[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 162 (Monday, September 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H4535-H4536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EXPIRING AUTHORITIES ACT OF 2021

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5293) to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and 
modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5293

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR DENTAL INSURANCE PLAN FOR 
                   VETERANS AND SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS OF 
                   VETERANS.

       Section 1712C of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking subsection (j).

     SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF PAYMENTS AND 
                   ALLOWANCES FOR BENEFICIARY TRAVEL IN CONNECTION 
                   WITH VETERANS RECEIVING CARE FROM VET CENTERS.

       Section 104(a) of the Honoring America's Veterans and 
     Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-
     154; 126 Stat. 1169), as most recently amended by section 
     5109 of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other 
     Extensions Act (Public Law 116-159; 134 Stat. 749), is 
     further amended by striking ``September 30, 2021'' and 
     inserting ``September 30, 2022''.

     SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON 
                   ACCEPTANCE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS OF DONATED FACILITIES AND RELATED 
                   IMPROVEMENTS.

       Section 2(i) of the Communities Helping Invest through 
     Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 
     (Public Law 114-294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note) is amended by 
     striking ``the date that is 5 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``December 16, 2026''.

     SEC. 5. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

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

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 5293.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to 
speak today in support of H.R. 5293, the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Expiring Authorities Act of 2021, offered by the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Mrvan), the chairman of our Technology Modernization Subcommittee 
and my good friend.
  This package ensures continued operations of several programs that 
are vital to addressing the needs of veterans we serve.
  First, this bill removes the December 31, 2021, expiration date and 
makes permanent VA's dental insurance program. This benefit allows 
qualifying veterans, survivors, and dependents the opportunity to 
purchase discounted dental insurance coverage that includes preventive, 
diagnostic, endodontic, restorative, surgical, and emergency dental 
services.
  Each individual covered by the program pays the entire premium for 
coverage in addition to the full cost of any copays. Enrollment is 
voluntary and does not affect eligible individuals' entitlement to 
existing VHA outpatient dental services and treatment.
  Second, H.R. 5293 will extend VA's authority to provide travel 
reimbursement for certain veterans living in highly rural areas to 
receive care at vet centers. These centers serve as a lifeline for 
veterans who may not feel comfortable seeking services at traditional 
VA medical facilities. They offer individual and group therapy, 
marriage and family counseling, and assist veterans in connecting to 
other VA benefits.
  H.R. 5293 extends VA's authority to reimburse mileage, tolls, and 
other travel expenses veterans from highly rural areas may incur when 
traveling to vet centers.
  Finally, H.R. 5293 will extend for 5 years VA's authority to operate 
the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed 
for Veterans Act of 2016 or the CHIP IN Act.
  This program allows VA to accept donations from non-Federal entities 
of buildings and land that VA will use to address long-term 
infrastructure needs, including the delivery of healthcare services.
  Examples of non-Federal entities that can make donations under the 
pilot include State and local authorities, a donor or donor group, 
limited liability corporations, or tax-exempt organizations.
  The CHIP IN Act allows VA to use funds that have already been 
appropriated for a particular facility's construction project to assist 
a donor of real property and improvements with financing, designing, or 
constructing the facility to suit VA's needs.
  Thus far, VA has accepted two donations: design and construction of a 
facility on the grounds of the VA Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska; 
and construction of an inpatient facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This bill 
will extend VA's authority to accept similar donations in other 
locations.
  Once again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5293, which will 
authorize the continued operation of these important programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5293, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2021. This bill is 
sponsored by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), and I thank him 
for introducing this bill to extend expiring authorities and programs.
  The VA Expiring Authorities Act of 2021 would make VA dental 
insurance programs permanent so that veterans under VA's care are able 
to buy low-cost dental insurance coverage.
  It would also allow veterans to continue to receive travel benefits 
when seeking support at vet centers.
  It would also extend VA's Communities Helping Invest through Property 
and Improvements Needed, or CHIP IN for Vets pilot program by an 
additional 5 years.
  The CHIP IN program allows VA to accept real property donations from 
nongovernment entities. The program was established by Congress in 
2016. It

[[Page H4536]]

has already proven successful in delivering VA medical facilities to 
veterans in Nebraska and Oklahoma.
  Extending this program has been a priority of the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Jackson) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon). I 
appreciate their leadership on this.
  I am also grateful to my fellow House and Senate committee leaders--
Chairman Takano, Chairman Tester, and Ranking Member Moran--for their 
work on this bill.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 5293. Mr. Speaker, 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I just urge my 
colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in 
passing H.R. 5293, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5293.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________