[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 133 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8823-H8829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                VETERANS PROGRAMS EXTENSION ACT OF 2006

  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 6342) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, to expand eligibility for the Survivors' and 
Dependents' Educational Assistance program, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 6342

       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 
     Programs Extension Act of 2006''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Extension of certain expiring provisions of law administered by 
              the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 3. Expansion of eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' 
              Educational Assistance program.
Sec. 4. Deadline and permanent requirement for report on educational 
              assistance program.
Sec. 5. Reauthorization of biennial report of Advisory Committee on 
              Women Veterans.
Sec. 6. Parkinson's Disease research, education, and clinical centers 
              and multiple sclerosis centers of excellence.
Sec. 7. Authorization of major medical facility leases.
Sec. 8. Technical and clerical amendments.
Sec. 9. Codification of cost-of-living adjustment provided in Public 
              Law 109-361.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF LAW 
                   ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) Authority for Health Care for Participation in DOD 
     Chemical and Biological Warfare Testing.--Section 
     1710(e)(3)(D) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``December 31, 2005'' and inserting ``December 31, 
     2007''.
       (b) Grant and Per Diem Grant Assistance for Homeless 
     Veterans.--Section 2011(a)(2) of such title is amended by 
     striking ``September 30, 2005'' and inserting ``September 30, 
     2007''.
       (c) Treatment and Rehabilitation for Seriously Mentally Ill 
     and Homeless Veterans.--Section 2031(b) of such title is 
     amended by striking ``December 31, 2006'' and inserting 
     ``December 31, 2007''.
       (d) Additional Services for Homeless and Seriously Mentally 
     Ill Veterans.--Section 2033(d) of such title is amended by 
     striking ``December 31, 2006'' and inserting ``December 31, 
     2007''.
       (e) Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.--Section 
     2066(d) of such title is amended by striking ``December 31, 
     2006'' and inserting ``December 31, 2007''.
       (f) Government Markers in Private Cemeteries.--Section 
     2306(d)(3) of such title is amended by striking ``December 
     31, 2006'' and inserting ``December 31, 2007''.
       (g) Additional Educational Assistance Allowance for Work-
     Study.--Section 3485(a)(4) of such title is amended in 
     subparagraphs (A), (C), and (F) by striking ``December 27, 
     2006'' and inserting ``June 30, 2007''.

     SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SURVIVORS' AND 
                   DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Expansion of Eligibility.--Section 3501(a)(1) of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``means--'' and inserting ``means any of the following:'';
       (2) in each of subparagraphs (A) through (D), by 
     capitalizing the first letter of the first word;
       (3) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) by inserting after ``a person who'' the following: ``, 
     as a result of qualifying service'';
       (B) by striking the comma at the end of clause (i) and 
     inserting ``; or'';
       (C) by striking ``, or'' at the end of clause (ii) and 
     inserting a period; and
       (D) by striking clause (iii);
       (4) in subparagraph (B) by striking the comma at the end 
     and inserting the following: ``sustained during a period of 
     qualifying service.'';
       (5) in subparagraph (C)--
       (A) by inserting ``or child'' after ``the spouse''; and
       (B) by striking ``, or'' at the end and inserting a period;
       (6) in subparagraph (D)--
       (A) in clause (i), by inserting before the comma the 
     following: ``sustained during a period of qualifying 
     service''; and
       (B) by striking the comma at the end and inserting a 
     period;
       (7) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(E) The spouse or child of a person who--
       ``(i) at the time of the Secretary's determination under 
     clause (ii), is a member of the Armed Forces who is 
     hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, 
     or treatment;
       ``(ii) the Secretary determines has a total disability 
     permanent in nature incurred or aggravated in the line of 
     duty in the active military, naval, or air service; and
       ``(iii) is likely to be discharged or released from such 
     service for such disability.''; and
       (8) by striking ``arising out of'' and all that follows 
     through the end.
       (b) Conforming Amendments to Chapter 35.--Chapter 35 of 
     such title is further amended as follows:
       (1) Section 3501(a) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(12) The term `qualifying service' means service in the 
     active military, naval, or air service after the beginning of 
     the Spanish-American War that did not terminate under 
     dishonorable conditions.''.
       (2) Section 3511 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)(1)--
       (i) by striking ``Each eligible person'' and inserting the 
     following: ``Each eligible person, whether made eligible by 
     one or more of the provisions of section 3501(a)(1) of this 
     title,'';
       (ii) by striking ``a period'' and inserting ``an aggregate 
     period''; and
       (iii) by striking the second sentence;
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) in paragraph (2)--

       (I) by striking ``the provisions of section 
     3501(a)(1)(A)(iii) or'' and inserting ``section''; and
       (II) by striking ``or'' at the end;

       (ii) in paragraph (3)--

       (I) by striking ``section 3501(a)(1)(D)'' and inserting 
     ``subparagraph (D) or (E) of section 3501(a)(1)''; and
       (II) by inserting ``or'' after the comma at the end; and

       (iii) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(4) the parent or spouse from whom such eligibility is 
     derived based upon subparagraph (E) of section 3501(a)(1) of 
     this title no longer meets a requirement under clause (i), 
     (ii), or (iii) of that subparagraph,''; and
       (C) by striking subsection (c).
       (3) Section 3512 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) by striking ``an eligible person (within the meaning of 
     section 3501(a)(1)(A) of this title)'' and inserting ``an 
     eligible person whose eligibility is based on the death or 
     disability of a parent or on a parent being listed in one of 
     the categories referred to in section 3501(a)(1)(C) of this 
     title''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (6), by striking ``the provisions of 
     section 3501(a)(1)(A)(iii)'' and inserting ``a parent being 
     listed in one of the categories referred to in section 
     3501(a)(1)(C)'';
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) in paragraph (1)(A)--

       (I) by inserting after ``section 3501(a)(1) of this title'' 
     the following: ``or a person made eligible by the disability 
     of a spouse under section 3501(a)(1)(E) of this title''; and
       (II) by striking ``or 3501(a)(1)(D)(ii) of this title'' and 
     inserting ``3501(a)(1)(D)(ii), or 3501(a)(1)(E) of this 
     title'';

       (ii) in paragraph (1)(B), by adding at the end the 
     following new clause:
       ``(iii) The date on which the Secretary notifies the member 
     of the Armed Forces from whom eligibility is derived that the 
     member has a total disability permanent in nature incurred or 
     aggravated in the line of duty in

[[Page H8824]]

     the active military, naval, or air service.''; and
       (iii) in paragraph (2)--

       (I) by striking ``or (D) of this title'' and inserting 
     ``(D), or (E) of this title''; and
       (II) by inserting ``whose eligibility is based on the death 
     or disability of a spouse or on a spouse being listed in one 
     of the categories referred to in section 3501(a)(1)(C) of 
     this title'' after ``of this title)'';

       (C) in subsection (d), by striking ``veteran'' and 
     inserting ``person''; and
       (D) in subsection (e)--
       (i) by inserting ``based on a spouse being listed in one of 
     the categories referred to in section 3501(a)(1)(C) of this 
     title'' after ``of this title'';
       (ii) by inserting ``so'' after ``the spouse was''; and
       (iii) by striking ``by the Secretary'' and all that follows 
     through ``occurs''.
       (4) Section 3540 is amended by striking ``(as defined in 
     subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) of section 3501(a)(1) of this 
     title)'' and inserting ``(other than a person made eligible 
     under subparagraph (C) of such section by reason of a spouse 
     being listed in one of the categories referred to in that 
     subparagraph)''.
       (5) Section 3563 is amended by striking ``each eligible 
     person defined in section 3501(a)(1)(A) of this title'' and 
     inserting ``each eligible person whose eligibility is based 
     on the death or disability of a parent or on a parent being 
     listed in one of the categories referred to in section 
     3501(a)(1)(C) of this title''.
       (c) Other Conforming Amendments.--Such title is further 
     amended as follows:
       (1) Sections 3686(a)(1) is amended by striking ``or (D)'' 
     and inserting ``(D), or (E)''.
       (2) Section 5113(b)(3) is amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``section 3501(a)(1)'' 
     and all that follows through the end and inserting the 
     following: ``subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), and (E) of section 
     3501(a)(1) of this title.''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (C)--
       (i) by striking ``such veteran's death'' and inserting 
     ``the death of the person from whom such eligibility is 
     derived''; and
       (ii) by striking ``such veteran's service-connected total 
     disability permanent in nature'' and inserting ``the service-
     connected total disability permanent in nature (or, in the 
     case of a person made eligible under section 3501(a)(1)(E), 
     the total disability permanent in nature incurred or 
     aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, 
     or air service) of the person from whom such eligibility is 
     derived''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to a payment of educational 
     assistance for a course of education pursued after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 4. DEADLINE AND PERMANENT REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Deadline for Report.--Not later than six months after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall each 
     submit to Congress a report containing the information 
     specified in subsections (b) and (c) of section 3036 of title 
     38, United States Code.
       (b) Repeal of Termination.--Section 3036 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (d).

     SEC. 5. REAUTHORIZATION OF BIENNIAL REPORT OF ADVISORY 
                   COMMITTEE ON WOMEN VETERANS.

        Section 542(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``2004'' and inserting ``2008''.

     SEC. 6. PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CLINICAL 
                   CENTERS AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CENTERS OF 
                   EXCELLENCE.

       (a) Requirement for Establishment of Centers.--
       (1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new sections:

     ``Sec. 7329. Parkinson's Disease research, education, and 
       clinical centers

       ``(a) Establishment of Centers.--(1) The Secretary, upon 
     the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, shall 
     designate not less than six Department health-care facilities 
     as the locations for centers of Parkinson's Disease research, 
     education, and clinical activities.
       ``(2) Subject to the appropriation of sufficient funds for 
     such purpose, the Secretary shall establish and operate 
     centers of Parkinson's Disease research, education, and 
     clinical activities at the locations designated pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) for such centers.
       ``(b) Criteria for Designation of Facilities.--(1) In 
     designating Department health-care facilities for centers 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary, upon the recommendation 
     of the Under Secretary for Health, shall assure appropriate 
     geographic distribution of such facilities.
       ``(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Secretary 
     shall designate as the location for a center of Parkinson's 
     Disease research, education, and clinical activities pursuant 
     to subsection (a)(1) each Department health-care facility 
     that as of January 1, 2005, was operating a Parkinson's 
     Disease research, education, and clinical center.
       ``(3) The Secretary may not under subsection (a) designate 
     a facility described in paragraph (2) if (on the 
     recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health) the 
     Secretary determines that such facility--
       ``(A) does not meet the requirements of subsection (c); or
       ``(B) has not demonstrated--
       ``(i) effectiveness in carrying out the established 
     purposes of such center; or
       ``(ii) the potential to carry out such purposes effectively 
     in the reasonably foreseeable future.
       ``(c) Requirements for Designation.--(1) The Secretary may 
     not designate a Department health-care facility as a location 
     for a center under subsection (a) unless the peer review 
     panel established under subsection (d) has determined under 
     that subsection that the proposal submitted by such facility 
     as a location for a new center under subsection (a) is among 
     those proposals that meet the highest competitive standards 
     of scientific and clinical merit.
       ``(2) The Secretary may not designate a Department health-
     care facility as a location for a center under subsection (a) 
     unless the Secretary (upon the recommendation of the Under 
     Secretary for Health) determines that the facility has (or 
     may reasonably be anticipated to develop) each of the 
     following:
       ``(A) An arrangement with an accredited medical school that 
     provides education and training in neurology and with which 
     the Department health-care facility is affiliated under which 
     residents receive education and training in innovative 
     diagnosis and treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases 
     and movement disorders, including Parkinson's Disease.
       ``(B) The ability to attract the participation of 
     scientists who are capable of ingenuity and creativity in 
     health-care research efforts.
       ``(C) An advisory committee composed of veterans and 
     appropriate health-care and research representatives of the 
     Department health-care facility and of the affiliated school 
     or schools to advise the directors of such facility and such 
     center on policy matters pertaining to the activities of the 
     center during the period of the operation of such center.
       ``(D) The capability to conduct effectively evaluations of 
     the activities of such center.
       ``(E) The capability to coordinate (as part of an 
     integrated national system) education, clinical, and research 
     activities within all facilities with such centers.
       ``(F) The capability to jointly develop a consortium of 
     providers with interest in treating neurodegenerative 
     diseases, including Parkinson's Disease and other movement 
     disorders, at facilities without such centers in order to 
     ensure better access to state-of-the-art diagnosis, care, and 
     education for neurodegenerative disorders throughout the 
     health care system of the Department.
       ``(G) The capability to develop a national repository in 
     the health care system of the Department for the collection 
     of data on health services delivered to veterans seeking care 
     for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's 
     Disease, and other movement disorders.
       ``(d) Peer Review Panel.--(1) The Under Secretary for 
     Health shall establish a panel to assess the scientific and 
     clinical merit of proposals that are submitted to the 
     Secretary for the establishment of centers under this 
     section.
       ``(2)(A) The membership of the panel shall consist of 
     experts in neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's 
     Disease, and other movement disorders.
       ``(B) Members of the panel shall serve for a period of no 
     longer than two years, except as specified in subparagraph 
     (C).
       ``(C) Of the members first appointed to the panel, one half 
     shall be appointed for a period of three years and one half 
     shall be appointed for a period of two years, as designated 
     by the Under Secretary at the time of appointment.
       ``(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted to the 
     panel by the Under Secretary and shall submit its views on 
     the relative scientific and clinical merit of each such 
     proposal to the Under Secretary.
       ``(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal 
     Advisory Committee Act.
       ``(e) Priority of Funding.--Before providing funds for the 
     operation of a center designated under subsection (a) at a 
     Department health-care facility other than at a facility 
     designated pursuant to subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall 
     ensure that each Parkinson's Disease center at a facility 
     designated pursuant to subsection (b)(2) is receiving 
     adequate funding to enable that center to function 
     effectively in the areas of Parkinson's Disease research, 
     education, and clinical activities.
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary 
     for the support of the research and education activities of 
     the centers established pursuant to subsection (a). The Under 
     Secretary for Health shall allocate to such centers from 
     other funds appropriated generally for the Department medical 
     services account and medical and prosthetics research 
     account, as appropriate, such amounts as the Under Secretary 
     for Health determines appropriate.
       ``(g) Award Competitions.--Activities of clinical and 
     scientific investigation at each center established under 
     subsection (a) shall be eligible to compete for the award of 
     funding from funds appropriated for the Department medical 
     and prosthetics research account. Such activities shall 
     receive priority in the award of funding from such account 
     insofar as funds are awarded to projects for research in 
     Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders.

[[Page H8825]]

     ``Sec. 7330. Multiple sclerosis centers of excellence

       ``(a) Establishment of Centers.--(1) The Secretary, upon 
     the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, shall 
     designate not less than two Department health-care facilities 
     as the locations for multiple sclerosis centers of 
     excellence.
       ``(2) Subject to the appropriation of sufficient funds for 
     such purpose, the Secretary shall establish and operate 
     multiple sclerosis centers of excellence at the locations 
     designated pursuant to paragraph (1) for such centers.
       ``(b) Criteria for Designation of Facilities.--(1) In 
     designating Department health-care facilities for centers 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary, upon the recommendation 
     of the Under Secretary for Health, shall assure appropriate 
     geographic distribution of such facilities.
       ``(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Secretary 
     shall designate as the location for a multiple sclerosis 
     center of excellence pursuant to subsection (a)(1) each 
     Department health-care facility that as of January 1, 2005, 
     was operating a multiple sclerosis center of excellence.
       ``(3) The Secretary may not under subsection (a) designate 
     a facility described in paragraph (2) if (on the 
     recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health) the 
     Secretary determines that such facility--
       ``(A) does not meet the requirements of subsection (c); or
       ``(B) has not demonstrated--
       ``(i) effectiveness in carrying out the established 
     purposes of such center; or
       ``(ii) the potential to carry out such purposes effectively 
     in the reasonably foreseeable future.
       ``(c) Requirements for Designation.--(1) The Secretary may 
     not designate a Department health-care facility as a location 
     for a center under subsection (a) unless the peer review 
     panel established under subsection (d) has determined under 
     that subsection that the proposal submitted by such facility 
     as a location for a new center under subsection (a) is among 
     those proposals that meet the highest competitive standards 
     of scientific and clinical merit.
       ``(2) The Secretary may not designate a Department health-
     care facility as a location for a center under subsection (a) 
     unless the Secretary (upon the recommendation of the Under 
     Secretary for Health) determines that the facility has (or 
     may reasonably be anticipated to develop) each of the 
     following:
       ``(A) An arrangement with an accredited medical school that 
     provides education and training in neurology and with which 
     the Department health-care facility is affiliated under which 
     residents receive education and training in innovative 
     diagnosis and treatment of chronic neurodegenerative 
     diseases, including multiple sclerosis.
       ``(B) The ability to attract the participation of 
     scientists who are capable of ingenuity and creativity in 
     health-care research efforts.
       ``(C) An advisory committee composed of veterans and 
     appropriate health-care and research representatives of the 
     Department health-care facility and of the affiliated school 
     or schools to advise the directors of such facility and such 
     center on policy matters pertaining to the activities of the 
     center during the period of the operation of such center.
       ``(D) The capability to conduct effectively evaluations of 
     the activities of such center.
       ``(E) The capability to coordinate (as part of an 
     integrated national system) education, clinical, and research 
     activities within all facilities with such centers.
       ``(F) The capability to jointly develop a consortium of 
     providers with interest in treating multiple sclerosis at 
     facilities without such centers in order to ensure better 
     access to state-of-the-art diagnosis, care, and education for 
     autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system 
     throughout the health care system of the Department.
       ``(G) The capability to develop a national repository in 
     the health care system of the Department for the collection 
     of data on health services delivered to veterans seeking care 
     for autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
       ``(d) Peer Review Panel.--(1) The Under Secretary for 
     Health shall establish a panel to assess the scientific and 
     clinical merit of proposals that are submitted to the 
     Secretary for the establishment of centers under this 
     section.
       ``(2)(A) The membership of the panel shall consist of 
     experts in autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous 
     system.
       ``(B) Members of the panel shall serve for a period of no 
     longer than two years, except as specified in subparagraph 
     (C).
       ``(C) Of the members first appointed to the panel, one half 
     shall be appointed for a period of three years and one half 
     shall be appointed for a period of two years, as designated 
     by the Under Secretary at the time of appointment.
       ``(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted to the 
     panel by the Under Secretary and shall submit its views on 
     the relative scientific and clinical merit of each such 
     proposal to the Under Secretary.
       ``(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal 
     Advisory Committee Act.
       ``(e) Priority of Funding.--Before providing funds for the 
     operation of a center designated under subsection (a) at a 
     Department health-care facility other than at a facility 
     designated pursuant to subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall 
     ensure that each multiple sclerosis center at a facility 
     designated pursuant to subsection (b)(2) is receiving 
     adequate funding to enable that center to function 
     effectively in the areas of multiple sclerosis research, 
     education, and clinical activities.
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary 
     for the support of the research and education activities of 
     the centers established pursuant to subsection (a). The Under 
     Secretary for Health shall allocate to such centers from 
     other funds appropriated generally for the Department medical 
     services account and medical and prosthetics research 
     account, as appropriate, such amounts as the Under Secretary 
     for Health determines appropriate.
       ``(g) Award Competitions.--Activities of clinical and 
     scientific investigation at each center established under 
     subsection (a) shall be eligible to compete for the award of 
     funding from funds appropriated for the Department medical 
     and prosthetics research account. Such activities shall 
     receive priority in the award of funding from such account 
     insofar as funds are awarded to projects for research in 
     multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative disorders.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 7328 the following new items:

``7329. Parkinson's Disease research, education, and clinical centers.
``7330. Multiple sclerosis centers of excellence.''.

       (b) Effective Date.--Section 7329 and 7330 of title 38, 
     United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take 
     effect at the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES.

       (a) Fiscal Year 2006 Leases.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may carry out the following major medical facility 
     leases in fiscal year 2006 at the locations specified, in an 
     amount for each lease not to exceed the amount specified for 
     that location:
       (1) For an outpatient clinic, Baltimore, Maryland, 
     $10,908,000.
       (2) For an outpatient clinic, Evansville, Indiana, 
     $8,989,000.
       (3) For an outpatient clinic, Smith County, Texas, 
     $5,093,000.
       (b) Fiscal Year 2007 Leases.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may carry out the following major medical facility 
     leases in fiscal year 2007 at the locations specified, in an 
     amount for each lease not to exceed the amount specified for 
     that location:
       (1) For an outpatient and specialty care clinic, Austin, 
     Texas, $6,163,000.
       (2) For an outpatient clinic, Lowell, Massachusetts, 
     $2,520,000.
       (3) For an outpatient clinic, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 
     $4,409,000.
       (4) For up to four outpatient clinics, Las Vegas, Nevada, 
     $8,518,000.
       (5) For an outpatient clinic, Parma, Ohio, $5,032,000.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations for Major Medical 
     Facility Leases.--
       (1) Fiscal year 2006 leases.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 
     year 2006 for the Medical Care account, $24,990,000 for the 
     leases authorized in subsection (a).
       (2) Fiscal year 2007 leases.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 
     year 2007 for the Medical Care account, $26,642,000 for the 
     leases authorized in subsection (b).

     SEC. 8. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Title 38, United States Code.--Title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Citation correction.--Section 1718(c)(2) is amended by 
     inserting ``of 1938'' after ``Act''.
       (2) Citation correction.--Section 1785(b)(1) is amended by 
     striking ``Robert B.'' and inserting ``Robert T.''.
       (3) Punctuation correction.--Section 2002(1) is amended by 
     inserting a closing parenthesis before the period at the end.
       (4) Punctuation correction.--Section 2011(a)(1)(C) is 
     amended by inserting a period at the end.
       (5) Cross reference correction.--Section 2041(a)(3)(A)(i) 
     is amended by striking ``under this chapter'' and inserting 
     ``established under section 3722 of this title''.
       (6) Citation correction.--Section 8111(b)(1) is amended by 
     striking ``into the strategic'' and all that follows through 
     ``and Results Act of 1993'' and inserting ``into the 
     strategic plan of each Department under section 306 of title 
     5 and the performance plan of each Department under section 
     1115 of title 31''.
       (7) Repeal of obsolete text.--Section 8111 is further 
     amended--
       (A) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``effective October 
     1, 2003,''; and
       (B) in subsection (e)(2)--
       (i) in the second sentence, by striking ``shall be 
     implemented no later than October 1, 2003, and''; and
       (ii) in the third sentence, by striking ``, following 
     implementation of the schedule,''.
       (8) Citation correction.--Section 8111A(a)(2)(B)(i) is 
     amended by striking ``Robert B.'' and inserting ``Robert 
     T.''.
       (b) Public Law 107-296.--Effective as of November 25, 2002, 
     section 1704(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public 
     Law 107-296; 116 Stat. 2315) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``101(25)(d)'' and inserting 
     ``101(25)(D)''; and
       (2) by striking ``3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(II)'' and inserting 
     ``3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(III)''.

[[Page H8826]]

     SEC. 9. CODIFICATION OF COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT PROVIDED IN 
                   PUBLIC LAW 109-361.

       (a) Veterans' Disability Compensation.--Section 1114 of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$112'' and inserting 
     ``$115'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$218'' and inserting 
     ``$225'';
       (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$337'' and inserting 
     ``$348'';
       (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``$485'' and inserting 
     ``$501'';
       (5) in subsection (e), by striking ``$690'' and inserting 
     ``$712'';
       (6) in subsection (f), by striking ``$873'' and inserting 
     ``$901'';
       (7) in subsection (g), by striking ``$1,099'' and inserting 
     ``$1,135'';
       (8) in subsection (h), by striking ``$1,277'' and inserting 
     ``$1,319'';
       (9) in subsection (i), by striking ``$1,436'' and inserting 
     ``$1,483'';
       (10) in subsection (j), by striking ``$2,393'' and 
     inserting ``$2,471'';
       (11) in subsection (k)--
       (A) by striking ``$87'' both places it appears and 
     inserting ``$89''; and
       (B) by striking ``$2,977'' and ``$4,176'' and inserting 
     ``$3,075'' and ``$4,313'', respectively;
       (12) in subsection (l), by striking ``$2,977'' and 
     inserting ``$3,075'';
       (13) in subsection (m), by striking ``$3,284'' and 
     inserting ``$3,392'';
       (14) in subsection (n), by striking ``$3,737'' and 
     inserting ``$3,860'';
       (15) in subsections (o) and (p), by striking ``$4,176'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``$4,313'';
       (16) in subsection (r)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$1,792'' and inserting 
     ``$1,851''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2,669'' and inserting 
     ``$2,757''; and
       (17) in subsection (s), by striking ``$2,678'' and 
     inserting ``$2,766''.
       (b) Additional Compensation for Dependents.--Section 
     1115(1) of such title is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$135'' and inserting 
     ``$139'';
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$233'' and ``$68'' 
     and inserting ``$240'' and ``$70'', respectively;
       (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``$91'' and ``$68'' 
     and inserting ``$94'' and ``$70'', respectively;
       (4) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``$109'' and inserting 
     ``$112'';
       (5) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``$257'' and inserting 
     ``$265''; and
       (6) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``$215'' and inserting 
     ``$222''.
       (c) Clothing Allowance for Certain Disabled Veterans.--
     Section 1162 of such title is amended by striking ``$641'' 
     and inserting ``$662''.
       (d) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Surviving 
     Spouses.--
       (1) New law dic.--Subsection (a) of section 1311 of such 
     title is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$1,033'' and inserting 
     ``$1,067''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$221'' and inserting 
     ``$228''.
       (2) Old law dic.--The table in paragraph (3) of such 
     subsection is amended to read as follows:


 
                                Monthly
         ``Pay grade             rate       Pay grade      Monthly rate
 
E-1..........................  $1,067    W-4............          $1,276
E-2..........................  $1,067    O-1............          $1,128
E-3..........................  $1,067    O-2............          $1,165
E-4..........................  $1,067    O-3............          $1,246
E-5..........................  $1,067    O-4............          $1,319
E-6..........................  $1,067    O-5............          $1,452
E-7..........................  $1,104    O-6............          $1,637
E-8..........................  $1,165    O-7............          $1,768
E-9..........................  $1,2151   O-8............          $1,941
W-1..........................  $1,128    O-9............          $2,076
W-2..........................  $1,172    O-10...........        2 $2,276
W-3..........................  $1,207    ...............  ..............
 
1 If the veteran served as Sergeant Major of the Army, Senior Enlisted
  Advisor of the Navy, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Sergeant
  Major of the Marine Corps, or Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast
  Guard, at the applicable time designated by section 1302 of this
  title, the surviving spouse's rate shall be $1,312.
2 If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
  of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief
  of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or
  Commandant of the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by
  section 1302 of this title, the surviving spouse's rate shall be
  $2,443.''.

       (3) Additional dic for children or disability.--Such 
     section is further amended--
       (A) in subsection (b), by striking ``$257'' and inserting 
     ``$265'';
       (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``$257'' and inserting 
     ``$265''; and
       (C) in subsection (d), by striking ``$122'' and inserting 
     ``$126''.
       (e) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Children.--
       (1) DIC when no surviving spouse.--Section 1313(a) of such 
     title is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$438'' and inserting 
     ``$452'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$629'' and inserting 
     ``$649'';
       (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$819'' and inserting 
     ``$846''; and
       (D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``$819'' and ``$157'' and 
     inserting ``$846'' and ``$162'', respectively.
       (2) Supplemental dic for certain children.--Section 1314 of 
     such title is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``$257'' and inserting 
     ``$265'';
       (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``$438'' and inserting 
     ``$452''; and
       (C) in subsection (c), by striking ``$218'' and inserting 
     ``$225''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Brown) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Filner) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise to urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 6342, 
the Veterans Programs Extension Act of 2006, a bill that would extend 
several existing Department of Veterans Affairs benefit provisions. 
This bill has similar provisions as passed by the House of 
Representatives in H.R. 6314 on November 14, 2006, but also has 
additional provisions negotiated between the House and the Senate.
  As in H.R. 6314, the bill would reauthorize health care services for 
veterans exposed to chemical and biological testings under Project 112 
and SHAD, and extends treatment and rehabilitation programs for 
seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans until December 31, 2007. 
The bill also extends VA grants and per diem programs for homeless 
veterans until September 30, 2007. Further, it would extend until 
December 31, 2007 VA's Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans, and a 
program to provide government markers for veterans interred in private 
cemeteries.
  The expiring authority allowing veterans in the VA study program to 
assist VA and other government agencies would be extended until June 
30, 2007. The work-study program is an increasingly popular benefit 
that provides veterans with an alternative use of their GI bill if they 
choose not to go to college.
  Mr. Speaker, section 3 of the legislation contains provisions to 
authorize VA to provide educational benefits under chapter 35 to 
spouses and dependent children of severely injured servicemembers prior 
to the member's discharge. These are servicemembers who, in the opinion 
of the VA, will most likely be discharged with permanent and total 
service-connected disabilities. Given the long convalescence many of 
our severely injured servicemembers experience while being retained on 
active duty, we believe it makes no sense to delay a spouse's ability 
to get the education and training that may be needed to help support 
the family. Mr. Speaker, these spouses are just as heroic as the 
wounded warriors they support. This is not a new benefit. Current law 
requires severely injured servicemembers to already be discharged from 
the condition qualified for the chapter 35 benefit; we would merely 
authorize VA to pay benefits sooner to those who would qualify 
following discharge.
  Mr. Speaker, the following provisions are in addition to those in 
H.R. 6314. The bill would reauthorize the requirements of the Secretary 
of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to each submit a 
report to Congress on use of educational assistance programs by 
veterans and servicemembers. It would also reauthorize the biennial 
report on women veterans. The bill would permanently authorize six 
Parkinson's disease research education and clinical centers. 
Parkinson's disease affects as many as 1.5 million Americans. While 
treatment exists, we are still searching for a cure. Currently, VA has 
six of these centers. They give researchers the ability to see results 
rapidly and put their knowledge to use helping patients. These centers 
work with other VA clinical centers in the treatment of tens of 
thousands of veterans with Parkinson's disease. This language was 
included in H.R. 1220, as amended, which passed the House of 
Representatives on July 13, 2005.
  In addition, the bill also codifies two existing multiple sclerosis 
centers. The bill also would authorize major medical facility leases 
similar to H.R. 5815 which passed the House on September 16, 2006.
  Finally, the bill makes technical and clerical amendments to title 
38, and codifies the payment amount of the already enacted Veterans 
Disability Compensation COLA.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H8827]]

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I am also pleased to rise in support of H.R. 6342, which would, as we 
have heard from Chairman Brown, extend expired and expiring 
authorizations for Department of Veterans Affairs programs, expand 
eligibility for survivor and dependent educational assistance, and 
authorize leases for VA medical facilities. This bill will permanently 
establish Parkinson's Disease research, education, and clinical care 
centers, as well as multiple sclerosis centers of excellence.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record letters of support for this 
bill from the Parkinson's Action Network, American Academy of 
Neurology, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Paralyzed 
Veterans of America.

                                                 December 5, 2006.
     Hon. Steve Buyer,
     Chairman, Veterans' Affairs Committee, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Lane Evans,
     Ranking Member, Veterans' Affairs Committee, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Buyer and Ranking Member Evans: On behalf of 
     American veterans and all those who struggle with the effects 
     of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease (PD), we 
     appreciate your strong leadership in protecting the Veterans 
     Affairs Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excel1ence (MSCoE) and 
     Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers 
     (PADRECCs). We commend you for working to enact legislation 
     that will formally establish the MSCoEs and PADRECCs for the 
     first time in statute. We believe that this bill must be 
     enacted to ensure that the PADRECCs and MSCoEs will continue 
     providing valuable services to veteran patients, family 
     members, and the entire Parkinson's disease and MS 
     communities.
       Significant contributions have been made by the Centers in 
     research, education, and clinical care that benefit all 
     Americans impacted by PD and MS. The MSCoEs and PADRECCs 
     support a range of programs including state-of-the-art 
     clinical care, basic research into the causes of disease, 
     clinical research into better treatments, behavioral research 
     about effective education strategies for MS and Parkinson's 
     patients and providers, and population level research into 
     the needs of patients and the effectiveness of the care 
     delivery system.
       Our organizations have recognized the record of leadership 
     that has been provided by the PADRECCs and MSCoE in the fight 
     against Parkinson's and MS. Approximately 25,000 veterans 
     have MS and require specialized care that is best provided by 
     having leaders in the field directing that care at a national 
     level. In addition, through the six PADRECCs and the National 
     VA Parkinson's Disease Consortium, the VA is able to treat 
     more than 79,000 veterans with Parkinson's disease. The 
     efforts of these Centers are the model of innovation in the 
     delivery of health care and research for progressive disease 
     in the veteran population.
       We appreciate your efforts to ensure that the Veterans 
     Programs Extension Act of 2006 (H.R. 6342) will be voted on 
     by both the House of Representatives and Senate before 
     Congress adjourns in December. We look forward to enactment 
     of this bill that is so important to all those who struggle 
     with the devastating effects of MS and Parkinson's disease, 
     many of whom are American veterans.
       Thank you for recognizing the benefits provided to veterans 
     fighting Parkinson's disease and MS through the VA PADRECCs 
     and MSCoEs. We appreciate your efforts to ensure the highest 
     level of care and hopeful research for our returning 
     veterans.
     Amy C. Comstock,
       Chief Executive Officer, Parkinson's Action Network.
     Joyce Nelson,
       President and CEO, National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
     Thomas R. Swift, MD, FAAN,
       President, American Academy of Neurology.
     Carl Blake,
       Acting National Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of 
     America.

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Buyer), the chairman of our committee, and our colleagues in the 
Senate, Chairman Craig and Ranking Member Akaka, for coming together to 
craft this bill that will pass both Chambers before we recess.
  As this may be our last bill of this term in Congress in the Veterans 
Committee, I want to say a special thank-you to Ranking Member Lane 
Evans for his work on behalf of veterans. As we all know, he is 
retiring at the end of this session, but for more than two decades here 
in Congress he has been a tenacious and indispensable voice for our 
Nation's veterans. He has championed the needs of veterans exposed to 
Agent Orange, homeless veterans, veterans who return from war with 
post-traumatic stress disorder, and he has helped untold number of 
veterans. He will be missed by all of us as we move into the next 
session of Congress.
  As we have heard, this bill before us today permanently establishes 
VA's Parkinson's Disease Centers and VA's Multiple Sclerosis Centers of 
Excellence. The work of these centers has benefited more than 80,000 
veterans across our Nation. I am proud that the VA medical facility in 
San Diego, which I represent, is affiliated with the VA's Southwestern 
Parkinson's Research Center in Los Angeles. Not only do these centers 
conduct groundbreaking research, they also advance the State's clinical 
and rehabilitative care. The innovations and rehabilitation designed 
for veterans who are battling chronic disorders may also yield gains 
and care for veterans with traumatic brain injury. The good work of 
these centers must continue. Through this legislation we are sending a 
clear signal that the VA must continue to fund and support the clinical 
and the research work done at all the existing centers.
  In addition, this bill authorizes VA programs for homeless veterans 
and veterans who need mental health care. I am proud and I am also 
grateful that this legislation will help the families of these very 
severely wounded servicemembers by providing education benefits to 
eligible spouses and dependent children before these servicemembers are 
actually released from military service. The bill also gives urgently 
needed authorization for VA outpatient clinics across the Nation.
  The number of women veterans will increase in the coming years. 
Thirteen percent of the veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who have 
turned to VA for health care are women, and 11 percent of the troops 
deployed there are women. This bill makes sure that Congress receives 
the report and recommendations of the VA Advisory Committee on Women's 
Veterans which can help guide our actions and oversight of VA's 
capacity to address the unique needs of these veterans.
  I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge that we are ending this 
Congress, apparently, without passing a funding bill for the VA, as for 
much of the government. Yes, we will pass a continuing resolution to 
keep all the hospitals, regional offices, and other services operating, 
but we are shortchanging veterans, Mr. Speaker, by not passing the 
appropriations bill for the Veterans Administration. The delay in an 
increase in VA's funding for fiscal year 2007 means that the VA medical 
directors are forced to put on hold a whole variety of necessary 
expenditures, from the hiring of needed staff to care for our veterans, 
to the maintenance and repair of their buildings. As a result, veterans 
access to needed services suffers, and VA staff is stretched even more 
thin in providing quality care.
  This failure to pass a budget is a clear illustration of the need for 
mandatory or assured funding of VA health care, and for the past 14 
years I have been a firm supporter of this method of funding the VA. I 
agree with those veteran service organizations who have proposed that 
funding for veterans health care be mandatory. If we are unable to pass 
adequate and timely funding, timely funding, Mr. Speaker, to meet the 
health care of veterans, then we need to look seriously at alternate 
ways to ensure adequate funding for the health care of our veterans.
  Unfortunately, we have also not completed our work in authorizing 
needed veterans programs. We must honor our veterans and make sure that 
our recent veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan receive 
the benefits and services that they need to transition back to civilian 
life.
  For example, I think we owe it to our newest veterans to modernize 
the GI bill, especially including meaningful benefits for the Guard and 
Reserve units who have taken such a heavy load of the fighting in Iraq. 
We must increase VA's capacity to meet the rehabilitation and lifelong 
care needs of veterans with traumatic brain injury.
  While VA has a strong mental health care program, many of our 
returning veterans are falling through the

[[Page H8828]]

cracks, and we have gaps in those services. We must strengthen VA's 
capacity to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other 
mental health concerns. The recent GAO report, which found that the VA 
did not spend funds on promised mental health initiatives, raises 
serious questions about VA's lack of accountability, a lack of 
accountability that was not really looked into by the previous 
Congress. We must ensure that VA does not ignore gaps in its capacity 
to help veterans recover from psychological wounds.

                              {time}  1630

  As we work to address the emerging issues for veterans returning from 
Iraq and Afghanistan, we must also continue to press VA to meet the 
health care needs of veterans exposed to Agent Orange, atomic testing 
and veterans still struggling with a range of Gulf War illnesses.
  In addition, we must maintain keen oversight to ensure that the laws 
we have passed are yielding the outcomes Congress intended. We also 
must be vigilant to ensure that the vulnerabilities in VA information 
technology are addressed, and we will certainly continue this oversight 
in the next Congress.
  Today's bill keeps VA's homeless grant and per diem program 
authorized through the end of next year. This is a good program, but it 
only helps a fraction of the homeless veterans on the streets. We have 
already seen returning from Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who have 
become homeless, almost 600 of them. We must act to prevent and end 
homelessness for all veterans.
  In addition, many veterans are from small towns and rural areas. We 
must work to improve their access to VA care. In my district, most of 
the entire Imperial County can be classified as rural. There are no 
real services provided to them as they seek care. So we need to 
acknowledge some of these gaps, we need to acknowledge these problems, 
and try to address them in the next Congress.
  Finally, I would like to thank all of the staff of the VA Committee 
on both the Democratic and Republican sides for their diligence and 
dedication in serving our Nation's veterans. We appreciate their work. 
While we have a lot of work to do in the coming years, this is a good 
bill. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6342.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a product of negotiation between the 
House and Senate and includes several key provisions already passed by 
this body and agreed to by the other body.
  Mr. Speaker, Chairman Buyer asked me to share his appreciation for 
the hard work of the subcommittee chairmen, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Bilirakis, 
and Mr. Miller, and the ranking members of the committee, Ms. Herseth, 
Ms. Berkley, Mr. Michaud and Mr. Strickland during these negotiations 
and this Congress.
  Together we have forged a bipartisan path for veterans legislation 
and funding to provide our Nation's heroes with much-needed health care 
and benefits.
  I also want to recognize the leadership and cooperation of the acting 
ranking member, Mr. Filner, and of the ranking member Mr. Evans.
  Chairman Buyer also expressed his appreciation for the cooperation of 
Senator Craig and Senator Akaka, as well as the staff from the Senate 
and the House Committees on Veterans' Affairs in drafting this 
legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to support passage of the bill before us and ask 
for it to be expedited as quickly as possible to the Senate for their 
consideration.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members be provided 5 days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H.R. 6342.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from South Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to Ms. 
Berkley, the fighting congresswoman for Nevada's veterans.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to add my thanks to 
Chairman Buyer, Ranking Member Evans, and of course Acting Ranking 
Member Filner for moving forward on this bill.
  This legislation would extend a number of important provisions that 
would otherwise expire. I want to particularly mention a provision in 
this legislation which extends through December 31, 2007, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs' authority to provide a grave marker or 
headstone when a veteran is buried in a marked grave. Veterans who 
served our Nation honorably should not lose their eligibility for 
recognition in death merely because the grave in which they are buried 
has a nonmilitary marker.
  I have a long record of interest in improving the burial benefits 
provided to our Nation's veterans, and this provision is certainly a 
step in the right direction. I join Chairman Miller in introducing 
legislation to extend this authorization. Although the VA and Members 
on both sides of the aisle support making the authorization permanent, 
the committee was not able to fund the cost of permanent authorization. 
I hope that we will be able to do so in the next Congress.
  I am pleased that the bill includes the provision championed by our 
retiring ranking member, Lane Evans, whom Mr. Filner spoke so glowingly 
of, which authorizes specialized VA facilities for research and 
treatment of Parkinson's disease. This issue is particularly important 
to all of us because it is of particular importance to Mr. Evans.
  Passage of these provisions will honor his long congressional service 
to our Nation's veterans. It is a lasting legacy to Mr. Evans and for 
those who suffer from the effects of Parkinson's disease.
  Veterans in my Las Vegas district benefit from the affiliation that 
Las Vegas VA facilities have with the Southwestern PADRECC, which 
provides treatment for Parkinson's disease and is located at the West 
Los Angeles VA Medical Center.
  This legislation also includes authorization for four clinics in Las 
Vegas which have leases that will soon expire. While I am pleased to 
see these leases renewed, and nobody knows better than Mr. Filner the 
needs of our veterans in the Las Vegas area that I represent, this bill 
was to contain a $406 million authorization for a new VA medical center 
in Las Vegas on which we broke ground in October. My veterans 
desperately need this facility. Las Vegas has the fastest growing 
veterans population in the United States but does not have a VA medical 
center or a hospital.
  At a time of war and when we are seeing new veterans returning home 
from Iraq and Afghanistan, there is simply no excuse for failing to 
reach an agreement on important veterans issues. I hope and I am 
cautiously optimistic that we will be able to pass a VA construction 
bill before we adjourn later this week.
  With that, I would like to thank Chairman Buyer again and the acting 
ranking member, Mr. Filner, for their extraordinary work on behalf of 
our veterans and urge passage of this legislation.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, before we adjourn, I hope we do authorize 
construction of that hospital in Las Vegas. If for some reason it 
doesn't happen, we will try to do it very quickly next year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from 
Maine (Mr. Michaud).
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me 
this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6342. I commend Chairman 
Buyer and the ranking member, Mr. Filner, and my colleagues on the 
committee and in the Senate for their work on this legislation. This 
bill does deserve bipartisan support.
  H.R. 6342 includes a number of must-pass provisions. It also improves 
education assistance for severely disabled service personnel. It is 
important that we do all that we can to help the individuals and their 
families to regain their independence and economic security.
  This legislation also puts VA specialized programs for homeless 
veterans on a more secure footing. I am proud that this Congress is 
acting to extend the

[[Page H8829]]

soon-to-expire authorization of VA's grants and per diem program for 
homeless veterans. Extending these authorizations until the end of 2007 
is an important step, but is not enough.
  Last year, VA's health care program for homeless veterans served 
nearly 600 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. It is shameful that any 
veteran spends a night on the street. We cannot leave those homeless 
veterans and those with psychiatric wounds behind.
  In this Congress, I introduced legislation to improve VA's capacity 
to help homeless veterans recover, rehabilitate and return to a full 
life in our society. I am glad that some of the key expiring provisions 
to help homeless veterans from my bill are in the legislation that we 
are considering now. I plan to reintroduce the bill in the next 
Congress to help homeless veterans, and I look forward to working with 
my colleagues to address this issue.
  It is right that we are permanently establishing the six VA 
Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Care Centers along 
with VA's two MS Centers of Excellence. These centers are shining 
examples of how VA could help veterans with other chronic and 
debilitating diseases and injuries, such as traumatic brain injury. 
These centers have led the way in state-of-the-art research and 
clinical care. This bill sends a clear message to VA to keep supporting 
the clinical, research and educational work of these centers.
  Today is a bittersweet day because it may mark the end of an era. 
This may be the last veterans bill that the House will consider which 
has Ranking Member Lane Evans as an original cosponsor. I know this 
will not be the last bill to reflect his advocacy and passion for 
veterans and their families. Lane has been a great leader and mentor to 
so many of us on the committee and in Congress. His legacy is measured 
in the millions of veterans and their families who have benefited from 
his determination, compassion, and wisdom. I will deeply miss him, and 
I know this institution will miss him as well.
  It is my understanding that there may be also an opportunity for an 
omnibus veterans package on the floor tomorrow. I am glad that we may 
be able to move more legislation before the end of year, but it is 
unfortunate that we have waited until the last days of Congress to pass 
these provisions.
  The fact remains as we come to an end of the 109th Congress, we must 
be honest with the American people: We have much more work to do. We 
have not yet passed a funding bill for VA. It is simply unacceptable 
for Congress to tell VA you need to put a hold on hiring needed staff 
because we cannot and will not pass a budget in a timely manner.
  It is troubling that some 73,000 of our returning veterans who have 
come home to VA for medical care have received an initial diagnosis of 
a mental health disorder, and I am concerned that VA appears to want to 
deny that its veterans centers and medical facilities are straining to 
meet the needs of these veterans. Many are calling traumatic brain 
injury the signature wound of this war. Veterans with TBI and their 
families deserve state-of-the-art care from the VA.
  For service members, the transition from the military's health care 
system to enrollment in the VA health care system is far from seamless. 
For many of our returning National Guard members and reservists, the 
Montgomery GI bill does not meet their needs. Education benefits of the 
GI bill must be revamped and updated to meet the needs of current 
veterans.
  All of these issues, and more, require greater oversight and perhaps 
legislative solutions for us in the next Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 
subcommittee chairmen that I have worked with for the last two 
Congresses, Chairman Henry Brown, for working in a bipartisan manner, 
but also the staff of both the Republican side and the Democratic side 
for all of their hard work in getting these pieces of legislation to 
the floor. I would also like to thank Chairman Buyer for all his work. 
I also want to thank Mr. Filner for his leadership on this legislation 
and the committee as well. I look forward to working with Mr. Filner in 
the 110th Congress on matters important to America's veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill and I urge my colleagues to support 
H.R. 6342.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Michaud, if I may, for 
his emphasis on homeless veterans. Almost a quarter million homeless on 
the streets tonight are veterans. That is a national disgrace. I look 
forward to working with all of you to solve that.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise as the Co-Chair of the 
Congressional Working Group on Parkinson's Disease in strong support of 
H.R. 6342, which will protect the Parkinson's Disease Research, 
Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs.)
  As a leader in the Parkinson's community, I commend the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs for working to enact legislation that will formally 
establish the PADRECCs for the first time in statute.
  Significant contributions have been made by the Centers in research, 
education, and clinical care that benefit all Americans impacted by 
Parkinson's disease.
  The PADRECCs have served to elevate the quality, comprehensiveness, 
and access of care for veteran patients with Parkinson's disease and 
related disorders throughout the Veterans Health Administration.
  Through the six regional centers spanning the country and the 
National VA Parkinson's Disease Consortium, the VA is able to treat 
more than 79,000 veterans with Parkinson's disease.
  The efforts of these Centers are the model of innovation in the 
delivery of health care and research for chronic, progressive disease 
in the veteran population.
  The Congressional Working Group on Parkinson's Disease learned 
earlier this year that the Centers' existence was in jeopardy--
seriously threatening the institutions' valuable research, education, 
and clinical care programs that benefit all Americans affected by 
Parkinson's disease.

  I believe that this bill must be enacted to ensure that the PADRECCs 
will continue providing valuable services to veteran patients, family 
members, and the entire Parkinson's disease community.
  The original bill to protect the PADRECCs was authored by my fellow 
Co-Chair of the Congressional Working Group on Parkinson's Disease and 
friend Congressman Lane Evans.
  As you may know, Congressman Evans helped to create the PADRECCs.
  By working with the former and current VA Administration, 
Representative Evans helped to establish these Centers that serve 
American veterans battling Parkinson's disease.
  As a former Marine, Ranking Member on the VA Committee, and person 
battling Parkinson's disease, Representative Lane Evans has a strong 
sense of mission about providing the highest standards of care for both 
constituencies. I commend the PADRECCs for doing just that.
  Mr. Speaker, as you know, our colleague Lane Evans is officially 
retiring from the House of Representatives at the conclusion of the 
109th Congress due to his struggle with Parkinson's disease.
  Congressman Evans has been a true champion of veterans and 
Parkinson's issues on Capitol Hill and great friend to both 
communities.

  As Representative Evans said in his retirement announcement, ``I 
believe strongly in serving people and working to make a positive 
difference in their lives.''
  This bill uniquely speaks to the significant contributions 
Representative Evans has made in the lives of more than one million 
Americans living with Parkinson's disease and more than 24.5 million 
American veterans.
  I urge my colleagues to honor Lane Evans and vote yes on this 
important bill.
  I look forward to enactment of this bill that is so important to all 
those who struggle with the devastating effects of Parkinson's disease.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6342.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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