[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H11705-H11722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1500
                     VETERANS BENEFITS ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2297) to amend title 
38, United States Code, to improve benefits under laws administered by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans 
     Benefits Act of 2003''.
       (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--SURVIVOR BENEFITS

Sec. 101. Retention of certain veterans survivor benefits for surviving 
              spouses remarrying after age 57.
Sec. 102. Benefits for children with spina bifida of veterans of 
              certain service in Korea.
Sec. 103. Alternative beneficiaries for National Service Life Insurance 
              and United States Government Life Insurance.
Sec. 104. Payment of benefits accrued and unpaid at time of death.

    TITLE II--BENEFITS FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR AND FOR FILIPINO 
                                VETERANS

                  Subtitle A--Former Prisoners of War

Sec. 201. Presumptions of service-connection relating to diseases and 
              disabilities of former prisoners of war.NOTICE

If the 108th Congress, 1st Session, adjourns sine die on or before 
November 22, 2003, a final issue of the Congressional Record for 
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December 15, 2003, in order to permit Members to revise and extend 
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By order of the Joint Committee on Printing.
                                                                
ROBERT W. NEY, Chairman.

[[Page H11706]]

                     Subtitle B--Filipino Veterans

Sec. 211. Rate of payment of benefits for certain Filipino veterans and 
              their survivors residing in the United States.
Sec. 212. Burial benefits for new Philippine Scouts residing in the 
              United States.
Sec. 213. Extension of authority to maintain regional office in the 
              Republic of the Philippines.

   TITLE III--EDUCATION BENEFITS, EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS, AND RELATED 
                                MATTERS

Sec. 301. Expansion of Montgomery GI Bill education benefits for 
              certain self-employment training.
Sec. 302. Increase in rates of survivors' and dependents' educational 
              assistance.
Sec. 303. Restoration of survivors' and dependents' education benefits 
              of individuals being ordered to full-time National Guard 
              duty.
Sec. 304. Rounding down of certain cost-of-living adjustments on 
              educational assistance.
Sec. 305. Authorization for State approving agencies to approve certain 
              entrepreneurship courses.
Sec. 306. Repeal of provisions relating to obsolete education loan 
              program.
Sec. 307. Six-year extension of the Veterans' Advisory Committee on 
              Education.
Sec. 308. Procurement program for small business concerns owned and 
              controlled by service-disabled veterans.
Sec. 309. Outstationing of Transition Assistance Program personnel.

             TITLE IV--HOUSING BENEFITS AND RELATED MATTERS

Sec. 401. Authorization to provide adapted housing assistance to 
              certain disabled members of the Armed Forces who remain 
              on active duty.
Sec. 402. Increase in amounts for certain adaptive benefits for 
              disabled veterans.
Sec. 403. Permanent authority for housing loans for members of the 
              Selected Reserve.
Sec. 404. Reinstatement of minimum requirements for sale of vendee 
              loans.
Sec. 405. Adjustment to home loan fees.
Sec. 406. One-year extension of procedures on liquidation sales of 
              defaulted home loans guaranteed by the Department of 
              Veterans Affairs.

                        TITLE V--BURIAL BENEFITS

Sec. 501. Burial plot allowance.
Sec. 502. Eligibility of surviving spouses who remarry for burial in 
              national cemeteries.
Sec. 503. Permanent authority for State cemetery grants program.

               TITLE VI--EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

Sec. 601. Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program of Department of 
              Defense.
Sec. 602. Study on disposition of Air Force Health Study.
Sec. 603. Funding of Medical Follow-Up Agency of Institute of Medicine 
              of National Academy of Sciences for epidemiological 
              research on members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 701. Time limitations on receipt of claim information pursuant to 
              requests of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 702. Clarification of applicability of prohibition on assignment 
              of veterans benefits to agreements requiring payment of 
              future receipt of benefits.
Sec. 703. Six-year extension of Advisory Committee on Minority 
              Veterans.
Sec. 704. Temporary authority for performance of medical disabilities 
              examinations by contract physicians.
Sec. 705. Forfeiture of benefits for subversive activities.
Sec. 706. Two-year extension of round-down requirement for compensation 
              cost-of-living adjustments.
Sec. 707. Codification of requirement for expeditious treatment of 
              cases on remand.
Sec. 708. Technical and clerical 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--SURVIVOR BENEFITS

     SEC. 101. RETENTION OF CERTAIN VETERANS SURVIVOR BENEFITS FOR 
                   SURVIVING SPOUSES REMARRYING AFTER AGE 57.

       (a) Exception to Termination of Benefits Upon Remarriage.--
     Section 103(d)(2)(B) is amended by striking ``The remarriage 
     after age 55'' and inserting ``The remarriage after age 57 of 
     the surviving spouse of a veteran shall not bar the 
     furnishing of benefits specified in paragraph (5) to such 
     person as the surviving spouse of the veteran. 
     Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the remarriage after 
     age 55''.
       (b) Coordination of Benefits.--Section 1311 is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) In the case of an individual who is eligible for 
     dependency and indemnity compensation under this section by 
     reason of section 103(d)(2)(B) of this title who is also 
     eligible for benefits under another provision of law by 
     reason of such individual's status as the surviving spouse of 
     a veteran, then, notwithstanding any other provision of law 
     (other than section 5304(b)(3) of this title), no reduction 
     in benefits under such other provision of law shall be made 
     by reason of such individual's eligibility for benefits under 
     this section.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall take effect on January 1, 2004.
       (d) Retroactive Benefits Prohibited.--No benefit may be 
     paid to any person by reason of the amendments made by 
     subsections (a) and (b) for any period before the effective 
     date specified in subsection (c).
       (e) Application for Benefits.--In the case of an individual 
     who but for having remarried would be eligible for benefits 
     under title 38, United States Code, by reason of the 
     amendment made by subsection (a) and whose remarriage was 
     before the date of the enactment of this Act and after the 
     individual had attained age 57, the individual shall be 
     eligible for such benefits by reason of such amendment only 
     if the individual submits an application for such benefits to 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs not later than the end of 
     the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       (f) Technical Correction.--Section 101(b) of the Veterans 
     Benefits Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-330; 116 Stat. 2821; 38 
     U.S.C. 103 note) is amended by striking ``during the 1-year 
     period'' and all that follows through ``(c)'' and inserting 
     ``before the end of the one-year period beginning on the date 
     of the enactment of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 102. BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPINA BIFIDA OF VETERANS 
                   OF CERTAIN SERVICE IN KOREA.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 18 is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subchapter III, and sections 1821, 
     1822, 1823, and 1824, as subchapter IV, and sections 1831, 
     1832, 1833, and 1834, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subchapter II the following new 
     subchapter III:

``SUBCHAPTER III--CHILDREN OF CERTAIN KOREA SERVICE VETERANS BORN WITH 
                              SPINA BIFIDA

     ``Sec. 1821. Benefits for children of certain Korea service 
       veterans born with spina bifida

       ``(a) Benefits Authorized.--The Secretary may provide to 
     any child of a veteran of covered service in Korea who is 
     suffering from spina bifida the health care, vocational 
     training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance required 
     to be paid to a child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering 
     from spina bifida under subchapter I of this chapter as if 
     such child of a veteran of covered service in Korea were a 
     child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida 
     under such subchapter.
       ``(b) Spina Bifida Conditions Covered.--This section 
     applies with respect to all forms and manifestations of spina 
     bifida, except spina bifida occulta.
       ``(c) Veteran of Covered Service in Korea.--For purposes of 
     this section, a veteran of covered service in Korea is any 
     individual, without regard to the characterization of that 
     individual's service, who--
       ``(1) served in the active military, naval, or air service 
     in or near the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ), as determined 
     by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Defense, during the period beginning on September 1, 1967, 
     and ending on August 31, 1971; and
       ``(2) is determined by the Secretary, in consultation with 
     the Secretary of Defense, to have been exposed to a herbicide 
     agent during such service in or near the Korean demilitarized 
     zone.
       ``(d) Herbicide Agent.--For purposes of this section, the 
     term `herbicide agent' means a chemical in a herbicide used 
     in support of United States and allied military operations in 
     or near the Korean demilitarized zone, as determined by the 
     Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, 
     during the period beginning on September 1, 1967, and ending 
     on August 31, 1971.''.
       (b) Child Defined.--Section 1831, as redesignated by 
     subsection (a) of this section, is amended by striking 
     paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraph (1):
       ``(1) The term `child' means the following:
       ``(A) For purposes of subchapters I and II of this chapter, 
     an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who--
       ``(i) is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran; and
       ``(ii) was conceived after the date on which that veteran 
     first entered the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.
       ``(B) For purposes of subchapter III of this chapter, an 
     individual, regardless of age or marital status, who--
       ``(i) is the natural child of a veteran of covered service 
     in Korea (as determined for purposes of section 1821 of this 
     title); and
       ``(ii) was conceived after the date on which that veteran 
     first entered service described in subsection (c) of that 
     section.''.
       (c) Nonduplication of Benefits.--Subsection (a) of section 
     1834, as redesignated by subsection (a) of this section, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``In 
     the case of a child eligible for benefits under subchapter I 
     or II of this chapter who is also eligible for benefits under 
     subchapter III of this chapter, a monetary allowance shall be 
     paid under the subchapter of this chapter elected by the 
     child.''.
       (d) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 1811(1)(A) is 
     amended by striking ``section 1821(1)'' and inserting 
     ``section 1831(1)''.
       (2) The heading for chapter 18 is amended to read as 
     follows:

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

       (e) Clerical Amendments.--(1) The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 18 is

[[Page H11707]]

     amended by striking the items relating to subchapter III and 
     sections 1821, 1822, 1823, and 1824 and inserting the 
     following new items:

``SUBCHAPTER III--CHILDREN OF CERTAIN KOREA SERVICE VETERANS BORN WITH 
                              SPINA BIFIDA

``1821. Benefits for children of certain Korea service veterans born 
              with spina bifida.

                  ``SUBCHAPTER IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS

``1831. Definitions.
``1832. Applicability of certain administrative provisions.
``1833. Treatment of receipt of monetary allowance and other benefits.
``1834. Nonduplication of benefits.''.
       (2) The table of chapters at the beginning of title 38, 
     United States Code, 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 and Certain Other 
    Veterans................................................1802''.....

     SEC. 103. ALTERNATIVE BENEFICIARIES FOR NATIONAL SERVICE LIFE 
                   INSURANCE AND UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LIFE 
                   INSURANCE.

       (a) National Service Life Insurance.--Section 1917 is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(f)(1) Following the death of the insured and in a case 
     not covered by subsection (d)--
       ``(A) if the first beneficiary otherwise entitled to 
     payment of the insurance does not make a claim for such 
     payment within two years after the death of the insured, 
     payment may be made to another beneficiary designated by the 
     insured, in the order of precedence as designated by the 
     insured, as if the first beneficiary had predeceased the 
     insured; and
       ``(B) if, within four years after the death of the insured, 
     no claim has been filed by a person designated by the insured 
     as a beneficiary and the Secretary has not received any 
     notice in writing that any such claim will be made, payment 
     may (notwithstanding any other provision of law) be made to 
     such person as may in the judgment of the Secretary be 
     equitably entitled thereto.
       ``(2) Payment of insurance under paragraph (1) shall be a 
     bar to recovery by any other person.''.
       (b) United States Government Life Insurance.--Section 1952 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c)(1) Following the death of the insured and in a case 
     not covered by section 1950 of this title--
       ``(A) if the first beneficiary otherwise entitled to 
     payment of the insurance does not make a claim for such 
     payment within two years after the death of the insured, 
     payment may be made to another beneficiary designated by the 
     insured, in the order of precedence as designated by the 
     insured, as if the first beneficiary had predeceased the 
     insured; and
       ``(B) if, within four years after the death of the insured, 
     no claim has been filed by a person designated by the insured 
     as a beneficiary and the Secretary has not received any 
     notice in writing that any such claim will be made, payment 
     may (notwithstanding any other provision of law) be made to 
     such person as may in the judgment of the Secretary be 
     equitably entitled thereto.
       ``(2) Payment of insurance under paragraph (1) shall be a 
     bar to recovery by any other person.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall take effect on October 1, 2004.
       (d) Transition Provision.--In the case of a person insured 
     under subchapter I or II of chapter 19 of title 38, United 
     States Code, who dies before the effective date of the 
     amendments made by subsections (a) and (b), as specified by 
     subsection (c), the two-year and four-year periods specified 
     in subsection (f)(1) of section 1917 of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (a), and subsection 
     (c)(1) of section 1952 of such title, as added by subsection 
     (b), as applicable, shall for purposes of the applicable 
     subsection be treated as being the two-year and four-year 
     periods, respectively, beginning on the effective date of 
     such amendments, as so specified.

     SEC. 104. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS ACCRUED AND UNPAID AT TIME OF 
                   DEATH.

       (a) Repeal of Two-Year Limitation on Payment.--Section 
     5121(a) is amended by striking ``for a period not to exceed 
     two years'' in the matter preceding paragraph (1).
       (b) Payment Recipients for Beneficiaries Under Chapter 
     18.--Such section is further amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (4);
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
     paragraph (5):
       ``(5) Upon the death of a child claiming benefits under 
     chapter 18 of this title, to the surviving parents.''.
       (c) Technical Amendments.--Such section is further 
     amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking the 
     comma after ``or decisions'';
       (2) by striking the semicolon at the end of paragraphs (1), 
     (2), (3), and (4), and at the end of subparagraphs (A) and 
     (B) of paragraph (2), and inserting a period.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

    TITLE II--BENEFITS FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR AND FOR FILIPINO 
                                VETERANS

                  Subtitle A--Former Prisoners of War

     SEC. 201. PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE-CONNECTION RELATING TO 
                   DISEASES AND DISABILITIES OF FORMER PRISONERS 
                   OF WAR.

       Subsection (b) of section 1112 is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(b)(1) For the purposes of section 1110 of this title and 
     subject to the provisions of section 1113 of this title, in 
     the case of a veteran who is a former prisoner of war--
       ``(A) a disease specified in paragraph (2) which became 
     manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more after active 
     military, naval, or air service shall be considered to have 
     been incurred in or aggravated by such service, 
     notwithstanding that there is no record of such disease 
     during the period of service; and
       ``(B) if the veteran was detained or interned as a prisoner 
     of war for not less than thirty days, a disease specified in 
     paragraph (3) which became manifest to a degree of 10 percent 
     or more after active military, naval, or air service shall be 
     considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by such 
     service, notwithstanding that there is no record of such 
     disease during the period of service.
       ``(2) The diseases specified in this paragraph are the 
     following:
       ``(A) Psychosis.
       ``(B) Any of the anxiety states.
       ``(C) Dysthymic disorder (or depressive neurosis).
       ``(D) Organic residuals of frostbite, if the Secretary 
     determines that the veteran was detained or interned in 
     climatic conditions consistent with the occurrence of 
     frostbite.
       ``(E) Post-traumatic osteoarthritis.
       ``(3) The diseases specified in this paragraph are the 
     following:
       ``(A) Avitaminosis.
       ``(B) Beriberi (including beriberi heart disease).
       ``(C) Chronic dysentery.
       ``(D) Helminthiasis.
       ``(E) Malnutrition (including optic atrophy associated with 
     malnutrition).
       ``(F) Pellagra.
       ``(G) Any other nutritional deficiency.
       ``(H) Cirrhosis of the liver.
       ``(I) Peripheral neuropathy except where directly related 
     to infectious causes.
       ``(J) Irritable bowel syndrome.
       ``(K) Peptic ulcer disease.''.

                     Subtitle B--Filipino Veterans

     SEC. 211. RATE OF PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN FILIPINO 
                   VETERANS AND THEIR SURVIVORS RESIDING IN THE 
                   UNITED STATES.

       (a) Rate of Payment.--Section 107 is amended--
       (1) in the second sentence of subsection (b), by striking 
     ``Payments'' and inserting ``Except as provided in subsection 
     (c), payments''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) by inserting ``and subchapter II of chapter 13 (except 
     section 1312(a)) of this title'' after ``chapter 11 of this 
     title'';
       (B) by striking ``in subsection (a)'' and inserting ``in 
     subsection (a) or (b)''; and
       (C) by striking ``of subsection (a)'' and inserting ``of 
     the applicable subsection''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply to benefits paid for months beginning after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 212. BURIAL BENEFITS FOR NEW PHILIPPINE SCOUTS RESIDING 
                   IN THE UNITED STATES.

       (a) Benefit Eligibility.--Section 107, as amended by 
     section 211 of this Act, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2)--
       (A) by striking ``and'' and inserting a comma; and
       (B) by inserting ``, 23, and 24 (to the extent provided for 
     in section 2402(8))'' after ``(except section 1312(a))'';
       (2) in the second sentence of subsection (b), as so 
     amended, by inserting ``or (d)'' after ``subsection (c)'';
       (3) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting ``or (b), as 
     otherwise applicable,'' after ``subsection (a)''; and
       (4) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``or whose service 
     is described in subsection (b) and who dies after the date of 
     the enactment of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003,'' after 
     ``November 1, 2000,''.
       (b) National Cemetery Interment.--Section 2402(8) is 
     amended by striking ``section 107(a)'' and inserting 
     ``subsection (a) or (b) of section 107''.
       (c) Effective Date.--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. 213. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN REGIONAL OFFICE 
                   IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.

       Section 315(b) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2003'' 
     and inserting ``December 31, 2009''.

   TITLE III--EDUCATION BENEFITS, EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS, AND RELATED 
                                MATTERS

     SEC. 301. EXPANSION OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL EDUCATION BENEFITS 
                   FOR CERTAIN SELF-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING.

        (a) Definition of Training Establishment.--Section 3452(e) 
     is amended by striking ``means any'' and all that follows and 
     inserting ``means any of the following:
       ``(1) An establishment providing apprentice or other on-job 
     training, including those under the supervision of a college 
     or university or any State department of education.
       ``(2) An establishment providing self-employment on-job 
     training consisting of full-time training for a period of 
     less than six months that is needed or accepted for purposes 
     of obtaining licensure to engage in a self-employment 
     occupation or required for ownership and operation of a 
     franchise that is the objective of the training.

[[Page H11708]]

       ``(3) A State board of vocational education.
       ``(4) A Federal or State apprenticeship registration 
     agency.
       ``(5) A joint apprenticeship committee established pursuant 
     to the Act of August 16, 1937, popularly known as the 
     `National Apprenticeship Act' (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
       ``(6) An agency of the Federal Government authorized to 
     supervise such training.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date that is six months after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to self-
     employment on-job training approved and pursued on or after 
     that date.

     SEC. 302. INCREASE IN RATES OF SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance.--
     Section 3532 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``at the monthly rate 
     of'' and all that follows and inserting ``at the monthly rate 
     of $788 for full-time, $592 for three-quarter-time, or $394 
     for half-time pursuit.''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``at the rate of'' and 
     all that follows and inserting ``at the rate of the lesser 
     of--
       ``(A) the established charges for tuition and fees that the 
     educational institution involved requires similarly 
     circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the same program to 
     pay; or
       ``(B) $788 per month for a full-time course.'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$670'' and inserting 
     ``$788''; and
       (3) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``shall be'' and all 
     that follows and inserting ``shall be $636 for full-time, 
     $477 for three-quarter-time, or $319 for half-time 
     pursuit.''.
       (b) Correspondence Courses.--Section 3534(b) is amended by 
     striking ``$670'' and inserting ``$788''.
       (c) Special Restorative Training.--Section 3542(a) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``$670'' and inserting ``$788''; and
       (2) by striking ``$210'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``$247''.
       (d) Apprenticeship Training.--Section 3687(b)(2) is amended 
     by striking ``shall be $488 for the first six months'' and 
     all that follows and inserting ``shall be $574 for the first 
     six months, $429 for the second six months, $285 for the 
     third six months, and $144 for the fourth and any succeeding 
     six-month period of training.''.
       (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on July 1, 2004, and shall apply with 
     respect to educational assistance allowances payable under 
     chapter 35 and section 3687(b)(2) of title 38, United States 
     Code, for months beginning on or after that date.

     SEC. 303. RESTORATION OF SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATION 
                   BENEFITS OF INDIVIDUALS BEING ORDERED TO FULL-
                   TIME NATIONAL GUARD DUTY.

       (a) Delimiting Date.--Section 3512(h) is amended by 
     inserting ``or is involuntarily ordered to full-time National 
     Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32,'' after ``title 
     10,''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect as of September 11, 2001.

     SEC. 304. ROUNDING DOWN OF CERTAIN COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS 
                   ON EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Basic Educational Assistance Under Montgomery GI 
     Bill.--Section 3015(h) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
       (2) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(h)'';
       (3) by striking ``(rounded to the nearest dollar)'';
       (4) in subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (A)''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Any increase under paragraph (1) in a rate with 
     respect to a fiscal year after fiscal year 2004 and before 
     fiscal year 2014 shall be rounded down to the next lower 
     whole dollar amount. Any such increase with respect to a 
     fiscal year after fiscal year 2013 shall be rounded to the 
     nearest whole dollar amount.''.
       (b) Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance.--
     Section 3564 is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(a)'' before ``With'';
       (2) by striking ``(rounded to the nearest dollar)''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Any increase under subsection (a) in a rate with 
     respect to a fiscal year after fiscal year 2004 and before 
     fiscal year 2014 shall be rounded down to the next lower 
     whole dollar amount. Any such increase with respect to a 
     fiscal year after fiscal year 2013 shall be rounded to the 
     nearest whole dollar amount.''.

     SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION FOR STATE APPROVING AGENCIES TO 
                   APPROVE CERTAIN ENTREPRENEURSHIP COURSES.

       (a) Approval of Entrepreneurship Courses.--Section 3675 is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c)(1) A State approving agency may approve the 
     entrepreneurship courses offered by a qualified provider of 
     entrepreneurship courses.
       ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term 
     `entrepreneurship course' means a non-degree, non-credit 
     course of business education that enables or assists a person 
     to start or enhance a small business concern (as defined 
     pursuant to section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     632(a))).
       ``(3) Subsection (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
     subsection (b) shall not apply to--
       ``(A) an entrepreneurship course offered by a qualified 
     provider of entrepreneurship courses; and
       ``(B) a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses by 
     reason of such provider offering one or more entrepreneurship 
     courses.''.
       (b) Business Owners Not Treated as Already Qualified.--
     Section 3471 is amended by inserting before the last sentence 
     the following: ``The Secretary shall not treat a person as 
     already qualified for the objective of a program of education 
     offered by a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses 
     solely because such person is the owner or operator of a 
     business.''.
       (c) Inclusion of Entrepreneurship Courses in Definition of 
     Program of Education.--Subsection (b) of section 3452 is 
     amended by adding at the end the following: ``Such term also 
     includes any course, or combination of courses, offered by a 
     qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses.''.
       (d) Inclusion of Qualified Provider of Entrepreneurship 
     Courses in Definition of Educational Institution.--Subsection 
     (c) of section 3452 is amended by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Such term also includes any qualified provider 
     of entrepreneurship courses.''.
       (e) Definition of Qualified Provider of Entrepreneurship 
     Courses.--Section 3452 is further amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(h) The term `qualified provider of entrepreneurship 
     courses' means any of the following entities insofar as such 
     entity offers, sponsors, or cosponsors an entrepreneurship 
     course (as defined in section 3675(c)(2) of this title):
       ``(1) Any small business development center described in 
     section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648).
       ``(2) The National Veterans Business Development 
     Corporation (established under section 33 of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657c)).''.
       (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to courses approved by State approving agencies 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 306. REPEAL OF PROVISIONS RELATING TO OBSOLETE EDUCATION 
                   LOAN PROGRAM.

       (a) Termination of Program.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may not make a loan under subchapter III of chapter 
     36 of title 38, United States Code, after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (b) Discharge of Liabilities.--Effective as of the date of 
     the transfer of funds under subsection (c)--
       (1) any liability on an education loan under subchapter III 
     of chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, that is 
     outstanding as of such date shall be deemed discharged; and
       (2) the right of the United States to recover an 
     overpayment declared under section 3698(e)(1) of such title 
     that is outstanding as of such date shall be deemed waived.
       (c) Termination of Loan Fund.--(1) Effective as of the day 
     before the date of the repeal under this section of 
     subchapter III of chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, 
     all monies in the revolving fund of the Treasury known as the 
     ``Department of Veterans Affairs Education Loan Fund'' shall 
     be transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Readjustment Benefits Account, and the revolving fund shall 
     be closed.
       (2) Any monies transferred to the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Readjustment Benefits Account under paragraph (1) 
     shall be merged with amounts in that account and shall be 
     available for the same purposes, and subject to the same 
     conditions and limitations, as amounts in that account.
       (d) Use of Entitlement to Veterans Educational Assistance 
     for Education Loan Program.--Section 3462(a) is amended by 
     striking paragraph (2).
       (e) Repeal of Education Loan Program.--Subchapter III of 
     chapter 36 is repealed.
       (f) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 3485(e)(1) is 
     amended by striking ``(other than an education loan under 
     subchapter III)''.
       (2) Section 3512 is amended by striking subsection (f).
       (g) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 36 is amended by striking the items 
     relating to subchapter III and sections 3698 and 3699.
       (h) Effective Dates.--(1) The amendments made by subsection 
     (d) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
       (2) The amendments made by subsections (e), (f), and (g) 
     shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 307. SIX-YEAR EXTENSION OF THE VETERANS' ADVISORY 
                   COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.

       (a) Membership.--Subsection (a) of section 3692 is amended 
     in the second sentence by inserting ``, to the maximum extent 
     practicable,'' after ``The committee shall also''.
       (b) Extension.--Subsection (c) of that section is amended 
     by striking ``December 31, 2003'' and inserting ``December 
     31, 2009''.
       (c) Technical Amendments.--That section is further 
     amended--
       (1) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking ``chapter 106'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``chapter 1606''; and
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``chapter 30'' and 
     inserting ``chapters 30''.

     SEC. 308. PROCUREMENT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS 
                   OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY SERVICE-DISABLED 
                   VETERANS.

       The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended 
     by redesignating section 36 as section 37 and by inserting 
     after section 35 the following new section:

[[Page H11709]]

     ``SEC. 36. PROCUREMENT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS 
                   OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY SERVICE-DISABLED 
                   VETERANS.

       ``(a) Sole Source Contracts.--In accordance with this 
     section, a contracting officer may award a sole source 
     contract to any small business concern owned and controlled 
     by service-disabled veterans if--
       ``(1) such concern is determined to be a responsible 
     contractor with respect to performance of such contract 
     opportunity and the contracting officer does not have a 
     reasonable expectation that 2 or more small business concerns 
     owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans will submit 
     offers for the contracting opportunity;
       ``(2) the anticipated award price of the contract 
     (including options) will not exceed--
       ``(A) $5,000,000, in the case of a contract opportunity 
     assigned a standard industrial classification code for 
     manufacturing; or
       ``(B) $3,000,000, in the case of any other contract 
     opportunity; and
       ``(3) in the estimation of the contracting officer, the 
     contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price.
       ``(b) Restricted Competition.--In accordance with this 
     section, a contracting officer may award contracts on the 
     basis of competition restricted to small business concerns 
     owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans if the 
     contracting officer has a reasonable expectation that not 
     less than 2 small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     service-disabled veterans will submit offers and that the 
     award can be made at a fair market price.
       ``(c) Relationship to Other Contracting Preferences.--A 
     procurement may not be made from a source on the basis of a 
     preference provided under subsection (a) or (b) if the 
     procurement would otherwise be made from a different source 
     under section 4124 or 4125 of title 18, United States Code, 
     or the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46 et seq.).
       ``(d) Enforcement; Penalties.--Rules similar to the rules 
     of paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 8(m) shall apply for 
     purposes of this section.
       ``(e) Contracting Officer.--For purposes of this section, 
     the term `contracting officer' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 27(f)(5) of the Office of Federal Procurement 
     Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 423(f)(5)).''.

     SEC. 309. OUTSTATIONING OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
                   PERSONNEL.

       (a) In General.--(1) Chapter 41 is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 4113. Outstationing of Transition Assistance Program 
       personnel

       ``(a) Stationing of TAP Personnel at Overseas Military 
     Installations.--(1) The Secretary--
       ``(A) shall station employees of the Veterans' Employment 
     and Training Service, or contractors under subsection (c), at 
     each veterans assistance office described in paragraph (2); 
     and
       ``(B) may station such employees or contractors at such 
     other military installations outside the United States as the 
     Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Defense, 
     determines to be appropriate or desirable to carry out the 
     purposes of this chapter.
       ``(2) Veterans assistance offices referred to in paragraph 
     (1)(A) are those offices that are established by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs on military installations 
     pursuant to the second sentence of section 7723(a) of this 
     title.
       ``(b) Functions.--Employees (or contractors) stationed at 
     military installations pursuant to subsection (a) shall 
     provide, in person, counseling, assistance in identifying 
     employment and training opportunities, help in obtaining such 
     employment and training, and other related information and 
     services to members of the Armed Forces who are being 
     separated from active duty, and the spouses of such members, 
     under the Transition Assistance Program and Disabled 
     Transition Assistance Program established in section 1144 of 
     title 10.
       ``(c) Authority to Contract With Private Entities.--The 
     Secretary, consistent with section 1144 of title 10, may 
     enter into contracts with public or private entities to 
     provide, in person, some or all of the counseling, 
     assistance, information and services under the Transition 
     Assistance Program required under subsection (a).''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``4113. Outstationing of Transition Assistance Program personnel.''.
       (b) Deadline for Implementation.--Not later than 90 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Labor shall implement section 4113 of title 38, United States 
     Code, as added by subsection (a), and shall have employees of 
     the Veterans' Employment and Training Service, or 
     contractors, to carry out that section at the military 
     installations involved by such date.
       (c) Additional Amendment.--(1) The second sentence of 
     section 7723(a) is amended by inserting ``and taking into 
     account recommendations, if any, of the Secretary of Labor'' 
     after ``Secretary of Defense''
       (2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with 
     respect to offices established after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.

             TITLE IV--HOUSING BENEFITS AND RELATED MATTERS

     SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE 
                   TO CERTAIN DISABLED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 
                   WHO REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY.

       Section 2101 is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(c)(1) The Secretary may provide assistance under 
     subsection (a) to a member of the Armed Forces serving on 
     active duty who is suffering from a disability described in 
     paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of that subsection if such 
     disability is the result of an injury incurred or disease 
     contracted in or aggravated in line of duty in the active 
     military, naval, or air service. Such assistance shall be 
     provided to the same extent as assistance is provided under 
     that subsection to veterans eligible for assistance under 
     that subsection and subject to the requirements of the second 
     sentence of that subsection.
       ``(2) The Secretary may provide assistance under subsection 
     (b) to a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty 
     who is suffering from a disability described in subparagraph 
     (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of that subsection if such 
     disability is the result of an injury incurred or disease 
     contracted in or aggravated in line of duty in the active 
     military, naval, or air service. Such assistance shall be 
     provided to the same extent as assistance is provided under 
     that subsection to veterans eligible for assistance under 
     that subsection and subject to the requirements of paragraph 
     (2) of that subsection.''.

     SEC. 402. INCREASE IN AMOUNTS FOR CERTAIN ADAPTIVE BENEFITS 
                   FOR DISABLED VETERANS.

       (a) Increase in Assistance Amount for Specially Adapted 
     Housing.--Section 2102 is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection 
     (a), by striking ``$48,000'' and inserting ``$50,000''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``$9,250'' and 
     inserting ``$10,000''.
       (b) Increase in Amount of Assistance for Automobile and 
     Adaptive Equipment for Certain Disabled Veterans.--Section 
     3902(a) is amended by striking ``$9,000'' and inserting 
     ``$11,000''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall apply with respect to assistance furnished on 
     or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 403. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR HOUSING LOANS FOR MEMBERS 
                   OF THE SELECTED RESERVE.

       Section 3702(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ``For the 
     period'' and all that follows through ``each'' and inserting 
     ``Each''.

     SEC. 404. REINSTATEMENT OF MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR SALE OF 
                   VENDEE LOANS.

       (a) Reinstatement.--Subsection (a) of section 3733 is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(7) During the period that begins on the date of the 
     enactment of the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2003 and ends on 
     September 30, 2013, the Secretary shall carry out the 
     provisions of this subsection as if--
       ``(A) the references in the first sentence of paragraph (1) 
     to `65 percent' and `may be financed' were references to `85 
     percent' and `shall be financed', respectively;
       ``(B) the second sentence of paragraph (1) were repealed; 
     and
       ``(C) the reference in paragraph (2) to `September 30, 
     1990,' were a reference to `September 30, 2013,'.''.
       (b) Stylistic Amendments.--Such section is further 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``of this subsection'' after--
       (A) ``paragraph (1)'' in subsections (a)(4)(A), (a)(5), 
     (a)(6), and (c)(2); and
       (B) ``paragraph (5)'' in subsection (a)(4)(B)(i); and
       (2) by striking ``of this paragraph'' each place it appears 
     in subsection (a)(4).

     SEC. 405. ADJUSTMENT TO HOME LOAN FEES.

       Effective January 1, 2004, paragraph (2) of section 3729(b) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(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 January 1,
 2004)........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(ii) Initial loan described         2.20          2.40            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 January
 1, 2004, and before October
 1, 2004).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page H11710]]

 
(A)(iii) Initial loan                  2.15          2.40            NA
 described 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, 2004, and before October
 1, 2011).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(iv) Initial loan described         1.40          1.65            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, 2011).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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 January 1,
 2004)........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B)(ii) Subsequent loan                3.30          3.30            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 January
 1, 2004, and before October
 1, 2011).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B)(iii) Subsequent loan               2.15          2.15            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, 2011 and before October 1,
 2013)........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B)(iv) Subsequent loan                1.25          1.25            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, 2013).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C)(i) Loan described in               1.50          1.75            NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase
 or construct a dwelling with
 5-down (closed before October
 1, 2011).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C)(ii) Loan described in              0.75          1.00            NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase
 or construct a dwelling with
 5-down (closed on or after
 October 1, 2011).............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D)(i) Initial loan described          1.25          1.50            NA
 in section 3710(a) to
 purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 10-down (closed
 before October 1, 2011)......
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D)(ii) Initial loan described         0.50          0.75            NA
 in section 3710(a) to
 purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 10-down (closed
 on or after October 1, 2011).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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''.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


     SEC. 406. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF PROCEDURES ON LIQUIDATION 
                   SALES OF DEFAULTED HOME LOANS GUARANTEED BY THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1, 
     2011'' and inserting ``October 1, 2012''.

                        TITLE V--BURIAL BENEFITS

     SEC. 501. BURIAL PLOT ALLOWANCE.

       (a) In General.--Section 2303(b) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``a 
     burial allowance under such section 2302, or under such 
     subsection, who was discharged from the active military, 
     naval, or air service for a disability incurred or aggravated 
     in line of duty, or who is a veteran of any war'' and 
     inserting ``burial in a national cemetery under section 2402 
     of this title''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(other than a veteran 
     whose eligibility for benefits under this subsection is based 
     on being a veteran of any war)'' and inserting ``is eligible 
     for a burial allowance under section 2302 of this title or 
     under subsection (a) of this section, or was discharged from 
     the active military, naval, or air service for a disability 
     incurred or aggravated in line of duty, and such veteran''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2307 is amended in the 
     last sentence by striking ``and (b)'' and inserting ``and 
     (b)(2)''.

     SEC. 502. ELIGIBILITY OF SURVIVING SPOUSES WHO REMARRY FOR 
                   BURIAL IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES.

       (a) Eligibility.--Section 2402(5) is amended by striking 
     ``(which for purposes of this chapter includes an unremarried 
     surviving spouse who had a subsequent remarriage which was 
     terminated by death or divorce)'' and inserting ``(which for 
     purposes of this chapter includes a surviving spouse who had 
     a subsequent remarriage)''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after 
     January 1, 2000.

     SEC. 503. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR STATE CEMETERY GRANTS 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Permanent Authority.--Subsection (a) of section 2408 is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``(1)''; and
       (2) by striking paragraph (2).
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (e) of such section 
     is amended by striking ``Sums appropriated under subsection 
     (a) of this section'' and inserting ``Amounts appropriated to 
     carry out this section''.
       (c) Technical Amendment to Repeal Obsolete Provision.--
     Subsection (d)(1) of such section is amended by striking ``on 
     or after November 21, 1997,''.

               TITLE VI--EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

     SEC. 601. RADIATION DOSE RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT 
                   OF DEFENSE.

       (a) Review of Mission, Procedures, and Administration.--(1) 
     The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 
     Defense shall jointly conduct a review of the mission, 
     procedures, and administration of the Radiation Dose 
     Reconstruction Program of the Department of Defense.
       (2) In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the 
     Secretaries shall--
       (A) determine whether any additional actions are required 
     to ensure that the quality assurance and quality control 
     mechanisms of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program are 
     adequate and sufficient for purposes of the program; and
       (B) determine the actions that are required to ensure that 
     the mechanisms of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program 
     for communication and interaction with veterans are adequate 
     and sufficient for purposes of the program, including 
     mechanisms to permit veterans to review the assumptions 
     utilized in their dose reconstructions.
       (3) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly submit to Congress 
     a report on the review under paragraph (1). The report shall 
     set forth--
       (A) the results of the review;
       (B) a plan for any actions determined to be required under 
     paragraph (2); and
       (C) such other recommendations for the improvement of the 
     mission, procedures, and administration of the Radiation Dose 
     Reconstruction Program as the Secretaries jointly consider 
     appropriate.
       (b) On-Going Review and Oversight.--The Secretaries shall 
     jointly take appropriate actions to ensure the on-going 
     independent review and oversight of the Radiation Dose 
     Reconstruction Program, including the establishment of the 
     advisory board required by subsection (c).
       (c) Advisory Board.--(1) In taking actions under subsection 
     (b), the Secretaries shall jointly appoint an advisory board 
     to provide review and oversight of the Radiation Dose 
     Reconstruction Program.
       (2) The advisory board under paragraph (1) shall be 
     composed of the following:

[[Page H11711]]

       (A) At least one expert in historical dose reconstruction 
     of the type conducted under the Radiation Dose Reconstruction 
     Program.
       (B) At least one expert in radiation health matters.
       (C) At least one expert in risk communications matters.
       (D) A representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (E) A representative of the Defense Threat Reduction 
     Agency.
       (F) At least three veterans, including at least one veteran 
     who is a member of an atomic veterans group.
       (3) The advisory board under paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) conduct periodic, random audits of dose reconstructions 
     under the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program and of 
     decisions by the Department of Veterans Affairs on claims for 
     service connection of radiogenic diseases;
       (B) assist the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Defense Threat Reduction Agency in communicating to veterans 
     information on the mission, procedures, and evidentiary 
     requirements of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program; 
     and
       (C) carry out such other activities with respect to the 
     review and oversight of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction 
     Program as the Secretaries shall jointly specify.
       (4) The advisory board under paragraph (1) may make such 
     recommendations on modifications in the mission or procedures 
     of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program as the advisory 
     board considers appropriate as a result of the audits 
     conducted under paragraph (3)(A).

     SEC. 602. STUDY ON DISPOSITION OF AIR FORCE HEALTH STUDY.

       (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall, in accordance with this section, carry out a study to 
     determine the appropriate disposition of the Air Force Health 
     Study, an epidemiologic study of Air Force personnel who were 
     responsible for conducting aerial spray missions of 
     herbicides during the Vietnam era.
       (b) Study Through National Academy of Sciences.--Not later 
     than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with the 
     National Academy of Sciences, or another appropriate 
     scientific organization, to carry out the study required by 
     subsection (a).
       (c) Elements.--Under the study under subsection (a), the 
     National Academy of Sciences, or other appropriate scientific 
     organization, shall address the following:
       (1) The scientific merit of retaining and maintaining the 
     medical records, other study data, and laboratory specimens 
     collected in the course of the Air Force Health Study after 
     the currently-scheduled termination date of the study in 
     2006.
       (2) Whether or not any obstacles exist to retaining and 
     maintaining the medical records, other study data, and 
     laboratory specimens referred to in paragraph (1), including 
     privacy concerns.
       (3) The advisability of providing independent oversight of 
     the medical records, other study data, and laboratory 
     specimens referred to in paragraph (1), and of any further 
     study of such records, data, and specimens, and, if so, the 
     mechanism for providing such oversight.
       (4) The advisability of extending the Air Force Health 
     Study, including the potential value and relevance of 
     extending the study, the potential cost of extending the 
     study, and the Federal or non-Federal entity best suited to 
     continue the study if extended.
       (5) The advisability of making the laboratory specimens of 
     the Air Force Health Study available for independent 
     research, including the potential value and relevance of such 
     research, and the potential cost of such research.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 120 days after entering into an 
     agreement under subsection (b), the National Academy of 
     Sciences, or other appropriate scientific organization, shall 
     submit to the Secretary and Congress a report on the results 
     of the study under subsection (a). The report shall include 
     the results of the study, including the matters addressed 
     under subsection (c), and such other recommendations as the 
     Academy, or other appropriate scientific organization, 
     considers appropriate as a result of the study.

     SEC. 603. FUNDING OF MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP AGENCY OF INSTITUTE OF 
                   MEDICINE OF NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES FOR 
                   EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON MEMBERS OF THE 
                   ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS.

       (a) Funding.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Secretary of Defense shall each make available to the 
     National Academy of Sciences in each of fiscal years 2004 
     through 2013 the amount of $250,000 for the Medical Follow-Up 
     Agency of the Institute of Medicine of the Academy for 
     purposes of epidemiological research on members of the Armed 
     Forces and veterans.
       (2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available 
     amounts under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year from amounts 
     available for the Department of Veterans Affairs for that 
     fiscal year.
       (3) The Secretary of Defense shall make available amounts 
     under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year from amounts available 
     for the Department of Defense for that fiscal year.
       (b) Use of Funds.--The Medical Follow-Up Agency shall use 
     funds made available under subsection (a) for epidemiological 
     research on members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
       (c) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts made available to the 
     Medical Follow-Up Agency under this section for a fiscal year 
     for the purposes referred to in subsection (b) are in 
     addition to any other amount made available to the Agency for 
     that fiscal year for those purposes.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 701. TIME LIMITATIONS ON RECEIPT OF CLAIM INFORMATION 
                   PURSUANT TO REQUESTS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) Information to Complete Claims Applications.--Section 
     5102 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(c) Time Limitation.--(1) If information that a claimant 
     and the claimant's representative, if any, are notified under 
     subsection (b) is necessary to complete an application is not 
     received by the Secretary within one year from the date such 
     notice is sent, no benefit may be paid or furnished by reason 
     of the claimant's application.
       ``(2) This subsection shall not apply to any application or 
     claim for Government life insurance benefits.''.
       (b) Construction of Limitation on Information to 
     Substantiate Claims.--Section 5103(b) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``if such'' and all that 
     follows through ``application'' and inserting ``such 
     information or evidence must be received by the Secretary 
     within one year from the date such notice is sent''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to 
     prohibit the Secretary from making a decision on a claim 
     before the expiration of the period referred to in that 
     subsection.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect as if enacted on November 9, 2000, 
     immediately after the enactment of the Veterans Claims 
     Assistance Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-475; 114 Stat. 2096).
       (d) Procedures for Readjudication of Certain Claims.--(1) 
     The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall readjudicate a claim 
     of a qualified claimant if the request for such 
     readjudication is received not later than the end of the one-
     year period that begins on the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
       (2) For purposes of this subsection, a claimant is 
     qualified within the meaning of paragraph (1) if the 
     claimant--
       (A) received notice under section 5103(a) of title 38, 
     United States Code, requesting information or evidence to 
     substantiate a claim;
       (B) did not submit such information or evidence within a 
     year after the date such notice was sent;
       (C) did not file a timely appeal to the Board of Veterans' 
     Appeals or the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 
     Claims; and
       (D) submits such information or evidence during the one-
     year period referred to in paragraph (1).
       (3) If the decision of the Secretary on a readjudication 
     under this subsection is in favor of the qualified claimant, 
     the award of the grant shall take effect as if the prior 
     decision by the Secretary on the claim had not been made.
       (4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
     establish a duty on the part of the Secretary to identify or 
     readjudicate any claim that--
       (A) is not submitted during the one-year period referred to 
     in paragraph (1); or
       (B) has been the subject of a timely appeal to the Board of 
     Veterans' Appeals or the United States Court of Appeals for 
     Veterans Claims.
       (e) Construction on Providing Renotification.--Nothing in 
     this section, or the amendments made by this section, shall 
     be construed to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs--
       (1) to provide notice under section 5103(a) of such title 
     with respect to a claim insofar as the Secretary has 
     previously provided such notice; or
       (2) to provide for a special notice with respect to this 
     section and the amendments made by this section.

     SEC. 702. CLARIFICATION OF APPLICABILITY OF PROHIBITION ON 
                   ASSIGNMENT OF VETERANS BENEFITS TO AGREEMENTS 
                   REQUIRING PAYMENT OF FUTURE RECEIPT OF 
                   BENEFITS.

       Section 5301(a) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(a)'';
       (2) by designating the last sentence as paragraph (2); and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3)(A) This paragraph is intended to clarify that, in any 
     case where a beneficiary entitled to compensation, pension, 
     or dependency and indemnity compensation enters into an 
     agreement with another person under which agreement such 
     other person acquires for consideration the right to receive 
     such benefit by payment of such compensation, pension, or 
     dependency and indemnity compensation, as the case may be, 
     except as provided in subparagraph (B), and including deposit 
     into a joint account from which such other person may make 
     withdrawals, or otherwise, such agreement shall be deemed to 
     be an assignment and is prohibited.
       ``(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), nothing in this 
     paragraph is intended to prohibit a loan involving a 
     beneficiary under the terms of which the beneficiary may use 
     the benefit to repay such other person as long as each of the 
     periodic payments made to repay such other person is 
     separately and voluntarily executed by the beneficiary or is 
     made by preauthorized electronic funds transfer pursuant to 
     the Electronic Funds Transfers Act (15 U.S.C. 1693 et seq.).
       ``(C) Any agreement or arrangement for collateral for 
     security for an agreement that is prohibited under 
     subparagraph (A) is also prohibited and is void from its 
     inception.''.

     SEC. 703. SIX-YEAR EXTENSION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 
                   MINORITY VETERANS.

       Section 544(e) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2003'' 
     and inserting ``December 31, 2009''.

[[Page H11712]]

     SEC. 704. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL 
                   DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT 
                   PHYSICIANS.

       (a) Authority.--Using appropriated funds, other than funds 
     available for compensation and pension, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs may provide for the conduct of examinations 
     with respect to the medical disabilities of applicants for 
     benefits under laws administered by the Secretary by persons 
     other than Department of Veterans Affairs employees. The 
     authority under this section is in addition to the authority 
     provided in section 504(b) of the Veterans' Benefits 
     Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 
     note).
       (b) Performance by Contract.--Examinations under the 
     authority provided in subsection (a) shall be conducted 
     pursuant to contracts entered into and administered by the 
     Under Secretary for Benefits.
       (c) Expiration.--The authority in subsection (a) shall 
     expire on December 31, 2009. No examination may be carried 
     out under the authority provided in that subsection after 
     that date.
       (d) Report.--Not later than four years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress a report on the use of the authority provided in 
     subsection (a). The Secretary shall include in the report an 
     assessment of the effect of examinations under that authority 
     on the cost, timeliness, and thoroughness of examinations 
     with respect to the medical disabilities of applicants for 
     benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.

     SEC. 705. FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS FOR SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Addition of Certain Offenses.--Paragraph (2) of section 
     6105(b) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``175, 229,'' after ``sections''; and
       (2) by inserting ``831, 1091, 2332a, 2332b,'' after 
     ``798,''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply to claims filed after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act.

     SEC. 706. TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF ROUND-DOWN REQUIREMENT FOR 
                   COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

       Sections 1104(a) and 1303(a) are each amended by striking 
     ``2011'' and inserting ``2013''.

     SEC. 707. CODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT FOR EXPEDITIOUS 
                   TREATMENT OF CASES ON REMAND.

       (a) Cases Remanded by Board of Veterans' Appeals.--(1) 
     Chapter 51 is amended by adding at the end of subchapter I 
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 5109B. Expedited treatment of remanded claims

       ``The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary 
     to provide for the expeditious treatment by the appropriate 
     regional office of the Veterans Benefits Administration of 
     any claim that is remanded to a regional office of the 
     Veterans Benefits Administration by the Board of Veterans' 
     Appeals.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
     5109A the following new item:

``5109B. Expedited treatment of remanded claims.''.

       (b) Cases Remanded by Court of Appeals for Veterans 
     Claims.--(1) Chapter 71 is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 7112. Expedited treatment of remanded claims

       ``The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary 
     to provide for the expeditious treatment by the Board of any 
     claim that is remanded to the Secretary by the Court of 
     Appeals for Veterans Claims.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``7112. Expedited treatment of remanded claims.''.

       (c) Repeal of Source Section.--Section 302 of the Veterans' 
     Benefits Improvement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-446; 108 
     Stat. 4658; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is repealed.

     SEC. 708. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Miscellaneous Amendments.--(1) Section 103(d) is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (4)--
       (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``this subsection'' and inserting ``paragraph (2)(A) or 
     (3)''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraph (2)(A)''; and
       (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``Paragraphs (2)'' and 
     inserting ``Paragraphs (2)(A)''.
       (2) Section 1729A is amended--
       (A) in subsection (b), by striking ``after June 30, 1997,'' 
     in the matter preceding paragraph (1);
       (B) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (3);
       (C) by striking subsection (e); and
       (D) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (e).
       (3) Section 1804(c)(2) is amended by striking 
     ``subsection'' and inserting ``section''.
       (4) Section 1974(a)(5) is amended by striking ``Secretary 
     of Transportation'' and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland 
     Security''.
       (b) Amendments Relating to the Jobs for Veterans Act.--
     (1)(A) Subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii) of section 4102A is amended 
     by striking ``October 1, 2002'' and inserting ``October 1, 
     2003''.
       (B) The amendment made by subparagraph (A) shall take 
     effect as if included in the enactment of section 4(a) of the 
     Jobs for Veterans Act (Public Law 107-288; 116 Stat. 2038).
       (2) Subsection (f)(1) of section 4102A is amended by 
     striking ``6 months after the date of the enactment of this 
     section,'' and inserting ``May 7, 2003,''.
       (c) Amendments Relating to the Establishment of Social 
     Security Administration as an Independent Agency.--(1) 
     Section 1322 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services'' and all that follows through the period 
     and inserting ``Commissioner of Social Security, and shall be 
     certified by the Commissioner to the Secretary upon request 
     of the Secretary.''; and
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) by striking ``Secretary of Health and Human Services'' 
     in the first sentence and inserting ``Commissioner of Social 
     Security'';
       (ii) by striking ``the two Secretaries'' and inserting 
     ``the Secretary and the Commissioner''; and
       (iii) by striking ``Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services'' in the second sentence and inserting 
     ``Commissioner''.
       (2) Section 5101(a) is amended by striking ``Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services'' and inserting ``Commissioner of 
     Social Security''.
       (3) Section 5317 is amended by striking ``Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services'' in subsections (a), (b), and (g) 
     and inserting ``Commissioner of Social Security''.
       (4)(A) Section 5318 is amended--
       (i) in subsection (a), by striking ``Department of Health 
     and Human Services'' and inserting ``Social Security 
     Administration''; and
       (ii) in subsection (b)--
       (I) by striking ``Department of Health and Human Services'' 
     and inserting ``Social Security Administration'';
       (II) by striking ``Secretary of Health and Human Services'' 
     the first place it appears and inserting ``Commissioner of 
     Social Security'';
       (III) by striking ``Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services'' the second place it appears and inserting 
     ``Commissioner''; and
       (IV) by striking ``such Secretaries'' and inserting ``the 
     Secretary and the Commissioner''.
       (B)(i) The heading of such section is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``Sec. 5318. Review of Social Security Administration death 
       information''.

       (ii) The item relating to that section in the table of 
     sections at the beginning at chapter 53 is amended to read as 
     follows:

``5318. Review of Social Security Administration death information.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Senate amendment to H.R. 2297 reflects an agreement 
with the other body on comparable House and Senate bills. The Veterans 
Benefits Act of 2003 includes almost all of the provisions that were 
contained in the bill when the House originally considered it, as well 
as several other worthwhile provisions contained in S. 1136, which the 
Senate passed on October 31.
  Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of our Subcommittee on Benefits, the 
distinguished gentleman from South Carolina, will describe several of 
those important provisions, some seven titles in all, approximately 40 
provisions, and I will yield to him in just a moment to do so. But let 
me briefly touch on the benefits this bill contains and who will be 
affected by it.
  Mr. Speaker, many surviving spouses of veterans who die of a service-
related cause will qualify for restoration of benefits taken away when 
they remarry. Former prisoners of war will find it easier to qualify 
for veterans benefits that they so richly deserve. Disabled veterans 
who own businesses will find it easier to sell their goods and services 
to the Federal Government. The surviving children of those killed in 
the line of duty will now receive a college-assisted payment that is 13 
percent higher than the current benefit. Reservists who want to use the 
VA home loan program will now be charged a lower fee.
  Mr. Speaker, following on the heels of our historic enactment of 
legislation to provide concurrent receipt benefits to over 250,000 
severely disabled military retirees, this bill is a further testament 
to Congress' commitment to aiding those who serve our country in the 
Armed Forces. There are many other important provisions in this 
measure, and I do urge my colleagues to review them. And, again, my 
good friend and colleague, as well as the ranking member, will be going 
into further detail.
  I would especially like to congratulate the Chair and Ranking Member 
of our Subcommittee on Benefits, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Brown) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) for holding hearings 
this year on a variety of important issues affecting veterans. I am 
pleased that

[[Page H11713]]

their efforts on the subcommittee pulled together in truly bipartisan 
fashion all of these disparate elements into this omnibus bill to 
advance the needs of our veterans.
  And, again, I always like to thank, because we work hand in glove, my 
good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), for 
his work on this legislation as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2297, as amended, 
the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003. I would like to thank the chairman, 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), for their leadership on the full 
committee and their successful negotiations with the Senate. I also 
would like to personally thank my good friend, the chairman of the 
subcommittee, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown), for his 
leadership and bipartisan spirit shown in considering these bills 
assigned to our subcommittee. It definitely has been a pleasure working 
with Chairman Brown and his staff.
  The Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 includes provisions drawn from many 
bills introduced by Members of both sides of the aisle. Our Nation's 
servicemembers and veterans have earned and their families deserve all 
the benefits provided under H.R. 2297 and, indeed, they certainly 
deserve much, much more.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a sponsor and cosponsor of many of 
these measures that have been incorporated in H.R. 2297, including 
provisions aimed to make the home loan benefit for members of the Guard 
and Reserves permanent, to improve veterans education benefits, enhance 
self-employment opportunities, and expand employment counseling and job 
search assistance for servicemembers returning to civilian life after 
separating from military installations overseas.
  H.R. 2297 provides for more equitable and rational treatment for 
surviving spouses and Filipino World War II veterans, of which I also 
fully support. It allows former prisoners of war to qualify for certain 
presumption of service connection and adds sclerosis of the liver to 
the diseases considered presumptively disabling for POWs. The Gold Star 
wives will benefit from our efforts to allow them to remarry after age 
57 without losing the dependency and indemnity compensation, 
educational, and home loan benefits that they currently receive. This 
measure is long overdue and represents substantial progress.
  I also support provisions brought forth by the other body which will 
increase education benefits for the spouses, surviving spouses, and 
dependent children for totally and permanently disabled and deceased 
servicemembers.
  Mr. Speaker, the provisions in this package will benefit 
servicemembers and veterans from my State of Maine as well as their 
families. It will help others all around the country as well. I fully 
support H.R. 2297, as amended, and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2297, as amended, 
the Veterans Benefits Package of 2003.
  I would like to thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Lane Evans 
for their leadership on the full committee and their successful 
negotiations with the Senate.
  I would also like to personally thank Chairman Brown and his staff 
for the cooperative manner shown in introducing and considering bills 
assigned to our subcommittee. It has been a pleasure working with him 
and his staff.
  As is the custom of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, a large 
number of bills considered by the Subcommittee on Benefits have been 
included in the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003.
  I am pleased that H.R. 2294 which I introduced to extend the 
Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education is included as section 307 of 
H.R. 2297, as amended. The Veterans Advisory Committee provides useful 
information to the Congress and should be continued.
  I am also pleased that H.R. 3239 which I introduced to extend the 
Veterans' Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans is included as 
section 703 of H.R. 2297, as amended. This committee brings to the 
attention of the Congress specific issues of concern to African-
American, Native America, Hispanic American, and Asian-Pacific Island 
American veterans. I know that the Native American veterans of Maine, 
as well as all minority veterans, will continue to benefit from the 
counsel and advice provided by this committee.
  I am original cosponsor of H.R. 761 introduced by our ranking 
Democratic member of the full committee, Lane Evans, to permit 
seriously disabled servicemembers to apply for grants to adapt their 
homes before being discharged from military service. This provision 
included as section 401 will enable seriously disabled servicemembers 
to begin the process of obtaining suitable housing while on active 
duty.
  I joined our Ranking Democratic Member Lane Evans in introducing H.R. 
1257 to make the home loan program of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for members of the Select Reserve a permanent program. This 
provision is included as section 403 of H.R. 2297, as amended. That 
bill also provided for an equalization of the fees paid by reservists 
and active duty veterans. Although the fees were not equalized in the 
final bill, I note that the rates have been reduced to a nominal amount 
of 0.25 percent above that charged to active duty servicemembers and 
veterans. As we know, reservists are an integral part of this Nation's 
total force. Making their home loan benefits permanent and reducing the 
fees they must pay acknowledges their service in a tangible way.
  I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 1460 introduced by Mr. Renzi to 
provide additional opportunities for service-disabled veterans to 
contract with the Federal Government. Unfortunately, the record of 
contracts awarded to service-disabled veterans by Federal agencies is 
dismal and getting worse. Provisions from H.R. 1460 are included in 
section 308 of H.R. 2297, as amended. I hope that Federal agencies will 
take seriously their responsibility to contract with small businesses 
owned or controlled by service-disabled veterans. Under the provision, 
the committees expect that the Small Business Administration will 
accept the determinations of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with 
respect to the definition of service-connection.
  I joined my good friend and neighbor Mr. Bradley in introducing H.R. 
2164 to provide an extension in the period of eligibility for 
educational benefits provided to certain children of disabled and 
deceased veterans, when those children are called to full time duty in 
the National Guard. This provision is included in section 303 of H.R. 
2297, as amended.
  I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 2285 introduced by Mr. Simpson to 
require the Secretary of Labor to provide staffing at overseas 
locations to servicemembers who are separating from active duty. This 
provision is included as section 309 of H.R. 2297, as amended. It is 
unfortunate that the Secretary of Labor has not followed the lead of 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in making these services available at 
overseas locations. This bill will require the Secretary of Labor to do 
so.
  I joined our chairman on the full committee, Chris Smith, our ranking 
Democratic member on the full committee. Lane Evans and our 
subcommittee chairman, Henry Brown, in introducing H.R. 2297 which 
provided the basis for this larger bill. I appreciate the efforts made 
by the chairman of the full committee as well as Chairman Brown to 
operate in a bipartisan manner.
  Although H.R. 3392, introduced by our Democratic Ranking Member Lane 
Evans and myself to improve the adjudication of claims for benefits was 
not considered by the House committee during this session, I note that 
provisions similar to that bill are included as section 701 of H.R. 
2297, as amended.
  I am also a cosponsor of many other bills included in H.R. 2297, as 
amended. As a freshman Member of Congress, I am proud to have been able 
to introduce and cosponsor legislation which will improve the lives of 
our Nation's veterans.
  The House Committee on Veterans Affairs has a reputation of serving 
veterans in a bipartisan manner. This bill reflects that spirit of 
cooperation.
  Our Nation's servicemembers and veterans have earned--and their 
families deserve--all the benefits provided under H.R. 2297, as 
amended.
  Indeed, they deserve so much more.
  Mr. Speaker, the provisions in this package will benefit 
servicemembers and veterans from my State of Maine as well as their 
families. It will help others around the country as well.
  I fully support H.R. 2297, as amended, and urge my colleagues to do 
the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown), the 
distinguished chairman of our Subcommittee on Benefits.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time, and I am pleased

[[Page H11714]]

we are here today to consider the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003, a 
bipartisan effort with no less than 37 substantive provisions.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight five of the provisions of this 
comprehensive bill which provides more than a billion dollars in 
improved benefits over 10 years.
  Section 101 of the bill is long overdue. After years of trying to 
find the offsets, we are finally able to bring equity to those 
surviving spouses who lose their Dependency and Indemnity Compensation 
upon remarrying later in life. Section 101 would allow a surviving 
spouse who remarries after age 57 to retain DIC, as well as home loan 
and educational benefits. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) 
has championed this cause for almost 15 years now, and I appreciate his 
dedication.
  Small business is the bedrock of our economy. Section 301 of the bill 
would expand the Montgomery GI bill while authorizing educational 
assistance benefits for on-the-job training of less than 6 months in 
various types of self-employment training programs. Similarly, section 
305 would allow, for the first time, servicemembers, veterans and 
certain dependents to enroll in entrepreneurship and pre-
entrepreneurship courses offered by the Small Business Development 
Centers and the Veterans Business Development Corporation. I applaud 
the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) for this provision, as well as 
provisions giving Federal agencies and departments new discretionary 
contracting authority to assist service-disabled veteran-owned 
businesses, another first.
  Indeed, we, as a Nation, should accord veterans who become disabled 
in their service to this Nation a full opportunity to participate in 
the free enterprise system they have fought so hard to defend.
  Section 309 would require the Department of Labor to go where its 
customers are to provide in-person Transitional Assistance Program 
services overseas, as VA has done since about 1992. I applaud the 
gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Reyes) for their long-standing work on this provision.
  Lastly, section 402 of the bill increases the adapted housing and 
automobile allowances for disabled servicemembers. I applaud the 
chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Mr. Specter, 
along with the ranking member, Mr. Graham, for their many excellent 
contributions to this bill. I also applaud the former ranking member of 
the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Mr. Rockefeller, for his 
continued assistance.
  In closing, I commend Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Evans, and 
Subcommittee on Benefits' Ranking Member Michaud for their leadership 
and diligent work on this bill, as well as the support they have given 
to me my first term as chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits. I also 
want to recognize the good folks who make up the committee staff, many 
of whom put in long hours so we could consider this bill before we 
adjourned.
  I wholeheartedly support H.R. 2297, as amended, and encourage the 
full House to support it as well.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Evans), who has fought for veterans for a number of 
years.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time and for his fine work on the Subcommittee on Benefits this 
year.
  We have really defined the impact that we have had by working on a 
bipartisan basis to achieve this. We have worked on a nonpartisan basis 
with our chairman, and the ranking members of other subcommittees, such 
as the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) and the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Brown), have worked with the other body in finalizing 
this legislation, and I think they deserve a strong salute from 
veterans across the country.
  I am very proud to be an original cosponsor of many of the provisions 
contained in this act. I am especially pleased for children of veterans 
who were exposed to herbicides in Korea, and who now are suffering from 
spina bifida, like a lot of the kids that were exposed in the Vietnam 
War. We must realize we have an obligation to those children and their 
families, and I think we have started down that road as well.
  The bill recognizes the contributions made by the Guard and Reserve 
in making their home loan program permanent and reducing the funding 
fees that they are charged. I am most pleased we are providing long-
term benefits to our Gold Star wives of the Filipino Veterans. This 
bill also includes important veterans education benefits and extends 
business opportunities for veterans.
  H.R. 2297 is a good bill, and I urge all my colleagues to show their 
support for our troops and Veterans by voting for it.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner).
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and we are, of course, supporting H.R. 2297, a bill that 
incorporates many provisions that have been discussed at the House 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and in the Senate Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, and it includes provisions that upgrade benefits in many, many 
areas.
  I would suspect, Mr. Chairman, that if this bill was taken one by one 
in terms of the provisions in there and the health bill that we hope 
will follow sometime later today, veterans across the Nation would 
understand that we are really keeping our promise to our Nation's 
veterans in both our benefits and our health provisions.
  I would say to the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and to the ranking member, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Evans), the combination of the benefit and the health 
bill probably represents one of the most productive years in the 
history of this Congress in terms of veterans' benefits and veterans' 
health care. So I thank the chairman, and I thank the ranking member 
for bringing all these provisions together and working so hard and 
allowing Members from both sides of the aisle to contribute. There are 
provisions in these bills that represent both Democratic and Republican 
contributions, and I think that is the way we ought to behave here, and 
that is what this bill represents.
  I just want to add a few comments to what has been stated previously. 
Two provisions which I helped to write are in the bill. The first 
involves a cause for which I have been fighting ever since I became a 
Member of Congress, and it is exceptionally gratifying to see progress 
on an important issue, and that is restoring the rightful benefits to 
Filipino World War II veterans.
  Many of us know that after being drafted into service by President 
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, after bravely fighting alongside soldiers 
from the U.S. mainland, many Filipino veterans were deprived of their 
promised benefits by the Congress of 1946. In the intervening years, 
many of these veterans have emigrated to the United States and have 
become American citizens. This bill will increase the compensation 
received by one part of the Filipino Armed Forces, and that is the new 
Filipino Scouts.
  They had been given what is called the ``peso rate'' in their 
disability compensation. That is one-half of what an American soldier 
would get. And they have been receiving that peso rate since the end of 
the war, whether they have lived in the United States or in the 
Philippines. For these that live in the United States, their cost of 
living is equal to the veterans here, and paying half is just simply 
not acceptable. Upon the passage of this bill, the widows of the 
Filipino World War II veterans will also receive the full amount of 
their DIC benefits, and burial benefits for the new Scouts will also be 
restored. So this is justice restored after almost 60 years of being 
denied.
  There is another provision which I am pleased to see in this bill, 
and that involves life insurance policies. The VA currently holds about 
4,000 insurance policies, valued at about $23 million, on which payment 
has not been made because the VA has not been able to locate the 
identified beneficiary.
  What will happen after this bill passes is that the VA can pay 
secondary benefits if we cannot locate the primary beneficiary. And if 
no beneficiary files within 4 years, the VA secretary may pay another 
appropriate relative. It is a shame to have Veterans paying for life 
insurance throughout

[[Page H11715]]

their lifetimes only to have their insurance unclaimed. So this will 
benefit the families of many of our veterans in this country.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. Speaker, these are just two portions of the bill. There are many, 
many provisions which have been described by my colleagues. Again, I 
think it is a great advance for veterans to be able to receive the 
benefits that are in H.R. 2297, so I urge Members to support this bill.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Filner) for his kind remarks and also point out that he has been 
indefatigable in fighting for the Filipino veterans, and thank the 
gentleman for his hard work, which has been incorporated in this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Ginny Brown-Waite).
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer 
my support for H.R. 2297, the legislation that the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs has worked so hard to pass this year. I want to 
commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith); the ranking 
member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans); and the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Brown) for their steadfast leadership on veterans 
issues.
  I also want to recognize the efforts of the gentleman from Arizona 
(Mr. Renzi) in drafting the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act of 2003, 
which is included in this legislation. Obviously, this bill will 
increase the opportunity afforded to veterans who spent their youth 
serving our country. Federal agencies will have the discretionary 
authority to sole source contracts for disabled veteran-owned 
businesses. Additionally, disabled veterans enrolled in school under a 
VA vocational rehab program will be allowed to declare self-employment 
as a vocational goal. Certainly this encourages entrepreneurship and 
business ownership. It clearly establishes a level playing field for 
those who have been wounded or injured while defending our freedom.
  Very important to a lot of widows back home is that it addresses an 
injustice which has been suffered by military widows whose spouses died 
while on active duty or of a service-connected condition. They will no 
longer be denied the benefits earned by their first husband if they 
choose to remarry later in life. A military spouse already faces a life 
of sacrifice and hardship and should not be stripped of earned benefits 
because of a new-found love and companionship. We should not as a 
government be discouraging people to get married, and this bill 
corrects that injustice.
  In a time of war, it is critically important that our servicemen and 
-women see that when they return home they will be welcomed by an 
eternally grateful Nation. This bill helps to express the gratitude 
that Congress has for our veterans of wars past and present.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Strickland), who has fought for veterans issues for a number 
of years.
  Mr. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time, and I thank him for his work on this legislation that offers 
important benefits to very deserving veterans and their families.
  There are many excellent provisions in this bill, and we should all 
support these provisions, including benefits to POWs and Filipino 
veterans. I would particularly like to thank the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Evans) and his staff and the staff of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs for their work in putting an end to lending schemes 
that target our Nation's veterans.
  Recently, I introduced legislation on making this type of predatory 
lending illegal, and I am happy to have this language incorporated into 
this legislation. Predatory lenders are preying on veterans by 
manipulating them into surrendering their veterans benefits for lump 
sums, lump sums that these lenders then charge interest rates on 
ranging from 39 to 106 percent. It is embarrassing that companies would 
prey on our Nation's veterans and seize the benefits that these 
veterans have earned through their service to our country. I am 
grateful that these provisions have been included in this legislation 
which make it clear that such practices are illegal and that predatory 
lenders who trick our veterans into surrendering their VA benefits will 
be in violation of the law.
  Again, I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Smith), the chairman of the full committee, and the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Evans), our ranking member, for their work; and I would 
especially like to thank the staffs on both the Republican and 
Democratic sides who worked so closely together to do those things 
which can make life better for our veterans.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to once again thank the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), for all their work, as well as the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Brown). I think our servicemen, our veterans in this 
country, can be very proud of the way the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs has handled itself this year in a bipartisan manner, looking 
out for veterans in this country for all the work that they do as well.
  I would also like to thank staff on both the Republican and 
Democratic side for working together in a bipartisan way. The only way 
we are ever going to move forward and get veterans issues addressed in 
Congress is by working together in a bipartisan manner. I wish actually 
some other committees here in Congress would look at the way the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs operates and act as bipartisanly.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, 
all of the staff who have worked for days, weeks and months on this 
legislation through the hearing process. There are seven titles and 
close to 40 provisions in this bill. It is a very comprehensive omnibus 
bill, and so many Members made a difference in its content.
  I would like to say we break a lot of new ground in this legislation, 
including the legislation dealing with veterans' businesses so that 
set-asides, sole source procurements, and the benefits accruing thereon 
will go to veterans themselves. In the past, veterans have gotten so 
little of the Federal procurement dollars--only 0.13 of 1 percent--
which is unconscionable. This legislation now gives discretionary 
authority government-wide so we can again facilitate these important 
businesses.
  Let me also point out that provision, just like the whole bill which 
is backed by virtually every veteran service organization in the 
country--that particular provision--on veterans' businesses has 36 
military and veterans organizations backing it from a broad spectrum. 
From the largest Hispanic organization to the Black Veterans for Social 
Justice, we have a good cross-spectrum of people backing this provision 
because our veterans who have served so ably and are disabled are 
absolutely deserving of this legislation.
  I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) for his leadership on 
this particular provision. He actually introduced the bill which is 
incorporated here in our final product. Mr. Renzi has been a champion 
of veterans benefits, and I thank him.
  Mr. Speaker, I also thank Senator Rockefeller, who was instrumental 
in encouraging a strong text for this provision. I also thank our 
counterparts in the Senate, Senator Graham and the chairman of the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Senator Specter, for their work on this 
legislation and their spirit of cooperation.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a joint explanatory statement 
describing all of the provisions including the compromise agreement 
that we have reached with the other body.

[[Page H11716]]

Explanatory Statement on Senate Amendment to House Bill, H.R. 2297, as 
                                Amended

       H.R. 2297, as amended, the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003, 
     reflects a Compromise Agreement reached by the House and 
     Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs (``the Committees'') 
     on the following bills considered in the House and Senate 
     during the 108th Congress: H.R. 1257; H.R. 1460, as amended; 
     H.R. 2297, as amended (``House Bill''); and S. 1132, as 
     amended (``Senate Bill''). H.R. 1257 passed the House on May 
     22, 2003; H.R. 1460, as amended, passed the House on June 24, 
     2003; H.R. 2297, as amended, passed the House on October 8, 
     2003; S. 1132, as amended, passed the Senate on October 31, 
     2003.
       The House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs have 
     prepared the following explanation of H.R. 2297, as amended 
     (``Compromise Agreement''). Differences between the 
     provisions contained in the Compromise Agreement and the 
     related provisions of H.R. 1257, H.R. 1460, as amended, H.R. 
     2297, as amended, and S. 1132, as amended, 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: SURVIVOR BENEFITS


 RETENTION OF CERTAIN VETERANS SURVIVOR BENEFITS FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES 
                        REMARRYING AFTER AGE 57

     Current Law
       Section 103(d) of title 38, United States Code, prohibits a 
     surviving spouse who has remarried from receiving dependency 
     and indemnity compensation (``DIC'') and related housing and 
     education benefits during the course of the remarriage. This 
     benefit may be reinstated in the event the subsequent 
     marriage is terminated. Public Law 107-330 extended to 
     surviving spouses who remarry after age 55 continuing 
     eligibility under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs (``CHAMPVA'').
     House Bill
       Section 6 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would allow a surviving 
     spouse who remarries after attaining age 55 to retain the DIC 
     benefit. Spouses who remarry at age 55 or older prior to 
     enactment of the bill would have one year from the date of 
     enactment to apply for reinstatement of DIC benefits. The 
     amount of DIC would be paid with no reduction of certain 
     other Federal benefits to which the surviving spouse might be 
     entitled.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 101 of the Compromise Agreement would provide that 
     a surviving spouse upon remarriage after attaining age 57 
     would retain DIC, home loan, and educational benefits 
     eligibility. Surviving spouses who remarried after attaining 
     age 57 prior to enactment of the Compromise Agreement would 
     have one year to apply for reinstatement of these benefits.


BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPINA BIFIDA OF VETERANS OF CERTAIN SERVICE 
                                IN KOREA

     Current Law
       Chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code, authorizes the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs (``VA'') to provide benefits 
     and services to those children born with spina bifida whose 
     natural parent (before the child was conceived) served in the 
     Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975. 
     Benefits and services are authorized due to the association 
     between exposure to dioxin and the incidence of spina bifida 
     in the children of those exposed. Children born with spina 
     bifida whose parent was exposed to dioxin and other 
     herbicides during military service in locations other than 
     the Republic of Vietnam do not qualify for VA benefits and 
     services.
     House Bill
       Section 12 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would permit children 
     born with spina bifida whose parent (before the child was 
     conceived) served in an area of Korea near the demilitarized 
     zone (``DMZ'') between October 1, 1967 and May 7, 1975, to 
     qualify for benefits in the same manner as children whose 
     parent served in the Republic of Vietnam.
     Senate Bill
       Section 101 of S. 1132, as amended, would permit children 
     with spina bifida whose parent (before the child was 
     conceived) served in or near the DMZ in Korea during the 
     period beginning on January 1, 1967, and ending on December 
     31, 1969, to qualify for benefits in the same manner as 
     children whose parent served in the Republic of Vietnam. The 
     Senate Bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     to make determinations of exposure to herbicides in Korea in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 102 of the Compromise Agreement would generally 
     follow the Senate language. However, under the Compromise 
     Agreement, the time period for qualifying service in or near 
     the DMZ is changed to service which occurred during the 
     period beginning on September 1, 1967, and ending on August 
     31, 1971. The Committees note that although use of herbicides 
     in Vietnam ceased in 1971, Vietnam-era veterans who served 
     until May 7, 1975, are presumed to have been exposed to 
     residuals. Similarly, even though herbicide use in or near 
     the Korean DMZ ended in 1969, the Committees believe it is 
     appropriate to extend the qualifying service period beyond 
     1969 to account for residual exposure.
       The Committees also note that the Secretary of Defense has 
     identified the following units as those assigned or rotated 
     to areas near the DMZ where herbicides were used between 1968 
     and 1969: combat brigades of the 2nd Infantry Division (1-38 
     Infantry, 2-38 Infantry, 1-23 Infantry, 2-23 Infantry, 3-23 
     Infantry, 3-32 Infantry, 1-9 Infantry, 2-9 Infantry, 1-72 
     Armor, and 2-72 Armor); Division Reaction Force (4-7th 
     Cavalry, Counter Agent Company); 3rd Brigade of the 7th 
     Infantry Division (1-17th Infantry, 2-17 Infantry, 1-73 Armor 
     and 2-10th Cavalry); and Field Artillery, Signal and Engineer 
     support personnel.


ALTERNATE BENEFICIARIES FOR NATIONAL SERVICE LIFE INSURANCE AND UNITED 
                    STATES GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE

     Current Law
       Section 1917 of title 38, United States Code, gives 
     veterans insured under the VA's National Service Life 
     Insurance (``NSLI'') program the right to designate the 
     beneficiary or beneficiaries of insurance policies maturing 
     on or after August 1, 1946. It also specifies the modes of 
     payment to beneficiaries when an insured dies, and sets forth 
     the procedure to be followed when a beneficiary has not been 
     designated or dies before the insured.
       Section 1949 of title 38, United States Code, gives 
     veterans insured under the United States Government Life 
     Insurance (``USGLI'') program the right to change 
     beneficiaries, and sections 1950 through 1952 of title 38 set 
     out the modes of payment to designated beneficiaries and sets 
     forth the procedure to be followed when a beneficiary either 
     has not been designated or dies before the insured.
       For the NSLI and USGLI programs, the law does not specify 
     the course of action VA is to take when no beneficiary can be 
     found.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 102 of S. 1132, as amended, would authorize the 
     payment of NSLI and USGLI to alternate beneficiaries, in 
     order of precedence and as designated by the insured veteran, 
     if no claim is made by the primary beneficiary within two 
     years of the insured veteran's death. If four years have 
     elapsed since the death of the insured and no claim has been 
     filed by a person designated by the insured as a beneficiary, 
     section 102 would authorize VA to make payment to a person VA 
     determines to be equitably entitled to such payment.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 103 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language.


        PAYMENT OF BENEFITS ACCRUED AND UNPAID AT TIME OF DEATH

     Current Law
       Section 5121 of title 38, United States Code, restricts 
     specified classes of survivors to receiving no more than two 
     years of accrued benefits if a veteran dies while a claim for 
     VA periodic monetary benefits (other than insurance and 
     servicemen's indemnity) is being adjudicated. Public Law 104-
     275 extended the retroactive payment from one year to two 
     years.
     House Bill
       Section 6 of H.R. 1460, as amended, would repeal the two-
     year limitation on accrued benefits so that a veteran's 
     survivor may receive the full amount of award for accrued 
     benefits.
     Senate Bill
       Section 105 of S. 1132, as amended, contains an identical 
     provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 104 of the Compromise Agreement contains this 
     provision.

    TITLE II: BENEFITS FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR AND FOR FILIPINO 
                                VETERANS

                  Subtitle A--Former Prisoners of War


      PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE-CONNECTION RELATING TO DISEASES AND 
                DISABILITIES OF FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR

     Current Law
       Section 1112(b) of title 38, United States Code, specifies 
     a list of 15 disabilities that VA presumes are related to 
     military service for former prisoners of war (``POWs'') who 
     were held captive for not less than 30 days. If a former POW 
     was interned for less than 30 days, he or she must establish 
     that the disability was incurred or aggravated during 
     military service in order for service connection to be 
     granted.
       The list in section 1112(b) of title 38, United States 
     Code, does not include cirrhosis of the liver; however, on 
     July 18, 2003, VA published a regulation adding cirrhosis of 
     the liver to the list of conditions presumptively service-
     connected for former POWs. (68 Fed. Reg. 42,602).
     House Bill
       Section 11 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would eliminate the 
     30-day requirement for psychosis, any anxiety states, 
     dysthymic disorders, organic residuals of frostbite and post-
     traumatic arthritis. Section 11 would also codify cirrhosis 
     of the liver as a disability which is presumptively service-
     connected for a former POW who was interned for at least 30 
     days.

[[Page H11717]]

     Senate Bill
       Section 302 of S. 1132, as amended, contains an identical 
     provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 201 of the Compromise Agreement contains this 
     provision.

                     Subtitle B--Filipino Veterans


  RATE OF PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN FILIPINO VETERANS AND THEIR 
                SURVIVORS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES

     Current Law
       Section 107(a) of title 38, United States Code, generally 
     provides that service before July 1, 1946, in the organized 
     military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the 
     Philippines, including organized guerilla units 
     (``Commonwealth Army veterans''), may in some circumstances 
     be a basis for entitlement to disability compensation, 
     dependency and indemnity compensation, monetary burial 
     benefits, and certain other benefits under title 38, United 
     States Code, and that payment of such benefits will be at the 
     rate of $0.50 for each dollar authorized. Section 107(b) of 
     title 38, United States Code, generally provides that service 
     in the Philippine Scouts under section 14 of the Armed Forces 
     Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945 (i.e., service in the ``new 
     Philippine Scouts''), may be a basis for entitlement to 
     disability compensation, DIC, and certain other benefits 
     under title 38, United States Code, but payment of such 
     benefits will be at the rate of $0.50 for each dollar 
     authorized.
     House Bill
       Section 16 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would provide the full 
     amount of compensation and DIC to eligible members of the new 
     Philippine Scouts, as well as the full amount of DIC paid by 
     reason of service in the organized military forces of the 
     Commonwealth of the Philippines, including organized guerilla 
     units, if the individual to whom the benefit is payable 
     resides in the United States and is either a citizen of the 
     U.S. or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
     Senate Bill
       Section 321 of S. 1132, as amended, contains an identical 
     provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 211 of the Compromise Agreement contains this 
     provision.


BURIAL BENEFITS FOR NEW PHILIPPINE SCOUTS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES

     Current Law
       Section 107 of title 38, United States Code, provides that 
     persons who served in the organized military forces of the 
     Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, including 
     organized guerilla units (``Commonwealth Army veterans''), 
     who lawfully reside in the United States are eligible for 
     burial in a VA national cemetery and VA monetary burial 
     benefits at the full-dollar rate if, at the time of death, 
     they are receiving VA disability compensation or would have 
     been receiving VA pension but for their lack of qualifying 
     service.
     House Bill
       Section 17 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would extend 
     eligibility for burial in a national cemetery to new 
     Philippine Scouts, as well as eligibility for VA burial 
     benefits, to those who lawfully reside in the United States.
     Senate Bill
       Section 322 of S. 1132, as amended, contains an identical 
     provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 212 of the Compromise Agreement contains this 
     provision.


 EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN REGIONAL OFFICE IN THE REPUBLIC OF 
                            THE PHILIPPINES

     Current Law
       Section 315(b) of title 38, United States Code, authorizes 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to operate a regional 
     office in the Republic of the Philippines until December 31, 
     2003. Congress last extended this authority in Public Law 
     106-117.
     House Bill
       Section 18 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would extend the 
     Secretary's authority to operate a regional office in the 
     Republic of the Philippines through December 31, 2009.
     Senate Bill
       Section 323 of S. 1132, as amended, would extend the 
     Secretary's authority to operate a regional office in the 
     Republic of the Philippines through December 31, 2008.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 213 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House 
     language.

   TITLE III: EDUCATION BENEFITS, EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS, AND RELATED 
                                MATTERS


  expansion of montgomery gi bill education benefits for certain self-
                          employment training

     Current Law
       Section 3452(e) of title 38, United States Code, furnishes 
     various legal definitions used in the administration of VA's 
     educational assistance programs. Self-employment training is 
     not included among the current definitions.
     House Bill
       Section 2 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would expand the 
     Montgomery GI Bill program by authorizing educational 
     assistance benefits for on-job training of less than six 
     months in certain self-employment training programs, to 
     include: (1) an establishment providing apprentice or other 
     on-job training, including programs under the supervision of 
     a college or university or any State department of education; 
     (2) an establishment providing self-employment training 
     consisting of full-time training for less than six months 
     that is needed for obtaining licensure to engage in a self-
     employment occupation or required for ownership and operation 
     of a franchise; (3) a State board of vocational education; 
     (4) a Federal or State apprenticeship registration agency; 
     (5) a joint apprenticeship committee established pursuant to 
     the National Apprenticeship Act, title 29, United States 
     Code; or (6) an agency of the Federal Government authorized 
     to supervise such training.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 301 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House 
     language.


 increase in rates of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance

     Current Law
       Chapter 35 of title 38, United States Code, specifies the 
     eligibility criteria, programs of education and training, and 
     payment amounts applicable under VA's Survivors' and 
     Dependents' Educational Assistance (``DEA'') benefits 
     program. Generally, those eligible for DEA benefits are the 
     spouses and dependents of: veterans with total and permanent 
     service-connected ratings; veterans who died as a result of 
     service-related injuries; or servicemembers who died while on 
     active duty. Currently, monthly benefit rates for eligible 
     DEA beneficiaries are $695 for full-time study, $522 for 
     three-quarter-time study, and $347 for half-time study. 
     Monthly DEA benefits are also available for beneficiaries 
     pursuing programs of education on a less-than-half-time 
     basis, through farm cooperative programs, correspondence 
     courses, special restorative training programs, or programs 
     of apprenticeship or other approved on-job training programs.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 104 of S. 1132, as amended, would raise monthly DEA 
     benefits by 13.4 percent over current levels. The new rates 
     would be set at $788 for full-time study, $592 for three-
     quarter time study, and $394 for half-time study. A 13.4 
     percent increase would also be made to benefits paid to 
     eligible persons pursuing a program of education on a less 
     than half-time basis, through institutional courses, farm 
     cooperative programs, correspondence courses, special 
     restorative training programs, or programs of apprenticeship 
     or other approved on-job training programs. The increases 
     would take effect on July 1, 2004.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 302 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language.


    restoration of survivors' and dependents' education benefits of 
       individuals being ordered to full-time national guard duty

     Current Law
       Section 3512(h) of title 38, United States Code, provides 
     for an extension of Survivors' and Dependents' Educational 
     Assistance only to reservists called to active duty after 
     September 11, 2001, for an amount of time equal to that 
     period of full-time duty, plus 4 months.
     House Bill
       Section 3 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would provide that 
     National Guard members who qualify for survivors' and 
     dependents' education benefits under chapter 35 of title 38, 
     United States Code, and are involuntarily ordered to full-
     time duty under title 32, United States Code, after September 
     11, 2001, would have their eligibility extended by an amount 
     of time equal to that period of full-time duty, plus 4 
     months.
     Senate Bill
       Section 103 of S. 1132, as amended, contains an identical 
     provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 303 of the Compromise Agreement contains this 
     provision.


  rounding down of certain cost-of-living adjustments on educational 
                               assistance

     Current Law
       Sections 3015(h) and 3564 of title 38, United States Code, 
     provide for annual cost-of-living adjustments to both the 
     Montgomery GI Bill and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational 
     Assistance programs. Each section specifies that percentage 
     increases be ``rounded to the nearest dollar.''
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 304 of S. 1132, as amended, would require annual 
     percentage adjustments under sections 3015(h) and 3564 to be 
     rounded down to the nearest dollar. This section would first 
     apply to adjustments made at the start of fiscal year 2005.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 304 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language. However, the

[[Page H11718]]

     Compromise Agreement specifies that the changes made by the 
     Senate language shall be effective only through September 30, 
     2013.


     authorization for state approving agencies to approve certain 
                        entrepreneurship courses

     Current Law
       Section 3675 of title 38, United States Code, establishes 
     requirements for approval of accredited courses offered by 
     educational institutions. Section 3452 of title 38, United 
     States Code, furnishes various legal definitions used in the 
     administration of VA educational assistance programs. Section 
     3471 of title 38, United States Code, establishes general 
     requirements which must be met by educational institutions 
     before VA may approve applications for educational assistance 
     from veterans or eligible persons. There is no provision in 
     current law authorizing the approval of entrepreneurship 
     courses.
     House Bill
       Section 2 of H.R 1460, as amended, would allow State 
     approving agencies to approve non-degree, non-credit 
     entrepreneurship courses offered by a Small Business 
     Development Center (``SBDC'') or the National Veterans 
     Business Development Corporation for the training of 
     veterans, disabled veterans, dependent spouses and children 
     of certain disabled or deceased veterans, and members of the 
     National Guard and Selected Reserve. VA would also be 
     prohibited from considering a beneficiary as already 
     qualified for the objective of a program of education offered 
     by a qualified provider of an entrepreneurship course solely 
     because he or she is the owner or operator of a small 
     business.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 305 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House 
     language.


    repeal of provisions relating to obsolete education loan program

     Current Law
       Subchapter III of chapter 36 of title 38, United States 
     Code, establishes VA's education loan program, states policy 
     regarding eligibility, amount, condition, and interest rates 
     of loans, and establishes a revolving fund and insurance 
     against defaults as part of its administration. This program 
     has been in effect since January 1, 1975.
     House Bill
       Section 5 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would, effective on the 
     date of enactment, repeal the VA education loan program and 
     waive any existing repayment obligations of a veteran, 
     including overpayments due to default on these loans.
     Senate Bill
       Section 305 of S. 1132, as amended, contains a comparable 
     provision, but terminates the program 90 days after date of 
     enactment.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 306 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language.


    six-year extension of veterans' advisory committee on education

     Current Law
       Section 3692 of title 38, United States Code, requires the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs to administer a Veterans' 
     Advisory Committee on Education. It requires the Secretary to 
     consult with and seek the advice of the Advisory Committee 
     from time to time with respect to the administration of 
     chapters 30, 32, and 35 of title 38, United States Code, and 
     chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code. The Advisory 
     Committee's authorization expires on December 31, 2003.
     House Bill
       Section 4 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would extend, through 
     December 31, 2009, the Veterans' Advisory Committee on 
     Education, as well as amend the language to eliminate the 
     requirement that veterans from certain periods--World War II, 
     Korean conflict era, or post-Korean conflict era--be required 
     to participate as members of the Advisory Committee.
     Senate Bill
       Section 342 of S. 1132, as amended, would extend the 
     Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education through December 
     31, 2013, and maintain the existing membership requirements, 
     as practicable.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 307 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language with regard to membership, and the House language 
     with regard to extending the Advisory Committee's 
     authorization date through December 31, 2009.


procurement program for small business concerns owned and controlled by 
                  qualified service-disabled veterans

     Current Law
       Sections 631 through 657 of title 15, United States Code, 
     establish policies with respect to aid to small businesses. 
     Section 637 specifies Small Business Administration (``SBA'') 
     authorities regarding procurement matters. Section 637(a) 
     specifies SBA authorities with respect to procurement 
     contracts and subcontracts to disadvantaged small business 
     concerns. Section 637(d) establishes policies regarding 
     performance of contracts by small business concerns 
     (``SBC''), as described in title 15, United States Code. 
     Section 637(h) establishes policies regarding award of 
     contracts, procedures other than competitive ones, and 
     exceptions.
     House Bill
       Section 3 of H.R. 1460, as amended, would provide Federal 
     agencies discretionary authority to create ``sole-source'' 
     contracts for service-disabled veteran-owned and controlled 
     small businesses, up to $5 million for manufacturing contract 
     awards and up to $3 million for non-manufacturing contract 
     awards.
       This section would provide Federal agencies discretionary 
     authority to restrict certain contracts to service-disabled 
     veteran-owned and controlled small businesses if at least two 
     such concerns are qualified to bid on the contract.
       Section 3 would establish a contracting priority that 
     places restricted and ``sole source'' contracts for service-
     disabled veteran-owned and controlled small businesses 
     immediately below the priority for socially and economically 
     disadvantaged firms (known as ``8(a)'' program contracts) for 
     all Federal departments and agencies except VA. Such 
     priorities for service-disabled veteran-owned and controlled 
     small businesses would rank above priorities for HUBZone and 
     women-owned businesses. HUBZones are SBCs located in 
     historically underutilized business zones. However, a 
     contracting officer would procure from a source on the basis 
     of a preference provided under any provision of this 
     legislation unless the contracting officer had determined the 
     procurement could be made by a contracting authority having a 
     higher priority. Lastly, procurement could not be made from a 
     source on the basis of preference provided under this 
     legislation if the procurement could otherwise be made from a 
     different source under section 4124 or 4125 of title 18, 
     United States Code, or the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act.
       Section 3 would establish a four-year pilot program in the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs in which service-disabled 
     veteran-owned and controlled small businesses would have the 
     same contracting priority as the 8(a) program.
       This section would define ``qualified service-disabled 
     veteran'' as any veteran who (1) has one or more disabilities 
     that are service-connected as defined in section 101(16) of 
     title 38, United States Code, and are rated at 10 percent or 
     more by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (2) is entitled 
     to benefits under section 1151 of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       Section 3 would define ``small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by qualified service-disabled veterans'' as (1) 
     one in which not less than 51 percent of which is owned by 
     one or more qualified service-disabled veterans or, in the 
     case of any publicly-owned businesses, not less than 51 
     percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more 
     qualified service-disabled veterans, and (2) the management 
     and daily business operations of which are controlled by one 
     or more qualified service-disabled veterans or, in the case 
     of a veteran with permanent and severe disability, the spouse 
     or permanent care giver of the veteran.
       Section 3 would define the term ``certified small business 
     concerns owned and controlled any qualified service-disabled 
     veterans'' as any small business concern owned and controlled 
     by qualified service-disabled veterans that is certified by 
     the Administrator of the Small Business Administration as 
     being such a concern.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 308 of the Compromise Agreement would provide 
     Federal contracting officials the discretionary authority to 
     award sole source contracts (limited to contracts of up to $5 
     million for manufacturing and $3 million for non-
     manufacturing) to SBCs owned and controlled by service-
     disabled veterans. This section would also provide Federal 
     contracting officials, in certain circumstances, the 
     discretionary authority to award contracts on a restricted 
     competition basis to SBCs owned and controlled by service-
     disabled veterans. This provision would not supercede any 
     existing procurement preference established under law. 
     Specifically, it would not accord service-disabled veteran 
     small business owners priority over procurement preferences 
     under the Federal Prison Industries, Javits-Wagner-O'Day, SBA 
     8(a), Women's, or HubZone programs. Rather, the Committees 
     intend the provision to provide Federal contracting 
     officials a means to improve their results with respect to 
     contracting with service-disabled veterans. The Committees 
     note that in 1999, Public Law 106-50 established a 3 
     percent government-wide goal for procurement from service-
     disabled veteran-owned small businesses. To date, all 
     Federal agencies fall far short of reaching this 
     procurement goal.The Committees intend that a 
     determination of service-connection by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs would be binding on the SBA for purposes 
     of participation in this program. The Committees also urge 
     the SBA and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to 
     expeditiously and transparently implement this program, 
     perform outreach, and provide the necessary resources to 
     improve results with respect to SBCs owned and operated by 
     service-disabled veterans.


        OUTSTATIONING OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PERSONNEL

     Current Law
       Section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, authorizes 
     the Secretary of Labor to place

[[Page H11719]]

     staff in veterans' assistance offices on military 
     installations, both foreign and domestic, to help 
     transitioning servicemembers obtain civilian jobs.
     House Bill
       Section 19 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would require the 
     Department of Labor to place staff in veterans' assistance 
     offices where VA staff are located at overseas military 
     installations 90 days after enactment. It would also 
     authorize the Department of Labor to exceed the number of VA 
     locations and place staff in additional locations abroad.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 309 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House 
     language with a technical modification.

             TITLE IV: HOUSING BENEFITS AND RELATED MATTERS


AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN DISABLED 
         MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY

     Current Law
       Section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, provides for 
     grants to adapt or acquire suitable housing for certain 
     severely disabled veterans, including veterans who are unable 
     to ambulate without assistance. Severely disabled 
     servicemembers who have not yet been processed for discharge 
     from military service, but who will qualify for the benefit 
     upon discharge due to the severity of their disabilities, are 
     not allowed to apply for or receive the grant until they are 
     actually discharged from military service.
     House Bill
       Section 4 of H.R. 1460, as amended, would permit a member 
     of the Armed Forces to apply for and receive a grant prior to 
     actually being discharged from military service.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 401 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House 
     language.


INCREASE IN AMOUNTS FOR CERTAIN ADAPTIVE BENEFITS FOR DISABLED VETERANS

     Current Law
       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized in chapter 
     21 of title 38, United States Code, to assist eligible 
     veterans in acquiring suitable housing and adaptations with 
     special fixtures made necessary by the nature of the 
     veteran's service-connected disability, and with the 
     necessary land. The maximum amount authorized for a severely 
     disabled veteran is $48,000. The maximum amount authorized 
     for less severely disabled veterans is $9,250.
       Section 3902(a) of title 38, United States Code, authorizes 
     the Secretary to pay up to $9,000 to an eligible disabled 
     servicemember or veteran to purchase an automobile (including 
     all state, local, and other taxes).
     House Bill
       Section 10(a) of H.R. 2297, as amended, would increase the 
     specially adapted housing grants for the most severely 
     disabled veterans from $48,000 to $50,000, and from $9,250 to 
     $10,000 for less severely disabled veterans.
       Section 10(b) would increase the specially adapted 
     automobile grant from $9,000 to $11,000.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 402 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House 
     language.


   PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR HOUSING LOANS FOR MEMBERS OF THE SELECTED 
                                RESERVE

     Current Law
       Under section 3702(a)(2)(E) of title 38, United States 
     Code, members of the Selected Reserve qualify for a VA home 
     loan if the reservist has served for a minimum of six years. 
     Eligibility for reservists under this program is scheduled to 
     expire on September 30, 2009.
     House Bill
       Section 13 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would make the 
     Selected Reserve home loan program permanent.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 403 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House 
     language.


     REINSTATEMENT OF MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR SALE OF VENDEE LOANS

     Current Law
       Section 3733 of title 38, United States Code, generally 
     establishes property management policies for real property 
     acquired by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of 
     a default on a loan that VA has guaranteed.
     House Bill
       Section 15 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would reinstate the 
     vendee loan program which VA administratively terminated on 
     January 31, 2003. It would increase from 65 percent to 85 
     percent the maximum number of purchases of real property the 
     Secretary may finance in a fiscal year. It would change the 
     vendee loan program from a discretionary to a mandatory one.
     Senate Bill
       Section 308 of S. 1132, as amended, contains an identical 
     provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 404 of the Compromise Agreement contains this 
     provision. However, the Compromise Agreement specifies that 
     the changes made under this provision shall expire after 
     September 30, 2013.


  ADJUSTMENT TO HOME LOAN FEES AND UNIFORMITY OF FEES FOR QUALIFYING 
           RESERVE MEMBERS WITH FEES FOR ACTIVE DUTY VETERANS

     Current Law
       Section 3729(a) of title 38, United States Code, requires 
     that a fee shall be collected from each person (1) obtaining 
     a housing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under chapter 37; 
     and (2) assuming a loan to which section 3714 (concerning 
     loan assumptions) applies. The fee may be included in the 
     loan.
       Section 3729(b) of title 38, United States Code, determines 
     the amount of the home loan fees 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.
       Section 3729(b)(2) requires that veterans who served in the 
     Selected Reserve pay 75 basis points more than veterans with 
     active duty service.
     House Bill
       Section 14 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would make four 
     revisions to the Loan Fee Table. First, it would provide 
     uniformity in the funding fees for VA-guaranteed home loans 
     charged to those who served in the Selected Reserve and 
     veterans with active duty service. Second, beginning in 
     fiscal year 2004, it would increase the fee charged for loans 
     made with no down payment by 15 basis points. Third, it would 
     increase the fee charged for repeated use of the home loan 
     benefit, i.e., for a second or subsequent loan, by 30 basis 
     points for the fiscal year 2004-2011 period and by 90 basis 
     points in fiscal years 2012 and 2013. Fourth, it would 
     replace the existing range of fees for hybrid adjustable rate 
     mortgages under the current pilot program with a flat fee of 
     1.25 percent.
     Senate Bill
       Section 307 of S. 1132, as amended, would increase the 
     funding fees for subsequent use of a guaranty by 50 basis 
     points, but only between fiscal years 2005 and 2011.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 405 of the Compromise Agreement would follow the 
     House language, except that a funding fee for members of the 
     Selected Reserve would, for initial use of a guaranty, be set 
     25 basis points higher than applicable funding fees set for 
     veterans with active duty service. Further, for the period 
     January 1, 2004 through September 30, 2004 only, in the case 
     of active-duty veterans making initial loans with zero 
     dollars down, the fee would be increased from 2.15 percent to 
     2.20 percent. In addition, the Compromise Agreement would not 
     effect a 1.25 percent flat fee for hybrid adjustable rate 
     mortgage loans.


ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF PROCEDURES ON LIQUIDATION SALES OF DEFAULTED HOME 
         LOANS GUARANTEED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

     Current Law
       Section 3732 of title 38, United States Code, defines the 
     procedures for a liquidation sale of a property acquired by 
     VA in the event of a default on a VA-guaranteed home loan. 
     The procedures direct VA to follow a formula, defined in 
     statute, which mandates VA consider losses it might incur 
     when selling properties acquired through foreclosure. 
     Ultimately, after considering the loss VA can make a 
     determination whether to, in fact, acquire the property or 
     simply pay the guaranty on the loan used to purchase the 
     property. The authority for these procedures is currently set 
     to expire on October 1, 2011.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 406 of the Compromise Agreement would extend the 
     application of the liquidation sale procedures through 
     October 1, 2012.

                        TITLE V: BURIAL BENEFITS


                         burial plot allowance

     Current Law
       Veterans who are discharged from active duty service as a 
     result of a service-connected disability, veterans who are 
     entitled to disability compensation or VA pension, and 
     veterans who die in a VA facility are eligible for a $300 VA 
     ``plot allowance'' if they are not buried in a national 
     cemetery. Section 2303(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, 
     allows state cemeteries to receive the $300 plot allowance 
     payment for the interment of such veterans, and the interment 
     of veterans of any war, if the cemeteries are used solely for 
     the burial of veterans. However, states may not receive a 
     plot allowance for burial of veterans who die as a result of 
     a service-connected disability and whose survivors seek 
     reimbursement of funeral expenses under section 2307 of title 
     38, United States Code (which currently authorizes a $2,000 
     funeral expense benefit).
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.

[[Page H11720]]

     Senate Bill
       Section 201 of S. 1132, as amended, would expand existing 
     law to allow states to receive the $300 plot allowance for 
     the interment of veterans who did not serve during a wartime 
     period and for the interment of veterans who died as a result 
     of service-connected disabilities and whose survivors sought 
     reimbursement of funeral expenses under section 2307 of title 
     38, United States Code.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 501 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language.


  eligibility of surviving spouses who remarry for burial in national 
                               cemeteries

     Current Law
       Section 2402(5) of title 38, United States Code, prohibits 
     a surviving spouse of a veteran who has remarried from being 
     buried with the veteran spouse in a national cemetery if the 
     remarriage is in effect when the veteran's surviving spouse 
     dies. Public Law 103-466 revised eligibility criteria for 
     burial in a national cemetery to reinstate burial eligibility 
     for a surviving spouse of an eligible veteran whose 
     subsequent remarriage was terminated by death or divorce.
     House Bill
       Section 7 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would allow the 
     surviving spouse of a veteran to be eligible for burial in a 
     VA national cemetery based on his or her marriage to the 
     veteran, regardless of the status of the subsequent marriage. 
     This eligibility revision would be effective January 1, 2000.
     Senate Bill
       Section 202 of S. 1132, as amended, contains a similar 
     provision, with the eligibility revision being effective on 
     date of enactment.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 502 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House 
     language. Despite the inclusion of an additional group of 
     persons (i.e., remarried spouses) eligible for national 
     cemetery burial under the Compromise Agreement, the Secretary 
     retains the authority under section 2402(6) of title 38, 
     United States Code, to grant or deny national cemetery burial 
     for other persons, or classes of persons, not explicitly 
     granted eligibility in statute. It has come to the 
     Committees' attention that VA's record-keeping system 
     concerning which persons are granted or denied waivers for 
     burial in national cemeteries is, at best, incomplete. 
     Adequate records on burial waivers are necessary to ensure 
     that the Secretary's judgment on waiver cases is being 
     applied uniformly to all applicants. The Committees direct VA 
     to rectify gaps in its waiver-accounting system so that basic 
     information, such as which persons are denied burial waivers 
     and the reasons for the denial, will be available.


         permanent authority for state cemetery grants program

     Current Law
       Section 2408(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, 
     authorizes appropriations, through fiscal year 2004, for VA 
     to make grants to States to assist them in establishing, 
     expanding, or improving state veterans' cemeteries.
     House Bill
       Section 8 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would make the State 
     Cemetery Grants Program permanent.
     Senate Bill
       Section 203 of S. 1132, as amended, contains a similar 
     provision with an additional technical change.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 503 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language.

               TITLE VI: EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES


     radiation dose reconstruction program of department of defense

     Current Law
       Section 3.311 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, 
     sets out procedures for the adjudication of claims by VA for 
     benefits premised on a veteran's exposure to ionizing 
     radiation in service. For veterans who claim radiation 
     exposure due to participation in nuclear atmospheric testing 
     from 1945 through 1962, or due to occupation duty in 
     Hiroshima and Nagasaki prior to July 1, 1946, dose data are 
     requested from the Department of Defense (``DOD''). DOD's 
     Defense Threat Reduction Agency (``DTRA'') pays a private 
     contractor to estimate radiation exposure through a process 
     called radiation dose reconstruction.
       There is no entity under existing law which provides 
     independent oversight of DTRA's radiation dose reconstruction 
     process.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 331 of S. 1132, as amended, would require VA and 
     DOD to review, and report on the mission, procedures, and 
     administration of the radiation dose reconstruction program. 
     It would also require VA and DOD to establish an advisory 
     board to oversee the program.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 601 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language.


             study on disposition of air force health study

     Current Law
       The Air Force Health Study (``AFHS'') was initiated by DOD 
     in 1982 to examine the effects of herbicide exposure and 
     health, mortality, and reproductive outcomes in veterans of 
     Operation Ranch Hand, the activity responsible for aerial 
     spraying of herbicides during the Vietnam Conflict. The study 
     will conclude in 2006.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 332 of S. 1132, as amended, would direct VA to 
     enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences 
     (``NAS'') under which NAS would report on the following: (1) 
     the scientific merit of retaining AFHS data after the Ranch 
     Hand study is terminated; (2) obstacles to retaining the AFHS 
     data which may exist; (3) the advisability of providing 
     independent oversight of the data; (4) the advisability and 
     prospective costs of extending the study and the identity of 
     an entity which would be suited to continue the study; and 
     (5) the advisability of making laboratory specimens from the 
     study available for independent research.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 602 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language, but the reporting deadline is extended to 120 days.


    funding of medical follow-up agency of institute of medicine of 
national academy of sciences for epidemiological research on members of 
                     the armed forces and veterans

     Current Law
       Public Law 102-585 requires that VA and DOD each contribute 
     $250,000 in annual core funding to the Medical Follow-Up 
     Agency (``MFUA'') for a period of 10 years. MFUA is a panel 
     of the Institute of Medicine which researches military health 
     issues.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 333 of S. 1132, as amended, would mandate VA and 
     DOD funding for MFUA, at current levels, from fiscal year 
     2004 through 2013.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 603 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language.

                        TITLE VII: OTHER MATTERS


 TIME LIMITATIONS ON RECEIPT OF CLAIM INFORMATION PURSUANT TO REQUESTS 
                   OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

     Current Law
       Section 5102(b) of title 38, United States Code, requires 
     that VA, in cases where it receives an application for 
     benefits that is not complete, notify the applicant of the 
     information that is necessary to complete the application for 
     benefits. Similarly, section 5103(a) of title 38, United 
     States Code, requires that VA, when it receives a complete or 
     a substantially complete application for benefits, notify the 
     applicant of any information or evidence necessary to 
     substantiate the claim. Section 5103(b) of title 38, United 
     States Code, states that if information or evidence requested 
     under section 5103(a) is not received within one year of the 
     date of such notification, no benefit may be paid by reason 
     of that application for benefits.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 310 of S. 1132, as amended, would require that 
     claimants who have submitted an incomplete application under 
     section 5102(b) of title 38, United States Code, and who have 
     been notified that information is required to complete the 
     application, submit the information within one year of the 
     date of notification or else no benefit would be paid by 
     reason of the application. It would also clarify section 
     5103(b) by stating that that subsection would not be 
     construed to prohibit VA from making a decision on a claim 
     before the expiration of the one-year period. Section 310 
     would be effective as if enacted on November 9, 2000, 
     immediately after the enactment of the Veterans Claims 
     Assistance Act of 2000.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 701 of the Compromise Agreement would follow the 
     Senate language, but would make a further amendment to 
     section 5103(b) of title 38, United States Code, to remove 
     the statutory bar to payment of benefits when information or 
     evidence, requested of the claimant by VA, is not submitted 
     within one year of the notification requesting such 
     information or evidence. If a matter is on appeal and 
     evidence is received beyond the one-year period relating to 
     the original claim, it should be considered.
       Section 701(d)(1) of the Compromise Agreement would require 
     VA to readjudicate the original claim when a claimant 
     adequately asserts he or she was misled upon receiving 
     notification from VA of the information or evidence needed to 
     substantiate the claim. However, section 701(d)(4) specifies 
     that the Secretary is not required to identify or 
     readjudicate any claim based upon the authority given to the 
     Secretary under this section when information or evidence was 
     submitted during the one-year period following the 
     notification or when the claim has been the subject of a 
     timely appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals or the United 
     States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

[[Page H11721]]

CLARIFICATION OF APPLICABILITY OF PROHIBITION ON ASSIGNMENT OF VETERANS 
      BENEFITS TO AGREEMENTS ON FUTURE RECEIPT OF CERTAIN BENEFITS

     Current Law
       Section 5301 of title 38, United States Code, prohibits the 
     assignment of VA benefits and exempts such benefits from 
     taxation and from the claims of creditors.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 311 of S. 1132, as amended, would clarify current 
     statutory language prohibiting the assignment of benefits and 
     specify that any agreement under which a VA beneficiary might 
     purport to transfer to another person or entity the right to 
     receive direct or indirect payments of compensation, pension, 
     or DIC benefits shall be deemed to be a prohibited 
     assignment. Section 311 would also make it clear that such 
     prohibitory language would not bar loans to VA beneficiaries 
     which might be repaid with funds derived from VA, so long as 
     each periodic payment made under the loan is separately and 
     voluntarily executed by the beneficiary at the time the 
     payment is made.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 702 of the Compromise Agreement would follow the 
     Senate language but would modify it to state that payments on 
     loans are explicitly allowed when made by preauthorized 
     electronic funds transfers pursuant to the Electronic Funds 
     Transfers Act (``EFTA''). The EFTA defines a characteristic 
     of these transfers as allowing the beneficiary to direct his 
     or her financial institution to cease payments upon the 
     beneficiary's notice. It is the Committees' intent to ensure 
     that methods of loan repayment would not be limited for 
     disabled veterans. The Compromise Agreement would also 
     eliminate the section that specifies the effective date of 
     the provision. It is the Committees' intent that prohibition 
     against assignment shall be enforced through coordination 
     with appropriate authorities.


     SIX-YEAR EXTENSION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY VETERANS

     Current Law
       Section 544 of title 38, United States Code, mandates that 
     VA establish an Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. The 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs must, on a regular basis, 
     consult with and seek the advice of the Advisory Committee 
     with respect to issues relating to the administration of 
     benefits for minority group veterans. The Secretary must also 
     consult with and seek the advice of the Committee with 
     respect to reports and studies pertaining to such veterans, 
     and the needs of such veterans for compensation, health care, 
     rehabilitation, outreach, and other benefits and programs 
     administered by VA. The Advisory Committee is required to 
     submit an annual report providing its assessment of the needs 
     of minority veterans, VA programs designed to meet those 
     needs, and any recommendations the Advisory Committee 
     considers appropriate. The authorization for the Advisory 
     Committee expires on December 31, 2003.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 341 of S. 1132, as amended, would extend the 
     authorization of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans 
     until December 31, 2007.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 703 of the Compromise Agreement would extend the 
     authorization of the Advisory Committee until December 31, 
     2009.


      TEMPORARY AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL DISABILITIES 
                  EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS

     Current Law
       Section 504 of Public Law 104-275 authorized VA to carry 
     out a contract disability examination pilot program at 10 VA 
     regional offices. The law specifies that VA draw funds for 
     the program from amounts available to the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs for compensation and pensions.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 343 of S. 1132, as amended, would authorize VA, 
     using funds subject to appropriation, to contract for 
     disability examinations from non-VA providers at all VA 
     regional offices. Such examinations would be conducted 
     pursuant to contracts entered into and administered by the 
     Under Secretary for Benefits. The Secretary's authority under 
     this section would expire on December 31, 2009. No later than 
     four years after the section's enactment, the Secretary would 
     be required to submit a report assessing the cost, 
     timeliness, and thoroughness of disability examinations 
     performed under this section.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 704 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language, but adds a technical modification that would 
     clarify that the authority granted the Secretary under 
     section 704 of the Compromise Agreement is in addition to the 
     authority already granted the Secretary under Section 504 of 
     Public Law 104-275. Thus, it is the Committees' intent that 
     VA's existing contract for disability examinations under the 
     authority of Public Law 104-275 remain in force. It is also 
     the Committees' intent that the Secretary's ability to enter 
     into contracts in the future under the strictures of Section 
     504 of Public Law 104-275 remain in force as well.


            FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS FOR SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES

     Current Law
       Section 6105 of title 38, United States Code, provides that 
     an individual convicted after September 1, 1959, of any of 
     several specified offenses involving subversive activities 
     shall have no right to gratuitous benefits (including the 
     right to burial in a national cemetery) under laws 
     administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. No other 
     person shall be entitled to such benefits on account of such 
     individual.
     House Bill
       Section 20 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would amend current 
     law to supplement the list of serious Federal criminal 
     offenses for which a veteran's conviction results in a bar to 
     VA benefits, including burial in a national cemetery. The 
     following criminal offenses from title 18, United States 
     Code, would be added: section 175, prohibited activities with 
     respect to biological weapons; section 229, prohibited 
     activities with respect to chemical weapons; section 831, 
     prohibited transactions involving nuclear materials; section 
     1091, genocide; section 2332a, use of certain weapons of mass 
     destruction; and section 2332b, acts of terrorism 
     transcending national boundaries. All of these offenses, 
     which involve serious threats to national security, were 
     added to title 18, United States Code, after the enactment of 
     the provisions in section 6105 of title 38, United States 
     Code.
     Senate Bill
       Section 313 of S. 1132, as amended, contains an identical 
     provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 705 of the Compromise Agreement contains this 
     provision.


 TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF ROUND-DOWN REQUIREMENT FOR COMPENSATION COST-OF-
                           LIVING ADJUSTMENTS

     Current Law
       Sections 1104(a) and 1303(a) of title 38, United States 
     Code, mandate that yearly cost-of-living adjustments made to 
     rates of compensation and dependency and indemnity 
     compensation be rounded down to the nearest whole dollar 
     amount. This authority expires on September 30, 2011.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 301 of S. 1132, as amended, would extend the round-
     down authority under sections 1104(a) and 1303(a) through 
     fiscal year 2013.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 706 of the Compromise Agreement follows the Senate 
     language.


   CODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT FOR EXPEDITIOUS TREATMENT OF CASES ON 
                                 REMAND

     Current Law
       Section 302 of Public Law 103-446 requires the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs to provide for the expeditious treatment by 
     the Board of Veterans' Appeals and by regional offices of the 
     Veterans Benefits Administration of claims remanded by the 
     Board of Veterans' Appeals or the United States Court of 
     Appeals for Veterans Claims.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Compromise Agreement
       Section 707 of the Compromise Agreement would codify the 
     provisions of section 302 of Public Law 103-446. Expedited 
     treatment of decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals 
     would be codified in chapter 51 of title 38, United States 
     Code. Expedited treatment of decisions of the United States 
     Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims would be codified in 
     chapter 71 of title 38, United States Code.

                   LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS NOT ADOPTED


    CLARIFICATION OF NOTICE OF DISAGREEMENT FOR APPELLATE REVIEW OF 
               DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ACTIVITIES

     Current Law
       Claimants for VA benefits who disagree with an initial 
     decision rendered by VA may initiate an appeals process by 
     submitting a written notice of disagreement (``NOD'') within 
     one year after the claimant was notified of the initial 
     decision. Section 7105(b) of title 38, United States Code, 
     states that an NOD ``must be in writing and filed with the 
     activity which entered the determination with which 
     disagreement is expressed.'' Upon the timely filing of an 
     NOD, VA is required to provide appellate review of its 
     initial benefits rating decision.
       VA has promulgated regulations to implement section 7105 of 
     title 38, United States Code, which state that ``while 
     special wording is not required, the Notice of Disagreement 
     must be in terms which can be reasonably construed as 
     disagreement with the determination and [expressing a] desire 
     for appellate review.'' 38 CFR Sec. 20.201 (2002).
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 314 of S. 1132, as amended, would clarify section 
     7105(b) of title 38, United

[[Page H11722]]

     States Code, by requiring that VA deem any written document 
     which expresses disagreement with a VA decision to be an NOD 
     unless VA finds that the claimant has disavowed a desire for 
     appellate review. This section would be effective with 
     respect to documents filed on or after the date of enactment, 
     and with respect to documents filed before the date of 
     enactment and not treated by VA as an NOD pursuant to part 
     20.201 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations. Furthermore, 
     a document filed as an NOD after March 15, 2002, and rejected 
     by the Secretary as insufficient would, at VA motion or at 
     the request of a claimant within one year of enactment, be 
     deemed to be an NOD if the document expresses disagreement 
     with a decision and VA finds that the claimant has not 
     disavowed a desire for appellate review.


            PROVISION OF MARKERS FOR PRIVATELY MARKED GRAVES

     Current Law
       Section 502 of Public Law 107-103, the Veterans Education 
     and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001, authorizes VA to furnish 
     a government headstone or marker for the grave of an eligible 
     veteran buried in a non-veterans' cemetery irrespective of 
     whether the grave was already marked with a private marker. 
     The law applies to veterans whose deaths occurred on or after 
     December 27, 2001. Public Law 107-330 extended this 
     authority to include deaths occurring on or after 
     September 11, 2001.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 204 of S. 1132, as amended, would amend the 
     Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 to 
     authorize VA to furnish a government headstone or marker for 
     the grave of an eligible veteran buried in a private 
     cemetery, irrespective of whether the grave was already 
     marked with a private marker, for deaths occurring on or 
     after November 1, 1990.


 TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY TO GUARANTEE LOANS TO PURCHASE MANUFACTURED 
                             HOMES AND LOTS

     Current Law
       Section 3712 of title 38, United States Code, authorizes VA 
     to guarantee loans for the purchase of a manufactured home 
     and a lot on which it is sited.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 306 of S. 1132, as amended, would eliminate VA's 
     authority to guarantee loans to purchase a manufactured home 
     and the lot on which it is sited.


   REINSTATEMENT OF VETERANS VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN 
                           PENSION RECIPIENTS

     Current Law
       Section 1524 of title 38, United States Code, authorized a 
     pilot program of vocational training to certain nonservice-
     connected pension recipients. The initial pilot program was 
     in place from February 1, 1985, through January 31, 1992. 
     Public Law 102-562 extended the program through December 31, 
     1995.
     House Bill
       Section 9 of H.R. 2297, as amended, would reinstate the VA 
     pilot program for five years beginning on the date of 
     enactment to provide vocational training to newly eligible VA 
     nonservice-connected pension recipients. The program would be 
     open to those veterans age 45 years or younger. The 
     Department of Veterans Affairs would be required to ensure 
     that the availability of vocational training is made known 
     through various outreach methods. Not later than two years 
     after the date of enactment, and each year thereafter, the 
     Secretary would be required to submit to the Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives a report on the operation of the pilot 
     program. The report would include an evaluation of the 
     vocational training provided, an analysis of the cost-
     effectiveness of the training provided, and data on the 
     entered-employment rate of veterans participating in the 
     program.
     Senate Bill
       The Senate Bill contains no comparable provision.


         THREE-YEAR EXTENSION OF INCOME VERIFICATION AUTHORITY

     Current Law
       Section 5317 of title 38, United States Code, directs VA to 
     notify applicants for needs-based VA benefits that 
     information collected from the applicants may be compared 
     with income-related information obtained by VA from the 
     Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Health and 
     Human Services. The authority of the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs to obtain such information expires on September 30, 
     2008.
       Section 6103(l)(7)(D)(viii) of the Internal Revenue Code 
     authorizes the release of income information by the Internal 
     Revenue Service to VA. This authority expires on September 
     30, 2008.
     House Bill
       The House Bill contains no comparable provision.
     Senate Bill
       Section 312 of S. 1132, as amended, would extend until 
     September 30, 2011, the authority of the Secretary to obtain 
     income information under section 5317 of title 38, United 
     States Code, and the authority of the Internal Revenue 
     Service to share income information under section 
     6103(l)(7)(D)(viii) of the Internal Revenue Code.

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2297, 
the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2003. This bill addresses an issue that I 
have been working on for a number of years. Dependency and Indemnity 
Compensation (DIC) is the benefit accorded to the surviving dependents 
of those members of the Armed Forces who died while on active duty or 
of a service-connected cause.
  DIC is the only federal annuity program that does not allow a widow 
who is receiving compensation to remarry at an older age and retain her 
annuity. Earlier this year, I reintroduced legislation which provides 
that the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a veteran after age 55 
shall not result in termination of Dependency and Indemnity 
Compensation.
  I was pleased that my legislation was incorporated into H.R. 2297 
when it passed the House in October. The bill that we are considering 
today, which was worked out with the Senate, slightly modifies my 
original provision to provide that a surviving spouse upon remarriage 
after age 57 would retain DIC, home loan and educational benefits 
eligibility. Surviving spouses who remarried after attaining age 57 
prior to enactment of the Compromise Agreement would have one year to 
apply for reinstatement of these benefits.
  I think it is a wonderful thing if an older person finds 
companionship, falls in love and decides to marry. I don't think we 
should be discouraging such marriages by making them financially 
burdensome. In these circumstances, it is often the case that both 
partners are living on fixed incomes. the prospect of one partner 
losing financial benefits as a result of the marriage is a real 
disincentive.
  Once again, I would like to thank Chairman Smith, Ranking Member 
Evans, Benefits Subcommittee Chairman Brown and Subcommittee Ranking 
Member Michaud for working with me to include a DIC remarriage 
provision in H.R. 2297.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill before us today.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House 
suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 
2297.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendment was 
concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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