[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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