[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 126 (Monday, September 23, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6686-S6687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IMPROVING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2013

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1412 
and the Senate proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1412) to improve and increase the availability 
     of on-job training and apprenticeship programs carried out by 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Sanders 
substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the bill, as 
amended, be read three times and passed; the Sanders title amendment, 
which is at the desk, be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 1964) was agreed to, as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSIONS OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES AFFECTING VETERANS 
                   AND THEIR FAMILIES.

       (a) Extension of Authority to Provide Monthly Assistance 
     Allowance to Veterans With Disability Invited by United 
     States Olympic Committee.--
       (1) In general.--Section 322(d)(4) of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by inserting ``and $500,000 for the 
     period beginning October 1, 2013, and ending December 31, 
     2013'' after ``2013''.
       (2) Technical correction.--Section 322 of such title is 
     amended by striking ``United States Paralympics, Inc.,'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``United States Olympic 
     Committee''.
       (b) Extension of Authority to Provide Assistance for United 
     States Olympic Committee.--
       (1) In general.--Section 521A of such title is amended--
       (A) in subsection (g), by inserting ``and $2,000,000 for 
     the period beginning October 1, 2013, and ending December 31, 
     2013'' after ``2013''; and
       (B) in subsection (l), by striking ``The Secretary may only 
     provide assistance under this section during fiscal years 
     2010 through 2013.'' and inserting ``The Secretary may not 
     provide assistance under this section after December 31, 
     2013.''.
       (2) Technical correction.--Such section is further 
     amended--
       (A) except in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``United 
     States Paralympics, Inc.,'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``United States Olympic Committee'';
       (B) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``United States 
     Paralympics, Inc.'' and inserting ``United States Olympic 
     Committee''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(m) Applicability to Commonwealths and Territories of 
     United States.--The provisions of this section and section 
     322 of this title shall apply with respect to the following 
     in the same manner and to the same degree as the United 
     States Olympic Committee:
       ``(1) The American Samoa National Olympic Committee.
       ``(2) Guam National Olympic Committee.
       ``(3) Comite Olimpico de Puerto Rico.
       ``(4) Such entities as the Secretary considers appropriate 
     to represent the interests of the Northern Mariana Islands 
     and the United States Virgin Islands under this section and 
     section 322 of this title.''.
       (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 5 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 521A and inserting the following 
     new item:

``521A. Assistance for United States Olympic Committee.''.

       (c) Extension of Authority for Collection of Copayments for 
     Hospital Care and Nursing Home Care.--Section 1710(f)(2)(B) 
     of such title is amended by striking ``September 30, 2013'' 
     and inserting ``September 30, 2014''.
       (d) Extension of Authority for Recovery From Third Parties 
     of Cost of Care and Services Furnished to Veterans With 
     Health-plan Contracts for Non-service-connected Disability.--
     Section 1729(a)(2)(E) of such title is amended by striking 
     ``October 1, 2013'' and inserting ``October 1, 2014''.
       (e) Extensions of Authorities Affecting Homeless 
     Veterans.--
       (1) Homeless veterans reintegration programs.--Section 
     2021(e)(1)(F) of such title is amended by striking ``2013'' 
     and inserting ``2014''.
       (2) Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of 
     homelessness who are transitioning from certain 
     institutions.--Section 2023(d) of such title is amended--
       (A) by inserting ``to enter into a contract'' before ``to 
     provide''; and
       (B) by striking ``September 30, 2013'' and inserting 
     ``September 30, 2014''.
       (f) Extension of Previously Fully-funded Authorities 
     Affecting Homeless Veterans.--
       (1) Comprehensive service programs.--Section 2013 of such 
     title is amended by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the 
     following new paragraphs:
       ``(6) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.
       ``(7) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 and each subsequent 
     fiscal year.''.
       (2) Financial assistance for supportive services for very 
     low-income veteran families in permanent housing.--Section 
     2044(e)(1)(E) of such title is amended by striking ``for 
     fiscal year 2013'' and inserting ``for each of fiscal years 
     2013 and 2014''.
       (3) Grant program for homeless veterans with special 
     needs.--Section 2061(d)(1) of such title is amended by 
     striking ``through 2013'' and inserting ``through 2014''.
       (g) Extension of Temporary Expansion of Eligibility for 
     Specially Adapted Housing Assistance for Certain Veterans 
     With Disabilities Causing Difficulty With Ambulating.--
     Section 2101(a)(4) of such title is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The Secretary's'' and inserting ``(A) 
     Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary's'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A), as designated by paragraph (1), by 
     striking ``September 30, 2013'' and inserting ``September 30, 
     2014''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) In fiscal year 2014, the Secretary may not approve 
     more than 30 applications for assistance under paragraph (1) 
     for disabled veterans described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii).''.
       (h) Extension of Authority to Calculate Net Value of Real 
     Property Securing Defaulted Loan for Purposes of 
     Liquidation.--Section 3732(c)(11) of such title is amended by 
     striking ``October 1, 2013'' and inserting ``October 1, 
     2014''.
       (i) Extension of Pilot Program on Assistance for Child Care 
     for Certain Veterans Receiving Health Care.--Section 205 of 
     the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 
     2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (e), by striking ``2-year'' and inserting 
     ``3-year''; and
       (2) in subsection (h), by striking ``and 2011'' and 
     inserting ``and 2014''.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF USE OF NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF NEW 
                   HIRES FOR INCOME VERIFICATION PURPOSES FOR 
                   CERTAIN VETERANS BENEFITS.

       (a) Secretary of Health and Human Services.--Section 
     453(j)(11) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(j)(11)) 
     is amended by striking subparagraph (G) and inserting the 
     following new subparagraph (G):
       ``(G) Expiration of authority.--The authority under this 
     paragraph shall be in effect as follows:
       ``(i) During the period beginning on December 26, 2007, and 
     ending on November 18, 2011.
       ``(ii) During the period beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of the Department of

[[Page S6687]]

     Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013 and ending 
     180 days after that date.''.
       (b) Secretary of Veterans Affairs.--Section 5317A of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (d) 
     and inserting the following new subsection (d):
       ``(d) Expiration of Authority.--The authority under this 
     section shall be in effect as follows:
       ``(1) During the period beginning on December 26, 2007, and 
     ending on November 18, 2011.
       ``(2) During the period beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring 
     Authorities Act of 2013 and ending 180 days after that 
     date.''.

     SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE AND RATIFICATION.

       (a) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect on October 
     1, 2013, except that Section 2 (a) shall take effect on 
     September 30, 2013.
       (b) Ratification.--If this Act is not enacted on or before 
     September 30, 2013, any actions undertaken by the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs under the authorities extended by this 
     Act during the period beginning on such date and ending on 
     the date of the enactment of this Act shall be deemed 
     ratified.

     SEC. 5. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       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 Senate Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
  The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a 
third time.
  The bill was read the third time.
  The bill (H.R. 1412), as amended, was passed.
  The amendment (No. 1965) was agreed to, as follows:

                     (Purpose: To amend the title)

       Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to amend title 38, 
     United States Code, to extend certain expiring authorities 
     affecting veterans and their families, and for other 
     purposes.''.

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