[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 194 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9794-H9802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROVIDING CERTAIN BURIAL BENEFITS FOR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF VETERANS
WHO ARE BURIED IN TRIBAL CEMETERIES
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 2248) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain burial
benefits for spouses and children of veterans who are buried in tribal
cemeteries, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2248
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
Benefits and Transition Act of 2018''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--EDUCATION
Sec. 101. Inclusion of certain additional periods of active duty
service for purposes of suspension of charges to
entitlement during periods of suspended participation in
Department of Veterans Affairs vocational rehabilitation
programs.
Sec. 102. Provision of monthly housing stipend information under Post-
9/11 Educational Assistance Program.
Sec. 103. Disapproval for purposes of educational assistance programs
of Department of Veterans Affairs of certain courses of
education that do not permit individuals to attend or
participate in courses pending payment.
Sec. 104. Provision of information on required additional actions to
allow individuals to stay enrolled in courses of
education pending receipt of educational assistance from
department of veterans affairs.
Sec. 105. Calculation of monthly housing stipend under high technology
pilot program based on location of campus where veteran
attends classes.
Sec. 106. Clarification regarding applicability of authority to use
educational assistance to pursue independent study
programs at certain educational institutions that are not
institutions of higher learning.
TITLE II--MEMORIAL AFFAIRS
Sec. 201. Eligibility of spouses and children of veterans buried in
tribal cemeteries for certain Department of Veterans
Affairs burial benefits.
Sec. 202. Department of Veterans Affairs provision of headstones and
markers for, and interment in national cemeteries of,
spouses and dependent children of members of the Armed
Forces serving on active duty.
TITLE III--CIVIL RELIEF
Sec. 301. Termination of leases of premises of deceased servicemembers
who die while in military service.
Sec. 302. Residence of spouses of servicemembers for tax purposes.
Sec. 303. Residence of spouses of servicemembers for voting.
Sec. 304. Termination of multichannel video programming and internet
access service contracts.
TITLE IV--TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
Sec. 401. Study of community-based transition assistance programs for
members of the Armed Forces after separation, retirement,
or discharge.
TITLE V--DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 501. Misuse of Department of Veterans Affairs purchase cards by
Department employees.
Sec. 502. Updating dependent information.
Sec. 503. Oversight of Electronic Health Record Modernization Program.
Sec. 504. Department of Veterans Affairs notice relating to debt
collection activities.
TITLE VI--MEDICAL FACILITIES
Sec. 601. Authorization of major medical facility projects for fiscal
year 2019.
Sec. 602. Plans to improve medical facilities of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS
Sec. 701. Homeless veterans reintegration programs.
Sec. 702. Technical corrections.
Sec. 703. Medical Surgical Prime Vendor program.
Sec. 704. Report on expanding access to dental care for veterans
eligible for health care from the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
TITLE I--EDUCATION
SEC. 101. INCLUSION OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PERIODS OF ACTIVE
DUTY SERVICE FOR PURPOSES OF SUSPENSION OF
CHARGES TO ENTITLEMENT DURING PERIODS OF
SUSPENDED PARTICIPATION IN DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
PROGRAMS.
Section 3105(e)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``or 12304'' and inserting ``12304,
12304a, or 12304b''.
SEC. 102. PROVISION OF MONTHLY HOUSING STIPEND INFORMATION
UNDER POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Section 3313 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(k) Provision of Housing Stipend Payment Information.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall furnish to
individuals receiving educational assistance under this
chapter documentation that verifies the amount of the monthly
housing stipend the individual receives under this section.
``(2) Manner.--The Secretary shall make such documentation
available to the individual using an internet website in the
same manner the Secretary provides documentation verifying
compensation and other benefits furnished by the Secretary to
individuals.''.
SEC. 103. DISAPPROVAL FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF
CERTAIN COURSES OF EDUCATION THAT DO NOT PERMIT
INDIVIDUALS TO ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN COURSES
PENDING PAYMENT.
(a) In General.--Section 3679 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(e)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
chapter, beginning on August 1, 2019, a State approving
agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of the State
approving agency, shall disapprove a course of education
provided by an educational institution that has in effect a
policy that is inconsistent with any of the following:
``(A) A policy that permits any covered individual to
attend or participate in the course of education during the
period beginning on the date on which the individual provides
to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility
for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or
33 of this title and ending on the earlier of the following
dates:
``(i) The date on which the Secretary provides payment for
such course of education to such institution.
``(ii) The date that is 90 days after the date on which the
educational institution certifies for tuition and fees
following receipt from the student such certificate of
eligibility.
``(B) A policy that ensures that the educational
institution will not impose any penalty, including the
assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes,
libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the
requirement that a covered individual borrow additional
funds, on any covered individual because of the individual's
inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the
institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to
be provided by the Secretary under chapter 31 or 33 of this
title.
``(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered individual
is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance
under chapter 31 or 33 of this title.
``(3) The Secretary may waive such requirements of
paragraph (1) as the Secretary considers appropriate.
[[Page H9795]]
``(4) It shall not be inconsistent with a policy described
in paragraph (1) for an educational institution to require a
covered individual to take the following additional actions:
``(A) Submit a certificate of eligibility for entitlement
to educational assistance not later than the first day of a
course of education for which the individual has indicated
the individual wishes to use the individual's entitlement to
educational assistance.
``(B) Submit a written request to use such entitlement.
``(C) Provide additional information necessary to the
proper certification of enrollment by the educational
institution.''.
(b) Prompt Payments.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the
Secretary makes a payment to an educational institution on
behalf of an individual, who is entitled to educational
assistance under chapter 31 or 33 of title 38, United States
Code, and who is using such assistance to pursue a program of
education at the educational institution, not later than 60
days after the date on which the educational institution
certifies to the Secretary the applicable tuition and fees
for the individual.
(2) Semiannual reports.--Not later than May 1 and October 1
of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a
semiannual report summarizing any cases in which the
Secretary failed to make a payment described in paragraph (1)
within the period set forth in such paragraph and an
explanation for each delayed disbursement of payment.
(c) Rule of Construction.--In a case in which an individual
is unable to meet a financial obligation to an educational
institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to
be provided by the Secretary under chapter 31 or 33 of such
title and the amount of such disbursement is less than
anticipated, nothing in section 3679(e) of such title, as
added by subsection (a), shall be construed to prohibit an
educational institution from requiring additional payment or
imposing a fee for the amount that is the difference between
the amount of the financial obligation and the amount of the
disbursement.
SEC. 104. PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON REQUIRED ADDITIONAL
ACTIONS TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO STAY ENROLLED
IN COURSES OF EDUCATION PENDING RECEIPT OF
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 3698(c)(1)(C) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in clause (x), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in clause (xi), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(xii) information on whether the institution requires a
covered individual to take additional action pursuant to
section 3679(e)(4) of this title to stay enrolled in a course
pending receipt of educational assistance under a law
administered by the Secretary.''.
SECTION 105. CALCULATION OF MONTHLY HOUSING STIPEND UNDER
HIGH TECHNOLOGY PILOT PROGRAM BASED ON LOCATION
OF CAMPUS WHERE VETERAN ATTENDS CLASSES.
Section 116(d)(1) of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans
Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48, 38
U.S.C. 3001 (note)), is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``the institution at
which the individual is enrolled'' and inserting ``the campus
of the institution where the individual physically
participates in a majority of classes''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the amount payable''
and all that follows through ``subparagraph (A)'' and
inserting ``the national average of the monthly amount of the
basic allowance for housing payable under section 403 of
title 37, United States Code, for a member with dependents in
pay grade E-5''.
SEC. 106. CLARIFICATION REGARDING APPLICABILITY OF AUTHORITY
TO USE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO PURSUE
INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAMS AT CERTAIN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE NOT
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.
The section heading for section 302 of the Harry W. Colmery
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-
48; 131 Stat. 990) is amended to read as follows (and the
table of contents for such Act is conformed accordingly):
``SEC. 302. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
UNDER ANY OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
TO PURSUE INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAMS AT CERTAIN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE NOT
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.''.
TITLE II--MEMORIAL AFFAIRS
SEC. 201. ELIGIBILITY OF SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF VETERANS
BURIED IN TRIBAL CEMETERIES FOR CERTAIN
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BURIAL BENEFITS.
Section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(4), by inserting ``or a veterans'
cemetery owned by a tribal organization or on land owned by
or held in trust for a tribal organization'' after ``State'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``, a veterans'
cemetery of a tribal organization or on land owned by or held
in trust for a tribal organization'' after ``owned by a
State'';
(3) in subsection (f)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
(B) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``(1) The
Secretary'';
(C) by striking ``a national cemetery or in a veterans
cemetery of a State or tribal organization for which the
Department has provided a grant under section 2408 of this
title'' and inserting ``a covered cemetery''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) The term `covered cemetery' means any of the
following:
``(A) A national cemetery.
``(B) A veterans' cemetery of a State for which the
Department has provided a grant under section 2408 of this
title.
``(C) A veterans' cemetery of a tribal organization or on
land owned by or held in trust for a tribal organization for
which the Department has provided a grant under subsection
(f) of such section.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(i) In this section, the term `tribal organization' has
the meaning given such term in section 3765 of this title.''.
SEC. 202. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVISION OF
HEADSTONES AND MARKERS FOR, AND INTERMENT IN
NATIONAL CEMETERIES OF, SPOUSES AND DEPENDENT
CHILDREN OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVING
ON ACTIVE DUTY.
(a) Headstones and Markers.--Section 2306(b)(2) of title
38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, or the spouse of
a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty under
conditions other than dishonorable, as shown by a statement
from a general court-martial convening authority, at the time
of the spouse's death if such death occurs before October 1,
2024'' after ``veteran''; and
(2) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, or the eligible
dependent child of a member of the Armed Forces serving on
active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, as
shown by a statement from a general court-martial convening
authority, at the time of the child's death if such death
occurs before October 1, 2024'' after ``veteran''.
(b) Interment in National Cemeteries.--Section 2402(a)(5)
of such title is amended by inserting ``, and the spouse,
minor child, and, in the discretion of the Secretary,
unmarried adult child of a member of the Armed Forces serving
on active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, as
shown by a statement from a general court-martial convening
authority, at the time of the spouse's or child's death if
such death occurs before October 1, 2024'' after ``paragraph
(7)''.
TITLE III--CIVIL RELIEF
SEC. 301. TERMINATION OF LEASES OF PREMISES OF DECEASED
SERVICEMEMBERS WHO DIE WHILE IN MILITARY
SERVICE.
Section 305(a) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50
U.S.C. 3955) is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``by Lessee'';
(2) in the heading for paragraph (1), by striking ``In
general'' and inserting ``Termination by lessee''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Death of lessee.--The spouse of the lessee on a lease
described in subsection (b)(1) may terminate the lease during
the one-year period beginning on the date of the death of the
lessee, if the lessee dies while in military service or while
performing full-time National Guard duty, active Guard and
Reserve duty, or inactive-duty training (as such terms are
defined in section 101(d) of title 10, United States
Code).''.
SEC. 302. RESIDENCE OF SPOUSES OF SERVICEMEMBERS FOR TAX
PURPOSES.
(a) Residence for Tax Purposes.--Section 511(a)(2) of the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 4001(a)(2)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``A spouse'' and inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--A spouse''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(B) Election.--For any taxable year of the marriage, the
spouse of a servicemember may elect to use the same residence
for purposes of taxation as the servicemember regardless of
the date on which the marriage of the spouse and the
servicemember occurred.''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a)
shall apply with respect to any return of State or local
income tax filed for any taxable year beginning with the
taxable year that includes the date of the enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 303. RESIDENCE OF SPOUSES OF SERVICEMEMBERS FOR VOTING.
(a) In General.--Section 705(b) of the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 4025(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``State or local office'' and all that
follows through the period at the end of paragraph (3) and
inserting ``State or local office--''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(1) a person who is absent from a State because the
person is accompanying the person's spouse who is absent from
that same
[[Page H9796]]
State in compliance with military or naval orders shall not,
solely by reason of that absence--
``(A) be deemed to have lost a residence or domicile in
that State, without regard to whether or not the person
intends to return to that State;
``(B) be deemed to have acquired a residence or domicile in
any other State; or
``(C) be deemed to have become a resident in or a resident
of any other State; and
``(2) the spouse of a servicemember may elect to use the
same residence as the servicemember regardless of the date on
which the marriage of the spouse and the servicemember
occurred.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a)
shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 304. TERMINATION OF MULTICHANNEL VIDEO PROGRAMMING AND
INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE CONTRACTS.
(a) In General.--Section 305A of the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3956) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``, multichannel
video programming, and internet access'' after ``telephone'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``cellular telephone
service or telephone exchange service'' and inserting
``commercial mobile service, telephone exchange service,
internet access service, or multichannel video programming
service'';
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting ``for commercial mobile
service or telephone exchange service'' before
``terminated'';
(4) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``cellular telephone service'' and inserting
``commercial mobile service'';
(5) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking ``For any'' and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--For any'';
(B) by striking ``If the'' and inserting the following:
``(2) Reinstatement of service.--If the''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Return of provider-owned equipment.--If a
servicemember terminates a contract under subsection (a), the
servicemember shall return any provider-owned consumer
premises equipment to the service provider not later than 10
days after the date on which service is disconnected.''; and
(6) in subsection (g)--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4); and
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) The term `commercial mobile service' has the meaning
given that term in section 332(d) of the Communications Act
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)).
``(2) The term `multichannel video programming service'
means a subscription video service offered by a multichannel
video programming distributor, as that term is defined in
section 602 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
522), over a system the distributor owns or controls.
``(3) The term `provider-owned consumer premises equipment'
means any equipment that a provider of internet access
service or multichannel video programming service rents or
loans to a customer during the provision of that service,
including gateways, routers, cable modems, voice-capable
modems, CableCARDs, converters, digital adapters, remote
controls, and any other equipment provided.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--
(1) Title heading.--The heading for title III of the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is amended by striking
``TELEPHONE'' and inserting ``COMMUNICATIONS''.
(2) Table of contents.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is amended--
(A) by striking the item relating to title III and
inserting the following new item:
``TITLE III--RENT, INSTALLMENT CONTRACTS, MORTGAGES, LIENS, ASSIGNMENT,
LEASES, COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE CONTRACTS'';
and
(B) by striking the item relating to section 305A and
inserting the following new item:
``Sec. 305A. Termination of telephone, multichannel video programming,
and internet access service contracts.''.
TITLE IV--TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
SEC. 401. STUDY OF COMMUNITY-BASED TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AFTER
SEPARATION, RETIREMENT, OR DISCHARGE.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
consultation with State entities that serve members of the
Armed Forces who are retired, separated, or discharged from
the Armed Forces, shall enter into an agreement with an
appropriate non-Federal entity to carry out a study to
identify community-based programs--
(1) that provide transition assistance to such members; and
(2) operated by nonprofit entities.
(b) Transmission to Members.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall transmit the list of programs identified under
this section to the Secretary of Defense so the Secretaries
of the military departments may provide information in the
list to members of the Armed Forces who participate in the
Transition Assistance Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of
title 10, United States Code.
(c) Online Publication.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall publish the most recent version of the list of programs
identified under this section on a public website of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
TITLE V--DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION
SEC. 501. MISUSE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PURCHASE
CARDS BY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 7 of title 38,
United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end
the following new section:
``Sec. 728. Misuse of Department purchase cards
``(a) In General.--(1) The Secretary shall prohibit any
employee of the Department who the Secretary or the Inspector
General of the Department determines has knowingly misused a
purchase card from serving as a purchase card holder or
approving official.
``(2) Such a prohibition shall be in addition to any other
applicable penalty.
``(b) Misuse.--For purposes of this section, the term
`misuse' means--
``(1) splitting purchases;
``(2) exceeding applicable purchase card limits or purchase
thresholds;
``(3) purchasing any unauthorized item;
``(4) using a purchase card without being an authorized
purchase card holder; or
``(5) violating ethics standards.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 728 the following new item:
``728. Misuse of Department purchase cards.''.
SEC. 502. UPDATING DEPENDENT INFORMATION.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make such changes
to such information technology systems of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, including the eBenefits system or successor
system, as may be necessary so that whenever the Secretary
records in such systems information about a dependent of a
person, the person is able to review and revise such
information.
SEC. 503. OVERSIGHT OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD MODERNIZATION
PROGRAM.
(a) Program Documents.--Not later than 30 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees the following documents concerning the Electronic
Health Record Modernization Program:
(1) Integrated Master Plan.
(2) Integrated Master Schedule.
(3) Program Management Plan.
(4) Annual and lifecycle cost estimates, including, at a
minimum, cost elements relating to--
(A) Federal Government labor;
(B) contractor labor;
(C) hardware;
(D) software; and
(E) testing and evaluation.
(5) Cost baseline.
(6) Risk Management Plan.
(7) Health IT Strategic Architecture Plan.
(8) Transition Plan for implementing updated architecture.
(9) Data Migration Plan.
(10) System and Data Security Plan.
(11) Application Implementation Plan.
(12) System Design Documents.
(13) Legacy Veterans Information Systems and Technology
Architecture Standardization, Security Enhancement, and
Consolidation Project Plan.
(14) Health Data Interoperability Management Plan.
(15) Community Care Vision and Implementation Plan,
including milestones and a detailed description of how
complete interoperability with non-Department health care
providers will be achieved.
(b) Quarterly Updates.--Not later than 30 days after the
end of each fiscal quarter during the period beginning with
the fiscal quarter in which this Act is enacted and ending on
the date on which the Electronic Health Record Modernization
Program is completed, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees the most recent updated
versions, if any exist, of the following documents:
(1) Integrated Master Schedule.
(2) Program Management Plan, including any written Program
Management Review material developed for the Program
Management Plan during the fiscal quarter covered by the
submission.
(3) Each document described in subsection (a)(4).
(4) Performance Baseline Report for the fiscal quarter
covered by the submission or for the fiscal quarter ending
the fiscal year prior to the submission.
(5) Budget Reconciliation Report.
(6) Risk Management Plan and Risk Register.
(c) Contracts.--Not later than 5 days after awarding a
contract, order, or agreement, including any modifications
thereto, under the Electronic Health Record Modernization
Program, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a copy of the entire such contract,
order, agreement, or modification.
(d) Notification.--
(1) Requirement.--Not later than 10 days after an event
described in paragraph (2) occurs, the Secretary shall notify
the appropriate congressional committees of such occurrence,
including a description of the event and an explanation for
why such event occurred.
[[Page H9797]]
(2) Event described.--An event described in this paragraph
is any of the following events regarding the Electronic
Health Record Modernization Program:
(A) The delay of any milestone or deliverable by 30 or more
days.
(B) A request for equitable adjustment, equitable
adjustment, or change order exceeding $1,000,000 (as such
terms are defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation).
(C) The submission of any protest, claim, or dispute, and
the resolution of any protest, claim, or dispute (as such
terms are defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation).
(D) A loss of clinical or other data.
(E) A breach of patient privacy, including any--
(i) disclosure of protected health information that is not
permitted under regulations promulgated under section 264(c)
of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of
1996 (Public Law 104-191; 42 U.S.C. 1320d-2 note); and
(ii) breach of sensitive personal information (as defined
in section 5727 of title 38, United States Code).
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate; and
(B) the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
(2) The term ``Electronic Health Record Modernization
Program'' means--
(A) any activities by the Department of Veterans Affairs to
procure or implement an electronic health or medical record
system to replace any or all of the Veterans Information
Systems and Technology Architecture, the Computerized Patient
Record System, the Joint Legacy Viewer, or the Enterprise
Health Management Platform; and
(B) any contracts or agreements entered into by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out, support, or
analyze the activities under subparagraph (A).
SEC. 504. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NOTICE RELATING TO
DEBT COLLECTION ACTIVITIES.
(a) Debt Notification Letter Formats.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall collaborate with veterans service
organizations to develop a standard format for any letter
provided to an individual who the Secretary determines is
indebted to the United States by virtue of such individual's
participation in a benefits program administered by the
Secretary. Such letter shall be written in plain language and
shall include a notice of the debt and a clear explanation
of--
(1) why the individual is indebted to the United States by
virtue of such person's participation in a benefits program
administered by the Secretary; and
(2) the options available to the individual.
(b) Delivery of Debt Notices by Standard Mail and
Electronic Means.--The Secretary shall develop a method by
which individuals may elect to receive notice of debt by
electronic means and shall ensure, to the extent practicable,
that the letter developed under subsection (a) is delivered--
(1) by both standard mail and by electronic means to
intended recipients who have made such an election; and
(2) only by standard mail to intended recipients who have
not made such an election.
(c) Notice to Congress.--
(1) Notices of completion.--Upon completion of the
development of the standard letter format required under
subsection (a) and upon completion of development of the
method by which individuals may elect to receive notice of
debt by electronic means under subsection (b), the Secretary
shall submit to Congress notice of the completion of the
respective development.
(2) Progress reports.--If the Secretary has not submitted
each notice required by paragraph (1) by the date that is 90
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall--
(A) submit to Congress a report describing the progress of
the Secretary toward implementing subsections (a) and (b) and
an explanation for why the respective development has not
been completed; and
(B) every 30 days thereafter until all of the notices
required by paragraph (1) have been submitted, submit to
Congress an update to the report under subparagraph (A) that
includes an additional explanation for the failure to
complete the respective development.
(d) Study and Report.--
(1) Study.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall
conduct a study on the process by which individuals who are
indebted to the United States by virtue of their
participation in a benefits program administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs are notified of debt collection
efforts relating to such indebtedness.
(2) Elements.--The study required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) An analysis of the scope of the problem of individuals
who are indebted to the United States by virtue of their
participation in a benefits program administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs not receiving debt collection
notices relating to such indebtedness.
(B) Identification of administrative actions the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of the Treasury can
carry out to reduce the number of incorrect or unknown
addresses of such individuals in the databases of the
Department Veterans Affairs and the Department of the
Treasury and a timeline for carrying out such actions.
(C) An estimate of the costs associated with sending debt
collection notices to such individuals by certified mail.
(D) An analysis of whether, or to what extent, sending debt
collection notices to such individuals by certified mail
would address the problem analyzed under subparagraph (A).
(E) An analysis of the requirements and resources that
would be necessary for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
establish a method for the Secretary to display in one
consolidated document the details regarding all of the debts
of an individual to the United States by virtue of such
individual's participation in a benefits program administered
by the Secretary.
(F) An analysis of the extent to which such individuals are
so indebted by reason of actions by the Secretary or by
actions of the individual, including any trends relating to
whether the actions of the individual may be by reason of
error, misrepresentation, or fraud.
(3) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit
to Congress a report on the findings of the Secretaries with
respect to the study conducted under paragraph (1).
TITLE VI--MEDICAL FACILITIES
SEC. 601. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may
carry out the following major medical facility projects in
fiscal year 2019 at the locations specified and in an amount
for each project not to exceed the amount specified for such
location:
(1) Construction of a community living center and
renovation of domiciliary and outpatient facilities in
Canandaigua, New York, in an amount not to exceed
$351,980,000 (an increase of $193,000,000 as compared to the
previous authorization for such project).
(2) Renovation of space for a simulation training education
center in North Chicago, Illinois, in an amount not to exceed
$15,980,000.
(3) Construction of a surgical intensive care unit and
renovation to expand the operating room suite in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, in an amount not to exceed $29,461,000.
(4) Construction of a new medical facility in Louisville,
Kentucky, in an amount not to exceed $450,000,000 (an
increase of $300,000,000 as compared to the previous
authorization for such project).
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for
fiscal year 2019 or the year in which funds are appropriated
for the Construction, Major Projects account, $847,421,000
for the projects authorized in subsection (a).
SEC. 602. PLANS TO IMPROVE MEDICAL FACILITIES OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Plans Required.--
(1) Plans of directors of medical facilities.--Not later
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall require each director of
a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs to
submit to the director of the Veterans Integrated Service
Network that covers the facility a plan to improve such
facility.
(2) Plans of directors of veterans integrated service
networks.--The Secretary shall require each director of a
Veterans Integrated Service Network to submit to the
Secretary, not later than 60 days after receiving all of the
plans under paragraph (1), a plan, based on the plans
received under paragraph (1), to improve the facilities
within that Veterans Integrated Service Network in such a
fashion that would improve the ability of all facilities
within that network to provide the best and most efficient
care to patients.
(b) Regular Reports.--The Secretary shall ensure that each
director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network submits to
the Secretary, not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once every
two years thereafter, a report on the actions taken by the
director to improve the facilities within that Veterans
Integrated Service Network and what further such actions
might be necessary.
(c) Sense of Congress on Use of Authorities to Investigate
Medical Centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.--It is
the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
should make full use of the authorities provided by section 2
of the Enhancing Veteran Care Act (Public Law 115-95; 38
U.S.C. 1701 note).
TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 701. HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS.
Section 2021(a) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``reintegration of homeless veterans into
the labor force.'' and inserting the following:
``reintegration into the labor force of--''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(1) homeless veterans (including veterans who were
homeless but found housing during the 60-day period preceding
the date on which the veteran begins to participate in a
program under this section);
``(2) veterans participating in the Department of Veterans
Affairs supported housing
[[Page H9798]]
program for which rental assistance is provided pursuant to
section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42
U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) or the Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing
(Tribal HUD-VASH) program;
``(3) Indians who are veterans and receiving assistance
under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self
Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.);
``(4) veterans described in section 2023(e) of this title
or any other veterans who are transitioning from being
incarcerated; and
``(5) veterans participating in the Department of Veterans
Affairs rapid rehousing and prevention program authorized in
section 2044 of this title.''.
SEC. 702. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Title 38.--Title 38, United States Code, is amended as
follows:
(1) In the table of sections at the beginning of chapter
55, by inserting a period at the end of the item relating to
section 5501A.
(2) In section 7463(c)(2)(B), by striking ``to answer to
answer'' and inserting ``to answer''.
(b) Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996.--Section
504 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996
(Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by
redesignating the second subsection (c) as subsection (d).
SEC. 703. MEDICAL SURGICAL PRIME VENDOR PROGRAM.
(a) Vendors.--In procuring certain medical, surgical, and
dental supplies or laboratory supplies for medical centers of
the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall carry out the Medical Surgical Prime Vendor
program, or successor program, in a manner that--
(1) requires the Secretary to award contracts to multiple
regional prime vendors instead of a single nationwide prime
vendor; and
(2) prohibits a prime vendor from solely designing the
formulary of such supplies.
(b) Clinically Driven Sourcing.--
(1) Expertise.--In carrying out the formulary of supplies
under the Medical Surgical Prime Vendor program, or successor
program, the Secretary shall ensure that each employee of the
Department of Veterans Affairs who conducts formulary
analyses or makes decisions with respect to including items
on the formulary has medical expertise relevant to the items
for which the employee conducts such analyses or makes such
decisions.
(2) Lists.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and every six months thereafter with
respect to any updates, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate a list of each employee
described in paragraph (1) and the relevant medical expertise
of the employee, listed by the categories of items in the
formulary described in such paragraph.
SEC. 704. REPORT ON EXPANDING ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE FOR
VETERANS ELIGIBLE FOR HEALTH CARE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 360 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the feasibility and advisability
of expanding access to dental care for eligible veterans.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) An analysis of access to dental care for eligible
veterans outside of the Department, including--
(A) the percentage of eligible veterans currently enrolled
in dental insurance through a third-party payer, including--
(i) the dental insurance plan for veterans and survivors
and dependents of veterans under section 1712C of title 38,
United States Code;
(ii) the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); and
(iii) employer-sponsored dental insurance;
(B) the affordability of dental insurance described in
subparagraph (A); and
(C) the comprehensiveness of benefits of dental insurance
described in subparagraph (A).
(2) An analysis of the current oral health needs of
eligible veterans, including an estimate of the number of
eligible veterans who--
(A) experience untreated cavities or decay;
(B) require dentures, implants, or other restorative dental
services; or
(C) have not received regular dental cleanings within the
two-year period preceding the report.
(3) An analysis of the financial impact to the Department
of Veterans Affairs of providing dental care to eligible
veterans, including--
(A) whether the provision of such services would result in
a reduction in total health care costs;
(B) a cost-benefit analysis that indicates potential cost
savings to the Department over a 5-, 10-, and 20-year period;
and
(C) projected cost savings to the Department and across the
broader health care system.
(4) An analysis of the number and types of dental providers
necessary to treat eligible veterans, including--
(A) dentists;
(B) hygienists;
(C) dental technicians; and
(D) dental therapists.
(c) Categories of Eligible Veterans.--The report required
by subsection (a) shall be disaggregated by each of the
following categories of eligible veterans:
(1) Veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient
enrollment of the Department pursuant to the priority group
under subsection (a)(6) of section 1705 of such title.
(2) Veterans enrolled in such system pursuant to the
priority group under subsection (a)(5) of such section.
(3) Veterans enrolled in such system pursuant to a priority
group under any of subsections (a)(1) through (a)(4) of such
section.
(4) Veterans enrolled in such system pursuant to a priority
group under subsection (a)(7) or (a)(8) of such section.
(d) Eligible Veterans Defined.--In this section, the term
``eligible veterans'' means veterans enrolled in the system
of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans
Affairs established and operated under section 1705 of title
38, United States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Poe of Texas). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentleman from California
(Mr. Takano) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
add extraneous material.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2248, as amended, the
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018. This legislation is a
prenegotiated, bipartisan package of bills that we have worked out with
the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The amended version of the
bill contains 23 sections, many of which originated in the 80-plus
veterans bills that the House passed in the 115th Congress.
Though S. 2248, as amended, reflects just a fraction of our
collective efforts, as we were unable to come to an agreement with the
Senate on several outstanding issues, it, nonetheless, contains many
important provisions that we can all be pleased to support.
For example, one provision of the bill would make schools ineligible
for GI Bill tuition payments if they place penalties or burdens on
students due to the Department of Veterans Affairs' inability to pay
the GI Bill payments to schools on time. This provision was championed
by Vice Chairman Bilirakis, and I thank him for his advocacy.
There are several provisions in the bill that make improvements to
the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act that protect deployed
servicemembers from commercial penalties, which they can occur as a
result of their service.
The bill also includes provisions that would improve burial benefits
for servicemembers, veterans, and their families; expand eligibility
for a successful homeless veteran job training program; authorize
funding for VA construction projects; and provide critical oversight of
government purchase cards and the development of VA's new electronic
health record.
Mr. Speaker, before yielding back, I will take a moment to say that
serving as chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee has been an
immense honor to me, and I am grateful to all of those who put their
trust and faith in me to fulfill this role for Congress.
I thank a number of individuals who have been instrumental in this
committee's success during the 115th Congress.
First, I thank Ranking Member Walz, the newly elected Governor of the
very cold State of Minnesota; my subcommittee chairmen and ranking
members; and the members of the committee. Without their continued hard
work and involvement, none of this congressional success in the
veterans area would have been realized. Many members on our committee
had numerous other duties but never, ever neglected the Veterans'
Affairs Committee.
I thank the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee chairman, Senator
Isakson, and Ranking Member Jon Tester for their hard work, and I look
forward to working with them in the next Congress.
[[Page H9799]]
{time} 1700
I am also grateful to the House leadership on both sides of the
aisle, but particularly Speaker Paul Ryan, Leader McCarthy, Whip Steve
Scalise, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Leadership support for this
committee was unwavering and ensured that veterans' matters received
the time and attention they so richly deserve.
Finally, I want to thank all Members of the House of Representatives
who strive, day in and day out, to do right by America's veterans. With
Members' support, we have helped enact landmark legislation this
Congress, including: The VA MISSION Act, the Forever GI Bill, the VA
Accountability Act, appeals reform, and many, many other smaller, yet
impactful pieces of legislation which Americans, and especially
veterans, can be proud of.
The bipartisan nature of this committee is unique in Congress, and it
is nothing less than what our veterans deserve. I look forward to
serving as ranking Republican member of the committee next Congress and
continuing our work with soon-to-be Chairman Mark Takano.
I urge my colleagues to support S. 2248, as amended, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the House amendment to S.
2248, the Veterans Benefit and Transition Act of 2018. This bipartisan
measure contains legislation championed by my House and Senate
colleagues on both sides of the aisle and is a testament to the
bipartisan relationships we cultivate and preserve on both the House
and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees.
I thank Chairman Roe and all members of the House and Senate
Veterans' Affairs Committees, both Democrats and Republicans, for their
hard work putting together this legislative package that will improve
the benefits and support our country owes America's veterans.
I want to specifically acknowledge my Democratic colleagues, Ranking
Member Walz, now Governor-elect of Minnesota--and, yes, Chairman Roe,
it is very cold there--Congressman Scott Peters, Congressman Correa,
Congresswoman Pingree, Congressman Himes, and Congresswoman Bustos, who
have made valuable contributions to this legislation.
I would also like to take this time to thank Dr. Roe for his
leadership as chairman of this committee in this Congress. I look
forward to working with Dr. Roe as ranking member of the 116th Congress
so that we can continue to function as a productive committee in the
116th, free from partisan gridlock, on behalf of the veterans whom we
represent.
Now, as a former teacher--actually, a current teacher--and advocate
for improving educational and training opportunities for veterans, I am
pleased this legislation contains several provisions written by my
colleagues that will improve the lives of our student veterans and
those of our Gold Star spouses.
This package also includes a provision that helps our reservists and
National Guard members access the valuable help that the vocational
rehabilitation program can provide.
I would first like to highlight legislation written by Mr. Peters,
our colleague on this committee. This measure contains his bill, H.R.
5538, that would provide parity to our National Guard and Reserve
servicemembers involuntarily mobilized to Active Duty under 12304b of
title 10 in support of commands that conduct combat missions.
As our country continues to utilize our Guard and Reserve members as
an operational reserve force, it is critically important that we
modernize our statutes to treat our Guard and Reserve members who have
served shoulder to shoulder with Active-Duty servicemembers on multiple
deployments with parity while they serve in uniform.
This bill allows Guard and Reserve members to stop the clock on the
12-year limit to use vocational rehabilitation programs while they are
supporting active combat missions. Currently, the clock is stopped for
most other instances in which National Guard and Reserve are mobilized,
but this particular authority was overlooked.
This is an important fix because the Department of Defense continues
to increase the use of its 12304b authority. With this provision,
Congress has the authority to be proactive in addressing the needs of
our servicemembers.
Now, let me turn to Congressman Himes' bill, H.R. 3634, the Securing
Electronic Records for Veterans' Ease Act of 2017. It is included in
this measure as well.
For student veterans, the VA does not currently provide sufficient
information about the exact amount of housing stipend that a
beneficiary will receive under the GI Bill benefits; but many veterans
rely on their housing stipend to pay for housing while they are
attending school, making it necessary for them to show proof of their
housing allowance as proof of income. Without this proof of income,
veterans often find themselves unable to secure housing before the
start of school.
Now, this is a commonsense piece of documentation that VA can
electronically provide to allow our veterans to easily use their earned
benefits, and I am pleased this great idea by Congressman Himes was
included in this package.
Congresswoman Bustos' legislation, H.R. 5882, the Gold Star Spouses
Leasing Relief Act, would allow the spouse of a deceased servicemember
to terminate a housing lease following the death of his or her loved
one.
Servicemembers and their families are often stationed far from home
due to the needs of the service. In the sad and difficult time after
the passing of a servicemember, spouses should not be locked into a
rental lease far away from their home and support network and face an
additional financial burden to return home.
This small detail can make life a lot easier for a grieving spouse,
and I am pleased to see my colleague's bill included in this package.
Congressman Lou Correa, our colleague on this committee, introduced
H.R. 4335, the Servicemember Family Burial Act, which makes permanent
VA's practice of providing burials and headstones for the family of
servicemembers who predecease them.
When an Active-Duty servicemember loses a spouse or a child, it is
always in tragic and difficult circumstances. VA should continue to
seamlessly provide this benefit with dignity, sensitivity, and
compassion.
I want to thank Congressman Correa for sponsoring this legislation,
and I am pleased to see it included in this measure.
I also wish to highlight legislation written by Congresswoman
Pingree, the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017, which is included
in this legislative package.
The American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed
Veterans of America, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and
the Veterans of Foreign Wars testified before our committee that the
debt collection letters VA sends veterans are confusing, do not clearly
explain the reason for the debt or clearly describe the steps a veteran
must take to dispute or mitigate the debt.
This legislation would require VA to explain the reason the veteran
incurred a debt in plain language and clearly explain the steps they
can take to dispute or repay the debt.
It would also require VA to give veterans the option to opt-in to
electronic notification and require VA to determine the number of
veterans who are not receiving debt notification letters due to
incorrect addresses on file, which prevents veterans from taking action
because they have not been notified. This legislation forces VA to make
these changes within 90 days of enactment.
Finally, I wish to thank my good friend, Ranking Member Tim Walz, for
his leadership on this committee during the 115th Congress. The
Governor-elect of Minnesota leaves the United States House of
Representatives with a legacy of bipartisan legislative accomplishments
that will undoubtedly improve the lives of veterans for years to come.
I want to thank Chairman Roe and our Senate colleagues for including
his bill, H.R. 4245, the Veterans' Electronic Health Record
Modernization Oversight Act of 2017, in this measure, enabling this
committee to continue its oversight of the $16 billion Electronic
Health Record Modernization, or EHRM, program over the next 10 years.
[[Page H9800]]
Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentleman, Chairman Roe, we are going to do
intensive oversight of this project; I guarantee you that.
This legislation requires the VA to submit contract, technical, and
other documents to Congress and to provide updated documents on a
quarterly basis.
The legislation also requires VA to notify Congress about program
challenges, including incidents affecting patient safety, cost overruns
over $1 million, and a milestone delay of 30 days or more, bid
protests, or a data or privacy breach.
Now, we know that we will likely need to expand these reporting
requirements in the future to include other contract and technical
documents as the program matures and additional technical capabilities
are achieved. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the next
Congress to ensure that we maintain close oversight of this program and
hold VA accountable, if necessary.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the House amendment to
S. 2248, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), vice chair of the Veterans' Affairs
Committee and one of the most fierce advocates for our veterans in this
Congress.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the
House amendment to S. 2248, the Veterans Benefit and Transition Act.
I am proud of the work Chairman Roe and the rest of our committee did
to pass the multiple historic pieces of legislation over the course of
this Congress, including the Forever GI Bill and the VA MISSION Act.
Despite all the progress we have made, there is still more work to be
done. I look forward to working on these issues for our heroes.
This legislative package contains many commonsense, zero-cost bills
we passed in the House over the past year but have stalled in the
Senate. But I know there is an agreement in the Senate, and we are
going to get this done before the end of the year.
I am especially proud that this package contains a provision that
includes my bill, H.R. 4830, the SIT-REP Act, which will hold student
veterans harmless from bureaucratic red tape and delays at higher
education institutions and at the VA. This legislation prevents
educational institutions from imposing a fee on student veterans or
denying their access to education when tuition payments are delayed by
bureaucracy, no fault of the veteran.
In our subcommittee hearings on the implementation of the Forever GI
Bill, we heard many concerns about delays and processing of tuition
payments between schools and the VA. I also had roundtables in my
district and heard the same concerns, Mr. Speaker.
This fall semester, IT failures and delay at the VA led to an
artificially created backlog, adding a significant amount of stress to
our heroes who rely on their monthly stipends and tuition benefits. In
some cases, delays meant the schools putting a hold on a student's
account or forcing the student to begin payment of tuition and fees on
a payment plan until they receive the money from the VA.
It is unacceptable. We cannot allow this type of uncertainty for our
Nation's heroes, Mr. Speaker, and my SIT-REP bill protects these
veterans from additional penalties from schools. It is not the
veterans' fault, and they should not be punished for the actions of
others. It is as simple as that.
I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this commonsense,
bipartisan legislative package which contains many additional
provisions to help our veterans, such as a study on community-based
transition assistance programs, a report on the feasibility of
expanding access to dental care for veterans at the VA, and the
expansion of eligibility under the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration
Program.
I hope the Senate takes this up quickly, and I know they will. I want
them to pass the Veterans Benefit and Transition Act of 2018 so we can
send it to the President's desk before the year's end.
Mr. Speaker, the chairman did an outstanding job as chairman, and my
friend Ranking Member Walz did as well on behalf of our heroes.
I thank Mr. Takano and congratulate him on being the next chairman of
the committee. I look forward to working with him.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have
remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California has 10\1/2\
minutes remaining.
{time} 1715
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Correa), my colleague, my good friend and fellow
Californian, and member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the House amendment to
S. 2248.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe for his service and leadership in
the committee. I also thank Ranking Member Walz, as well as the
committee staff, for their efforts in this legislation and for
including my bipartisan bill, the Servicemember Family Burial Act, as a
provision of this larger bill.
When the Department of Veterans Affairs provides burial and
headstones or markers for eligible family members who predecease active
servicemembers, it is always under very difficult situations. The loss
of a spouse or a child is a very painful occurrence, and we want to
make sure that the burial benefits and the whole process is as easy as
possible for our Active Duty servicemembers during these very difficult
times.
This bill codifies existing current practice to ensure the VA's
process occurs with dignity, sensitivity, and compassion.
In summary, this is a simple change that allows for the burial and
provisions of headstones for eligible spouses and dependents of
children of Active Duty servicemembers in a timely manner.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the inclusion of my legislation within the
larger bill, which contains a range of notable measures aimed at
assisting our Nation's veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Bergman), my good friend, and chairman of the
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, and a retired Marine Corps
lieutenant general.
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe and Chairman Isakson
for their leadership throughout the 115th Congress in a bipartisan,
bicameral way for putting together one last package of veterans
priority bills.
To be able to sponsor any bill is a privilege, but to be able to
sponsor a veteran-related bill is both an honor and a privilege.
I want to talk just very quickly about a couple of bills that I was
proud to sponsor. The VA Purchase Card Misuse Mitigation Act: The VA
has been able to use purchase cards for up to $10,000 using government
cards. This act basically allows them to continue to do that, but also
allows the Secretary of the VA to revoke purchase card approval
authority from any employee who is found to be misusing that card.
As chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee,
transparency and accountability have been my priorities, and this bill
will keep bad actors in check while making the VA more efficient.
The second bill I was proud to sponsor is the Medical-Surgical
Purchasing Stabilization Act. In pure and simple terms, going to a
prime vendor program in med-surge purchasing was a good idea to control
costs and increase patient outcomes. However, we need to ensure that
the providers, the doctors and the nurses who are actually using those
instruments in surgery or in the clinic, have a say in what is being
purchased, because the goal is to provide outcomes for the veteran, and
those healthcare providers know which instruments are the best to use.
Lastly, the Veterans' Electronic Health Record Modernization Act,
which we have already talked about here, this is key to providing
seamless care from the veterans beginning of their service to the end
of their service. This is overdue, and it needs to be monitored, it
needs to be assessed so that we, as the committee, in a bipartisan way
can make it happen.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I am extremely proud of the bipartisan work
[[Page H9801]]
and I am looking forward to the 116th Congress.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Maine (Ms. Pingree), my good friend.
Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for
yielding the time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Veterans Benefit and Transition
Act of 2018. Frankly, it is always a good feeling to be able to speak
for commonsense legislation put together in a bipartisan fashion for
the good of America's veterans.
In particular, I welcome the inclusion of section 504, the Veterans
Fair Debt Notice Act. I introduced this last year in response to
frustrations veterans have been experiencing with the VA's debt
management system. It incorporates some refinements made in the Senate
companion bill introduced by Senator Deb Fischer, which demonstrates
the bipartisan nature of this effort.
The legislation improves the way that veterans are notified about
debts that they may owe from the VA benefits program. Because of the
VA's failure to notify or due to confusingly worded letters or letters
that actually just never reach the vet, many veterans in Maine and
elsewhere are shocked to learn that they owe debts, and for many, they
have missed the deadlines to dispute or seek forgiveness for the
alleged debt.
This bill directs the VA to work with veterans service organizations
to develop standard notification notices that are written in plain
language that anyone can understand and it also allows veterans to
receive notices electronically.
To promote accountability, the bill requires the VA to report to
Congress on the new standard and on the VA's efforts to reduce the
number of errors in its debt notification system.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz for their
work in support, and I urge passage.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup), my good friend, who currently serves and has
served on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee as the Health
Subcommittee chair. He also serves on the House Armed Services
Committee, Intel Committee, and is a colonel in the reserves
Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding the
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, the Veterans
Benefits and Transition Act of 2018.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz and all the
members of the committee and staff who work so hard on behalf of our
veterans. I would like to congratulate Mr. Takano as chairman-elect.
This legislation we are talking about today includes reforms to
ensure America's heroes receive the benefits and recognition that they
so richly deserve. It includes several provisions that I was honored to
support during my time on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, including
updates to our educational assistance programs at the Department of
Veterans Affairs and additional emphasis on transition services
provided to our servicemembers. That one is very near and dear to me.
Importantly, it includes provisions to help the most vulnerable in
the veteran community. It includes the Homeless Veterans Reintegration
Program's Reauthorization Act, which is a bipartisan bill I introduced
with Congresswoman Brownley. This legislation ensures those eligible
for the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Veterans Affairs
Supportive Housing Program and other housing assistance programs are
also eligible for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.
By prioritizing the reintegration of homeless and recently homeless
veterans, we will empower our veterans to reenter the workforce and
help them regain self-sufficiency.
This legislation also includes the Gold Star Spouses Leasing Relief
Act, which I introduced along with Congresswoman Bustos. It recognizes
that after the loss of a military spouse, Gold Star families may need
flexibility to relocate to fit their family's needs.
It would help spouses like Cindy Southern, a native of Portsmouth,
Ohio, in my district. Cindy lost her husband while he was serving in
the Navy overseas during Operation Desert Storm. As she grieved, all
she wanted to do was move home, but she had signed a one-year lease on
a home in North Carolina. Her landlords refused to waive her lease
without massive termination fees. This bill would ensure Gold Star
families are not trapped into a jointly-held residential lease after
the death of a servicemember.
Mr. Speaker, our veterans have given so much to our Nation. This
legislation before us today makes sure we provide the benefits they
deserve, properly support their families, and prepare them for success
in civilian life.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Himes), my good friend and also a member of the House
Intelligence Committee.
Mr. HIMES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and I want to
start by thanking Mr. Takano, Governor-elect Walz, and Dr. Roe for
their work on this bill.
As I have sat here and listened to not so much a debate, but a
celebration of the bipartisan work that was done to create this bill,
including so many things that I know will assist our veterans, it is
great to see the parties working together as we close out this
Congress.
Mr. Takano was very kind in saying that the SERVE Act, which is
included in this legislation, was my idea. It wasn't actually my idea.
It was better than that, because it grew out of a conversation I had
with a retired marine at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield,
Connecticut, in which I simply asked Nicholas Quinzi of the Marine
Corps, ``What can we do to make your life a little easier?''
And he said, ``You know, the problem I have, like so many of my
fellow veterans, I have post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, but there is no way
for me, when I go to a landlord to rent an apartment to be here at
school, there is no way for me to verify that income, and as a result,
I have had a rough time getting housing even though I have got this
stipend from the Federal Government which comes to me as a result of my
service.''
So there it was: a problem with an easy solution.
The SERVE Act, which is now incorporated into the amendment to S.
2248 will simply require the VA to provide proof of that stipend so
that landlords and other housing organizations can see that our
veterans have a steady source of income to help them pay that rent. It
is a small thing, but it is something that matters an awful lot to
Nicholas Quinzi and the roughly 1.1 million other veterans who are
getting this kind of benefit.
So this is an example of what happens when you listen to your
constituents. It wasn't my idea, but I am just so thrilled that
Republicans and Democrats were able to come together around this small,
good thing for a lot of young veterans who are post-service, trying to
get educated, trying to get the kind of tools they will need to
succeed.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Roe for his hard work. I thank Tim Walz and
wish him well as he goes off to other things. And to Chairman-elect
Takano, I thank him for his good work on this bill.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Stefanik), my good friend and fellow
member of the Education and the Workforce Committee.
Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Roe for his leadership.
Mr. Speaker, my legislation included in this package gives all
military spouses, regardless of which State they married in, the choice
to establish the same State of residency as the servicemember for both
voting and tax purposes.
As the proud representative of Fort Drum and the Navy nuclear site at
Kesselring, I understand the challenges military families face and the
sacrifices these families make to help protect our Nation and safeguard
our freedoms.
Military families are constantly relocating to meet the needs of the
military. They sacrifice so much during these relocations, uprooting
their lives and disrupting their families. This is often a very
difficult and trying time, with the heaviest burden falling upon
[[Page H9802]]
military spouses, who serve as a critical support system for their
loved ones
Current law allows Active Duty servicemembers to maintain one State
of legal residence for tax and voting purposes even when those
servicemembers receive military orders requiring them to relocate, but
this does not apply evenly to spouses. Spouses are forced to establish
residency every time the servicemember receives a new assignment,
adding additional stress to families as they manage these relocations
and seek new employment.
My legislation, the Military Residency Choice Act, fixes this
inconsistency to better ease these trying transitions.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Roe for his leadership, Ranking Member Walz,
as well as Chairman-elect Takano.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill on a
bipartisan basis.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
I want to urge all my colleagues to join me in passing this important
legislation, S. 2248. I want to announce my intention to work with Mr.
Roe, my colleague from Tennessee, in the next Congress, that we will
preserve the sacred bipartisan space that we have here for America's
veterans in the Veterans' Affairs Committee. We have so much more to
do, and I hope it lays the groundwork for this Congress to continue to
heal and reach out to each other and serve America as well as our
veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1730
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to encourage all Members to support S.
2248, as amended.
As I close, I thank both the Republican and Democratic members of the
committee and of the full House for the incredible work that they have
done. This committee is an example of how Congress should work. We put
our partisanship aside at the door and we think about one thing: what
is good for America's veterans and their families.
You heard today how Members on both sides of the aisle have gone home
and listened to their constituents and come back with great ideas.
Often, the great ideas don't emanate from here; they emanate from the
citizens of this country. I thank them and the 20 million or so
surviving veterans in this country for their incredible service. We
will never get it all straight up here, but I can assure you that we
are trying our very best to do what is right.
I congratulate Mr. Takano in his elevation to the chairmanship. I
know we have worked very closely together through the last several
years--not just the last 2 years, but the last several years. He will
do a great job as chairman, and I look forward to serving.
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 Tennessee (Mr. Roe) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, S. 2248, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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