery members of the Armed 
     Forces or former members discharged or released from service 
     under conditions other than dishonorable--who are not 
     otherwise eligible for burial in a national cemetery--without 
     the State losing its eligibility for a plot allowance.

                        TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS


  benefits for the children of women vietnam veterans who suffer from 
                         certain birth defects

     Current Law
       VA has authority to compensate veterans (including 
     additional amounts of compensation for dependents) for 
     service-connected disease or injury. VA may, pursuant to 
     Public Law 104-204, provides benefits to children of Vietnam 
     veterans born with ``all forms and manifestations'' of spina 
     bifida except spina bifida occulta. Children with spina 
     bifida born of Vietnam veterans currently are eligible for 
     (1) a monthly allowance, varying by degree of disability of 
     the person with spina bifida, (2) health care for any 
     disability associated with that person's spina bifida, and 
     930 vocational training, job placement, and post-job 
     placement services.
     Senate Bill
       Section 162 of S. 1810 would extend (with a single 
     variation) to the children born with birth defects to women 
     Vietnam veterans the same benefits as those now afforded to 
     Vietnam veterans' children born with spina bifida under 
     chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code.
     House Bill
       The House bills contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 401 of the compromise agreement generally follows 
     the Senate language. The former chapter 18 has been 
     redesignated as subchapter I, the compromise agreement from 
     section 401 of S. 1810 has been designated as subchapter II 
     of chapter 18 and certain general definitional and 
     administrative provisions applicable to both subchapters I 
     and II of chapter 18 have been placed in a new subchapter 
     III.
       The definition of ``child'' in the Senate bill has been 
     moved to a general definitions section (new section 1821) 
     contained in subchapter III. A separate definition of 
     ``eligible child'' (for purposes of subchapter II) has been 
     provided in a new section 1811. The definition of ``female 
     Vietnam veteran'' contained in S. 1810 has been removed from 
     subchapter II and replaced by general definitions of Vietnam 
     veteran and Vietnam era in new section 1821.
       S. 1810 would have excluded spina bifida from the 
     definition of a covered birth defect in subchapter II. Thus, 
     the Senate bill could have been interpreted so as to require 
     a child to choose to receive a monthly monetary allowance and 
     health care based only on spina bifida or based only on non-
     spina bifida disabilities, but not both. Because the 
     Committees wish to include spina bifida with all other 
     covered disabilities for purposes of rating the disabilities 
     from which an eligible child may suffer, the prohibition in 
     proposed section 1812(b)(2) has been deleted from the 
     compromise bill. The compromise agreement is intended to 
     ensure that children of women Vietnam veterans who suffer 
     both from spina bifida and any other covered birth defect 
     will have all of their disabilities considered in determining 
     the appropriate disability rating and the amount of monetary 
     benefits to be paid under subchapter II of chapter 18. If the 
     only covered birth defect present is spina bifida, the 
     eligible child would be compensated under the spina bifida 
     provisions of subchapter I of chapter 18.
       The requirement in S. 1810 that birth defects identified by 
     the Secretary be listed in regulations has been omitted. In 
     drafting this legislation, the Committees considered the 
     report of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health 
     Administration, Environmental Epidemiology Service, entitled 
     ``Women Vietnam Veterans Reproductive Outcomes Health Study'' 
     (October, 1998). Because this report identifies a wide 
     variety of birth defects identified in the children of women 
     Vietnam veterans, the Committees concluded that it was not 
     necessary to provide a rating for each separate defect. Thus, 
     the Committees intend that, in addition to whatever specific 
     defects the Secretary may identify, the Secretary may also 
     describe defects in generic terms, such as ``a congenial 
     muscular impairment resulting in the inability to stand or 
     walk without assistive devices.'' Language authorizing the 
     Secretary to take into account functional limitations when 
     formulating a schedule for rating disabilities under the new 
     subchapter was added to specifically allow for ratings based 
     upon generic descriptions of functional limitations imposed 
     by the disabilities.
       The limitation contained in the Senate bill which barred 
     assistance under the new authority to an individual who 
     qualified for spina bifida benefits has been deleted to 
     assure that children who suffer from spina bifida and any 
     other covered defect may receive a monetary allowance under 
     subchapter II and health care which takes into account the 
     disabilities imposed by spina bifida and any other condition.


               extension of certain expiring authorities

     Current Law
       The following authorities expire on September 30, 2002: 1) 
     VA's authority to verify the eligibility of recipients, of, 
     or applicants for, VA needs-based benefits and VA means-
     tested medical care by gaining access to income records of 
     the Department of Health and Human Services/Social Security 
     Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, 2) the 
     reduction to $90 per month for VA pension and death pension 
     benefits to veterans or other beneficiaries without 
     dependents who are receiving Medicaid-covered nursing home 
     care, 3) the Secretary's authority to charge borrowers who 
     obtain VA-guaranteed, insured or direct home loans a ``home 
     loan'' fee, and 4) procedures applicable to liquidation sales 
     of defaulted home loans guaranteed by VA. The Secretary's 
     (enhanced loan asset) authority to issue and guarantee 
     securities representing an interest in home loans expires on 
     December 31, 2002.
     House Bill
       Section 8 of H.R. 4268 would extend temporary authorities 
     to 2008 that would otherwise expire on September 30, 2002, 
     including: 1) VA income verification authority through which 
     VA verifies the eligibility for VA needs-based benefits and 
     VA means-tested medical care, by gaining access to income 
     records of the Department of Health and Human Services/Social 
     Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, 2) 
     limitation on VA pension and death pension payments to 
     beneficiaries without dependents receiving Medicaid-covered 
     nursing home care, 3) VA-enhanced loan asset authority 
     guaranteeing the payment of principal and interest on VA-
     issued certificates or other securities, VA home loan fees of 
     \3/4\
     of one percent of the total loan amount, and 4) procedures 
     applicable to liquidation sales on defaulted home loans 
     guaranteed by VA.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 402 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


             PRESERVATION OF CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

     Current Law
       The Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 
     repealed a number of agency report requirements that Congress 
     had imposed during the 20th century. The effect of that law, 
     which otherwise would have taken effect last year, was 
     temporarily suspended until May 15, 2000, by a provision in 
     last year's omnibus appropriations act, Public Law 106-113.
     House Bill
       Section 10 of H.R. 4268 would reinstate the requirements 
     that the Secretary provide periodic reports concerning 
     equitable relief granted by the Secretary to an individual 
     beneficiary (expires December 31, 2004); work and activities 
     of the Department; programs and activities examined by the 
     Advisory Committees on a) former prisoners of war (expires 
     December 31, 2003) and b) women veterans (expires after 
     biennial reports submitted in 2004); operation of the 
     Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program (expires 
     December 31, 2004); and activities of the Secretary's special 
     medical advisory group (expires December 31, 2004). It also 
     requires the Secretary to include with any report that is 
     required by law or by a joint explanatory statement of a 
     Congressional conference committee an estimate of the cost of 
     preparing the report.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 403 of the compromise agreement contains the House 
     language.


                   LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS NOT ADOPTED

  EXPANSION OF LIST OF DISEASES PRESUMED TO BE SERVICE-CONNECTED FOR 
                       RADIATION-EXPOSED VETERANS

     Current Law
       Section 1112(c)(2) of title 38, United States Code, lists 
     16 diseases which, if they become manifest in a radiation-
     exposed veteran at any time in his or her lifetime, would be 
     considered to have been incurred in or aggravated during 
     active service.
     Senate Bill
       Section 102 of S. 1810 would amend section 1112(c)(2) by 
     adding lung cancer, tumors of the brain and central nervous 
     system, and ovarian cancer to the list of diseases presumed 
     to be service-connected if they are contracted by radiation-
     exposed veterans.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.


          INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEE

     Current Law
       Under section 3703(a)(1)(A)(IV) of title 38, United States 
     Code, VA guarantees 25 percent of a home loan amount for 
     loans of more than $144,000, with a maximum guaranty of 
     $50,750. Under current mortgage loan industry practices, a 
     loan guaranty of $50,750 is sufficient to allow a veteran to 
     borrow up to $203,000 toward the purchase of a home with 
     no down payment.
     Senate Bill
       Section 122 of S. 1810 would amend section 3703(a)(1) to 
     increase the maximum amount of the VA guaranty from $50,750 
     to $63,175.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.

[[Page H9940]]

termination of collection of loan fees from veterans rated eligible for 
           compensation at pre-discharge rating examinations

     Current Law
       Section 3729(c) of title 38, United States Code, provides 
     that a loan fee may not be collected from a veteran who is 
     receiving disability compensation (or who, but for the 
     receipt of retirement pay, would be entitled to receive 
     compensation) or from a surviving spouse of any veteran who 
     died from a service-connected disability (including a person 
     who died in the active military, naval, or air service).
     Senate Bill
       Section 123 of S. 1810 would amend section 3729 to add an 
     additional category of fee-exempt borrower; persons who have 
     been evaluated by VA prior to discharge from military service 
     and who are expected to qualify for a compensable service-
     connected disability upon discharge, but who are not yet 
     receiving disability compensation because they are still on 
     active duty.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.


       family coverage under servicemembers' group life insurance

     Current Law
       Spouses and dependent children are not eligible for any VA-
     administered insurance program.
     Senate Bill
       Section 133 of S. 1810 would create a new section 1967A 
     within chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code. This 
     section would provide to SGLI-insured servicemembers an 
     opportunity to provide for coverage of their spouses and 
     children. The amount of coverage for a spouse would be equal 
     to the coverage of the insured servicemember, up to a maximum 
     of $50,000. The lives of an insured servicemembers' dependent 
     children would be insured for $5,000.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.


comptroller general audit of veterans' employment and training service 
                       of the department of labor

     Current Law
       Not applicable.
     Senate Bill
       Section 152 of S. 1810 would require the Comptroller 
     General of the United States to carry out a comprehensive 
     audit of the Veterans' Employment and Training Service of the 
     Department of Labor. The audit would commence not earlier 
     than January 1, 2001, and would be completed not later than 1 
     year after enactment of this provision. Its purpose would be 
     to provide a basis for future evaluations of the 
     effectiveness of the Service in meeting its mission. The 
     audit would review the requirements applicable to the Service 
     under law, evaluate the organizational structure of the 
     Service, and any other matters related to the Service that 
     the Comptroller General considers appropriate.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.


          accelerated payments of basic educational assistance

     Current Law
       Current law does not provide for accelerated educational 
     assistance payments tin VA-administered education programs.
     Senate Bill
       Section 9 of S. 1402 would authorize VA to make accelerated 
     payments under the terms of regulations that VA would 
     promulgate to allow MGIB participants to receive a 
     semester's, a quarter's, or a term's worth of benefits at the 
     beginning of the semester, quarter, or term. For courses not 
     so organized, VA could make an accelerated payment up to a 
     limit established by VA regulation, not to exceed the cost of 
     the course.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.


eligibility of members of the armed forces to withdraw elections not to 
        receive montgomery gi bill basic educational assistance

     Current Law
       Sections 3011(c)(1) (for active duty service of at least 3 
     years) and 3012(d)(1) (for active duty service of 2 years and 
     4 continuous years in the Selected Reserve) of title 38, 
     United States Code, provide that any servicemember may make 
     an election not to receive educational assistance under 
     chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code. Any such election 
     shall be made at the time the individual initially enters 
     active duty. For servicemembers who elect to sign up for the 
     Montgomery GI Bill, section 3011(b) requires a pay reduction 
     of $100 per month for the first 12 months of active service.
     Senate Bill
       Section 8 of S. 1402 would authorize servicemembers who had 
     ``opted out'' of MGIB participation (by electing not to 
     receive MGIB benefits and whose basic pay during the first 12 
     months of service, therefore, had not been reduced by $100 
     per month for 12 months) to regain eligibility for MGIB 
     benefits by making a $1,500 lump sum payment.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.


 codification of recurring provisions in annual department of veterans 
                      affairs appropriations acts

     Current Law
       Each year the Congress appropriates funds to the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs as part of the Departments of Veterans 
     Affair and Housing and Urban Development, Independent 
     Agencies Appropriations Act (VA-HUD) appropriations bill). 
     Although the amount of the appropriations varies from year to 
     year, the purposes for which appropriations are made are 
     generally fixed, and change little, if any, from year to 
     year. Because the style of appropriations language 
     discourages normal punctuation or sentence structure, some of 
     the ``sentences'' making appropriations exceed a page in 
     length. This approach appears to make the appropriations 
     language difficult for the average person to read.
     House Bill
       Section 9 of H.R. 4268 would codify recurring provisions in 
     annual Department of Veterans Affairs Appropriations Acts.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.


  major construction project at the boston, massachusetts health care 
   system: integration of the boston, west roxbury, and brockton va 
                            medical centers

     Current Law
       No provision.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       The Committees take note of concerns registered by Members 
     of both Houses over the pace and poor planning associated 
     with an important project in the greater Boston VA 
     environment. The most recent information on the Boston 
     integration indicates that a new review--by the Capital 
     Assets Restructuring For Enhanced Services (CARES) contractor 
     for New England--will begin soon. The Committees expect VA to 
     complete the Boston integration plan in an expedited manner. 
     Further, the Committees expect the VA to submit a proposal, 
     or a major construction authorization request, to address 
     these infrastructure needs following completion of the CARES 
     validation of bed need in the area. The Committees support 
     this process and look forward to the results of the analysis 
     and any proposal VA consequently may make.


          pilot program for coordination of hospital benefits

     Current Law
       No provision.
     House Bill
       Section 401 of H.R. 5109 would authorize a four-site VA 
     pilot program. Under the program, veterans with Medicare or 
     private health coverage (and a number of indigent veterans), 
     who rely on a VA community-based clinic, could voluntarily 
     choose nearby community hospital care for brief episodes of 
     medical-surgical inpatient care. The VA clinic would 
     coordinate care and cover required copayments.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate bills contain no comparable provision.


                  unification of medication copayments

     Current Law
       Under Section 1710(a)(2)(G) of title 38, United States 
     Code, VA provides medical care, without imposing an 
     obligation to make copayments for such care, to veterans who 
     are ``unable to defray the expenses of necessary care. . . 
     .'' This is determined by comparing the veteran's annual 
     income against an income threshold that is adjusted annually. 
     A separate provision of law, section 1722A of title 38, 
     United States Code, mandates that VA charge a copayment for 
     each 30-day supply of prescription medications provided to a 
     veteran on an outpatient basis if that medication is for the 
     treatment of a nonservice-connected condition.
       Two categories of veterans are exempt from the copayment 
     obligation: veterans who have service-connected disability 
     ratings of 50 percent or higher, and veterans whose annual 
     income does not exceed the maximum amount of ``means tested'' 
     VA pension that would be payable if such veterans were to 
     qualify for pension. Eligibility for pension is also 
     determined by calculating countable income against an income 
     threshold. This pension level is lower than the health care 
     eligibility income threshold. As a consequence, veterans who 
     are given priority access to VA health care and are exempted 
     from making copayments for that health care under one 
     measurement of their means are required to make copayments 
     for medications under a different measurement of their means.
     Senate Bill
       Section 201 of S. 1810 would unify the copayment exemption 
     thresholds at the health care eligibility income threshold.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.

[[Page H9941]]

    extension of maximum term of va leases to providers of homeless 
                           veterans services

     Current Law
       VA's Home Loan Guaranty Program assists veterans by 
     facilitating their purchase, construction, and improvement of 
     homes. VA does so by encouraging private lenders to extend 
     favorable credit terms to veterans by guaranteeing repayment 
     of a portion of the lender-provided home loan.
       In some circumstances, veterans default on mortgage loans 
     guaranteed by VA. In such cases, the lender will foreclose, 
     and VA, as a guarantor, may come into possession of the 
     property. Such properties, typically, are sold to the public 
     by VA. VA, however, has the option of leasing such properties 
     to public and nonprofit private providers of services to 
     homeless veterans so that such service-providers may offer 
     shelter and other services to homeless veterans and their 
     families. However, such leases to the providers of services 
     to homeless veterans may not exceed 3 years in term.
     Senate Bill
       Section 311 of S. 1810 would extend the maximum term of VA 
     leases to providers of services to homeless veterans from 3 
     to 20 years.
     House Bill
       The House bills contain no comparable provision.

  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in strong support of this bill's amendment. This legislation 
contains many important provisions, a few of which I will highlight at 
this time.
  Among the most important is an increase in the Montgomery GI Bill 
basic benefit of $650 a month. This will provide qualifying veterans 
more than $23,000 to pursue their higher education goals. We are very 
pleased that the former chairman, the gentleman from Mississippi, Sonny 
Montgomery, is in the Chamber with us today. He deserves the credit for 
the initiation of this program and its continued support.
  This is an increase of $4200, or more than 23 percent, than the 
benefit available when this year began. For VA nurses, an annual pay 
adjustment is provided. At long last, VA nurses will now receive an 
annual pay adjustment like other VA employees.
  I am very pleased that the measure also requires the VA to carry out 
a new study on Vietnam veterans and post- traumatic stress disorder. 
Importantly, this provision also recognizes the increased occurrence of 
birth defects in children born to women veterans who served in Vietnam 
during that war.
  Madam Speaker, I particularly want to thank the chairman of the 
committee, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) not only for his 
leadership on this issue and the other veterans' issues being 
considered here today, but for his stewardship of the House Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs during the past 6 years. It has been a good run, 
and we appreciate the gentleman's strong support for the veterans of 
our country. We know he will be a continued fighter for their benefits 
and compensation.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1402, the Veterans 
Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000. This legislation will 
benefit our nation's veterans, their dependents and survivors, and 
strongly deserves overwhelming approval by this House.
  This legislation contains many noteworthy education provisions which 
will benefit not only those who serve in uniform, but our nation as a 
whole. As the author of this legislation, with my good friend, 
Congressman John Dingell, to provide a meaningful increase in veterans' 
education benefits. I strongly believe this measure is an important 
first step toward revitalizing one of the most successful and important 
programs in modern history. Under this measure, effective November 1, 
2000, the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) basic education benefit for 
veterans will increase to $650 per month for those who serve three 
years in the Armed Forces and to $528 per month for a two-year period 
of service. For those serving three years, this increase will provide 
qualifying veterans more than $23,000 to pursue their higher education 
goals. This is an increase of $4200, or 23%, over the benefit available 
when this year began. It is a needed step in restoring the purchasing 
power of the Montgomery GI Bill benefit.
  In addition, an increase in MGIB education benefits for eligible 
survivors and dependents is provided. For the first time, an annual 
cost-of-living increase will also be provided for educational benefits 
being received by eligible survivors and dependents. Under this 
legislation survivors' and dependents' education benefits would be 
increased from $485 per month to $588 per month for full-time students, 
and by lesser amounts for part-time and other types of training.
  For the first time, servicemembers on active duty who are 
particularly determined to achieve their educational goals are provided 
the option to elect an enhanced MGIB. Under this provision, eligible 
servicemembers could elect to make voluntary contributions while still 
on active duty, up to a maximum additional contribution of $600. This 
contribution would be in addition to the $1,200 reduction in pay that 
is required of every servicemember who elects to participate in the 
MGIB. In return for a maximum additional contribution of $600, the 
servicemember would be eligible for up to $5,400 in additional 
education assistance benefits under the MGIB program.
  Other important provisions provide for a uniform requirement for a 
high school diploma or GED before applying for MGIB benefits and the 
repeal of the requirement for initial obligated period of active duty 
as a condition of eligibility for MGIB benefits. Further, the 
legislation provides that up to $2,000 in MGIB education benefits which 
may be used for civilian occupational licensing or certification 
examination fees that are necessary to enter, maintain or advance in 
employment. In addition, survivors and dependents who are eligible for 
MGIB benefits are authorized to use those benefits for preparatory 
courses including standardized college entrance examinations.
  Veterans are not using the MGIB benefits they have earned through 
honorable military service. High-ability, college-bound young Americans 
are choosing not to serve in the Armed Forces. The significant changes 
in the MGIB readjustment program embodied in this compromise agreement 
should help to increase program usage and enable the military service 
to recruit the higher ability young people they need.
  Several important changes regarding burial benefits are also included 
in this legislation. Eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery 
is provided to Filipino veterans of World War II if, at the time of 
death, the veteran was legally residing in the United States. In 
addition, full-rate funeral expenses and plot allowances to survivors 
of eligible Filipino veterans of World War II are authorized.
  With the aging of our World War II population, an estimated 1,000 
veteran burials occur each day and by the year 2008, it has been 
estimated that 1,700 veterans' funerals will take place each day. 
Importantly, this legislation includes a provision that would amend the 
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) to 
expressly require employers to grant reservists an authorized leave of 
absence for performing funeral honors duty. This provision would ensure 
that civilian employers support both reserve component servicemembers 
and America's veterans to whom we all owe our gratitude and final 
respect.
  Another significant provision of this legislation regards veterans' 
employment. This provision would add recently-separated servicemembers 
as veterans to whom affirmative action must be extended, for purposes 
of employment and advancement in employment, by Federal contractors and 
subcontractors.
  For VA nurses, an annual pay adjustment is provided. At long last, a 
serious pay inequity affecting the largest group of employees in the 
VA--its nurses--is addressed and VA nurses will now receive a annual 
pay adjustment like other VA employees. Most experts agree that we have 
entered or are on the threshold of another critical nurse shortage. The 
current nurse workforce is aging and many nurses will retire within the 
next five years. At the same time, the American Nurses Association 
indicates that enrollment in nursing schools has dropped precipitously 
just as we will be attempting to address the needs of an increasingly 
large elderly population. Older people use far more health care 
services than younger people do.
  In addition, nurses have had to shoulder even more responsibility as 
health care delivery is transformed. Nurses are continually asked to 
work more independently, work additional shifts, and change the manner 
in which they have practiced medicine to reflect current health care 
delivery practices, which often means updating or learning new skills. 
This very important nurse pay provision will correct a problem that has 
been demoralizing our VA nurse workforce and I thank my colleagues for 
supporting this provision.
  Over the last five years, VA's dental workforce has literally been 
decimated while VA has enrolled more veterans who require their 
services. I want to commend the Ranking Member of our Benefits 
Subcommittee, Bob Filner for recognizing this problem and for authoring 
legislation that served as the framework for a provision contained in 
this legislation. This measure will allow VA to shore up its dental 
staff by providing VA with the authority to extend ranges of pay for 
dentists who work full-time in the VA, who have special hospital-based 
training, and who have dedicated their careers to VA. It will help VA 
recruit and retain its dentists who have unique

[[Page H9942]]

skills in working with veterans who are often medically indigent or 
have experienced traumatic service-incurred injuries. These valuable 
personnel have learned from working with veterans, and VA should take 
dramatic steps to revise the damage that has been done to this 
workforce over the last few years.
  Further, this legislation also provides VA physicians assistants 
long-sought representation within VA Headquarters along with better 
training opportunities. It will also help VA retain social workers, 
pharmacists and medical support personnel. These measures are crucial 
to sustaining a highly skilled health care staff.
  This year marked the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war. 
I am very pleased this measure requires VA to carry out a new study on 
Vietnam veterans and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
  This legislation recognizes the increased occurrence of birth defects 
in children born to women veterans who served in Vietnam during the 
Vietnam war. Appropriately this measure provides health care, 
vocational rehabilitation and monetary benefits for children with birth 
defects attributable to the service of their mother in Vietnam. Earlier 
this year I introduced H.R. 4488 to provide these benefits. I am 
pleased S. 1402, as amended, authorizes these benefits.
  Further, this measure also provides eligibility for special monthly 
compensation for women veterans for service-connected loss of one or 
both breasts.
  This legislation also calls for a new focus on ``military service'' 
in assessing factors that may affect veterans' health. This ``Veterans 
Health Initiative'' is supported by many of the members of the Vietnam 
Veterans in Congress Caucus as well as by the Vietnam Veterans of 
America. Earlier this year we asked Secretary West to promote this 
orientation within the Department. This initiative will promote this 
activity by allowing VA to live up to its promise to be a system 
focused on the specific needs of veterans--a true veterans' health care 
system.
  Veterans are often required to travel some distance to the nearest VA 
facility and are often accompanied by family or friends. For many 
years, VA has attempted to accommodate veterans who are not sick enough 
to stay in the hospital, but who may be unable to meet early 
appointment times with their physicians unless they stay nearby. If the 
veteran travels with family, the family member usually must find other 
accommodations. Fisher Houses are a source of lodging that have been 
available to servicemembers for some time. There are some Fisher Houses 
already accommodating veterans and their families. I am pleased this 
provision will authorize a regularized approach to operating them in 
concert with veterans' health care.
  I am pleased that we are allowing VA to extend its buyout authority 
for two additional years. This authority will allow VA to restructure 
its workforce to bring in health care professionals and others with an 
appropriate mix of skills to contribute to the changing needs of the 
system. This authority is not without strings. In the health care 
system, VA has had to replace each worker with another professional. 
This has enabled VA to move appropriately skilled workers into areas 
where they are needed. Buyouts are greatly preferable to employees than 
the reductions-in-force that VA might otherwise have to employ. They 
are also tailored to allow VA flexibility in updating the skills within 
its workforce.
  Mr. Speaker, the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 
2000 which deserves the strong support of every member of the house, is 
the product of the hard work of many people. In particular I want to 
thank the Chairman and Ranking Democratic member of our three Veterans' 
Affairs Subcommittees--Cliff Stearns and Luis Guiterrez, Jack Quinn and 
Bob Filner, and Terry Everett and Corrine Brown--for their important 
contributions.
  I also applaud the significant contributions by our colleagues Bart 
Stupak and David Minge. Bart Stupak authored legislation authorizing 
service-connected disability for diseases manifest during inactive duty 
for training. A provision based on his proposal is included in this 
legislation.
  David Minge proposed legislation to increase the amount of resources 
an incompetent veteran with no dependents, may retain and still qualify 
for payment of benefits while being provided institutional care at VA's 
expense.
  Contributions made by members of the other body, by veterans, veteran 
service organizations, representatives of the Administration, our House 
Legislative Counsel, particularly Bob Cover, and the members of our 
Committee staffs are also acknowledged and certainly appreciated.
  Mr. Speaker, I particularly thank the Chairman of the Committee, Bob 
Stump, not only for his leadership of this measure and the other 
veterans measures being considered today, but also for his stewardship 
of the Veterans Affairs Committee during the past six years.
  A member of the Committee since 1979, Bob Stump assumed the 
Chairmanship of our Committee at the beginning of the 104th Congress. 
Under current House rules, having served as Chairman during the 104th, 
105th and 106th sessions of Congress, Bob is precluded from serving as 
Chairman of Veterans Affairs during the 107th Congress.
  For the last four years I have served as the Ranking Democratic 
Member of the Committee. I am indebted and grateful to Bob for the 
courtesy and cooperation that he has extended to me and to other 
Democratic members of the Committee.
  We have not always agreed on public policy, but our disagreements 
have never prevented us from working together on behalf of veterans. It 
has been my privilege to work with Bob to develop legislation to 
address the most important needs of our veterans, their dependents and 
survivors.
  During his six-year tenure as Chairman, our Committee has enacted 
significant legislation. We have accomplished much and assisted and 
benefited many. A man of few words, Bob Stump would rather solve 
problems than talk about them. Thank you, Bob. I salute you for a job 
well done.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), a member of the committee.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time, and I also want to thank him for allowing me the opportunity 
to speak on this worthwhile bill. I would like to give great credit to 
the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), the chairman of the committee, 
for his introduction of HCR-419, which is a bill that mirrors this bill 
and was introduced on the House side and became a very important part 
of our consideration in the deliberations of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of S. 1402, as 
amended, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support it as well. I 
wanted to highlight just a few of the benefit provisions of the bill, 
however, first I would like to also recognize one of our former 
colleagues, a great friend of America, a great friend of all veterans, 
the former representative from Mississippi, G. V. Sonny Montgomery, one 
of the distinguished gentlemen who was responsible for the GI Bill. 
And, of course, the bill carries his name, and rightfully so. It is a 
great honor for me to have the privilege to have made friends with 
Sonny Montgomery, and I treasure his work with veterans over all these 
years.
  Madam Speaker, effective on November 1, this bill increases the 
Montgomery GI Bill benefit from $552 per month to $650 per month, thus 
helping 309,000 veterans and students immediately. Since October of 
1997, Congress has increased the Montgomery GI Bill by 48 percent from 
$439 to $650 per month, and we still have more to go.
  With the new buy-up provisions in this bill, current and future 
service members can contribute up to an additional $600 and increase 
their monthly benefit over 4 years of schooling from $650 per month to 
$800 per month.
  Second, effective November 1, the bill increases educational benefits 
for 48,000 survivors and dependents from $485 to $588 per month, with 
guaranteed COLAs in years ahead.
  Third, the bill is welcome news for about 137,000 active duty service 
members who either previously turned down an opportunity to convert 
from the post-Vietnam era veterans' educational assistance program, 
known as VEAP, to the Montgomery GI Bill or had a zero balance in their 
VEAP account. For a $2700 buy-in, these individuals will receive full 
Montgomery GI Bill benefits that will be valued at $23,400 with passage 
of today's legislation.
  Fourth, the bill will help about 25,000 service members who are 
discharged from military service each year who need a civilian license 
or certification to practice their vocation or profession. Now they 
will be able to use their Montgomery GI Bill benefits to pay for such 
examinations, which average about $150 each. The subcommittee has been 
very active on this issue, and I am pleased we were able to include 
this provision in our final package.
  Fifth, the bill provides special monthly compensation for women 
veterans who lose a breast as a result of service-connected disability.
  Sixth, the bill makes eligible for burial in VA national cemeteries, 
and for

[[Page H9943]]

a burial plot allowance in other cemeteries, certain Philippine 
commonwealth army veterans of World War II.
  Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to pay tribute to the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs. The gentleman from Arizona enlisted in the Navy at 
the age of 16 in 1943, and as a teenager and Navy corpsman, 
participated with the Marines in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa 
and the liberation of the Philippines.
  The gentleman from Arizona has served on this committee for more than 
17 years, and in the last 6 years was teamed first with Sonny 
Montgomery then with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) to provide 
the bipartisan leadership needed to get things done.
  He has now completed his 6-year term as chairman using the simple 
credo of doing right by America's sons and daughters who have protected 
our priceless freedoms. We do not see Bob on the talk shows or doing 
media interviews, nor do we hear him trumpeting his legislative 
accomplishments. I suspect, Madam Speaker, that is because he would 
say, ``That's our duty.''
  The gentleman from Arizona is an individual who provided selfless 
leadership, the kind of leadership that seems so common to his 
generation, a generation that repeatedly demonstrates that they are 
ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
  I want the gentleman to know that he has my thanks and friendship, my 
admiration and deep respect, as well as all America's respect, 
especially our veterans in this country.
  Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Kuykendall).
  (Mr. KUYKENDALL asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. KUYKENDALL. Madam Speaker, I would like to associate myself with 
the remarks of the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons). Very eloquently 
done.
  Having spent some time in the Marines Corps myself and then having to 
transition to the civilian world after an injury, I found out what it 
was like to use the GI Bill to get a new education. I got a master's 
degree in business with it. I found out what it was like to have a 
disability associated with the military and how one gets taken care of 
by the VA.
  We make a promise to veterans. In many cases we promise them a very 
hard life and after their 3 or 4 years service, we send them back into 
society. The veterans that came back from World War II and Korea, with 
the use of the GI Bill that we had in place then, changed the world. 
That education program allowed hundreds of thousands of men and women 
to get an education and, in turn, make this Nation's economy grow into 
what it is today. They laid the foundation for the economic prosperity 
we have today. They are now retirees in many cases and are moving on, 
but this was possible due to the education those veterans received.
  This bill continues that process. It continues it for veterans that 
are currently serving and it continues it for those who are on benefits 
today. Education, I believe, is part of the promise we owe them. 
Increasing the education benefits is well deserved, and I do not think 
we can ever do quite enough for these young men and women.
  Finally, the health care portion. We have always had veterans, but we 
do not always take care of them as well as we should. This goes a long 
way towards improving this situation. It helps us improve some of the 
specialists pay who are treating veterans; it helps us with our 
facilities, as in the case of one in my area, by making it seismically 
safe, so that when we have earthquakes in California, that hospital 
will still be able to function helping veterans.
  The bill also helps veterans by helping their families, when they 
have passed away, to bury them where they can be with their comrades. 
We have created several new cemeteries in this legislation.
  All of these things, I think, go down the road of continuing our 
promise to people who are willing to serve our Nation, whether it be 
for a career or only for a short time, that we will look after them 
after they have left that service.

                              {time}  1230

  I commend S. 1402, urge its passage, and hope we implement it with 
the utmost speed.
  Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, let me once again thank the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Stearns), the chairman of our Subcommittee on Health, who could 
not be here today because of a previous commitment in Florida. He has 
done a great job in steering this committee for the last 4 years.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) for his input 
on this bill that we are dealing with right now and thank him for his 
very kind remarks.
  This is probably the last bill that we will bring to the floor under 
suspensions this year, Madam Speaker, and I would like to thank each 
and every member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs on both sides of 
the aisle.
  I especially would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Evans) and his staff for the great job they have done for veterans, 
which just shows when we put partisan politics aside and work in the 
best interest of the veterans that we can accomplish many good things. 
I thank him very much.
  I also would like to thank Senator Specter, the chairman of the VA on 
the Senate side, as well as the ranking member, Senator Rockefeller, 
for their work and accomplishments on this measure. This is a good 
bill. Our veterans deserve it.
  Mr. MINGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support S. 1402, the 
Veterans and Dependents Millennium Education Act. Specifically, I would 
like to commend the conferees for including a modified version of my 
legislation, H.R. 4935.
  Section 304 of the Veterans and Dependents Millennium Education Act 
will be a great benefit to our nation's most vulnerable veterans. 
Current law concerning mentally ill veterans actually discourages them 
from seeking the mental health services they so desperately need. If a 
single, mentally ill veteran is institutionalized with an estate over 
$1,500, his or her estate is essentially reduced to below $500. Upon 
discharge, he or she would basically have no money for housing or other 
needs.
  Today's legislation will modernize the estate levels for 
institutionalized mentally ill veterans. By tying the estate levels to 
the service connected disability ratings, we will ensure that they will 
be adequate and continue to adjust with the cost of inflation. I am 
proud that Congress is acting to ensure that those who served our 
country are not forgotten in their time of need.
  There are many people who worked to make this effort possible. In the 
tradition of veterans helping veterans, the Minnesota Veterans of 
Foreign Wars visited my office last Spring to inform me of this 
discriminatory treatment of mentally ill veterans. Former State 
Commander of the VFW Dave Adams and Claims Director Tom Hanson are to 
be especially commended for their work on this initiative. I would also 
like to thank Representative Lane Evans, the Ranking Democrat on the 
House Veterans' Affairs Committee, for all his help in securing 
inclusion of this legislation. He and the Democratic staff have been 
incredibly helpful throughout the whole process.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 1402.
  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1402, the 
Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000. This bill is 
a comprehensive package of education, health, and compensation benefits 
that passed the House as separate bills earlier this year. Clearly, 
this is another monumental step in fulfilling America's promise to its 
veterans and their families.
  As agreed to by House and Senate negotiators, the bill will improve 
Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits in order to compete with the rising 
costs of a college education. Specifically, the bill will increase the 
monthly education benefit to $650 for a total of $23,400 in assistance 
to a full-time student pursuing a four-year degree. This is a 
tremendous boon to veterans and their families that will help in their 
transition back to the civilian work force after honorably and 
unselfishly serving their country in uniform. Veterans' survivors and 
dependents will receive an education stipend increase by raising the 
monthly benefit to $588 per month.
  In addition, the bill will provide active duty service members 
another chance to convert their Post-Vietnam Educational Assistance 
Program (VEAP) benefits to the MGIB if they

[[Page H9944]]

previously declined to do so or withdrew all funds from their VEAP 
accounts. Other provisions allow payment of education benefits during 
intervals lasting as long as eight weeks between academic terms and the 
use of up to $2,000 of VA education benefits toward the fee for 
civilian licensing or certification examination.
  The measure would also give annual pay raises to VA nurses and 
increase special pay to dentists and other VA medical personnel. This 
important provision will help VA to hire and retain the skilled, caring 
health personnel that it must have in order to serve an aging veterans' 
population. Last year, the Marion VA chapter, the American Federation 
of Government Employees Local 1020, contacted my office seeking pay 
parity for VA nurses. Specifically, Local 1020 asked me to help them 
better address manning and staffing levels that were creating patient 
and employee safety issues due to the lack of adequate nursing staff. 
It was evident that to ensure the highest quality of care for our 
veterans, an effort to meet these shortfalls would be required. Earlier 
this year, the VA Committee reported a similar nurse's pay provision to 
the House floor, and Local 1020 indicated their full support for the 
measure, and reiterated the need for nurse pay parity. Like the 
previously passed bill, this measure addresses their concerns.
  Another provision would allow VA disability benefits for a heart 
attack or stroke of a reservist if incurred or aggravated while in a 
drilling status, as well as make women eligible for special monthly 
compensation for the loss of one or both breasts. It would also 
increase the maximum amount of coverage available through the Service 
Members Group Life Insurance program to $250,000. Other provisions of 
the bill will require federal contractors and subcontractors to extend 
affirmative action regarding employment and promotions to recently 
discharged veterans, require employers to grant leaves of absence to 
employees who participate in honor guards for the funerals of veterans 
and provide benefits to children of women Vietnam veterans who suffer 
from specified birth defects.
  This is great news for the veterans community, to include VA 
employees, especially VA nurses and VA dentists. As in the past, 
Congress has worked hard to ensure the United States government remains 
steadfast in its moral, legal and ethical obligation to provide 
veterans and their families the benefits and services they so richly 
deserve. This bill is good for veterans, it is good for their families, 
and it is good for America.
  Finally, I would like to thank Chairman Stump and Ranking Member 
Evans for their hard work and diligence in ensuring passage of this 
bill. Their efforts were truly bipartisan and deserve recognition.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I would like to commend the Chairman and 
Ranking Member of both the House and the Senate Veterans Affairs 
committees and the staff for their excellent work on S. 1402, which 
incorporates several very worthy bills, including mine, H.R. 3816.
  My bill closes an exceptionally problematic loophole brought to my 
attention by the Pearce family of Traverse City, Michigan. Master 
Sergeant Ron Pearce was a full time employee of the National Guard who 
suffered a heart attack while performing the required physical fitness 
test, a part of Inactive Duty Training requirements. Master Sergeant 
Pearce had a history of heart trouble, and in the past had been 
exempted from the from the fitness test on recommendation of his 
doctor. He was ordered to take this test as a condition of his 
continued employment with the National Guard.
  He passed away as a direct result of this fitness test, leaving 
behind a wife and family with no means of support. The VA first 
approved and then denied his family benefits. My bill would consider 
heart attacks and strokes suffered by Guard and Reserve personnel while 
on ``inactive duty for training,'' to be service-connected for the 
purpose of VA benefits.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly support this legislation and I am happy 
that the loophole will be closed and more families will not have to 
suffer as the Pearce family has suffered. I strongly urge members to 
vote yes on this bill. I thank the distinguished gentleman from 
Arizona, the Chairman of the Veterans Committee, and the distinguished 
gentleman from Illinois, the Ranking Member, for their inclusion of my 
legislation in this bill, as well as the distinguished Chair and 
Ranking Member from the other body.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, as the Senior Democrat on the Benefits 
Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, I want to 
express my strong support for the legislation before the House today. 
S. 1402 as amended by the Senate, presents an agreement that every 
Member of the House can support. It is a strong reaffirmation of our 
commitment to the men and women who have stood in our defense. Our 
nation's veterans would benefit greatly from this well-crafted and 
meaningful legislation. I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in my 
support for this legislation and to vote in favor of its final passage.
  I want to take a moment to thank the Chairman of the Benefits 
Subcommittee, Jack Quinn; the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs 
Committee, Bob Stump, and the Ranking Democratic Member of the 
Committee, Lane Evans, for their collective leadership on the many 
important issues affecting our men and women in uniform. I have enjoyed 
working with each of them on the bill that is before the House today, 
and also with the other members of the Committee. I also want to thank 
our colleagues in the Senate for their significant efforts in this 
area. Senator Arlen Specter and Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman and 
Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, have put 
forth the cooperative effort that is essential to reaching a good 
agreement.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased that the agreement we are considering 
makes some significant improvements to veterans' education benefits. 
Education benefits are a prime focus of this legislation. I have always 
been a strong believer that higher education is a positive agent of 
change. I came to Congress from the higher education community, and I 
have witnessed first hand the great things a higher education can do 
for our veterans. From that experience, and from my years on the 
Veterans Affairs Committee, I have concluded there is no better way to 
empower the men and women who have served in America's defense. 
Educating these brave men and women is undoubtedly the best way for us 
to ensure they join the ranks of a thriving civilian workforce.
  Under the agreement, the basic educational benefit for veterans will 
increase under the MGIB program from $552 per month to $650 per month 
for a three-year term of enlistment and $528 per month for a two-year 
term of enlistment. This represents an 18 percent increase in the basic 
MGIB education readjustment benefit for veterans. As my colleagues 
know, I believe the MGIB benefit should be increased more than has been 
proposed in this agreement. The increase it does provide, however, is a 
strong and positive step toward achieving the goal of providing a more 
meaningful education benefit for our nation's veterans than is 
currently available.
  The agreement also provides for an increase to MGIB education 
benefits for eligible survivors and dependents. These benefits would be 
increased from $485 per month to $588 per month for full-time students. 
These increases would be effective as of November 1, 2000, with future 
annual cost-of-living increases effective October 1, 2001. I am very 
pleased that the agreement provides for a cost-of-living increase for 
survivors and dependents. Moreover, the election period and effective 
date for the award of survivors' and dependents' benefits under MGIB 
have been corrected under this agreement, allowing for retroactive 
payments for benefits that should have been awarded but were not, due 
to long waiting times for VA adjudication. Also in the agreement is a 
provision that would allow those veteran students whose academic 
calendars include long intervals between terms, semesters or quarters 
to continue to receive their educational assistance benefits during 
such periods in order to prevent financial hardship.
  Of immediate concern to the Benefits Subcommittee has been the 
ineffectiveness of the MGIB as a readjustment benefit for 
servicemembers making the transition from military service to a 
civilian society and workforce. While costs of higher education have 
soared, nearly doubling since 1980, GI Bill benefits have not kept 
pace. One of the most noteworthy provisions in this agreement would 
allow for an increased MGIB education assistance for particularly 
determined active duty servicemembers. Under the agreement, 
servicemembers who have elected to participate in the MGIB program by 
contributing their initial $1,200 pay reduction would be afforded the 
opportunity to take advantage of enhanced MGIB benefits by making an 
additional contribution of up to $600. In return, that servicemember 
would be eligible for up to $5,400 in additional MGIB education 
assistance.
  Thanks in large part to the leadership of my friend Jack Quinn, the 
Chairman of the Benefits Subcommittee, there is a provision in this 
legislation that would make available MGIB education benefits to be 
used for up to $2,000 in fees for civilian occupational licensing or 
certification examinations. The Subcommittee has held extensive 
hearings on this complex topic and I am glad to see that the agreement 
includes this important provision. It will make an immediate, positive 
impact on thousands of servicemembers who return to the civilian 
workforce every year. The agreement also allows survivors and 
dependents to use their MGIB benefits for preparatory courses.
  The brave men and women who serve in America's Armed Forces deserve, 
and have

[[Page H9945]]

indeed earned, far better than the inadequate educational assistant 
program now available to them. I am very pleased that the agreement 
includes such momentum toward getting veterans' education benefits back 
to the stature and effectiveness they were meant to have all along.
  Another significant accomplishment coming out of this agreement would 
be to finally allow for more equitable burial benefits for our Filipino 
veterans of World War II. Today, an estimated 17,000 Filipino veterans 
are citizens of the United States. Most of these are veterans of World 
War II, over 1,200 of who receive VA compensation for service-connected 
disabilities.
  Under current federal law, certain Filipino veterans of World War II 
are not eligible for burial in VA national cemeteries. Moreover, 
survivors of eligible Filipino veterans currently receive funeral 
expenses and burial plot allowances at one-half the rates paid to 
survivors of U.S. veterans.
  The agreement would provide for the eligibility of certain Filipino 
veterans of World War II for burial in a VA national cemetery if, at 
the time of death, that veteran is a naturalized citizen and resident 
of the United States. In addition, the agreement would authorize 
payment of full-rate funeral expenses and plot allowances to survivors 
of eligible Filipino veterans of World War II.
  An aging World War II veteran population has caused an unprecedented 
demand for military funeral honors over recent years, and this demand 
will continue. As the military seeks to meet these demands through its 
use of reservists, increasing numbers of civilian employees will be 
called away from their jobs temporarily to perform funeral honors duty. 
Importantly, the agreement includes a provision that would amend the 
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) to 
expressly require employers to give reservists an authorized leave of 
absence for performing funeral honors duty.
  Finally, I want to stress the importance of the agreement's provision 
regarding equity in pay for VA dentists. I introduced last fall H.R. 
2660, which I entitled, ``Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, the VA 
Dentist Equity Act,'' in response to a variety of concerns of VA 
dentists. Almost 70 percent of VA dentists will be eligible for 
retirement in the next three years. On top of this troubling fact, VA 
dentists are paid less than their DOD counterparts, dentists in 
academia or dentists in private practice. In fact, they make almost 
one-third less than dentists working in these settings. So I am very 
glad that the agreement includes a provision to enable VA to recruit 
and retain new dentists into the system now and in the future.
  As amended, S. 1402 represents good public policy for America's 
veterans. I believe strongly that every one of my colleagues here today 
would do well by their veterans at home by voting in favor of this 
bill.
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, first, to my colleagues, I want to 
recognize our superb Chairman, Mr. Stump of Arizona, who leads us today 
as Chairman of the full Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Mr. Stump is a 
senior Member of this House and a man of honor, Madam Speaker. Bob 
Stump served his country faithfully--and with distinction--in war, and 
has served with care and vigor as a Member and Chairman of the Veterans 
Committee. I am privileged to serve with him; Bob Stump is one of the 
secret treasures of this House. I salute him for his leadership on this 
bill, and for his dedicated service over the past six years as Chairman 
of our Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Madam Speaker, the bills before us today, S. 1402, H.R. 4864, and 
H.R. 4850, are good bills for veterans, and they are good reflections 
of this House. They contain provisions that are innovative, useful, 
necessary, and workable--a winning combination for the veterans we 
serve and for the Department of Veterans Affairs that we are charged to 
oversee.
  Madam Speaker, I want to address specifically one of our measures 
today, S. 1402, final passage of the Senate amendments to the House 
amendments to S. 1402, the ``Veterans Benefits and Health Care 
Improvement Act of 200.'' After a number of hearings, Subcommittee 
meetings, site visits and other data collection, I introduced, with 
bipartisan cosponsors, one of the predecessor bills incorporated in 
this measure, H.R. 5109, the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Health 
Care Personnel Act of 2000.'' My Subcommittee endorsed this bill on a 
bipartisan basis, and our full Committee, under my Chairman's 
leadership, ordered the bill reported to the House on September 13, 
2000. The House unanimously passed H.R. 5109 on September 21, 2000.
  Let me review some of the key provisions of our health bill, H.R. 
5109, that were successfully negotiated with our Senate colleagues, and 
are incorporated in S. 1402:


                                 nurses

  Madam Speaker, about ten years ago, Congress created an innovative 
pay system for VA nurses, with a locality-based mechanism to produce 
pay rates that were intended to address labor market needs to keep VA 
competitive. The idea was that each VA hospital could act in its own 
self-interest, and remain competitive locally. It was intended to be a 
good reform, and this system initially gave VA nurses a big pay raise. 
VA's recruitment and retention problem for nurses effectively 
disappeared for awhile. But the old saying, ``that was then, and this 
is now,'' comes to mind.
  My subcommittee gave a special focus during this Congress to the pay 
situation of VA nurses. What we found was disappointing--we have 
learned that many VA nurses hadn't received any increases in their pay 
since the initial ones from our 1990 legislation.
  While those first pay increases were in many cases substantial, in 
the course of time, other Federal employee groups had caught up because 
of the annual comparability pay raises available to every other Federal 
employee--except VA nurses. So once again VA finds itself in a 
competitive disadvantage, and some VA nurses are looking for other 
employment options. In my judgment, as Chairman of our Health 
Subcommittee, it is a loss that veterans cannot afford. Therefore, our 
bill guarantees VA nurses the statutory national comparability pay 
raise given to all other Federal employees.
  My colleagues, these changes do not mean that Congress is declaring 
reform to be our enemy. We want to make certain that the earlier 
legislation works as the 101st Congress intended it. Therefore, in 
addition to the guaranteed national pay raise for nurses, the bill 
crafts necessary adjustments to the locality survey mechanism to ensure 
that data are available when needed, and to specify that certain steps 
be taken, when they are necessary, that lead to appropriate salary 
rates for VA nurses. This is the right solution for VA nurses; it is a 
bipartisan compromise, and I compliment my colleague, the gentleman 
from Illinois, Mr. Evans, and also another gentleman from Illinois, my 
good friend, Mr. Gutierrez, for their cooperation in getting this 
important matter resolved for VA nurses and for the veterans they 
serve.


                                dentists

  Madam Speaker, this bill addresses recommendations of VA's 
Quadrennial Pay Report concerning VA dentists, bringing their pay into 
better balance with average compensation of hospital-based dentists in 
the private sector. This is the first change in almost 10 years in VA 
dentists' special pay. I want to recognize my colleague from the State 
of California, Dr. Bob Filner, for bringing his voice to this important 
issue for VA dentists.


                              construction

  Our bill authorizes major medical facility construction projects in 
Beckley, West Virginia, Palo Alto and Long Beach, California, and 
Miami, Florida, with a commensurate authorization of appropriations of 
$120.9 million for this necessary construction. Also, we are extending 
a prior authorization for a long-term care project in Lebanon, 
Pennsylvania, and approving an authorization for a previously 
appropriated project for the Murfreesboro, Tennessee VA facility. These 
are excellent projects that have been carefully reviewed by Members of 
both Bodies and warrant our approval in this legislation.


                                  ptsd

  My friend, Mr. Evans of Illinois, the Ranking Member of the full VA 
Committee, recently raised the profile of the need for Congress to 
reauthorize the landmark 1988 study of post traumatic stress disorder 
in Vietnam veterans. Madam Speaker, our bill reauthorizes this 
important study.


                            military service

  The bill also urges, in a Sense of Congress Resolution, that VA 
record military service history when VA physicians and other caregivers 
initially take a veteran's general health history. This will aid any 
veteran who files a VA claim for disability, especially given our new 
appreciation that military and combat exposure may be associated with 
onset of disease in later life. I want to commend the Vietnam Veterans 
of America organization for bringing this proposal to the Subcommittee 
on Health--it is a valuable contribution to this bill.


                            property matters

  In addition to these items, Madam Speaker, we are making some 
important changes in VA properties. We are transferring a number of 
parcels of land at VA medical centers in Georgia, Michigan, Montana, 
and Tennessee to state and local governments, and the private sector, 
for good uses. Also, we are authorizing the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to close the VA Medical Center in Ft. Lyon, Colorado, on the 
condition that the Secretary ensure that the veterans this facility 
serves now are properly treated in other facilities in the private and 
public sectors. Also, I want the Secretary to know that my 
subcommittee, on a bipartisan basis, will be carefully monitoring VA's 
actions in the case of Ft. Lyon. We are particularly interested in how 
VA will meet its statutory requirement to maintain capacity to provide 
long-term care, and how southern Colorado

[[Page H9946]]

will contribute to this obligation, following closure of the Ft. Lyon 
facility. In all likelihood, the Subcommittee on Health will hold 
hearings on this matter next year. Thus, VA needs to be aware that its 
actions in respect to Ft. Lyon will be closely scrutinized. Also, VA 
needs to ensure that employees of the Ft. Lyon facility are offered all 
the personnel options available to the VA for ``early out'' and ``buy 
out'' benefits. It is through no fault of these employees that this 
facility is being closed, and all our Members believe that they should 
be held harmless by the Government's decision to close this facility. 
These VA employees have served their country honorably and with 
dedication. This service should be recognized and treated with the 
respect it deserves by the Secretary as the VA moves closer to closing 
this longstanding institution.
  Madam Speaker, our bill is endorsed by a number of organizations, 
including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, 
AMVETS, PVA, BVA, the Nursing Organization of Veterans Affairs, the 
American Dental Association, and the largest federal union, the 
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), among others. I 
hope that each of my colleagues will vote for passage of this measure 
today, and that we can send it on to the President prior to adjournment 
sine die of the 106th Congress.
  I want to add one personal note today. I have served as Chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Health for the past 4 years. It has been both an 
honor and an education for me, and I appreciate having been afforded an 
opportunity to serve in a leadership position on this Committee. I 
thank my Chairman, Mr. Stump, and the Ranking Members of the full 
Committee, Mr. Evans, as well as Mr. Gutierrez, our Ranking Member of 
the Subcommittee on Health, as well as other Members for supporting me 
as Chairman. It is important to note that these Members also exhibited 
the best of our traditions on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs--the 
traditions of Sonny Montgomery, Tiger Teague and Bob Stump--of working 
together in a bipartisan manner, to honor and to help veterans. So, 
Madam Speaker, my chairmanship of the subcommittee has been a rewarding 
experience for me, and I look forward to continuing these good 
bipartisan relations in the new Congress in January 2001.
  In conclusion, veterans of our Armed Forces need these bills, Madam 
Speaker. They are good bills, with effective provisions, that help 
veterans, and I urge my colleagues to support them so that we can 
continue to keep our promise to America's veterans.
  Mr. EVERETT. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs 
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I rise in strong support 
of S. 1402 as amended, the Veterans Benefits and Health Care 
Improvement Act of 2000. Section 223 of this bill is derived from H. 
Con. Res. 413, which I introduced along with my colleague and 
Subcommittee Ranking Democratic Member, Ms. Corrine Brown. Section 223 
states the Sense of the Congress that the Departments of Veterans 
Affairs and Defense should increase their cooperation in the 
procurement of medical items, including pharmaceuticals.
  Ms. Brown has taken an active role in working for increased VA/DoD 
sharing, and I thank her for her cooperation. I want to express my 
appreciation to our full Committee Chairman, Bob Stump, and our Ranking 
Democratic Member, Lane Evans, for their leadership on this issue as 
well. I also want to thank Chairman Arlen Specter and Senator Jay 
Rockefeller of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee for agreeing to 
include this section in the final bill.
  Under the Veterans' Administration and Department of Defense Health 
Resources Sharing and Emergency Operations Act, P.L. 97-174, VA and DoD 
have had the authority to share medical resources since 1982. In 1999, 
VA and DoD entered into sharing agreements amounting to $60 million out 
of total combined healthcare budgets of approximately $35 billion. This 
amounts to less than two-tenths of one percent of sharing. At our May 
25, 2000 hearing, GAO stated that greater joint pharmaceutical 
procurements could lead to annual recurring savings of up to $345 
million. These savings could be reinvested in improved healthcare for 
veterans, military retirees, service members and their families.
  I urge the VA and the Department of Defense to heed this Sense of the 
Congress and quickly improve their joint procurement practices to 
obtain the best possible prices in the pharmaceutical market. 
Otherwise, huge amounts of healthcare dollars will continue to be 
wasted as VA and DoD pay too much money for pharmaceuticals.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly encourage all of my colleagues to join in 
bipartisan support of this important legislation to improve healthcare, 
education and other benefits for our Nation's veterans.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the three 
veterans bills that we are addressing today. As many of you know, we 
recently lost several service members as a result of a despicable 
terrorist act in Yemen. Those sailors, our service members, gave their 
lives . . .  made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. 
Unfortunately, as we get caught up in our day-to-day lives we often 
forget that there are men and women in distant lands and dangerous 
situations doing a lot of heavy lifting for us and this country. Its 
important that we pause occasionally and remember that our freedom, our 
wealth and our peace of mind is the direct result of service members 
such as the sailors on the USS Cole. This year, there has been 
considerable debate and discussion about keeping promises to our 
veterans and their families. I think that these bills help to put an 
end to any doubt about our commitment to our veterans. In my district 
of El Paso, Texas, I represent almost seventy thousand veterans and 
family members. I've seen some of the procedural difficulties that 
veterans and their family members must endure. And, I can talk to you 
in great detail about how these bills will help to improve the quality 
of life for our veterans. In my view, this legislation is not about 
keeping promises or mending fences. I think of it simply as an 
imperative for the nation. This is legislation that this body must pass 
because it is the right thing to do for those who have committed so 
much of themselves to our country. I sincerely appreciate the work that 
my colleagues on both sides of the aisle put into these bills. Because 
of their hard work, we have three meaningful veterans bills. The 
Veterans Benefit Act, the Claims Assistance Act and the Veterans and 
Health Care Improvement Act each provide important improvements or 
enhancements to the existing veterans programs. I urge each of you to 
support passage of each of these veterans bills.
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1402, 
the Veterans and Dependents Millennium Education Act. I urge my 
colleagues to join in supporting this worthwhile legislation.
  S. 1402 incorporates a number of important bills which were addressed 
and passed by the house earlier this year. These include increasing the 
monthly benefit in the Montgomery G.I. bill, increasing the monthly 
amount of the basic education allowance for survivors and dependents, 
specific improvements in the pay and benefits for nurses and 
pharmacists at V.A. health care facilities, and a number of extensions 
of reauthorizations for various programs relating to V.A. loans through 
2008.
  S. 1402 also contains a provision extending burial benefits to those 
Filipino World War II veterans, who either reside in the United States, 
or who have become citizens or applied for permanent residence. As a 
long-time champion of the Filipino World War II veterans, I was pleased 
to see that provision included in this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this timely, appropriate 
legislation.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of The 
Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000. This 
legislation increases the rates of educational assistance under the 
Montgomery GI Bill and improves the pay rates for many health care 
professionals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Also, it 
makes other needed improvements in veterans educational assistance, 
health care, and benefits programs. This act is a major effort by 
Congress to assist our veterans and to keep faith with those who have 
served.
  Under the provisions of this bill the basic benefit by the Montgomery 
GI Bill will increase to $650 per month for a three-year period of 
military service and $528 per month for a two-year period of service. 
It will increase the basic educational allowance for survivors and 
dependents of eligible veterans to $588 per month, and will 
significantly increase the flexibility for survivors and dependents in 
taking advantage of their educational benefits.
  Particularly important in this bill is the effort to address the 
looming nurse shortage within the Veteran Administration. A number of 
steps have been taken to insure VA nurses are paid adequately and 
competitive with their counterparts in the private sector. Also, 
provisions addressing paid and professional status for dentists, 
pharmacists, physician assistants and social workers have been 
included.
  Other important items in S. 1402 include the authorization of $120.9 
million in fiscal year 2001 or 2002 for major construction and 
increasing the maximum amount of coverage available through the 
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program and the Veterans' Group 
Life Insurance program for $200,000 to $250,000. There are improvements 
in Housing and Employment Programs, Cemeteries and Memorial Affairs 
Program, and in the VA Compensation Program.
  I fully support this important bill because our nation's treatment of 
it's veterans will impact upon our ability to attract Americans to 
military service. Our veterans must receive fair treatment in a timely 
manner. If we do not keep

[[Page H9947]]

faith with our veterans--we will jeopardize the national security of 
the nation.
  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the measure before 
us, S. 1402, the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act. I 
would like to thank the work of Chairman Bob Stump, Representative Lane 
Evans, as well as their staffs for bringing this legislation to the 
floor. I'd also like to thank Chairman Specter and Senator Rockefeller 
for their assistance.
  In addition to many of the beneficial provisions in this bill, such 
as a badly needed increase in the basic Montgomery G.I. Bill benefit, 
S. 1402 includes language of considerable importance to the citizens 
and veterans of Southeast Michigan.
  For sixty years, the veterans' hospital in Allen Park, Michigan 
provided quality health care to those who answered our nation's call to 
arms. In the 1930's, this 39-acre property was given to the VA as a 
gift from the Henry Ford family. The deed that turned the property over 
to the VA, however, included a reversionary clause that spelled out 
that if the VA no longer used the property, the land would revert back 
to the Ford family.
  The VA operated a fully functional hospital on the Allen Park site 
until 1996, at which time a new VA hospital was opened in nearly 
Detroit. This new state-of-the-art hospital, which I am deeply honored 
is named the John D. Dingell VA Hospital, provides quality health care 
for the veterans of Southeast Michigan despite recent budgetary 
shortfalls which required the hospital to make unspecified efficiency 
cuts, usually resulting in staff cuts.
  At the time the decision was made to build a new hospital in 
Southeast Michigan in 1986, the VA envisioned converting the old Allen 
Park facility into a long-term care facility, creating a dual campus 
arrangement with Detroit. The dual campus plan, however, was abandoned 
because the Allen Park facility was no longer needed to meet veterans' 
needs in the area. Just to be certain, at the request of myself and my 
colleague Representative Joe Knollenberg, the VA conducted a study to 
determine whether the Allen Park facility, or the campus, was needed to 
meet area veterans' health care needs today or in the future. The VA 
found that not only was Allen Park no longer needed, but that two 
floors at the new hospital were currently vacant. The General 
Accounting Office verified the accuracy of the VA study.
  Currently, the Allen Park campus consists of perhaps 15 buildings, 
and is closed with the exception of a small corner of the old main 
hospital building, which is used as a part-time outpatient care clinic. 
Few veterans use Allen Park except to catch the VA bus to the Detroit 
facility. The VA operates this clinic only to keep an official VA 
presence on the campus, because if it failed to have a presence, the 
land would revert to the Ford family and the VA would immediately be 
responsible for paying enormous cleanup costs before the reversion 
could occur. These costs would have to be absorbed by the VA, and no 
doubt would eat up a significant chunk of the annual VA budget.
  Today, it costs the VA between $500,000 to $1,000,000, probably more, 
just to maintain the Allen Park clinic and campus, which fails to offer 
most health services, is in shabby condition and filled with asbestos. 
This money comes out of the budget intended specifically for VA health 
care in VISN 11. It is money poorly spent, which undermines the already 
cash strapped regional VA health care budget. It makes the veterans' 
health care system in Southeast Michigan worse.
  Given that the VA's Allen Park facility is no longer needed, the Ford 
Land Management Company would like to develop the Allen Park property. 
The VA would like to abandon it. Additionally, the City of Allen Park 
has long sought to see the VA campus developed and have the land placed 
on city tax rolls.
  This summer the VA conducted an environmental impact study and 
estimated cleanup costs. VA and Ford officials concluded that it would 
cost at least $21.3 million to clean up the site. Ford officials have 
offered to pay for all cleanup costs after $14 million, saving 
taxpayers at least $7.3 million. Ford will also save taxpayers' money 
because it will store the demolished materials in a nearby storage 
facility. No appropriation earmark will be required now or in the 
future. The VA will be spared having to fund a one-time, $21.3 million 
major construction project simply to demolish an obsolete building. 
Additionally, the VA will be able to use the $500,000 to $1,000,000 
spent each year at Allen Park to better the veterans' health care 
system in Southeast Michigan. Finally, I am pleased that the Allen Park 
agreement also requires a flagpole and a plaque be maintained at the 
site in honor of the service of our veterans.
  Madam Speaker, the Allen Park provision of this bill is a good deal 
for veterans, a good deal for taxpayers, and a good deal for Allen 
Park. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.
  Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Morella). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) that the House 
suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the House 
amendments to the Senate bill, S. 1402.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendments to the 
House amendments to the Senate bill were concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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