[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7008-H7013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND LIVING PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2010

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5360) to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the 
standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for specially 
adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5360

       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 ``Housing, 
     Employment, and Living Programs for Veterans Act of 2010'' or 
     the ``HELP Veterans Act of 2010''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 3. Modification of standard of visual acuity required for 
              eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance 
              provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 4. Authorities regarding housing loans guaranteed by the 
              Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 5. Reauthorization and improvement of Department of Veterans 
              Affairs small business loan program.
Sec. 6. Assistance for flight training.
Sec. 7. Seven-year increase in amount of assistance for individuals 
              pursuing apprenticeships or on-job training.
Sec. 8. Extension of authority for certain qualifying work-study 
              activities for purposes of the educational assistance 
              programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 9. Expansion of work-study allowance to include certain outreach 
              services conducted through congressional offices.
Sec. 10. Temporary reduction of required amount of wages for on-the-job 
              training programs.

[[Page H7009]]

Sec. 11. Reauthorization of Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education.
Sec. 12. Homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children 
              reintegration grant program.
Sec. 13. Technology review and grant program.
Sec. 14. Child care; President's Budget.
Sec. 15. Increase in amount of reporting fee payable to educational 
              institutions that enroll veterans receiving educational 
              assistance.
Sec. 16. Modification of advance payment of initial educational 
              assistance or subsistence allowance.
Sec. 17. Increase in amount of subsistence allowance payable to 
              veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation 
              program.
Sec. 18. Expansion of availability of employment assistance allowance 
              for veterans using employment services.
Sec. 19. Promoting jobs for veterans teaching in rural areas.
Sec. 20. Promoting jobs for veterans through the establishment of an 
              internship program.
Sec. 21. Veterans entrepreneurial development summit.
Sec. 22. Increase in the maximum amount of specially adapted housing 
              assistance authorized to be provided by the Secretary of 
              Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 23. Department of Veterans Affairs housing loans for construction 
              of energy efficient dwellings.
Sec. 24. Pilot program on specially adapted housing assistance for 
              veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a 
              family member.
Sec. 25. Compliance with Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

       Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other provision, 
     the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 
     other provision of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF STANDARD OF VISUAL ACUITY REQUIRED 
                   FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
                   ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE SECRETARY OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Section 2101(b)(2)(A) is amended by 
     striking ``with 5/200'' and all that follows through the 
     period and inserting the following: ``with central visual 
     acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of 
     standard correcting lenses (for purposes of this 
     subparagraph, an eye which is accompanied by a limitation in 
     the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the 
     visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees 
     shall be treated as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 
     or less).''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to specially adapted housing 
     assistance provided on or after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORITIES REGARDING HOUSING LOANS GUARANTEED BY THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Covenants and Liens in Response to Disaster-relief 
     Assistance.--Paragraph (3) of section 3703(d) is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(3)(A) Any real estate housing loan (other than for 
     repairs, alterations, or improvements) shall be secured by a 
     first lien on the realty. In determining whether a loan is so 
     secured, the Secretary may either disregard or allow for 
     subordination to a superior lien that--
       ``(i) is created by a duly recorded covenant running with 
     the realty in favor of--
       ``(I) a public entity that provides assistance in response 
     to a major disaster as determined by the President under the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); or
       ``(II) a private entity to secure an obligation to such 
     entity for the homeowner's share of the costs of the 
     management, operation, or maintenance of property, services, 
     or programs within and for the benefit of the development or 
     community in which the veteran's realty is located; and
       ``(ii) the Secretary determines will not prejudice the 
     interests of the veteran borrower and of the Government by 
     the operation of such a covenant.
       ``(B) In respect to a superior lien described by 
     subparagraph (A) that is created after June 6, 1969, the 
     Secretary's determination must have been made prior to the 
     recordation of the covenant.''.
       (b) Extension of Authority to Pool Loans.--Paragraph (2) of 
     section 3720(h) is amended by striking ``2011'' and inserting 
     ``2016''.

     SEC. 5. REAUTHORIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM.

       (a) Reauthorization.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 37 is amended by striking section 
     3751.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by striking the item 
     relating to section 3751.
       (b) Expansion of Eligibility for Small Business Loans.--
     Chapter 37 is further amended--
       (1) in section 3741, by striking paragraph (2); and
       (2) in section 3742(a)(3)(A), by striking ``veterans of the 
     Vietnam era or''.
       (c) Repeal of Authority to Make Direct Loans.--Chapter 37, 
     as amended by subsections (a) and (b), is further amended--
       (1) in section 3742--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(A) loan guaranties, or 
     (B) direct loans'' and inserting ``loan guaranties''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``and that at least 
     51 percent of a business concern must be owned by disabled 
     veterans in order for such concern to qualify for a direct 
     loan'';
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs 
     (2) through (4) as paragraphs (1) through (3), respectively; 
     and
       (ii) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``make or'';
       (C) in subsection (c), by striking ``made or'';
       (D) in subsection (d)--
       (i) by striking paragraph (2);
       (ii) by striking ``(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) 
     of this subsection, the'' and inserting ``The''; and
       (iii) by striking ``make or''; and
       (E) in subsection (e)--
       (i) in paragraph (1)--

       (I) in the first sentence, by striking ``or, if the loan 
     was a direct loan made by the Secretary, may suspend such 
     obligation''; and
       (II) in the second sentence, by striking ``or while such 
     obligation is suspended'';

       (ii) by striking ``or suspend'' each place it appears;
       (iii) by striking ``or suspension'' each place it appears
       (iv) by striking ``or suspends'' each place it appears; and
       (v) in paragraph (4), by striking ``or suspended'' each 
     place it appears;
       (2) in section 3743--
       (A) by striking ``that is provided a direct loan under this 
     subchapter, or'';
       (B) by striking the comma between ``subchapter'' and 
     ``shall'';
       (C) by striking ``direct or''; and
       (D) by striking ``for the amount of such direct loan or, in 
     the case of a guaranteed loan,'';
       (3) in section 3745--
       (A) by striking ``(a)''; and
       (B) by striking subsection (b);
       (4) in section 3746, by striking ``made or'' both places it 
     appears; and
       (5) in section 3750, by striking ``made or''.
       (d) Authority to Enter Into a Contract.--Section 3742, as 
     amended by subsection (c), is further amended by adding at 
     the end the following new subsection:
       ``(f) The Secretary shall enter into a contract with an 
     appropriate entity for the purpose of carrying out the 
     program under this subchapter.''.
       (e) Funding.--Section 3742(b), as amended by subsection 
     (c), is further amended by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(4) The Secretary may only guarantee a loan under this 
     subchapter to the extent that a limitation commitment to 
     guarantee loans for a fiscal year has been provided in 
     advance in an appropriations Act.''.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--Section 3749 is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``Sec. 3749. Authorization of appropriations

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     subchapter such sums as may be necessary.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 37 is amended by striking the item 
     relating to section 3749 and inserting the following new 
     item:

``3749. Authorization of appropriations.''.

       (g) Loan Fee.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 37 is further amended by inserting 
     after section 3749 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 3749A. Loan Fee

       ``(a) Requirement of Fee.--(1) The Secretary shall collect 
     a fee from each veterans' small business concern obtaining a 
     loan guaranteed under this subchapter.
       ``(2) No loan may be guaranteed under this subchapter until 
     the fee payable under this section has been remitted to the 
     Secretary.
       ``(3) The fee may be included in the loan guaranteed under 
     this subchapter and paid from the proceeds thereof.
       ``(b) Determination of Fee.--The amount of the fee shall be 
     the full cost of the loan guarantee plus an additional amount 
     determined by the Secretary as sufficient to cover applicable 
     administrative expenses.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 3749 the following new item:

``3749A. Loan fee.''.

       (h) Definitions.--Section 3741 is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(2) The term `cost ' has the meaning given the term `cost 
     of a loan guarantee' within the meaning of section 502(5)(C) 
     of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 
     661a(5)(C)).
       ``(3) The term `guarantee'--
       ``(A) has the meaning given the term `loan guarantee' in 
     section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 
     U.S.C. 661a); and
       ``(B) includes a loan guarantee commitment (as defined in 
     section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 
     U.S.C. 661a)).
       ``(4) The term `obligation' means the loan or other debt 
     obligation that is guaranteed under this subchapter.''.

[[Page H7010]]

     SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE FOR FLIGHT TRAINING.

        Subsection (e)(1) of section 3032 is amended by striking 
     ``60 percent'' and inserting ``75 percent''.

     SEC. 7. SEVEN-YEAR INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FOR 
                   INDIVIDUALS PURSUING APPRENTICESHIPS OR ON-JOB 
                   TRAINING.

       During the seven-year period beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall apply--
       (1) section 3032(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by substituting ``80 percent'' for 
     ``75 percent'';
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by substituting ``60 percent'' for 
     ``55 percent''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (C), by substituting ``40 percent'' for 
     ``35 percent'';
       (2) section 3233(a) of such title--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by substituting ``80 percent'' for 
     ``75 percent'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by substituting ``60 percent'' for 
     ``55 percent''; and
       (C) in paragraph (3), by substituting ``40 percent'' for 
     ``35 percent'';
       (3) section 3687(b)(2) of such title--
       (A) by substituting ``$603'' for ``$574'';
       (B) by substituting ``$450'' for ``$429''; and
       (C) by substituting ``$299'' for ``$285''; and
       (4) section 16131(d)(1) of title 10, United States Code--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by substituting ``80 percent'' for 
     ``75 percent'';
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by substituting ``60 percent'' for 
     ``55 percent''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (C), by substituting ``40 percent'' for 
     ``35 percent''.

     SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN QUALIFYING WORK-
                   STUDY ACTIVITIES FOR PURPOSES OF THE 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       Paragraph (4) of section 3485(a) is amended by striking 
     ``June 30, 2010'' each place it appears and inserting ``June 
     30, 2020''.

     SEC. 9. EXPANSION OF WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE TO INCLUDE CERTAIN 
                   OUTREACH SERVICES CONDUCTED THROUGH 
                   CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES.

        Section 3485(a)(4) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subparagraph:
       ``(G) The following activities carried out at the offices 
     of Members of Congress for such Members:
       ``(i) The distribution of information to members of the 
     Armed Forces, veterans, and their dependents about the 
     benefits and services under laws administered by the 
     Secretary and other appropriate governmental and non-
     governmental programs.
       ``(ii) The provision of assistance in ascertaining the 
     status of claims (including appeals) for benefits under laws 
     administered by the Secretary, as well as other constituent 
     services for veterans as the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.''.

     SEC. 10. TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF REQUIRED AMOUNT OF WAGES FOR 
                   ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Reducing requirement.--Section 3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) is 
     amended by striking ``85 per centum'' and inserting ``60 
     percent''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 2010, and shall apply to a 
     veteran who enrolls in a program of training on the job 
     approved under section 3677 of title 38, United States Code, 
     on or after such date.
       (b) Sunset.--
       (1) Reversion.--Effective October 1, 2013, section 
     3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) of such title, as amended by subsection (a) 
     of this section, is amended by striking ``60 percent'' and 
     inserting ``85 percent''.
       (2) Application.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall 
     apply to a veteran who enrolls in a program of training on 
     the job approved under section 3677 of title 38, United 
     States Code, on or after October 1, 2013.
       (c) GAO Report.--Not later than October 1, 2013, the 
     Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate a report on the 
     effects of eliminating the requirement under section 
     3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) of title 38, United States Code, for a 
     private employer to provide wage increases to veterans 
     enrolled in a program of training on the job approved under 
     section 3677 of such title.

     SEC. 11. REAUTHORIZATION OF VETERANS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 
                   EDUCATION.

       Section 3692(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 
     2009'' and inserting ``December 31, 2020''.

     SEC. 12. HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS AND HOMELESS VETERANS WITH 
                   CHILDREN REINTEGRATION GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) Grant Program.--Chapter 20 is amended by inserting 
     after section 2021 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 2021A. Homeless women veterans and homeless veterans 
       with children reintegration grant program

       ``(a) Grants.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary of 
     Labor shall make grants to programs and facilities that the 
     Secretary determines provide dedicated services for homeless 
     women veterans and homeless veterans with children.
       ``(b) Use of Funds.--Grants under this section shall be 
     used to provide job training, counseling, placement services 
     (including job readiness and literacy and skills training) 
     and child care services to expedite the reintegration of 
     homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children 
     into the labor force.
       ``(c) Requirement To Monitor Expenditures of Funds.--(1) 
     The Secretary of Labor shall collect such information as that 
     Secretary considers appropriate to monitor and evaluate the 
     distribution and expenditure of funds appropriated to carry 
     out this section. The information shall include data with 
     respect to the results or outcomes of the services provided 
     to each homeless veteran under this section.
       ``(2) Information under paragraph (1) shall be furnished in 
     such form and manner as the Secretary of Labor may specify.
       ``(d)  Administration Through the Assistant Secretary of 
     Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training.--The Secretary 
     of Labor shall carry out this section through the Assistant 
     Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training.
       ``(e) Biennial Report to Congress.--The Secretary of Labor 
     shall include as part of the report required under section 
     2021(d) of this title an evaluation of the grant program 
     under this section, which shall include an evaluation of 
     services furnished to veterans under this section and an 
     analysis of the information collected under subsection (c).
       ``(f) Appropriated Funds.--(1) In addition to any amount 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 2021 of 
     this title, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
     out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 
     through 2016.
       ``(2) Funds appropriated to carry out this section shall 
     remain available until expended. Funds obligated in any 
     fiscal year to carry out this section may be expended in that 
     fiscal year and the succeeding fiscal year.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 2021 the following new item:

``2021A. Homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children 
              reintegration grant program.''.

     SEC. 13. TECHNOLOGY REVIEW AND GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) Review and Evaluation of New Technology.--The Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs shall establish a team of individuals 
     from appropriate disciplines to be responsible for reviewing 
     new technologies, processes, and products and for determining 
     which such technologies, processes, and products may be 
     beneficial to the Department of Veterans Affairs or to the 
     veterans served by the Department. Upon completion of the 
     review under this subsection, the team shall submit the 
     review to the Secretary, who shall disseminate the review 
     within the Department, as appropriate.
       (b) Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant 
     Program.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 21 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 2108. Specially adapted housing assistive technology 
       grant program

       ``(a) Authority to Make Grants.--The Secretary shall make 
     grants to encourage the development of new assistive 
     technologies for specially adapted housing.
       ``(b) Application.--A person or entity seeking a grant 
     under this section shall submit to the Secretary an 
     application for the grant in such form and manner as the 
     Secretary shall specify.
       ``(c) Grant Funds.--Each grant awarded under this section 
     shall be in an amount of not more than $250,000 per year.
       ``(d) Use of Funds.--The recipient of a grant under this 
     section shall use the grant to develop assistive technologies 
     for use in specially adapted housing.
       ``(e) Report.--Not later than March 1 of each year 
     following a year in which the Secretary makes a grant, the 
     Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing 
     information related to each grant awarded under this section 
     during the preceding calendar year, including--
       ``(1) the name of the grant recipient;
       ``(2) the amount of the grant; and
       ``(3) the goal of the grant.
       ``(f) Funding.--From amounts authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Department for each fiscal year for which the 
     Secretary is authorized to make a grant under this section, 
     $1,500,000 shall be available for that fiscal year for the 
     purposes of the program under this section.
       ``(g) Termination.--The authority to make a grant under 
     this section shall terminate on the date that is five years 
     after the date of the enactment of this section.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``2108. Specially adapted housing assistive technology grant 
              program.''.

       (3) Effective date.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall begin making grants under section 2108 of title 38, 
     United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), by not later 
     than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 14. CHILD CARE; PRESIDENT'S BUDGET.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 31 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new sections:

     ``Sec. 3123. Child care assistance for single parents

       ``(a) In General.--Pursuant to regulations prescribed by 
     the Secretary to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 
     provide reimbursements for the actual cost of child care 
     provided by a licensed provider to a veteran who--
       ``(1) is participating in a vocational rehabilitation 
     program under this chapter;

[[Page H7011]]

       ``(2) is the sole caretaker of a child; and
       ``(3) would not otherwise be able to afford such child 
     care.
       ``(b) Amount and Duration.--The amount of the reimbursement 
     for the actual cost for child care under this section shall 
     be not more than $2,000 per month for each month the veteran 
     is participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under 
     this chapter.

     ``Sec. 3124. Information included in support of President's 
       budget

       ``The Secretary shall include in documents submitted to 
     Congress by the Secretary in support of the President's 
     budget for each fiscal year submitted under section 1105 of 
     title 31, United States Code, the following:
       ``(1) For the calendar year preceding the submission--
       ``(A) the percentage of veterans receiving assistance under 
     this chapter who became employed; and
       ``(B) the percentage of veterans receiving assistance under 
     this chapter who achieved independence in daily living.
       ``(2) Any changes made by the Secretary in measuring or 
     calculating the performance of the department under this 
     chapter.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

``3123. Child care assistance for single parents.
``3124. Information included in support of President's budget.''.

     SEC. 15. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF REPORTING FEE PAYABLE TO 
                   EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ENROLL VETERANS 
                   RECEIVING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Increase in Amount of Fee.--Subsection (c) of section 
     3684 is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$7'' and inserting ``$16''; and
       (2) by striking ``$11'' and inserting ``$16''.
       (b) Technical Correction.--Subsection (a) of such section 
     is amended by striking the second comma after ``34''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall take effect on January 1, 2011.

     SEC. 16. MODIFICATION OF ADVANCE PAYMENT OF INITIAL 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE OR SUBSISTENCE 
                   ALLOWANCE.

       (a) Modification.--Section 3680(d)(2) is amended by 
     inserting after the third sentence the following new 
     sentence: ``For purposes of the entitlement to educational 
     assistance of the veteran or person receiving an advance 
     payment under this subsection, the advance payment shall be 
     charged against the final month of the entitlement of the 
     person or veteran and, if necessary, the penultimate such 
     month. In no event may any veteran or person receive more 
     than one advance payment under this subsection during any 
     academic year.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to an advance payment of educational 
     assistance made on or after January 1, 2011.

     SEC. 17. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE PAYABLE 
                   TO VETERANS PARTICIPATING IN VOCATIONAL 
                   REHABILITATION PROGRAM.

       (a) Increase in Subsistence Allowance.--Section 3108(b)(1) 
     is amended by striking the table and inserting the following 
     new table:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  ``Column  I                   Column  II    Column    Column  IV             Column V
-----------------------------------------------------------     III    -----------------------------------------
                                                           ------------
               Type of   program                    No          One         Two       More than  two dependents
                                                dependents   dependent  dependents
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                ..........  ..........  ..........  The amount in column IV,
                                                                                     plus the following for each
                                                                                     dependent in excess of two:
Full-time.....................................     $585.87     $726.72     $856.39  $62.42
Three-quarter time............................     $440.21     $545.83     $640.27  $48.00
Half-time.....................................     $294.55     $364.94     $428.98  $32.03''.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to a payment made for the third 
     month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and each subsequent month.

     SEC. 18. EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE 
                   ALLOWANCE FOR VETERANS USING EMPLOYMENT 
                   SERVICES.

       Paragraph (2) of section 3108(a) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(2) In the case of a veteran with a service-connected 
     disability who the Secretary determines has reached a point 
     of employability and who is participating only in a program 
     of employment services provided under section 3104(a)(5) of 
     this title, the Secretary shall pay the veteran a subsistence 
     allowance as prescribed in this section for three months 
     while the veteran is satisfactorily pursuing such program.''.

     SEC. 19. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS TEACHING IN RURAL AREAS.

       (a) In General.--Part III is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new chapter:

                     ``CHAPTER 44--VETERAN TEACHERS

``Sec.
``4401. Assistance allowance for rural veteran teachers.

     ``Sec. 4401. Assistance allowance for rural veteran teachers

       ``(a) Reducing Administrative Burden.--The Secretary may 
     pay to a rural veteran teacher a monthly assistance allowance 
     of $500.
       ``(b) Duration.--The aggregate period for which the 
     Secretary may pay a rural veteran teacher a monthly 
     assistance allowance under subsection (a) may not exceed 24 
     months.
       ``(c) Rural Veteran Teacher Defined.--In this section, the 
     term `rural veteran teacher' means a veteran who--
       ``(1) is discharged from service in the Armed Forces under 
     honorable conditions;
       ``(2) has not been employed as a teacher prior to receiving 
     assistance under this section;
       ``(3) is employed to teach full-time at an accredited 
     elementary or secondary school that is located in a rural 
     area (as determined by the Bureau of the Census); and
       ``(4) on the date on which the veteran applies for a 
     monthly assistance allowance under subsection (a), is 
     enrolled in a State-approved course leading to certification 
     as a teacher.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year thereafter.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendments.--The tables of chapters at the 
     beginning of title 38, United States Code, and of part III, 
     are each amended by inserting after the item relating to 
     chapter 43 the following new item:

``44. Assistance allowance for rural veteran teachers.......4401''.....

     SEC. 20. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 
                   ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 7 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 712. Internship program

       ``(a) Internship Program.--From amounts available in the 
     `General operating expenses' account of the Department, the 
     Secretary may carry out an internship program through which 
     the Secretary shall award internships to up to 2,000 veterans 
     each year in accordance with this section. The recipient of 
     an internship under this section shall be employed in the 
     Veterans Benefits Administration for the duration of the 
     internship.
       ``(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an internship 
     under this section a veteran shall have completed a 
     rehabilitation program under chapter 31 of this title. In 
     awarding internships under this section, the Secretary shall 
     give a preference to a veteran who has completed a program of 
     long-term education or training, as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(c) Salary; Benefits.--(1) Each recipient of an 
     internship under this section shall be paid at a rate 
     determined by the Secretary, except that such rate shall be 
     at least the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for 
     grade GS-3 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of 
     title 5, United States Code, and shall not exceed the maximum 
     annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS-5 of such 
     schedule. Payments under this paragraph shall be derived from 
     amounts available in the `General operating expenses' account 
     of the Department.
       ``(2) Each such recipient shall be entitled to leave on the 
     same basis as employees of the Department who are paid at the 
     same annual rate, except that such recipient may not be 
     reimbursed for any unused leave at the end of the internship.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall furnish hospital care, medical 
     services, and nursing home care to each recipient of an 
     internship under this section on the same basis as a veteran 
     described in subsection (B) of paragraph (2) of subsection 
     (a) of section 1710 of this title unless the recipient is 
     eligible for such care and services under subparagraph (A) of 
     such paragraph or under paragraph (1) of such subsection.
       ``(4) The recipient of an internship under this section may 
     receive an allowance under section 3108 of this title if such 
     recipient is entitled to such an allowance.
       ``(d) Duration.--No internship under this section shall 
     exceed 12 months in duration.
       ``(e) Outreach.--The Secretary shall notify each 
     participant in a rehabilitation program under chapter 31 of 
     this title of the internship program under this section.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is

[[Page H7012]]

     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 711 
     the following new item:

``712. Internship program.''.

     SEC. 21. VETERANS ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 81 is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 8129. Veterans entrepreneurial development summit

       ``(a) Veterans Entrepreneurial Development Summit.--The 
     Secretary may hold an event, once every year, to provide 
     networking opportunities, outreach, education, training, and 
     support to small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     veterans, veterans service organizations, and other entities 
     as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
       ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,000,000 
     for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2021.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end of 
     the items relating to subchapter II the following:

``8129. Veterans entrepreneurial development summit.''.

     SEC. 22. INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED 
                   HOUSING ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED TO BE PROVIDED BY 
                   THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Section 2102 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``$12,000'' and 
     inserting ``$13,756''; and
       (2) in subsection (d)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$60,000'' and inserting 
     ``$65,780''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$12,000'' and inserting 
     ``$13,756''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to assistance furnished after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 23. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING LOANS FOR 
                   CONSTRUCTION OF ENERGY EFFICIENT DWELLINGS.

       (a) Loans Authorized.--Section 3710(d) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``(A) The 
     Secretary'';
       (B) by striking ``for the acquisition of'' and all that 
     follows through the end and inserting ``for any of the 
     following purposes:'';
       (C) by adding at the end the following new clauses:
       ``(i) The acquisition of an existing dwelling and the cost 
     of making energy efficiency improvements to the dwelling.
       ``(ii) The construction of a new dwelling and the cost of 
     making energy efficiency improvements to the dwelling.
       ``(iii) Energy efficiency improvements to a dwelling owned 
     and occupied by a veteran.''; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(B) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a 
     loan may be guaranteed under this subsection only if it meets 
     the requirements of this chapter.
       ``(C) The Secretary shall determine appropriate energy 
     efficiency standards for purposes of this subsection and 
     shall require that dwellings purchased, constructed, or 
     improved using a loan guaranteed under this subsection meet 
     such standards.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
     and inserting the following new subparagraphs (A) and (B):
       ``(A) five percent of the total established value of the 
     property, dwelling, and improvements; or
       ``(B) $6,000, or a higher amount specifically provided by 
     the Secretary.''.
       (b) Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance 
     on appraising the value of energy efficiency improvements for 
     purposes of section 3710(d) of title 38, United States Code, 
     as amended by this Act.
       (c) Regulations.--
       (1) Interim policy guidance.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall prescribe interim policy guidance on 
     energy efficiency audits and the conditions under which the 
     performance of such audits may be included in the amount 
     guaranteed by the Secretary under section 3710(d) of title 
     38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a).
       (2) Regulations.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe 
     regulations to carry out the amendments made by subsection 
     (a).
       (3) Energy efficiency audit defined.--For purposes of this 
     subsection, the term ``energy efficiency audit'' means a 
     measurement of the effects of an improvement made to a 
     dwelling for the purpose of reducing energy consumption or 
     increasing energy efficiency that is carried out by a 
     certified professional auditor, as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall apply with respect to a loan secured on or 
     after January 1, 2011.

     SEC. 24. PILOT PROGRAM ON SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
                   ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS RESIDING TEMPORARILY IN 
                   HOUSING OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER.

       (a) Treatment of Certain Limitations.--Notwithstanding 
     subsection (d) of section 2102 of title 38, United States 
     Code, and subject to subsection (b), a grant under section 
     2102A of such title shall not count toward the dollar amount 
     limitations specified in that subsection.
       (b) Termination.--Subsection (a) shall apply only to the 
     first 25 grants made during fiscal year 2011.

     SEC. 25. COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTORY PAY-AS-YOU-GO ACT OF 2010.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Hastings) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 
legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 5360.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to commend, Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth 
Sandlin for introducing H.R. 5360, also known as the HELP Veterans Act 
of 2010. For the last 4 years, as the chair of the Economic 
Opportunities Subcommittee, the Congresswoman has held hearings to 
investigate the needs raised by veterans, worked directly with veterans 
service groups to craft solutions and advance important policy to 
respond.
  This is a comprehensive bill that addresses the critical issues 
facing veterans: housing, education, employment. It is a collaboration 
amongst a number of Members working together to make an impact and 
strengthen the economic opportunities for veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, we know that in today's terrible 10 percent unemployment 
rate for the Nation, veterans as a whole are almost double that, and 
recently returned veterans are almost triple that. We, as a body and as 
a Nation, need to far more directly confront this issue. This is not a 
way to say ``thank you'' to our veterans who have served us, and this 
is one bill that will help make an improvement in all this.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, this bill has been 
adequately explained by the gentleman from California, and it does 
enjoy strong bipartisan support.
  Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support 
H.R. 5360, the Housing, Employment and Living Programs (HELP) for 
Veterans Act of 2010, which the Veterans Affairs Committee approved 
with bipartisan support on Sept. 15, 2010.
  I would like to thank Veterans Affairs Chairman Filner and Ranking 
Member Buyer for their leadership on the committee and their support of 
this legislation.
  I introduced the original version of H.R. 5360 on May 20, 2010, with 
the support of my colleague, Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Ranking 
Member Boozman. The bill, as introduced, was titled the ``Blinded 
Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2010.'' The Blinded 
Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act aligns the VA's definition of 
blindness with existing federal laws with regards to eligibility 
criteria for Specially Adapted Housing Grants. The Economic Opportunity 
Subcommittee that I chair held a hearing in November 2009 that 
identified this excessively restrictive definition as having prevented 
some visually impaired veterans from qualifying for the assistance they 
need to modify their homes for their disability.
  Thanks to a concerted bipartisan effort by Ranking Member Boozman, 
the other members of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, and other 
members of the full Veterans Affairs Committee, H.R. 5360 was improved 
and expanded throughout the legislative process to provide aid and 
assistance to many veterans beyond the visually impaired. I'm pleased 
the committee worked together in a bipartisan way to craft the final 
version of this legislation.
  Importantly, these benefit improvements for veterans don't add a dime 
to the deficit. They are fully paid for by making a change that the VA 
requested to regulations regarding the VA's Home Loan Guarantee 
program.
  H.R. 5360, now known as the HELP Veterans Act, improves benefits to 
veterans in a

[[Page H7013]]

number of areas in addition to the assistance for blinded veterans, 
including:
  Increasing apprenticeship, on-the-job training and flight training 
educational benefits through the Montgomery G.I. Bill.
  Extending authorization for the VA's work-study program for student 
veterans to 2020 and authorizing new program standards to allow these 
veterans to work in Congressional offices as part of their work-study.
  Temporarily reducing, for the three years, the requirement for 
private employers to provide a wage increase for veterans participating 
in an approved on-the-job training program.
  Reauthorizing the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education.
  Improving the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program by 
providing reimbursement for certified child care assistance for single 
parents as well as increasing the subsistence allowance payable to 
veterans participating in VR&E by 5.2 percent.
  Updating regulations for VA educational benefit programs to increase 
the reporting fees payable to educational institutions as well as 
modifying the rules for advance payment of educational assistance to 
prevent any break in educational benefits.
  Giving the Department of Labor the authority to make grants to 
programs and facilities to provide services for homeless women veterans 
and homeless veterans with children.
  Again, I wish to thank Ranking Member Boozman and the rest of my 
colleagues on the committee for the cooperative and bipartisan spirit 
in which they worked to better serve our veterans through this 
legislation. I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 5360, the HELP Veterans 
Act.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for 
another bipartisan bill H.R. 5360, despite my deep disappointment that 
certain veteran-friendly small business provisions passed unanimously 
by the Veterans Affairs Committee have been stricken from the bill 
before us today. Those provisions directly would have improved 
opportunities for small businesses owned and controlled by service 
disabled veterans.
  H.R. 5360, is a bill that is a compilation of several bills reported 
to the Veterans Affairs Committee by the Subcommittee on Economic 
Opportunity under the leadership of the distinguished Chairwoman 
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and I appreciate her work and that of Ranking 
Member Boozman and Chairman Filner for bringing this bill to the floor.
  At a time when small businesses are facing a continuing shortage of 
credit, I am delighted to see that the bill includes section five which 
I introduced to reestablish the VA's small business loan program that 
expired in 1986. Under section five, VA would be authorized to 
guarantee small business loans up to $200,000 made by financial 
institutions. VA would also be required to contract with a financial 
institution experienced in this field to manage the program. I had 
originally introduced a similar provision in H.R. 293 and H.R. 4220.
  However, I am deeply disappointed that the Democrats on the Small 
Business Committee led by Chairwoman Nadia Velazquez once again chose 
to favor other small business set aside groups over service disabled 
veteran-owned small business by objecting to section 21 which I also 
included in this bill by amendment at the Full Committee markup. 
Section 21 would have merely leveled the playing field for service 
disabled veteran-owned small businesses when competing with other set 
aside groups for VA contracts by changing the word ``may'' to ``shall'' 
when awarding sole source contracts to service disabled veteran-owned 
small businesses.
  The Veterans Affairs Committee unanimously passed both of these 
provisions in hope that an additional source of credit backed by the VA 
will encourage lenders to increase the amount of credit and that a 
level playing field is the right thing to do for small businesses owned 
and controlled by service disabled veterans. It is truly 
unfortunate that Chairwoman Velazquez and Speaker Pelosi continue their 
history of opposing provisions that would benefit disabled veteran-
owned small business.

  Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate indeed that about 10 percent of 
homeless veterans are women and a significant percentage of those 
veterans bring children with them. So I am also pleased that the bill 
includes another provision which I introduced to establish a Homeless 
Veteran Reintegration Program for Women or HVRP-W. This program will 
focus on homeless programs specially designed to serve homeless women 
veterans and veterans with children. A veteran, especially one with 
children at their side should never be homeless.
  Section 13 of the bill contains a provision introduced by Mr. Boozman 
to encourage research and development in the field of assistive 
technologibs used to adapt the homes of severely injured veterans. This 
authority will make a disabled veterans' homes just a bit more livable.
  Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that our young people need positive role 
models. That is why the provisions I introduced as part of H.R. 4220 
are an important part in this bill. Section 19 would provide a small 
temporary stipend to veterans who are new teachers in rural areas. 
Therefore, we are not only helping veterans to become teachers in rural 
areas, but we are also showing our next generation of America's what it 
means to make a commitment to the nation.
  Section 20 would also provide one-year internship jobs at VA for up 
to 2,000 graduates of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment 
program. These positions will provide service disabled veterans with 
work experience while helping VA meet the needs of their fellow 
veterans.
  Anyone who has renovated a home recently knows the cost of 
construction continues to climb more rapidly that the overall inflation 
rate. Severely disabled veteran often need their homes adapted to make 
them more livable. That is why Mr. Boozman introduced provisions to 
make a small increase in the grants made under VA's Specially Adapted 
Home program. These provisions would increase the existing small grant 
to $13,756 and the large grant to $65,780.
  Mr. Speaker, section 24 contains provisions also introduced by Mr. 
Boozman as H.R. 4259 known as the WARMER Act. This bill updates the 
types and maximum values of energy efficiency loans that VA may 
guarantee while directing VA to standardize its appraisal process to 
ensure energy efficiency improvements are properly valued.
  Finally, section 25 is a provision introduced by Mr. Moran of Kansas 
to make it easier for severely disabled veterans to use the Temporary 
Residence Adaptation or TRA grant. TRA grants make small grants up to 
$12,000 available to adapt the homes of family members with whom a 
severely injured veteran is living. Normally, TRA grants are deducted 
from the veterans overall grant, thus reducing subsequent grants. The 
provision would allow VA to issue up to 25 grants in Fiscal Year 2011 
without reducing the veterans total award. This will help determine 
whether disabled veterans would be more likely to use the TRA grant.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to ensure the Members of my support for this 
excellent bill despite the removal of several provisions that would 
benefit veteran-owned small businesses at this critical time and urge 
my colleagues to support H.R. 5360.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5360, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend title 38, 
United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws 
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________