[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 148 (Wednesday, November 9, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H10074-H10081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        VETERANS HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2005

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3665) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide adaptive housing 
assistance to disabled veterans residing temporarily in housing owned 
by a family member and to make direct housing loans to Native American 
veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3665

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans 
     Housing and Employment Improvement Act of 2005''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                      TITLE I--HOUSING ASSISTANCE

Sec. 101. Adaptive housing assistance for disabled veterans residing 
              temporarily in housing owned by family member.
Sec. 102. Permanent authority to make direct housing loans to Native 
              American veterans.
Sec. 103. Extension of eligibility for direct loans for Native American 
              veterans to a veteran who is the spouse of a Native 
              American.
Sec. 104. Terminology amendments to revise references to certain 
              veterans in provisions relating to eligibility for 
              compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation.

                TITLE II--EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Sec. 201. Extension of operation of the President's National Hire 
              Veterans Committee.
Sec. 202. Additional duty for the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
              Veterans' Employment and Training to raise awareness of 
              skills of veterans and of the benefits of hiring 
              veterans.
Sec. 203. Modifications to the Advisory Committee on Veterans 
              Employment and Training.

           TITLE III--HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAM

Sec. 301. Reauthorization of appropriations for Homeless Veterans 
              Reintegration Program.

        TITLE IV--TECHNICAL, CLARIFYING, AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS

Sec. 401. Technical and clarifying amendments to new traumatic injury 
              protection coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life 
              Insurance.
Sec. 402. Technical and clerical amendments.

                      TITLE I--HOUSING ASSISTANCE

     SEC. 101. ADAPTIVE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR DISABLED VETERANS 
                   RESIDING TEMPORARILY IN HOUSING OWNED BY FAMILY 
                   MEMBER.

       (a) Assistance Authorized.--Chapter 21 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2102 the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 2102A. Assistance for veterans residing temporarily in 
       housing owned by family member

       ``(a) In the case of a disabled veteran who is described in 
     subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) of section 2101 of this title and 
     who is residing, but does not intend to permanently reside, 
     in a residence owned by a member of such veteran's family, 
     the Secretary may assist the veteran in acquiring such 
     adaptations to such residence as are determined by the 
     Secretary to be reasonably necessary because of the veteran's 
     disability.
       ``(b) The assistance authorized under subsection (a) may 
     not exceed--
       ``(1) $10,000, in the case of a veteran described in 
     section 2101(a)(2) of this title; or
       ``(2) $2,000, in the case of a veteran described in section 
     2101(b)(2) of this title.
       ``(c) The assistance authorized by subsection (a) shall be 
     limited in the case of any veteran to one residence.
       ``(d) Assistance under this section shall be provided in 
     accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may 
     prescribe.
       ``(e) No assistance may be provided under this section 
     after the end of the five-year period that begins on the date 
     of the enactment of the Veterans Housing and Employment 
     Improvement Act of 2005.''.
       (b) Limitations on Adaptive Housing Assistance.--Section 
     2102 of such title is amended--
       (1) in the matter in subsection (a) preceding paragraph 
     (1)--
       (A) by striking ``shall be limited in the case of any 
     veteran to one housing unit, and necessary land therefor, 
     and''; and
       (B) by striking ``veteran but shall not exceed $50,000 in 
     any one case--'' and inserting ``veteran--''; and

[[Page H10075]]

       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(d)(1) The aggregate amount of assistance available to a 
     veteran under sections 2101(a) and 2102A of this title shall 
     be limited to $50,000.
       ``(2) The aggregate amount of assistance available to a 
     veteran under sections 2101(b) and 2102A of this title shall 
     be limited to $10,000.
       ``(3) No veteran may receive more than three grants of 
     assistance under this chapter.''.
       (c) Coordination of Administration of Benefits.--Chapter 21 
     of such title is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 2107. Coordination of administration of benefits

       ``The Secretary shall provide for the coordination of the 
     administration of programs to provide specially adapted 
     housing that are administered by the Under Secretary for 
     Health and such programs that are administered by the Under 
     Secretary for Benefits under this chapter, chapter 17, and 
     chapter 31 of this title.''.
       (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter of such title is amended--
       (1) by inserting after the item relating to section 2102 
     the following new item:

``2102A. Assistance for veterans residing temporarily in housing owned 
              by family member.'';
and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new item:

``2107. Coordination of administration of benefits.''.

       (e) GAO Reports.--(1) Not later than three years after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
     shall submit to Congress an interim report on the 
     implementation by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of 
     section 2102A of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a).
       (2) Not later than five years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit 
     to Congress a final report on the implementation of such 
     section.

     SEC. 102. PERMANENT AUTHORITY TO MAKE DIRECT HOUSING LOANS TO 
                   NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS.

       (a) Permanent Authority.--Section 3761 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``establish and implement a pilot program 
     under which the Secretary may'' in the first sentence; and
       (B) by striking ``shall establish and implement the pilot 
     program'' in the third sentence and inserting ``shall make 
     such loans'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``In carrying out the 
     pilot program under this subchapter, the'' and inserting 
     ``The''; and
       (3) by striking subsection (c).
       (b) Reports.--Section 3762(j) of such title is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(j) The Secretary shall include as part of the annual 
     report required by section 529 of this title and as part of 
     any annual benefits report of the Veterans Benefits 
     Administration information concerning the cost and number of 
     loans provided under this subchapter for each fiscal year.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Section 3762 of such title is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``under this 
     subchapter'' after ``to a Native American veteran'';
       (B) in subsection (b)(1)(E), by striking ``the pilot 
     program established under this subchapter is implemented'' 
     and inserting ``loans under this subchapter are made'';
       (C) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ``carry out the 
     pilot program under this subchapter in a manner that 
     demonstrates the advisability of making direct housing 
     loans'' in the second sentence and inserting ``make direct 
     housing loans under this subchapter'';
       (D) in subsection (i)--
       (i) by striking ``the pilot program provided for under this 
     subchapter and'' in paragraph (1);
       (ii) by striking ``under the pilot program and in assisting 
     such organizations and veterans in participating in the pilot 
     program'' in paragraph (2)(A) and inserting ``under this 
     subchapter and in assisting such organizations and veterans 
     with respect to such housing benefits''; and
       (iii) by striking ``in participating in the pilot program'' 
     in paragraph (2)(E) and inserting ``with respect to such 
     benefits''.
       (2) Section 8(b) of the Veterans Home Loan Program 
     Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 102-547; 38 U.S.C. 3761 note) 
     is repealed.
       (d) Establishment of Maximum Amount of Loans.--Section 
     3762(c)(1)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(B) The'' and inserting ``(B)(i) Subject 
     to clause (ii), the''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(ii) The amount of a loan made by the Secretary under 
     this subchapter may not exceed the maximum loan amount 
     authorized for loans guaranteed under section 3703(a)(1)(C) 
     of this title.''.
       (e) Technical Amendment.--Subsection (c)(1)(A) of section 
     3762 of such title is amended by inserting ``veteran'' after 
     ``Native American''.
       (f) Clerical Amendments.--
       (1) Subchapter heading.--The heading for subchapter V of 
     chapter 37 of such title is amended to read as follows:

  ``SUBCHAPTER V--DIRECT HOUSING LOANS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS''.

       (2) Section heading.--The heading for section 3761 of such 
     title is amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 3761. Direct housing loans to Native American 
       veterans; program authority''.

       (3) Section heading.--The heading for section 3762 of such 
     title is amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 3762. Direct housing loans to Native American 
       veterans; program administration''.

       (4) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended by striking 
     the items relating to subchapter V and sections 3761 and 3762 
     and inserting the following new items:


    ``Subchapter V--Direct Housing Loans for Native American Veterans

``3761. Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program 
              authority.
``3762. Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program 
              administration.''.

     SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DIRECT LOANS FOR 
                   NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS TO A VETERAN WHO IS 
                   THE SPOUSE OF A NATIVE AMERICAN.

       (a) Extension.--Subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 3764 as section 3765; and
       (2) by inserting after section 3763 the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 3764. Qualified non-Native American veterans

       ``(a) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, 
     for purposes of this subchapter--
       ``(1) a qualified non-Native American veteran is deemed to 
     be a Native American veteran; and
       ``(2) for purposes of applicability to a non-Native 
     American veteran, any reference in this subchapter to the 
     jurisdiction of a tribal organization over a Native American 
     veteran is deemed to be a reference to jurisdiction of a 
     tribal organization over the Native American spouse of the 
     qualified non-Native American veteran.
       ``(b) In making direct loans under this subchapter to a 
     qualified non-Native American veteran by reason of 
     eligibility under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure 
     that the tribal organization permits, and the qualified non-
     Native American veteran actually holds, possesses, or 
     purchases, using the proceeds of the loan, jointly with the 
     Native American spouse of the qualified non-Native American 
     veteran, a meaningful interest in the lot, dwelling, or both, 
     that is located on trust land.
       ``(c) Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed as 
     precluding a tribal organization from imposing reasonable 
     restrictions on the right of the qualified non-Native 
     American veteran to convey, assign, or otherwise dispose of 
     such interest in the lot or dwelling, or both, if such 
     restrictions are designed to ensure the continuation in trust 
     status of the lot or dwelling, or both. Such requirements may 
     include the termination of the interest of the qualified non-
     Native American veteran in the lot or dwelling, or both, upon 
     the dissolution of the marriage of the qualified non-Native 
     American veteran to the Native American spouse.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3765 of such title, as 
     redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) The term `qualified non-Native American veteran' 
     means a veteran who--
       ``(A) is the spouse of a Native American, but
       ``(B) is not a Native American.''.
       (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 3764 and inserting the following 
     new items:

``3764. Qualified non-Native American veterans.
``3765. Definitions.''.

     SEC. 104. TERMINOLOGY AMENDMENTS TO REVISE REFERENCES TO 
                   CERTAIN VETERANS IN PROVISIONS RELATING TO 
                   ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPENSATION OR DEPENDENCY AND 
                   INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

       Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 1114(l) is amended by striking ``so helpless'' 
     and inserting ``with such significant disabilities''.
       (2) Section 1114(m) is amended by striking ``so helpless'' 
     and inserting ``so significantly disabled''.
       (3) Sections 1115(1)(E)(ii), 1122(b)(2), 1311(c)(2), 
     1315(g)(2), and 1502(b)(2) are amended by striking ``helpless 
     or blind, or so nearly helpless or blind as to'' and 
     inserting ``blind, or so nearly blind or significantly 
     disabled as to''.

                TITLE II--EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

     SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF OPERATION OF THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL 
                   HIRE VETERANS COMMITTEE.

       (a) One-Year Extension.--Subsection (f) of section 6 of the 
     Jobs for Veterans Act (Public Law 107-288; 116 Stat. 2048) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``60 days'' and inserting ``not later than 
     60 days''; and
       (2) by striking ``on December 31, 2005'' and inserting 
     ``not later than December 31, 2006''.
       (b) Additional Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection 
     (g) of such section is amended by striking ``2005'' and 
     inserting ``2006''.
       (c) Additional Report.--Subsection (e) of such section is 
     amended by striking ``and 2005,'' and inserting ``2005, and 
     2006,''.

     SEC. 202. ADDITIONAL DUTY FOR THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF 
                   LABOR FOR VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING TO 
                   RAISE AWARENESS OF SKILLS OF VETERANS AND OF 
                   THE BENEFITS OF HIRING VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 4102A of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(8) With advice and assistance from the Advisory 
     Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer 
     Outreach established

[[Page H10076]]

     under section 4110 of this title, furnish information to 
     employers (through meetings in person with hiring executives 
     of corporations and otherwise) with respect to the training 
     and skills of veterans and disabled veterans, and the 
     advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans with such 
     training and skills, and to facilitate employment of veterans 
     and disabled veterans through participation in labor 
     exchanges (Internet-based and otherwise), and other means.''.
       (b) Transition Plan.--(1) The Secretary of Labor, acting 
     through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
     Employment and Training, shall develop a plan for the 
     transition of the assumption of certain duties and functions 
     of the President's National Hire Veterans Committee by the 
     Assistant Secretary in carrying out section 4102A(b)(8) of 
     title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). 
     Such plan shall include the identification of the activities 
     and operations of the Committee that the Assistant Secretary 
     determines should be continued or expanded.
       (2) Not later than July 1, 2006, the Secretary shall 
     transmit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 
     and House of Representatives the transition plan developed 
     under paragraph (1).

     SEC. 203. MODIFICATIONS TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS 
                   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.

       (a) Committee Name.--(1) Subsection (a)(1) of section 4110 
     of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment and Training'' 
     and inserting ``Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, 
     Training, and Employer Outreach''.
       (2) The heading of such section is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``Sec. 4110. Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, 
       Training, and Employer Outreach''.

       (3) The item relating to section 4110 in the table of 
     sections at the beginning of chapter 41 of such title is 
     amended to read as follows:

``4110. Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and 
              Employer Outreach.''.

       (4) Any reference to the Advisory Committee established 
     under section 4110 of such title in any law, regulation, map, 
     document, record, or other paper of the United States shall 
     be considered to be a reference to the Advisory Committee on 
     Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach.
       (b) Expansion of Duties of the Committee.--Subsection 
     (a)(2) of such section is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and their 
     integration into the workforce'' after ``veterans'';
       (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
       (3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (E); 
     and
       (4) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
     subparagraphs:
       ``(C) assist the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans 
     Employment and Training in carrying out outreach activities 
     to employers with respect to the training and skills of 
     veterans and the advantages afforded employers by hiring 
     veterans;
       ``(D) make recommendations to the Secretary, through the 
     Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and 
     Training, with respect to outreach activities and the 
     employment and training of veterans; and''.
       (c) Modification of Committee Membership.--(1) Subsection 
     (c)(1) of such section is amended to read as follows:
       ``(c)(1) The Secretary of Labor shall appoint at least 12, 
     but no more than 15, individuals to serve as members of the 
     advisory committee as follows:
       ``(A) Six individuals, one each from among representatives 
     nominated by each of the following organizations:
       ``(i) The National Society of Human Resource Managers.
       ``(ii) The Business Roundtable.
       ``(iii) The National Association of State Workforce 
     Agencies.
       ``(iv) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
       ``(v) The National Federation of Independent Business.
       ``(vi) A nationally recognized labor union or organization.
       ``(B) Not more than five individuals from among 
     representatives nominated by veterans service organizations 
     that have a national employment program.
       ``(C) Not more than five individuals who are recognized 
     authorities in the fields of business, employment, training, 
     rehabilitation, or labor and who are not employees of the 
     Department of Labor.''.
       (2) Subsection (d) of such section is amended--
       (A) by striking paragraphs (3), (4), (8), (10), (11), and 
     (12); and
       (B) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (9) as 
     paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6), respectively.
       (d) Reinstatement and Modification of Reporting 
     Requirement.--Subsection (f)(1) of such section is amended--
       (1) by striking the first sentence and inserting the 
     following: ``Notwithstanding section 3003 of Public Law 104-
     66, not later than December 31 of each year, the advisory 
     committee shall submit to the Secretary and to the Committees 
     on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives a report on the employment and training needs 
     of veterans, with special emphasis on disabled veterans, for 
     the previous fiscal year.'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and their 
     integration into the workforce'' after ``veterans'';
       (3) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
       (4) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
     subparagraphs (C) and (F), respectively;
       (5) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(B) an assessment of the outreach activities carried out 
     by the Secretary of Labor to employers with respect to the 
     training and skills of veterans and the advantages afforded 
     employers by hiring veterans; ''; and
       (6) by inserting after subparagraph (C), as so 
     redesignated, the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(D) a description of the activities of the advisory 
     committee during that fiscal year;
       ``(E) a description of activities that the advisory 
     committee proposes to undertake in the succeeding fiscal 
     year; and''.

           TITLE III--HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAM

     SEC. 301. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR HOMELESS 
                   VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.

       Subsection (e)(1) of section 2021 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subparagraph:
       ``(F) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 
     2009.''.

        TITLE IV--TECHNICAL, CLARIFYING, AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS

     SEC. 401. TECHNICAL AND CLARIFYING AMENDMENTS TO NEW 
                   TRAUMATIC INJURY PROTECTION COVERAGE UNDER 
                   SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE.

       (a) Section 1980A.--Section 1980A of title 38, United 
     States Code, as enacted by section 1032(a)(2) of Public Law 
     109-13 (119 Stat. 257), is amended as follows:
       (1) Subsection (a) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a)(1) A member of the uniformed services who is insured 
     under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance shall 
     automatically be insured for traumatic injury in accordance 
     with this section. Insurance benefits under this section 
     shall be payable if the member, while so insured, sustains a 
     traumatic injury that results in a qualifying loss specified 
     pursuant to subsection (b)(1).
       ``(2) If a member suffers more than one such qualifying 
     loss as a result of traumatic injury from the same traumatic 
     event, payment shall be made under this section in accordance 
     with the schedule prescribed pursuant to subsection (d) for 
     the single loss providing the highest payment.''.
       (2) Subsection (b) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking ``issued a'' and all that follows through 
     ``limited to--'' and inserting ``insured against traumatic 
     injury under this section is insured against such losses due 
     to traumatic injury (in this section referred to as 
     `qualifying losses') as are prescribed by the Secretary by 
     regulation. Qualifying losses so prescribed shall include the 
     following:'';
       (ii) by capitalizing the first letter of the first word of 
     each of subparagraphs (A) through (H);
       (iii) by striking the semicolon at the end of each of 
     subparagraphs (A) through (F) and inserting a period; and
       (iv) by striking ``; and'' at the end of subparagraph (G) 
     and inserting a period;
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by striking ``subsection--'' and inserting 
     ``subsection:'';
       (ii) by striking ``the'' at the beginning of subparagraphs 
     (A), (B), and (C) and inserting ``The'';
       (iii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``4 limbs;'' and 
     inserting ``four limbs.'';
       (iv) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' at the end 
     and inserting a period;
       (v) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``1 side'' and 
     inserting ``one side''; and
       (vi) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(D) The term `inability to carry out the activities of 
     daily living' means the inability to independently perform 
     two or more of the following six functions:
       ``(i) Bathing.
       ``(ii) Continence.
       ``(iii) Dressing.
       ``(iv) Eating.
       ``(v) Toileting.
       ``(vi) Transferring.'';
       (C) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) by striking ``, in collaboration with the Secretary of 
     Defense,'';
       (ii) by striking ``shall prescribe'' and inserting ``may 
     prescribe''; and
       (iii) by striking ``the conditions under which coverage 
     against loss will not be provided''; and inserting 
     ``conditions under which coverage otherwise provided under 
     this section is excluded''; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) A member shall not be considered for the purposes of 
     this section to be a member insured under Servicemembers' 
     Group Life Insurance if the member is insured under 
     Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance only as an insurable 
     dependent of another member pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii) 
     or (C)(ii) of section 1967(a)(1) of this title.''.
       (3) Subsection (c) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(c)(1) A payment may be made to a member under this 
     section only for a qualifying loss that results directly from 
     a traumatic injury sustained while the member is covered 
     against loss under this section and from no other cause.
       ``(2)(A) A payment may be made to a member under this 
     section for a qualifying loss resulting from a traumatic 
     injury only for a loss that is incurred during the applicable 
     period of time specified pursuant to subparagraph (B).
       ``(B) For each qualifying loss, the Secretary shall 
     prescribe, by regulation, a period of time to be the period 
     of time within which a loss of that

[[Page H10077]]

     type must be incurred, determined from the date on which the 
     member sustains the traumatic injury resulting in that loss, 
     in order for that loss to be covered under this section. For 
     quadriplegia, paraplegia, and hemiplegia, the period of time 
     so prescribed shall be 365 days.''.
       (4) Subsection (d) is amended by striking ``losses 
     described in subsection (b)(1) shall be--'' and all that 
     follows and inserting ``qualifying losses shall be made in 
     accordance with a schedule prescribed by the Secretary, by 
     regulation, specifying the amount of payment to be made for 
     each type of qualifying loss, to be based on the severity of 
     the qualifying loss. The minimum payment that may be 
     prescribed for a qualifying loss is $25,000, and the maximum 
     payment that may be prescribed for a qualifying loss is 
     $100,000.''.
       (5) Subsection (e) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``of Veterans Affairs'' each place it 
     appears;
       (B) in paragraph (1), by striking `as the premium 
     allocable'' and all that follows through ``protection under 
     this section'';
       (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Secretary of the 
     concerned service'' and inserting ``Secretary concerned''; 
     and
       (D) by striking paragraphs (6), (7), and (8) and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(6) The cost attributable to insuring members under this 
     section for any month or other period specified by the 
     Secretary, less the premiums paid by the members, shall be 
     paid by the Secretary concerned to the Secretary. The 
     Secretary shall allocate the amount payable among the 
     uniformed services using such methods and data as the 
     Secretary determines to be reasonable and practicable. 
     Payments under this paragraph shall be made on a monthly 
     basis or at such other intervals as may be specified by the 
     Secretary and shall be made within 10 days of the date on 
     which the Secretary provides notice to the Secretary 
     concerned of the amount required.
       ``(7) For each period for which a payment by a Secretary 
     concerned is required under paragraph (6), the Secretary 
     concerned shall contribute such amount from appropriations 
     available for active duty pay of the uniformed service 
     concerned.
       ``(8) The sums withheld from the basic or other pay of 
     members, or collected from them by the Secretary concerned, 
     under this subsection, and the sums contributed from 
     appropriations under this subsection, together with the 
     income derived from any dividends or premium rate adjustments 
     received from insurers shall be deposited to the credit of 
     the revolving fund established in the Treasury of the United 
     States under section 1869(d)(1) of this title.''.
       (6) Subsection (f) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(f) When a claim for benefits is submitted under this 
     section, the Secretary of Defense or, in the case of a member 
     not under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense, the 
     Secretary concerned shall certify to the Secretary whether 
     the member with respect to whom the claim is submitted--
       ``(1) was at the time of the injury giving rise to the 
     claim insured under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for 
     the purposes of this section; and
       ``(2) has sustained a qualifying loss.''.
       (7) Subsection (g) of such section is amended--
       (A) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(g)'';
       (B) by striking ``will not be made'' and inserting ``may 
     not be made under the insurance coverage under this 
     section'';
       (C) by striking ``the period'' and all that follows through 
     ``the date'' and inserting ``a period prescribed by the 
     Secretary, by regulation, for such purpose that begins on the 
     date'';
       (D) by designating the second sentence as paragraph (2);
       (E) by striking ``If the member'' and inserting ``If a 
     member eligible for a payment under this section'' ;
       (F) by striking ``will be'' and inserting ``shall be''; and
       (G) by striking ``according to'' and all that follows and 
     inserting ``to the beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom the 
     payment would be made if the payment were life insurance 
     under section 1967(a) of this title.''.
       (8) Subsection (h) of such section is amended--
       (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``member's 
     separation from the uniformed services'' and inserting 
     ``termination of the member's duty status in the uniformed 
     services that established eligibility for Servicemembers' 
     Group Life Insurance'';
       (B) by striking the second sentence; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The 
     termination of coverage under this section is effective in 
     accordance with the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any 
     continuation after the date specified in that sentence of 
     Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage pursuant to 
     1968(a) of this title for a period specified in that 
     section.''.
       (9) Such section is further amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subsection:
       ``(j) Regulations under this section shall be prescribed in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--Section 1980A of title 38, United 
     States Code, as amended by subsection (a), shall take effect 
     on December 1, 2005, and (except as provided in subsection 
     (d)) shall apply with respect to losses resulting from 
     traumatic injuries incurred on or after that date.
       (c) Deadline for Implementing Regulations.--Regulations to 
     carry out section 1980A of title 38, United States Code, as 
     amended by subsection (a), shall be prescribed not later than 
     December 1, 2005.
       (d) Applicability to Prior Qualifying Losses Incurred in 
     Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.--
       (1) Eligibility.--A member of the uniformed services who 
     during the period beginning on October 7, 2001, and ending at 
     the close of November 30, 2005, sustains a traumatic injury 
     resulting in a qualifying loss is eligible for coverage for 
     that loss under section 1980A of title 38, United States 
     Code, as amended by subsection (a), if, as determined by the 
     Secretary concerned, that loss was a direct result of a 
     traumatic injury incurred in the theater of operations for 
     Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
       (2) Certification of persons entitled to payment.--The 
     Secretary concerned shall certify to the life insurance 
     company issuing the policy of life insurance for 
     Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance under chapter 19 of 
     title 38, United States Code, the name and address of each 
     person who the Secretary concerned determines to be entitled 
     by reason of paragraph (1) to a payment under section 1980A 
     of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection 
     (a), plus such additional information as the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs may require.
       (3) Funding.--At the time a certification is made under 
     paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned, from funds then 
     available to that Secretary for the pay of members of the 
     uniformed services under the jurisdiction of that Secretary, 
     shall pay to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the amount of 
     funds the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines to be 
     necessary to pay all costs related to payments to be made 
     under that certification. Amounts received by the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs under this paragraph shall be deposited 
     to the credit of the revolving fund in the Treasury of the 
     United States established under section 1969(d) of title 38, 
     United States Code.
       (4) Qualifying loss.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
     term ``qualifying loss'' means--
       (A) a loss specified in the second sentence of subsection 
     (b)(1) of section 1980A of title 38, United States Code, as 
     amended by subsection (a); and
       (B) any other loss specified by the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs pursuant to the first sentence of that subsection.
       (e) Funding for First Year of Benefits.--Upon the date 
     specified in subsection (b), the Secretary concerned shall 
     pay to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs an amount that is 
     equivalent to one-half the amount anticipated to be necessary 
     to pay all costs related to payments to be made under section 
     1980A of title 38, United States Code, for fiscal year 2006, 
     effective December 1, 2005. The amount received by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs under this subsection shall be 
     deposited to the credit of the revolving fund in the Treasury 
     of the United States established under section 1969(d) of 
     title 38, United States Code.
       (f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     ``Secretary concerned'' has the meaning given that term in 
     paragraph (25) of section 101 of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       (g) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1032 of Public Law 109-
     13 (119 Stat. 257) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1), including 
     the amendment that would be made by that paragraph effective 
     December 1, 2005; and
       (2) by striking subsections (c) and (d).

     SEC. 402. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.

       Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Typographical error.--Section 1117(h)(1) is amended by 
     striking ``nothwithstanding'' and inserting 
     ``notwithstanding''.
       (2) Insertion of missing word.--Section 1513(a) is amended 
     by inserting ``section'' after ``prescribed by''.
       (3) Deletion of extra words.--Section 3012(a)(1)(C)(ii) is 
     amended by striking ``on or''.
       (4) Cross reference correction.--Section 3017(b)(1)(D) is 
     amended by striking ``3011(c)'' and inserting ``3011(e)''.
       (5) Stylistic amendments.--Section 3018A is amended--
       (A) by striking ``of this section'' in subsections (b) and 
     (c);
       (B) by striking ``of this subsection'' in subsections 
     (a)(4), (a)(5), (d)(1) (both places it appears), and (d)(3); 
     and
       (C) by striking ``of this chapter'' in subsection (d)(3) 
     and inserting ``of this title''.
       (6) Cross reference correction.--Section 3117(b)(1) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking ``section 8'' and inserting ``section 
     4(b)(1)''; and
       (B) by striking ``633(b)'' and inserting ``633(b)(1)''.
       (7) Insertion of missing word.--Section 3511(a)(1) is 
     amended by inserting ``sections'' after ``under both''.
       (8) Subsection headings.--
       (A) Sections 3461, 3462, 3481, 3565, 3680, and 3690 are 
     each amended by revising each subsection heading for a 
     subsection therein (appearing as a centered heading 
     immediately before the text of the subsection) so that such 
     heading appears immediately after the subsection designation 
     and is set forth in capitals-and-small-capitals typeface, 
     followed by a period and a one-em dash.
       (B) Section 3461(c) is amended by inserting after the 
     subsection designation the following: ``Duration of 
     Entitlement.--''.
       (C) Section 3462 is amended--
       (i) in subsection (d), by inserting after the subsection 
     designation the following: ``Prisoners of War.--''; and
       (ii) in subsection (e), by inserting after the subsection 
     designation the following: ``Termination of Assistance.--''.
       (9) Cross reference correction.--Section 3732(c)(10)(D) is 
     amended by striking ``clause (B) of paragraphs (5), (6), (7), 
     and (8) of this subsection'' and inserting ``paragraphs 
     (5)(B), (6), (7)(B), and (8)(B)''.
       (10) Date of enactment reference.--Section 3733(a)(7) is 
     amended by striking ``the date of

[[Page H10078]]

     the enactment of the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2003'' and 
     inserting ``December 16, 2003''.
       (11) Repeal of obsolete provisions.--Section 4102A is 
     amended
       (A) in subsection (c)(7)--
       (i) by striking ``With respect to program years beginning 
     during or after fiscal year 2004, one percent of'' and 
     inserting ``Of''; and
       (ii) by striking ``for the program year'' and inserting 
     ``for any program year, one percent''; and
       (B) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``By not later than 
     May 7, 2003, the'' and inserting ``The''.
       (12) Repeal of obsolete provisions.--Section 4105(b) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking ``shall provide,'' and all that follows 
     through ``Affairs with'' and inserting ``shall, on the 15th 
     day of each month, provide the Secretary and the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs with updated information regarding''; and
       (B) by striking ``and shall'' and all that follows through 
     ``regarding the list''.
       (13) Citation correction.--Section 4110B is amended--
       (A) by striking ``this Act'' and inserting ``the Workforce 
     Investment Act of 1998''; and
       (B) by inserting ``(29 U.S.C. 2822(b))'' before the period 
     at the end.
       (14) Cross-reference correction.--Section 4331(b)(2)(C) is 
     amended by striking ``section 2303(a)(2)(C)(ii)'' and 
     inserting ``section 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii)''.
       (15) Capitalization correction.--Section 7253(d)(5) is 
     amended by striking ``court'' and inserting ``Court''.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to provide adaptive 
     housing assistance to disabled veterans residing temporarily 
     in housing owned by a family member, to make certain 
     improvements in veterans employment assistance programs, and 
     for other purposes.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) and the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to commend H.R. 3665, as amended, to the 
House for passage. This bill has several goals. First, we want to 
provide some flexibility in several VA programs, including the Adapted 
Housing Grant program and the Native American Loan program. Second, we 
want to protect and institutionalize the taxpayers' investment in the 
President's National Hiring Veterans Committee. Third, we want to 
reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration program for 3 years.
  Madam Speaker, it is no secret that many of those wounded in Iraq and 
Afghanistan return home with significant disabilities. Many of those 
severely disabled servicemembers spend their convalescence at a family 
home before moving to their own home when they are well enough to do 
so. Under the current rules, VA cannot help adapt those family homes 
for their specific disabilities unless the veteran has an ownership 
interest in the property. This bill would eliminate the ownership 
requirement for a partial grant. Therefore, title I would provide a 
partial adaptive housing assistance grant up to $10,000 or $2,000, 
depending on the level of disability to veterans residing temporarily 
in housing owned by a family member. It would also authorize up to 
three specially adaptive housing grants within the allotted maximum 
amount.
  Madam Speaker, this measure contains several provisions from H.R. 
1773, originally introduced by the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee 
ranking member, Ms. Herseth. I want to compliment her and her staff for 
their hard work on this issue. These provisions would make permanent 
the pilot program for housing loans to Native American veterans; extend 
the eligibility for Native American loans to certain non-Native 
American veterans who have a meaningful interest in the property under 
tribal law and are the spouses of a Native American. And finally, this 
would adjust the maximum loan to conform with the Freddie Mac limits 
similar to other VA loans, currently $59,650.
  Madam Speaker, the taxpayers have made a significant investment in 
the work of the President's National Hire Veterans Committee, and we 
feel strongly that a 1-year extension will allow a proper transition of 
the duties and products of the committee to the Veterans Employment and 
Training Service of the Department of Labor. Therefore, title II would 
extend the committee's work until not later than December 31, 2006. 
Transition of its duties to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Veterans Employment and Training require the Assistant Secretary of 
Labor for Veterans Employment and Training to develop a transition plan 
for those duties and modify the membership and duties of the advisory 
committee on veterans employment and training to include outreach 
activities.
  Madam Speaker, we all know that homelessness among the veterans 
continues to be a problem. While there is some disagreement about the 
total number of homeless veterans needing a job to break the cycle of 
homelessness, there is no disagreement that the Homeless Veterans 
Reintegration program remains a valuable tool to put homeless veterans 
back to work. I want to emphasize that this is an employment program 
managed by the Veterans Employment and Training Service of the 
Department of Labor, not a housing program. Therefore, title III would 
reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration program for fiscal 
years 2007 through 2009 and retain the maximum authorization of $50 
million per year.
  Finally, title IV makes technical amendments to the servicemembers 
group life insurance legislation as well as clerical and technical 
amendments to a number of other sections of title 38.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to thank Chairman Buyer, Ranking Member Evans, Subcommittee 
Chairman Boozman, and Ranking Member Herseth for bringing this bill to 
the floor. Ms. Herseth has been detained at a legislative hearing 
before the Resources Committee concerning the bill she has introduced. 
I hope that she will be able to join us before the debate on the bill 
is completed, but I want to particularly thank her for her input into 
this important piece of legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 3665. 
As amended, the bill before us would provide greater flexibility to the 
VA's Adaptive Housing Grant program. It also includes measures to 
extend the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training 
Service. The bill also includes language from H.R. 1773, which Ms. 
Herseth introduced to make the Native American Veteran Home Loan 
program permanent.
  Section 102 of the bill would make permanent the Native American 
Housing Loan program, currently a pilot program administered by the 
Veterans Administration since 1993. The Native American Housing Loan 
program has provided more than 443 direct loans nationwide since its 
inception. By all accounts, the pilot program has been a great success 
and, in fact, currently does not require any government subsidy.
  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that enactment of the 
provision would generate savings of $1 million over the next 5 years. 
Section 103 of the bill would authorize non-Native American veterans 
married to a Native American spouse and living on trust or tribal land 
to fully participate in this direct loan program. Because certain 
tribal sovereignty rules prohibit ownership interest by nonnative 
persons, they have been unable to qualify for this home loan program. 
The language in section 103 would make it possible for a nonnative 
military member or for a nonnative military member or veteran to 
qualify for a VA loan if he or she shares a meaningful interest rather 
than an ownership interest with their respective spouse in their home.
  Madam Speaker, on this Friday we will celebrate and honor the service 
of our Nation's veterans. Hopefully, we will all be in our home 
districts attending Veterans Day parades and other activities that we 
share with our veterans. As I do so, I am mindful that over 3,000 
veterans in Nevada are homeless. Most of them are living on the streets 
in Las Vegas. The number of homeless veterans in America is, I am sorry 
to say, a national disgrace and simply must be addressed. According to 
the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, there are already 400 
veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan who have sought 
shelter through homeless programs.

[[Page H10079]]

                              {time}  1415

  I strongly support the provision in H.R. 3665 which would reauthorize 
appropriations for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program to help 
veterans get off the street and working again.
  With increased efforts to deny VA benefits and, thereby, health care 
to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, I fear that our 
efforts to reduce the number of homeless veterans, many who are 
suffering from PTSD, may be at risk.
  One homeless veteran who recently contacted the VA Committee had a VA 
claim pending for PTSD. We learned that because of a perceived pressure 
to deny claims, regional office adjudicators were afraid to accept the 
veteran's testimony of his Iraq combat experience, an article naming 
him and describing the attack, and a statement of his soldier 
passenger, who was wounded in the attack, as sufficient credible 
evidence of a stressor.
  VA officials later acknowledged that the evidence provided by the 
veteran met the legal requirements and the claim was approved, finally.
  This veteran's story is an example of how severely mentally disabled 
veterans are at risk of becoming homeless due to VA policies.
  Congress must stop the administration's assault on veterans with 
severe PTSD. We must also provide opportunities to those veterans who 
are homeless due to their disabilities. H.R. 3665 will do just this.
  I appreciate the cooperation of the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. 
Boozman) in including language I had suggested to eliminate the 
obsolete term ``helpless'' from title 38. Although severely disabled 
veterans may require significant help with activities of daily life, 
characterizing them as helpless is demeaning and, quite frankly, 
inaccurate.
  The bill under consideration today will benefit our Nation's veterans 
and deserves the support of all Members of the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Brown), chairman of the Health Subcommittee.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for 
yielding me time and for his leadership in bringing these bills to the 
floor.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 3665, the Veterans Housing and Employment 
Improvement Act of 2005, provides needed enhancements to veterans' 
benefit programs. Specifically, I would like to discuss the provisions 
which were contained in H.R. 3279, the Homeless Veterans Reintegration 
Program Reauthorization Act of 2005, of which I was an original 
cosponsor.
  H.R. 3279 was rolled into H.R. 3665 in the full committee markup held 
on October 7. This legislation would reauthorize HVRP through fiscal 
year 2009. Currently, the authority for this program expires at the end 
of fiscal year 2006. This legislation continues the current 
authorization for $50 million per year. I am eager for this legislation 
to be sent to the President as soon as possible.
  The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, or HVRP, is designed to 
take the men and women who are probably the most difficult population 
of veterans to serve off the streets and return them as productive 
contributors to society. It is a tall order and one that presents 
unique challenges to both the government and to those who deliver 
services to homeless veterans.
  HVRP program providers have taken on this difficult task and have 
turned HVRP into one of the most successful programs in the Federal 
Government. HVRP grantees are taking on the difficult task of breaking 
the cycle of homelessness. I urge my colleagues to support this program 
and this important legislation.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo).
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
3665, the Veterans Housing and Employment Improvement Act. This 
legislation would permanently authorize a successful and worthy pilot 
program, commonly referred to as the Native American Home Loan Program.
  Established in 1992 as a 5-year pilot program, Congress has extended 
the authority for this loan program on three separate occasions. 
Clearly, the program has proven very effective and deserves a permanent 
authorization.
  Administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, this program 
makes direct loans to Native American veterans who reside on tribal 
lands and veterans who reside on land trust properties in the United 
States territories, Hawaii and Alaska. We have thousands of veterans on 
Guam, many suffering from military-related illnesses. Currently, Madam 
Speaker, five veterans from my district of Guam have loan applications 
under this program, pending review by the Department.
  These loans are for the purchase, renovation, or construction of new 
homes. And, as you know, home ownership is also a primary driver for 
economic growth of local communities. Affordable housing is important, 
very important, for our veterans. Furthermore, home ownership is part 
of the American dream.
  Permanent authorization will ensure this important lending program 
remains an option for veterans who seek to purchase homes. Permanent 
authorization of this program will contribute to the growth of our 
local community. Permanent authorization will allow veterans to live 
the American dream which they have served to defend.
  I want to take this opportunity, Madam Speaker, to thank my colleague 
from Arkansas, John Boozman; the chairman, Steve Buyer; the ranking 
member, Lane Evans; and the hardworking committee for their diligent 
work on this legislation. I strongly urge its passage.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the sponsor of the original bill to extend the 
operation of the President's National Hire Veterans Committee, and 
former chairman of the Veterans' Benefits Subcommittee.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Boozman and 
Ranking Member Herseth for their work on this piece of legislation.
  Earlier this year, I introduced H.R. 419, which would authorize the 
President's National Hire Veterans Committee through 2008. The bill 
before us today, H.R. 3665, not only extends the life of this important 
committee, but also provides for its continued operation long into the 
future under a new Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment Training 
and Employer Outreach.
  It is important that we continue to support and fund the work of this 
committee which strives to make employers and businesses more aware of 
the valuable role that veterans play in the public workforce.
  Today's employers do not often realize the wealth of skills possessed 
by the men and woman returning from duty in the Armed Forces. Through 
the creation of the One Stop Career Centers for veterans and the 
development of hirevetsfirst.gov Web site for potential employers, the 
President's National Hire Veterans Committee has fostered a vital link 
between military and civilian employment.
  As Veterans Day approaches many of us take for granted the sacrifices 
made by those who defend our Nation. Voting for this bill is a way to 
truly show our veterans that we appreciate them and are willing to 
support them not only when they are serving our country abroad, but 
when they return home as well.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3665 and thank them for their 
work on this bill.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
the great State of Hawaii (Mr. Case).
  Mr. CASE. Madam Speaker, I also rise in full support of H.R. 3665, 
the Veterans Housing and Improvement Act of 2005, which addresses the 
critical housing needs of our Nation's disabled and Native American 
veterans.
  I also would like to thank Representatives Boozman and Herseth for 
their leadership on this legislation and, of course, Veterans Committee 
Chair Buyer and Ranking Member Evans for expeditiously bringing this 
bill to the House floor.
  H.R. 3665, in part, provides permanent authority for the Native 
American Direct Home Loan Program and extends eligibility for such loan 
to non-Native American spouses of Native Americans living on Native 
American trust and tribal lands.

[[Page H10080]]

  The Native American Direct Home Loan Program has been a highly 
successful veterans effort, particularly in my Hawaii, where it applies 
to veterans living on lands held in trust under this Congress' own 
Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920. The majority of these Hawaiian 
homelands in my Second Congressional District on the islands of Oahu, 
Kauai, Molokai, Maui, Hawaii, and Lanai.
  Since the inception of this program, which was spearheaded by the 
great Hawaii Senator Spark Matsunaga, and continued by Senator Daniel 
Akaka, native Hawaiian veterans have successfully used this direct home 
loan program for their acute housing needs, and I am proud to say with 
nominal deficiencies and delinquencies.
  Over $20 million has now been approved for over 200 loans in Hawaii, 
with 106 loans totaling $7.5 million pending. This is an incredible 
help not only with the needs of many veterans who would likely 
otherwise be precluded from quality housing, but about Hawaii's overall 
housing crisis.
  Due to its success over the last 13 years, the Native American Direct 
Home Loan Program, which initially started out as a pilot program, was 
twice extended by Congress but is currently set to expire on December 
31 of this year. It is vital to understand why this program is so 
important to our Native American veterans and why we should make the 
program permanent, as this bill proposes.
  Of course, the most basic reason is the success of the overall 
program in honoring our commitment to our Nation's veterans. Beyond 
that, Congress found some years ago that during the entire history to 
that date of the program, not a single Native American veteran living 
on Indian trust lands or Hawaii homelands had in fact received the VA 
home loan under the VA's traditional home loan program. The reason for 
that was quite simple.
  The unique trust status of native lands did not lend itself to 
conventional lending practices because banks and other financial 
institutions did not recognize those lands as valid collateral.
  As part of our obligation to all of our Nation's veterans, that 
obligation being to ensure that they are all able to tap fully into VA 
programs, the Native American Direct Home Loan Program addressed this 
unique and discrete challenge facing many Native American veterans and 
afforded them the same opportunity of home ownership availed their 
comrades-in-arms.
  This bill recognizes and improves upon the clear success of this 
effort, and I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3665.
  Mahalo.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
New Hampshire (Mr. Bradley), the vice chairman of the Veterans 
Disability and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, a gentleman who, since 
coming to Congress, has been a tireless advocate for veterans.
  Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and 
the ranking minority member for their hard work to a make this bill a 
reality.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Veterans Housing Improvement 
Act, H.R. 3665. All of us, as Members of Congress, have had the 
opportunity to meet our brave soldiers who are serving in Iraq and 
Afghanistan, fighting in the war on terror. One of the components of 
the war on terror is that many of them are coming home with disabling 
injuries.
  This bill in a very significant way will help families to be able to 
allow the reintegration of these disabled heroes back into not only 
working life, but at-home life. The $10,000 grant will help home owners 
to be able to renovate their houses to make them suitable for disabled 
veterans, and that is why it is so important that we authorize and fund 
this pilot program to do what needs to be done to help these heroes 
integrate back into life.
  I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their hard work and 
urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, first, I would like to thank the chairman 
of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Buyer), and the committee's ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Evans), for their leadership and support in bringing this bill to 
the floor. I would also like to thank the ranking member of the 
Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, the gentlewoman from South Dakota 
(Ms. Herseth), as well as her staff and my staff for their hard work 
and cooperation on this bipartisan legislation.

                              {time}  1430

  Special thanks to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), who is 
the ranking member for Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
  This bill is an example of how we can work together to achieve good 
things for veterans, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3665, the 
Veterans Housing and Employment Improvement Act of 2005.
  I do not think we can close today before noting that this coming 
Friday is Veterans Day, a day that originally marked the 11th hour of 
the 11th day of the 11th month in the war to end all wars. 
Unfortunately, that idealistic prediction failed, and several 
generations of Americans have since served in wartime. So today, 
instead of honoring the end of World War I, Veterans Day now honors all 
of those who have worn the uniform in defense of the Nation. Whether a 
veteran served in war or peacetime, we owe them our gratitude, and this 
bill is just one small token of our appreciation.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House, I want to say thank you to all 
who have served.
  Ms. HERSETH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
3665, as amended, the Veterans Housing and Employment Improvement Act 
of 2005. This bill incorporates a number of important measures aimed at 
improving the quality of life of our servicemembers, veterans and 
military families.
  I would like to thank Chairman Buyer and Ranking Member Evans for 
their leadership on the full committee and for their assistance in 
moving this bill to the floor today.
  I also want to express my appreciation to the Chairman of the 
Economic Opportunity Subcommittee--Mr. Boozman, for all his hard work 
and bipartisan leadership on the subcommittee this legislative session. 
I look forward to continue working with my friend from Arkansas as we 
begin discussions with the Senate to ensure passage of a bipartisan, 
bicameral veterans' benefits package for this year. I know that the 
veterans of my home state of South Dakota and all veterans of this 
nation will appreciate the important benefits and program improvements 
we have included in this legislative measure.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 3665, as amended, incorporates important 
provisions that would provide greater flexibility to the VA's adaptive 
housing grant program. It also includes important measures to extend 
the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and improve the Department 
of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service. In addition, the 
bill also includes language from H.R. 1773, the Native American Veteran 
Home Loan Act--a measure I introduced along with a number of colleagues 
earlier this year.
  Section 102 of the bill would make permanent the Native American 
Housing Loan Program, currently a pilot program administered by VA 
since 1993. The Native American Housing Loan program has provided 443 
direct loans nationwide since its inception--20 to veterans in South 
Dakota. By all accounts the pilot program has been a great success and 
in fact currently has a negative subsidy--that is, it actually pays for 
itself. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that enactment of the 
provision would generate savings of $1 million over five years.
  Section 103 of the bill would authorize non-native American veterans 
married to a Native American spouse and living on trust or tribal land 
to fully participate in this direct loan program. Because certain 
tribal sovereignty rules prohibit ownership interests by non-native 
persons they have been unable to qualify for this home loan program. 
The language in section 103 now makes it possible for a non-native 
military member or veteran to qualify for a VA loan if he or she shares 
a ``meaningful interest'' rather than ``ownership interest'' with their 
respective spouse in their home.
  I want to thank Mr. Faleomavaega the Delegate of American Samoa for 
bringing this issue to my attention, and I want to also thank the VA 
for its assistance in drafting this particular provision.
  Madam Speaker, the service members, veterans and military families of 
this nation have earned and deserve our best efforts here in Congress. 
Indeed, they deserve so much more.
  As we approach Veterans Day, I am very proud to support this 
legislation and confident

[[Page H10081]]

it will benefit the veterans of my home state of South Dakota, as well 
as the other veterans around the country.
  I fully support H.R. 3665, as amended, and urge my colleagues to do 
the same.
  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the House Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3665, the Veterans 
Housing and Employment Improvement Act of 2005, as amended. This is a 
bipartisan bill that as amended also includes provisions from Chairman 
Boozman's H.R. 3279, the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program 
Reauthorization Act of 2005, Ranking Member Herseth's H.R. 1773, the 
Native American Veteran Home Loan Act, and Mr. Simpson's H.R. 419, the 
Hire Veterans Act of 2005.
  Title I of this bill, as amended, would improve the flexibility of 
the VA's Adapted Housing Grant Program, and make the Native American 
Veterans Home Loan Program permanent.
  Title II of the bill would extend the life of the President's 
National Hire Veterans Committee (PNHVC), which was created by Public 
Law 107-288 to improve industry's awareness of the value inherent in 
increasing the number of veterans hired by the private sector. The 
Committee determined that a one-year extension of the PNHVC's three-
year authority for purposes of winding down its operations, in addition 
to providing opportunity for added oversight, would be an appropriate 
way to ensure that the Department of Labor integrates the positive 
aspects of the PNHVC into its future activities.
  Title III of the bill would reauthorize the Homeless Veterans' 
Reintegration Program (HVRP), which is administered by VETS. Based on 
testimony and meetings with HVRP providers, the program appears to be 
one of the more successful homeless programs in government by 
rehabilitating and finding jobs for the most difficult to place 
population of veterans.
  Title IV of the bill would also make technical, clarifying, and 
conforming changes to new section 1980A of title 38, the Traumatic 
Injury Protection program, which was established in the supplemental.
  Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I 
would like to thank the Ranking Member of the Committee, Mr. Lane Evans 
(IL) for his cooperation in moving this legislation to the floor. I 
would also like to acknowledge the hard work of Mr. Boozman (AR), and 
Ms. Herseth (SD), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee 
on Economic Opportunity, through whose leadership and hard work, this 
legislation has come before the House. Its timing is especially 
propitious, the day after tomorrow being Veterans' Day.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly urge all my colleagues to support this 
important legislation.
  Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3665, as 
amended.
  It is only fitting that as November 11th approaches and we prepare to 
commemorate another Veterans Day, we are meeting here today on the 
House floor to discuss and pass this legislation, which is intended to 
honor the courage and sacrifice of the nation's veterans.
  I would like to thank Chairman Buyer for his support of this bill.
  I also want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Economic 
Opportunity Subcommittee, John Boozman and Stephanie Herseth, for their 
work in developing and moving this important legislation to the floor.
  The housing, employment and homeless provisions contained in the bill 
are very important and should be enacted into law.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill.
  Our servicemembers, veterans and military families sacrifice greatly.
  It is our responsibility to care and provide for them upon their 
return from service as we do when we send them off to war.
  I strongly support this measure, Madam Speaker, and I urge all my 
colleagues to vote for its passage.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3665, the 
Veterans Housing and Employment Improvement Act of 2005. I especially 
want to thank Chairman Steve Buyer and Ranking Member Lane Evans of the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and also Chairman John Boozman and 
Ranking Member Stephanie Herseth of the Subcommittee on Economic 
Opportunity for their leadership in making it possible for Native 
Americans to participate in the veterans' housing loan program.
  I am especially thankful that American Samoa's veterans have also 
been able to participate in this very successful program. Today, I am 
here to thank my colleagues for working with me to address the concerns 
of American Samoans without adversely affecting the rights of other 
tribes.
  Many Samoans have served in the military and they are allowed to 
obtain home loans under current law. Other Samoans are married to non-
Samoan veterans. Nonnative military spouses married to native Samoans 
have not been able to qualify for the VA home loan program. In part, 
this is because the Native American Home Loan program excludes the 
spouses of non-native Americans from qualifying for a VA home loan.
  For my constituents, this is problematic. In brief, most land in 
American Samoa is communal, meaning that only Samoans of Tutuila, 
Manu's, Aunu'u, or Swain Islands may qualify for home loans offered by 
traditional lending institutions because only they can make claim to 
native land.
  As a result of these land laws, non-native spouses of veterans or 
persons serving in the U.S. Armed Forces who are married to a Samoan 
may not qualify for a VA home loan. The VA has been helpful in 
assisting the Veterans' Affairs Committee and my office in drafting 
language to rectify this problem and I am pleased that this language 
has now been included in H.R. 3665.
  As we have agreed, it is our understanding that this language now 
makes it possible for a non-Samoan military member or veteran to 
qualify for a VA loan if the non-Samoan military member has a 
``meaningful interest'' in the housing a Samoan spouse has been granted 
permission to build on communal land. It is also our understanding that 
``meaningful interest'' means that the veteran has the right to reside 
in the home under tribal laws.
  Madam Speaker, I urge support of H.R. 3665 and I again thank my 
colleagues for including my provision in this important legislation. I 
also thank the VA for its assistance, and Ms. Mary Ellen McCarthy, 
Democratic Staff Director for Disability Assistance and Memorial 
Affairs, for her tireless efforts. I urge support of this legislation.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, having no further requests for time, I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capito). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3665, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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