[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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