[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 23102-23126]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 VETERANS BENEFITS, HEALTH CARE, AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 2006

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 3421) to authorize major medical facility projects and 
major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs 
for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows

                                S. 3421

       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, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 
     2006''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.

                TITLE I--ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION MATTERS

Sec. 101. Agent or attorney representation in veterans benefits cases 
              before the Department of Veterans Affairs.

                        TITLE II--HEALTH MATTERS

Sec. 201. Additional mental health providers.
Sec. 202. Pay comparability for the Chief Nursing Officer, Office of 
              Nursing Services.
Sec. 203. Improvement and expansion of mental health services.
Sec. 204. Disclosure of medical records.
Sec. 205. Expansion of telehealth services.
Sec. 206. Strategic plan for long-term care.
Sec. 207. Blind rehabilitation outpatient specialists.
Sec. 208. Extension of certain compliance reports.
Sec. 209. Parkinson's Disease research, education, and clinical centers 
              and multiple sclerosis centers of excellence.
Sec. 210. Repeal of term of office for the Under Secretary for Health 
              and the Under Secretary for Benefits.
Sec. 211. Modifications to State home authorities.
Sec. 212. Office of Rural Health.
Sec. 213. Outreach program to veterans in rural areas.
Sec. 214. Pilot program on improvement of caregiver assistance 
              services.
Sec. 215. Expansion of outreach activities of Vet Centers.
Sec. 216. Clarification and enhancement of bereavement counseling.
Sec. 217. Funding for Vet Center program.

                      TITLE III--EDUCATION MATTERS

Sec. 301. Expansion of eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' 
              Educational Assistance program.
Sec. 302. Restoration of lost entitlement for individuals who 
              discontinue a program of education because of being 
              ordered to full-time National Guard duty.
Sec. 303. Exception for institutions offering Government-sponsored 
              nonaccredited courses to requirement of refunding unused 
              tuition.
Sec. 304. Extension of work-study allowance.
Sec. 305. Deadline and extension of requirement for report on 
              educational assistance program.
Sec. 306. Report on improvement in administration of educational 
              assistance benefits.
Sec. 307. Technical amendments relating to education laws.

        TITLE IV--NATIONAL CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL AFFAIRS MATTERS

Sec. 401. Provision of Government memorial headstones or markers and 
              memorial inscriptions for deceased dependent children of 
              veterans whose remains are unavailable for burial.
Sec. 402. Provision of Government markers for marked graves of veterans 
              at private cemeteries.
Sec. 403. Eligibility of Indian tribal organizations for grants for the 
              establishment of veterans cemeteries on trust lands.
Sec. 404. Removal of remains of Russell Wayne Wagner from Arlington 
              National Cemetery.

              TITLE V--HOUSING AND SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

Sec. 501. Residential cooperative housing units.
Sec. 502. Department of Veterans Affairs goals for participation by 
              small businesses owned and controlled by veterans in 
              procurement contracts.
Sec. 503. Department of Veterans Affairs contracting priority for 
              veteran-owned small businesses.

               TITLE VI--EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING MATTERS

Sec. 601. Training of new disabled veterans' outreach program 
              specialists and local veterans' employment 
              representatives by NVTI required.
Sec. 602. Rules for part-time employment for disabled veterans' 
              outreach program specialists and local veterans' 
              employment representatives.
Sec. 603. Performance incentive awards for employment service offices.
Sec. 604. Demonstration project on credentialing and licensure of 
              veterans.
Sec. 605. Department of Labor implementation of regulations for 
              priority of service.

                TITLE VII--HOMELESS VETERANS ASSISTANCE

Sec. 701. Reaffirmation of national goal to end homelessness among 
              veterans.
Sec. 702. Sense of Congress on the response of the Federal Government 
              to the needs of homeless veterans.
Sec. 703. Authority to make grants for comprehensive service programs 
              for homeless veterans.
Sec. 704. Extension of treatment and rehabilitation for seriously 
              mentally ill and homeless veterans.
Sec. 705. Extension of authority for transfer of properties obtained 
              through foreclosure of home mortgages.
Sec. 706. Extension of funding for grant program for homeless veterans 
              with special needs.
Sec. 707. Extension of funding for homeless veteran service provider 
              technical assistance program.
Sec. 708. Additional element in annual report on assistance to homeless 
              veterans.
Sec. 709. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
Sec. 710. Rental assistance vouchers for Veterans Affairs supported 
              housing program.

                    TITLE VIII--CONSTRUCTION MATTERS

             Subtitle A--Construction and Lease Authorities

Sec. 801. Authorization of fiscal year 2006 major medical facility 
              projects.
Sec. 802. Extension of authorization for certain major medical facility 
              construction projects previously authorized in connection 
              with Capital Asset Realignment Initiative.
Sec. 803. Authorization of fiscal year 2007 major medical facility 
              projects.
Sec. 804. Authorization of advance planning and design for a major 
              medical facility, Charleston, South Carolina.
Sec. 805. Authorization of fiscal year 2006 major medical facility 
              leases.
Sec. 806. Authorization of fiscal year 2007 major medical facility 
              leases.
Sec. 807. Authorization of appropriations.

                 Subtitle B--Facilities Administration

Sec. 811. Director of Construction and Facilities Management.
Sec. 812. Increase in threshold for major medical facility projects.
Sec. 813. Land conveyance, city of Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

          Subtitle C--Reports on Medical Facility Improvements

Sec. 821. Report on option for medical facility improvements in San 
              Juan, Puerto Rico.
Sec. 822. Business plans for enhanced access to outpatient care in 
              certain rural areas.
Sec. 823. Report on option for construction of Department of Veterans 
              Affairs Medical Center in Okaloosa County, Florida.

                 TITLE IX--INFORMATION SECURITY MATTERS

Sec. 901. Short title.
Sec. 902. Department of Veterans Affairs information security programs 
              and requirements.
Sec. 903. Information security education assistance programs.

                         TITLE X--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 1001. Notice to congressional veterans committees of certain 
              transfers of funds.
Sec. 1002. Clarification of correctional facilities covered by certain 
              provisions of law.
Sec. 1003. Extension of authority for health care for participation in 
              DOD chemical and biological warfare testing.
Sec. 1004. Technical and clerical amendments.

[[Page 23103]]

Sec. 1005. Codification of cost-of-living adjustment provided in Public 
              Law 109-361.
Sec. 1006. Coordination of provisions with Veterans Programs Extension 
              Act of 2006.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

       Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the 
     reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 
     other provision of title 38, United States Code.

                TITLE I--ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION MATTERS

     SEC. 101. AGENT OR ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION IN VETERANS 
                   BENEFITS CASES BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Qualifications and Standards of Conduct for Individuals 
     Recognized as Agents or Attorneys.--
       (1) Additional qualifications and standards for agents and 
     attorneys generally.--Subsection (a) of section 5904 is 
     amended--
       (A) by inserting ``Recognition.--(1)'' after ``(a)'';
       (B) by striking ``The Secretary may recognize'' and 
     inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (4), the 
     Secretary may recognize'';
       (C) by striking the second sentence; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(2) The Secretary shall prescribe in regulations 
     (consistent with the Model Rules of Professional Conduct of 
     the American Bar Association) qualifications and standards of 
     conduct for individuals recognized under this section, 
     including a requirement that, as a condition of being so 
     recognized, an individual must--
       ``(A) show that such individual is of good moral character 
     and in good repute, is qualified to render claimants valuable 
     service, and is otherwise competent to assist claimants in 
     presenting claims;
       ``(B) have such level of experience or specialized training 
     as the Secretary shall specify; and
       ``(C) certify to the Secretary that the individual has 
     satisfied any qualifications and standards prescribed by the 
     Secretary under this section.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall prescribe in regulations 
     requirements that each agent or attorney recognized under 
     this section provide annually to the Secretary information 
     about any court, bar, or Federal or State agency to which 
     such agent or attorney is admitted to practice or otherwise 
     authorized to appear, any relevant identification number or 
     numbers, and a certification by such agent or attorney that 
     such agent or attorney is in good standing in every 
     jurisdiction where the agent or attorney is admitted to 
     practice or otherwise authorized to appear.
       ``(4) The Secretary may not recognize an individual as an 
     agent or attorney under paragraph (1) if such individual has 
     been suspended or disbarred by any court, bar, or Federal or 
     State agency to which the individual was previously admitted 
     to practice and has not been subsequently reinstated.
       ``(5) The Secretary may prescribe in regulations reasonable 
     restrictions on the amount of fees that an agent or attorney 
     may charge a claimant for services rendered in the 
     preparation, presentation, and prosecution of a claim before 
     the Department. A fee that does not exceed 20 percent of the 
     past due amount of benefits awarded on a claim shall be 
     presumed to be reasonable.
       ``(6)(A) The Secretary may charge and collect an assessment 
     from an individual recognized as an agent or attorney under 
     this section in any case in which the Secretary pays to the 
     agent or attorney, from past-due benefits owed to a claimant 
     represented by the agent or attorney, an amount as a fee in 
     accordance with a fee arrangement between the claimant and 
     the agent or attorney.
       ``(B) The amount of an assessment under subparagraph (A) 
     shall be equal to five percent of the amount of the fee 
     required to be paid to the agent or attorney, except that the 
     amount of such an assessment may not exceed $100.
       ``(C) The Secretary may collect an assessment under 
     subparagraph (A) by offsetting the amount of the fee 
     otherwise required to be paid to the agent or attorney from 
     the past-due benefits owed to the claimant represented by the 
     agent or attorney.
       ``(D) An agent or attorney who is charged an assessment 
     under subparagraph (A) may not, directly or indirectly, 
     request, receive, or obtain reimbursement for such assessment 
     from the claimant represented by the agent or attorney.
       ``(E) Amounts collected under this paragraph shall be 
     deposited in the account available for administrative 
     expenses for veterans' benefits programs. Amounts so 
     deposited shall be merged with amounts in such account and 
     shall be available for the same purpose, and subject to the 
     same conditions and limitations, as amounts otherwise in such 
     account.''.
       (2) Suspension of recognized representatives of veterans 
     service organizations.--Section 5902(b) is amended--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
       (B) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(b)''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) An individual recognized under this section shall be 
     subject to the provisions of section 5904(b) of this title on 
     the same basis as an individual recognized under section 
     5904(a) of this title.''.
       (3) Suspension of individuals recognized for particular 
     claims.--Section 5903 is amended--
       (A) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The 
     Secretary''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Suspension.--An individual recognized under this 
     section shall be subject to the provisions of section 5904(b) 
     of this title on the same basis as an individual recognized 
     under section 5904(a) of this title.''.
       (b) Additional Bases for Suspension of Individuals.--
     Subsection (b) of section 5904 is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``Suspension of Agents and Attorneys.--'' 
     after ``(b)'';
       (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (3) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(6) has presented to the Secretary a frivolous claim, 
     issue, or argument, involving conduct inconsistent with 
     ethical standards for the practice of law;
       ``(7) has been suspended or disbarred by any court or bar 
     to which such agent or attorney was previously admitted to 
     practice, or has been disqualified from participating in or 
     appearing before any Federal agency, and has not been 
     subsequently reinstated;
       ``(8) has charged excessive or unreasonable fees, as 
     determined by the Secretary in accordance with subsection 
     (c)(3)(A); or
       ``(9) has failed to comply with any other condition 
     specified in regulations prescribed by the Secretary for 
     purposes of this subsection.''.
       (c) Modification of Date for Commencement of Services 
     Subject to Fees.--
       (1) Modification.--Effective as provided in subsection (h), 
     paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of such section is amended--
       (A) by striking ``the Board of Veterans' Appeals first 
     makes a final decision in'' and inserting ``a notice of 
     disagreement is filed with respect to'';
       (B) by striking the second sentence; and
       (C) in the third sentence, by inserting ``fees charged, 
     allowed, or paid for'' before ``services provided''.
       (2) Report.--Not later than 42 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to Congress a report that sets forth an 
     assessment of the effects of allowing agents and attorneys 
     recognized under section 5904 of title 38, United States 
     Code, to charge a fee to a claimant for services rendered in 
     the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of a claim 
     before the Department of Veterans Affairs after a notice of 
     disagreement has been filed. Such report shall include the 
     recommendations of the Secretary with respect to agent and 
     attorney representation.
       (d) Modification of Requirements To File Attorney Fee 
     Agreements.--Effective as provided in subsection (h), 
     paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of such section is amended--
       (1) by striking ``after the Board first makes a final 
     decision in the case'' and inserting ``after a notice of 
     disagreement is filed with respect to the case'';
       (2) by striking ``with the Board at such time as may be 
     specified by the Board'' and inserting ``with the Secretary 
     pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary''; and
       (3) by striking the second and third sentences.
       (e) Attorney Fees.--Subsection (c) of such section is 
     further amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraph (4)''; and
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4);
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
     paragraph (3):
       ``(3)(A) The Secretary may, upon the Secretary's own motion 
     or at the request of the claimant, review a fee agreement 
     filed pursuant to paragraph (2) and may order a reduction in 
     the fee called for in the agreement if the Secretary finds 
     that the fee is excessive or unreasonable.
       ``(B) A finding or order of the Secretary under 
     subparagraph (A) may be reviewed by the Board of Veterans' 
     Appeals under section 7104 of this title.
       ``(C) If the Secretary under subsection (b) suspends or 
     excludes from further practice before the Department any 
     agent or attorney who collects or receives a fee in excess of 
     the amount authorized under this section, the suspension 
     shall continue until the agent or attorney makes full 
     restitution to each claimant from whom the agent or attorney 
     collected or received an excessive fee. If the agent or 
     attorney makes such restitution, the Secretary may reinstate 
     such agent or attorney under such rules as the Secretary may 
     prescribe.''.
       (f) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Subsection (d) of 
     such section is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``Payment of Fees Out of Past-Due 
     Benefits.--'' after ``(d)'';
       (2) by inserting ``agent or'' before ``attorney'' each 
     place it appears;

[[Page 23104]]

       (3) in paragraph (1), by striking ``of this subsection'' 
     after ``paragraph (2)'';
       (4) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``of this paragraph'' 
     after ``subparagraph (A)''; and
       (5) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by striking ``attorneys' fee'' and inserting ``fee to 
     an agent or attorney''; and
       (B) by striking ``of this subsection'' after ``paragraph 
     (1)''.
       (g) Repeal of Penalty for Certain Acts.--Section 5905 is 
     amended by striking ``(1)'' and all that follows through 
     ``(2)''.
       (h) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections 
     (c)(1) and (d) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply 
     with respect to services of agents and attorneys that are 
     provided with respect to cases in which notices of 
     disagreement are filed on or after that date.
       (i) Limitation on Collection of Fee Assessment.--No 
     assessments on fees may be collected under paragraph (6) of 
     section 5904(a) of title 38, United States Code (as added by 
     subsection (a)(1)(D) of this section), until the date on 
     which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs prescribes the 
     regulations required by the amendments made by this section.

                        TITLE II--HEALTH MATTERS

     SEC. 201. ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.

       (a) Appointments.--Section 7401(3) is amended by inserting 
     after ``social workers,'' the following: ``marriage and 
     family therapists, licensed professional mental health 
     counselors,''.
       (b) Qualifications.--Section 7402(b) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (12); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new 
     paragraphs:
       ``(10) Marriage and Family Therapist.--To be eligible to be 
     appointed to a marriage and family therapist position, a 
     person must--
       ``(A) hold a master's degree in marriage and family 
     therapy, or a comparable degree in mental health, from a 
     college or university approved by the Secretary; and
       ``(B) be licensed or certified to independently practice 
     marriage and family therapy in a State, except that the 
     Secretary may waive the requirement of licensure or 
     certification for an individual marriage and family therapist 
     for a reasonable period of time recommended by the Under 
     Secretary for Health.
       ``(11) Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor.--To 
     be eligible to be appointed to a licensed professional mental 
     health counselor position, a person must--
       ``(A) hold a master's degree in mental health counseling, 
     or a related field, from a college or university approved by 
     the Secretary; and
       ``(B) be licensed or certified to independently practice 
     mental health counseling.''.
       (c) Report on Marriage and Family Therapy Workload.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Health of 
     the Department 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 provision of treatment for 
     post-traumatic stress disorder by marriage and family 
     therapists employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following:
       (A) The actual and projected workloads in facilities of the 
     Veterans Readjustment Counseling Service and the Veterans 
     Health Administration for the provision of marriage and 
     family counseling for veterans diagnosed with, or otherwise 
     in need of treatment for, post-traumatic stress disorder.
       (B) The resources available and needed to support the 
     projected workload described in subparagraph (A).
       (C) An assessment by the Under Secretary for Health of the 
     effectiveness of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder 
     that is provided by marriage and family therapists.
       (D) Recommendations, if any, for improvements in the 
     provision of such treatment by such therapists.

     SEC. 202. PAY COMPARABILITY FOR THE CHIEF NURSING OFFICER, 
                   OFFICE OF NURSING SERVICES.

       Section 7404 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (d), by striking ``subchapter III and 
     in'' and inserting ``subsection (e), subchapter III, and''; 
     and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) The position of Chief Nursing Officer, Office of 
     Nursing Services, shall be exempt from the provisions of 
     section 7451 of this title and shall be paid at a rate 
     determined by the Secretary, not to exceed the maximum rate 
     established for the Senior Executive Service under section 
     5382 of title 5.''.

     SEC. 203. IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH 
                   SERVICES.

       (a) Required Capacity for Community-Based Outpatient 
     Clinics.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     ensure that each community-based outpatient clinic of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs has the capacity to provide, 
     or monitor the provision of, mental health services to 
     enrolled veterans who, as determined by the Secretary, are in 
     need of such services.
       (2) Settings.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary 
     shall ensure that mental health services are provided 
     through--
       (A) a community-based outpatient clinic of the Department 
     by an employee of the Department;
       (B) referral to another facility of the Department;
       (C) contract with an appropriate mental health professional 
     in the community; or
       (D) telemental health services.
       (b) Clinical Training and Protocols.--
       (1) Collaboration.--The National Center on Post-Traumatic 
     Stress Disorder of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall 
     collaborate with the Secretary of Defense--
       (A) to enhance the clinical skills of military clinicians 
     on matters relating to post-traumatic stress disorder through 
     training, treatment protocols, web-based interventions, and 
     the development of evidence-based interventions; and
       (B) to promote pre-deployment resilience and post-
     deployment readjustment among members of the Armed Forces 
     serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 
     Freedom.
       (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 
     fiscal year 2007 $2,000,000 to carry out this subsection.
       (c) Mental Health Outreach.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall--
       (1) develop additional educational materials on post-
     traumatic stress disorder; and
       (2) undertake additional efforts to educate veterans about 
     post-traumatic stress disorder.
       (d) Review of PTSD Clinical Guidelines.--The Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall--
       (1) review the clinical guidelines of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs on post-traumatic stress disorder and all 
     appropriate protocols related to post-traumatic stress 
     disorder;
       (2) revise such guidelines and protocols as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate to ensure that clinicians are able to 
     effectively distinguish between diagnoses with similar 
     symptoms that may manifest as post-traumatic stress disorder, 
     including traumatic brain injury; and
       (3) develop performance measures for the treatment of post-
     traumatic stress disorder among veterans.

     SEC. 204. DISCLOSURE OF MEDICAL RECORDS.

       (a) Limited Exception to Confidentiality of Medical 
     Records.--Section 5701 is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(k)(1)(A) Under regulations that the Secretary shall 
     prescribe, the Secretary may disclose the name and address of 
     any individual described in subparagraph (C) to an entity 
     described in subparagraph (B) in order to facilitate the 
     determination by such entity whether the individual is, or 
     after death will be, a suitable organ, tissue, or eye donor 
     if--
       ``(i) the individual is near death (as determined by the 
     Secretary) or is deceased; and
       ``(ii) the disclosure is permitted under regulations 
     promulgated pursuant to section 264 of the Health Insurance 
     Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2 
     note).
       ``(B) An entity described in this subparagraph is--
       ``(i) an organ procurement organization, including eye and 
     tissue banks; or
       ``(ii) an entity that the Secretary has determined--
       ``(I) is substantially similar in function, 
     professionalism, and reliability to an organ procurement 
     organization; and
       ``(II) should be treated for purposes of this subsection in 
     the same manner as an organ procurement organization.
       ``(C) An individual described in this subparagraph is--
       ``(i) a veteran; or
       ``(ii) a dependent of veteran.
       ``(2) In this subsection, the term `organ procurement 
     organization' has the meaning given the term `qualified organ 
     procurement organization' in section 371(b) of the Public 
     Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 273(b)).''.
       (b) Disclosures From Certain Medical Records.--Section 
     7332(b)(2) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(E) To an entity described in paragraph (1)(B) of section 
     5701(k) of this title, but only to the extent authorized by 
     such section.''.
       (c) Deadline for Prescribing Regulations.--The Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations under subsection 
     (k) of section 5701 of title 38, United States Code, as added 
     by subsection (a), not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 205. EXPANSION OF TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     increase the number of facilities of the Readjustment 
     Counseling Service that are capable of providing health 
     services and counseling through telehealth linkages with 
     facilities of the Veterans Health Administration.
       (b) Plan.--Not later than July 1, 2007, the Secretary shall 
     submit to the Committee on

[[Page 23105]]

     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan to 
     implement the requirement in subsection (a). The plan shall 
     specify which facilities of the Readjustment Counseling 
     Service will have the capabilities described in subsection 
     (a) as of the end of each of fiscal years 2007, 2008, and 
     2009.

     SEC. 206. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR LONG-TERM CARE.

       (a) Publication.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall publish a strategic plan for the provision of long-term 
     care by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Policies and Strategies.--The plan published under 
     subsection (a) shall contain policies and strategies for--
       (1) the delivery of care in domiciliaries, residential 
     treatment facilities, and nursing homes and for seriously 
     mentally ill veterans;
       (2) maximizing the use of State veterans homes;
       (3) locating domiciliary units as close to patient 
     populations as feasible; and
       (4) identifying freestanding nursing homes as an acceptable 
     care model.
       (c) Data.--The plan published under subsection (a) shall 
     include data on--
       (1) the provision of care of catastrophically disabled 
     veterans; and
       (2) the geographic distribution of catastrophically 
     disabled veterans.
       (d) Noninstitutional Long-Term Care Options.--The plan 
     published under subsection (a) shall address the spectrum of 
     noninstitutional long-term care options, including each of 
     the following:
       (1) Respite care.
       (2) Home-based primary care.
       (3) Geriatric evaluation.
       (4) Adult day health care.
       (5) Skilled home health care.
       (6) Community residential care.
       (e) Additional Matters to Be Included.--The plan published 
     under subsection (a) shall provide--
       (1) cost and quality comparison analyses of all the 
     different levels of long-term care for veterans;
       (2) detailed information about geographic distribution of 
     services and gaps in care; and
       (3) specific plans for working with Medicare, Medicaid, and 
     private insurance companies to expand the availability of 
     such care.

     SEC. 207. BLIND REHABILITATION OUTPATIENT SPECIALISTS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) There are approximately 135,000 blind veterans 
     throughout the United States, including approximately 35,000 
     who are enrolled with the Department of Veterans Affairs. An 
     aging veteran population and injuries incurred in Operation 
     Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom are increasing 
     the number of blind veterans.
       (2) Since 1996, when the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     hired its first 14 blind rehabilitation outpatient 
     specialists (referred to in this section as ``Specialists''), 
     Specialists have been a critical part of the continuum of 
     care for blind and visually impaired veterans.
       (3) The Department of Veterans Affairs operates 10 
     residential blind rehabilitation centers that are considered 
     among the best in the world. These centers have had long 
     waiting lists, with as many as 1,500 blind veterans waiting 
     for openings in 2004.
       (4) Specialists provide--
       (A) critically needed services to veterans who are unable 
     to attend residential centers or are waiting to enter a 
     residential center program;
       (B) a range of services for blind veterans, including 
     training with living skills, mobility, and adaptation of 
     manual skills; and
       (C) pre-admission screening and follow-up care for blind 
     rehabilitation centers.
       (5) There are not enough Specialist positions to meet the 
     increased numbers and needs of blind veterans.
       (b) Establishment of Additional Specialist Positions.--Not 
     later than 30 months after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish an 
     additional Specialist position at not fewer than 35 
     additional facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (c) Selection of Facilities.--In identifying the most 
     appropriate facilities to receive a Specialist position under 
     this section, the Secretary shall--
       (1) give priority to facilities with large numbers of 
     enrolled legally blind veterans;
       (2) ensure that each facility does not have such a 
     position; and
       (3) ensure that each facility is in need of the services of 
     a Specialist.
       (d) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the 
     provision of blind rehabilitation services for veterans with 
     services for the care of the visually impaired offered by 
     State and local agencies, especially to the extent to which 
     such State and local agencies can provide necessary services 
     to blind veterans in settings located closer to the 
     residences of such veterans at similar quality and cost to 
     the veteran.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
     carry out this section $3,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2007 through 2012.

     SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN COMPLIANCE REPORTS.

       (a) Management of Health Care.--Section 1706(b)(5)(A) is 
     amended by striking ``2004'' and inserting ``2008''.
       (b) Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.--Section 
     542(c)(1) is amended by striking ``2004'' and inserting 
     ``2008''.

     SEC. 209. PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND 
                   CLINICAL CENTERS AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CENTERS 
                   OF EXCELLENCE.

       (a) Requirement for Establishment of Centers.--
       (1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new sections:

     ``Sec. 7329. Parkinson's Disease research, education, and 
       clinical centers

       ``(a) Establishment of Centers.--(1) The Secretary, upon 
     the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, shall 
     designate not less than six Department health-care facilities 
     as the locations for centers of Parkinson's Disease research, 
     education, and clinical activities.
       ``(2) Subject to the availability of appropriations for 
     such purpose, the Secretary shall establish and operate 
     centers of Parkinson's Disease research, education, and 
     clinical activities centers at the locations designated 
     pursuant to paragraph (1).
       ``(b) Criteria for Designation of Facilities.--(1) In 
     designating Department health-care facilities for centers 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary, upon the recommendation 
     of the Under Secretary for Health, shall assure appropriate 
     geographic distribution of such facilities.
       ``(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Secretary 
     shall designate as the location for a center of Parkinson's 
     Disease research, education, and clinical activities pursuant 
     to subsection (a)(1) each Department health-care facility 
     that as of January 1, 2005, was operating a Parkinson's 
     Disease research, education, and clinical center.
       ``(3) The Secretary may not under subsection (a) designate 
     a facility described in paragraph (2) if (on the 
     recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health) the 
     Secretary determines that such facility--
       ``(A) does not meet the requirements of subsection (c); or
       ``(B) has not demonstrated--
       ``(i) effectiveness in carrying out the established 
     purposes of such center; or
       ``(ii) the potential to carry out such purposes effectively 
     in the reasonably foreseeable future.
       ``(c) Requirements for Designation.--(1) The Secretary may 
     not designate a Department health-care facility as a location 
     for a center under subsection (a) unless the peer review 
     panel established under subsection (d) has determined under 
     that subsection that the proposal submitted by such facility 
     as a location for a new center under subsection (a) is among 
     those proposals that meet the highest competitive standards 
     of scientific and clinical merit.
       ``(2) The Secretary may not designate a Department health-
     care facility as a location for a center under subsection (a) 
     unless the Secretary (upon the recommendation of the Under 
     Secretary for Health) determines that the facility has (or 
     may reasonably be anticipated to develop) each of the 
     following:
       ``(A) An arrangement with an accredited medical school that 
     provides education and training in neurology and with which 
     the Department health-care facility is affiliated under which 
     residents receive education and training in innovative 
     diagnosis and treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases 
     and movement disorders, including Parkinson's Disease.
       ``(B) The ability to attract the participation of 
     scientists who are capable of ingenuity and creativity in 
     health-care research efforts.
       ``(C) An advisory committee composed of veterans and 
     appropriate health-care and research representatives of the 
     Department health-care facility and of the affiliated school 
     or schools to advise the directors of such facility and such 
     center on policy matters pertaining to the activities of the 
     center during the period of the operation of such center.
       ``(D) The capability to conduct effectively evaluations of 
     the activities of such center.
       ``(E) The capability to coordinate (as part of an 
     integrated national system) education, clinical, and research 
     activities within all facilities with such centers.
       ``(F) The capability to jointly develop a consortium of 
     providers with interest in treating neurodegenerative 
     diseases, including Parkinson's Disease and other movement 
     disorders, at facilities without centers established under 
     subsection (a) in order to ensure better access to state-of-
     the-art diagnosis, care, and education for neurodegenerative 
     disorders throughout the health-care system of the 
     Department.
       ``(G) The capability to develop a national repository in 
     the health-care system of the Department for the collection 
     of data on health services delivered to veterans seeking care 
     for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's 
     Disease, and other movement disorders.
       ``(d) Peer Review Panel.--(1) The Under Secretary for 
     Health shall establish a panel to assess the scientific and 
     clinical merit of

[[Page 23106]]

     proposals that are submitted to the Secretary for the 
     establishment of centers under this section.
       ``(2)(A) The membership of the panel shall consist of 
     experts in neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's 
     Disease and other movement disorders.
       ``(B) Members of the panel shall serve for a period of no 
     longer than two years, except as specified in subparagraph 
     (C).
       ``(C) Of the members first appointed to the panel, one half 
     shall be appointed for a period of three years and one half 
     shall be appointed for a period of two years, as designated 
     by the Under Secretary at the time of appointment.
       ``(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted to the 
     panel by the Under Secretary and shall submit its views on 
     the relative scientific and clinical merit of each such 
     proposal to the Under Secretary.
       ``(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal 
     Advisory Committee Act.
       ``(e) Priority of Funding.--Before providing funds for the 
     operation of a center designated under subsection (a) at a 
     Department health-care facility other than at a facility 
     designated pursuant to subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall 
     ensure that each Parkinson's Disease center at a facility 
     designated pursuant to subsection (b)(2) is receiving 
     adequate funding to enable that center to function 
     effectively in the areas of Parkinson's Disease research, 
     education, and clinical activities.
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary 
     for the support of the research and education activities of 
     the centers established pursuant to subsection (a). The Under 
     Secretary for Health shall allocate to such centers from 
     other funds appropriated generally for the Department medical 
     services account and medical and prosthetics research 
     account, as appropriate, such amounts as the Under Secretary 
     for Health determines appropriate.
       ``(g) Award Competitions.--Activities of clinical and 
     scientific investigation at each center established under 
     subsection (a) shall be eligible to compete for the award of 
     funding from funds appropriated for the Department medical 
     and prosthetics research account. Such activities shall 
     receive priority in the award of funding from such account 
     insofar as funds are awarded to projects for research in 
     Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders.

     ``Sec. 7330. Multiple sclerosis centers of excellence

       ``(a) Establishment of Centers.--(1) The Secretary, upon 
     the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, shall 
     designate not less than two Department health-care facilities 
     as the locations for multiple sclerosis centers of 
     excellence.
       ``(2) Subject to the availability of appropriations for 
     such purpose, the Secretary shall establish and operate 
     multiple sclerosis centers of excellence at the locations 
     designated pursuant to paragraph (1).
       ``(b) Criteria for Designation of Facilities.--(1) In 
     designating Department health-care facilities for centers 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary, upon the recommendation 
     of the Under Secretary for Health, shall assure appropriate 
     geographic distribution of such facilities.
       ``(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Secretary 
     shall designate as the location for a center pursuant to 
     subsection (a)(1) each Department health-care facility that 
     as of January 1, 2005, was operating a multiple sclerosis 
     center of excellence.
       ``(3) The Secretary may not under subsection (a) designate 
     a facility described in paragraph (2) if (on the 
     recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health) the 
     Secretary determines that such facility--
       ``(A) does not meet the requirements of subsection (c); or
       ``(B) has not demonstrated--
       ``(i) effectiveness in carrying out the established 
     purposes of such center; or
       ``(ii) the potential to carry out such purposes effectively 
     in the reasonably foreseeable future.
       ``(c) Requirements for Designation.--(1) The Secretary may 
     not designate a Department health-care facility as a location 
     for a center under subsection (a) unless the peer review 
     panel established under subsection (d) has determined under 
     that subsection that the proposal submitted by such facility 
     as a location for a new center under subsection (a) is among 
     those proposals that meet the highest competitive standards 
     of scientific and clinical merit.
       ``(2) The Secretary may not designate a Department health-
     care facility as a location for a center under subsection (a) 
     unless the Secretary (upon the recommendation of the Under 
     Secretary for Health) determines that the facility has (or 
     may reasonably be anticipated to develop) each of the 
     following:
       ``(A) An arrangement with an accredited medical school that 
     provides education and training in neurology and with which 
     the Department health-care facility is affiliated under which 
     residents receive education and training in innovative 
     diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases affecting the 
     central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis.
       ``(B) The ability to attract the participation of 
     scientists who are capable of ingenuity and creativity in 
     health-care research efforts.
       ``(C) An advisory committee composed of veterans and 
     appropriate health-care and research representatives of the 
     Department health-care facility and of the affiliated school 
     or schools to advise the directors of such facility and such 
     center on policy matters pertaining to the activities of the 
     center during the period of the operation of such center.
       ``(D) The capability to conduct effectively evaluations of 
     the activities of such center.
       ``(E) The capability to coordinate (as part of an 
     integrated national system) education, clinical, and research 
     activities within all facilities with such centers.
       ``(F) The capability to jointly develop a consortium of 
     providers with interest in treating multiple sclerosis at 
     facilities without such centers in order to ensure better 
     access to state-of-the-art diagnosis, care, and education for 
     autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system 
     throughout the health-care system of the Department.
       ``(G) The capability to develop a national repository in 
     the health-care system of the Department for the collection 
     of data on health services delivered to veterans seeking care 
     for autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
       ``(d) Peer Review Panel.--(1) The Under Secretary for 
     Health shall establish a panel to assess the scientific and 
     clinical merit of proposals that are submitted to the 
     Secretary for the establishment of centers under this 
     section.
       ``(2)(A) The membership of the panel shall consist of 
     experts in autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous 
     system.
       ``(B) Members of the panel shall serve for a period of no 
     longer than two years, except as specified in subparagraph 
     (C).
       ``(C) Of the members first appointed to the panel, one half 
     shall be appointed for a period of three years and one half 
     shall be appointed for a period of two years, as designated 
     by the Under Secretary at the time of appointment.
       ``(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted to the 
     panel by the Under Secretary and shall submit its views on 
     the relative scientific and clinical merit of each such 
     proposal to the Under Secretary.
       ``(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal 
     Advisory Committee Act.
       ``(e) Priority of Funding.--Before providing funds for the 
     operation of a center designated under subsection (a) at a 
     Department health-care facility other than at a facility 
     designated pursuant to subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall 
     ensure that each multiple sclerosis center at a facility 
     designated pursuant to subsection (b)(2) is receiving 
     adequate funding to enable that center to function 
     effectively in the areas of multiple sclerosis research, 
     education, and clinical activities.
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary 
     for the support of the research and education activities of 
     the centers established pursuant to subsection (a). The Under 
     Secretary for Health shall allocate to such centers from 
     other funds appropriated generally for the Department medical 
     services account and medical and prosthetics research 
     account, as appropriate, such amounts as the Under Secretary 
     for Health determines appropriate.
       ``(g) Award Competitions.--Activities of clinical and 
     scientific investigation at each center established under 
     subsection (a) shall be eligible to compete for the award of 
     funding from funds appropriated for the Department medical 
     and prosthetics research account. Such activities shall 
     receive priority in the award of funding from such account 
     insofar as funds are awarded to projects for research in 
     multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative disorders.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 7328 the following new items:

``7329. Parkinson's Disease research, education, and clinical centers.
``7330. Multiple sclerosis centers of excellence.''.

       (b) Effective Date.--Sections 7329 and 7330 of title 38, 
     United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take 
     effect at the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 210. REPEAL OF TERM OF OFFICE FOR THE UNDER SECRETARY 
                   FOR HEALTH AND THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR 
                   BENEFITS.

       (a) Under Secretary for Health.--
       (1) In general.--Section 305 is amended by striking 
     subsection (c).
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (d) of such section 
     is redesignated as subsection (c).
       (b) Under Secretary for Benefits.--
       (1) In general.--Section 306 is amended by striking 
     subsection (c).
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (d) of such section 
     is redesignated as subsection (c).

     SEC. 211. MODIFICATIONS TO STATE HOME AUTHORITIES.

       (a) Nursing Home Care and Prescription Medications in State 
     Homes for Veterans With Service-Connected Disabilities.--
       (1) Nursing home care.--Subchapter V of chapter 17 is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new section:

[[Page 23107]]



     ``Sec. 1745. Nursing home care and medications for veterans 
       with service-connected disabilities

       ``(a)(1) The Secretary shall pay each State home for 
     nursing home care at the rate determined under paragraph (2), 
     in any case in which such care is provided to any veteran as 
     follows:
       ``(A) Any veteran in need of such care for a service-
     connected disability.
       ``(B) Any veteran who--
       ``(i) has a service-connected disability rated at 70 
     percent or more; and
       ``(ii) is in need of such care.
       ``(2) The rate determined under this paragraph with respect 
     to a State home is the lesser of--
       ``(A) the applicable or prevailing rate payable in the 
     geographic area in which the State home is located, as 
     determined by the Secretary, for nursing home care furnished 
     in a non-Department nursing home (as that term is defined in 
     section 1720(e)(2) of this title); or
       ``(B) a rate not to exceed the daily cost of care, as 
     determined by the Secretary, following a report to the 
     Secretary by the director of the State home.
       ``(3) Payment by the Secretary under paragraph (1) to a 
     State home for nursing home care provided to a veteran 
     described in that paragraph constitutes payment in full to 
     the State home for such care furnished to that veteran.''.
       (2) Provision of prescription medicines.--Such section, as 
     so added, is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(b) The Secretary shall furnish such drugs and medicines 
     as may be ordered on prescription of a duly licensed 
     physician as specific therapy in the treatment of illness or 
     injury to any veteran as follows:
       ``(1) Any veteran who--
       ``(A) is not being provided nursing home care for which 
     payment is payable under subsection (a); and
       ``(B) is in need of such drugs and medicines for a service-
     connected disability.
       ``(2) Any veteran who--
       ``(A) has a service-connected disability rated at 50 
     percent or more;
       ``(B) is not being provided nursing home care for which 
     payment is payable under subsection (a); and
       ``(C) is in need of such drugs and medicines.''.
       (3) Conforming amendments.--
       (A) Criteria for payment.--Section 1741(a)(1) is amended by 
     striking ``The'' and inserting ``Except as provided in 
     section 1745 of this title, the''.
       (B) Eligibility for nursing home care.--Section 1710(a)(4) 
     is amended--
       (i) by striking ``and'' before ``the requirement in section 
     1710B of this title''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``, and the requirement in section 1745 
     of this title to provide nursing home care and prescription 
     medicines to veterans with service-connected disabilities in 
     State homes'' after ``a program of extended care services''.
       (4) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 1744 the following new item:

``1745. Nursing home care and medications for veterans with service-
              connected disabilities.''.

       (5) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       (b) Identification of Veterans in State Homes.--Such 
     chapter is further amended--
       (1) in section 1745, as added by subsection (a)(1) of this 
     section, by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c) Any State home that requests payment or reimbursement 
     for services provided to a veteran under this section shall 
     provide to the Secretary such information as the Secretary 
     considers necessary to identify each individual veteran 
     eligible for payment under such section.''; and
       (2) in section 1741, by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(f) Any State home that requests payment or reimbursement 
     for services provided to a veteran under this section shall 
     provide to the Secretary such information as the Secretary 
     considers necessary to identify each individual veteran 
     eligible for payment under such section.''.
       (c) Authority To Treat Certain Health Facilities as State 
     Homes.--
       (1) Authority.--Subchapter III of chapter 81 is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 8138. Treatment of certain health facilities as State 
       homes

       ``(a) The Secretary may treat a health facility (or certain 
     beds in a health facility) as a State home for purposes of 
     subchapter V of chapter 17 of this title if the following 
     requirements are met:
       ``(1) The facility (or certain beds in such facility) meets 
     the standards for the provision of nursing home care that are 
     applicable to State homes, as prescribed by the Secretary 
     under section 8134(b) of this title, and such other standards 
     relating to the facility (or certain beds in such facility) 
     as the Secretary may require.
       ``(2) The facility (or certain beds in such facility) is 
     licensed or certified by the appropriate State and local 
     agencies charged with the responsibility of licensing or 
     otherwise regulating or inspecting State home facilities.
       ``(3) The State demonstrates in an application to the 
     Secretary that, but for the treatment of a facility (or 
     certain beds in such facility), as a State home under this 
     subsection, a substantial number of veterans residing in the 
     geographic area in which the facility is located who require 
     nursing home care will not have access to such care.
       ``(4) The Secretary determines that the treatment of the 
     facility (or certain beds in such facility) as a State home 
     best meets the needs of veterans for nursing home care in the 
     geographic area in which the facility is located.
       ``(5) The Secretary approves the application submitted by 
     the State with respect to the facility (or certain beds in 
     such facility).
       ``(b) The Secretary may not treat a health facility (or 
     certain beds in a health facility) as a State home under 
     subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that such 
     treatment would increase the number of beds allocated to the 
     State in excess of the limit on the number of beds provided 
     for by regulations prescribed under section 8134(a) of this 
     title.
       ``(c) The number of beds occupied by veterans in a health 
     facility for which payment may be made under subchapter V of 
     chapter 17 of this title by reason of subsection (a) shall 
     not exceed--
       ``(1) 100 beds in the aggregate for all States; and
       ``(2) in the case of any State, the difference between--
       ``(A) the number of veterans authorized to be in beds in 
     State homes in such State under regulations prescribed under 
     section 8134(a) of this title; and
       ``(B) the number of veterans actually in beds in State 
     homes (other than facilities or certain beds treated as State 
     homes under subsection (a)) in such State under regulations 
     prescribed under such section.
       ``(d) The number of beds in a health facility in a State 
     that has been treated as a State home under subsection (a) 
     shall be taken into account in determining the unmet need for 
     beds for State homes for the State under section 8134(d)(1) 
     of this title.
       ``(e) The Secretary may not treat any new health facilities 
     (or any new certain beds in a health facility) as a State 
     home under subsection (a) after September 30, 2009.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 8137 the following new item:

``8138. Treatment of certain health facilities as State homes.''.

     SEC. 212. OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Establishment and functions.--Chapter 73 is amended by 
     inserting after section 7307 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 7308. Office of Rural Health

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the 
     Department within the Office of the Under Secretary for 
     Health an office to be known as the `Office of Rural Health' 
     (in this section referred to as the `Office').
       ``(b) Head.--The Director of the Office of Rural Health 
     shall be the head of the Office. The Director of the Office 
     of Rural Health shall be appointed by the Under Secretary of 
     Health from among individuals qualified to perform the duties 
     of the position.
       ``(c) Functions.--The functions of the Office are as 
     follows:
       ``(1) In cooperation with the medical, rehabilitation, 
     health services, and cooperative studies research programs in 
     the Office of Policy and the Office of Research and 
     Development of the Veterans Health Administration, to assist 
     the Under Secretary for Health in conducting, coordinating, 
     promoting, and disseminating research into issues affecting 
     veterans living in rural areas.
       ``(2) To work with all personnel and offices of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs to develop, refine, and 
     promulgate policies, best practices, lessons learned, and 
     innovative and successful programs to improve care and 
     services for veterans who reside in rural areas of the United 
     States.
       ``(3) To designate in each Veterans Integrated Service 
     Network (VISN) an individual who shall consult on and 
     coordinate the discharge in such Network of programs and 
     activities of the Office for veterans who reside in rural 
     areas of the United States.
       ``(4) To perform such other functions and duties as the 
     Secretary or the Under Secretary for Health considers 
     appropriate.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 7307 the following new item:

``7308. Office of Rural Health.''.

       (b) Assessment of Fee-Basis Health-Care Program.--The 
     Director of the Office of Rural Health shall conduct an 
     assessment of the effects of the implementation of the fee-
     basis health-care program of the Veterans Health 
     Administration on the delivery of health-care services to 
     veterans who reside in rural areas of the United States. The 
     assessment shall be conducted in consultation with the 
     individuals designated under subsection (c)(3) of section 
     7308 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
     (a). In conducting the assessment, the Director shall--

[[Page 23108]]

       (1) identify various mechanisms for expanding the program 
     in order to enhance and improve health-care services for such 
     veterans and determine the feasibility and advisability of 
     implementing such mechanisms; and
       (2) for each mechanism determined under paragraph (1) to be 
     feasible and advisable to implement, make recommendations to 
     the Under Secretary for Health on the implementation of such 
     mechanism.
       (c) Plan to Improve Access and Quality of Care.--Not later 
     than September 30, 2007, the Director of the Office of Rural 
     Health shall develop a plan to improve the access and quality 
     of care for enrolled veterans in rural areas. The plan shall 
     include--
       (1) measures for meeting the long term care needs of rural 
     veterans; and
       (2) measures for meeting the mental health needs of 
     veterans residing in rural areas.
       (d) Report on Community-Based Outpatient Clinics and Access 
     Points Identified in CARES May 2004 Decision Document.-- Not 
     later than March 30, 2007, 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 that--
       (1) identifies each of the community based outpatient 
     clinics and access points identified in the May 2004 Decision 
     Document of Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services 
     (CARES) that have been opened; and
       (2) identifies each of the clinics and access points 
     identified in such report that would be opened in fiscal year 
     2007 or 2008 if funding were available for such purpose.

     SEC. 213. OUTREACH PROGRAM TO VETERANS IN RURAL AREAS.

       (a) Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     conduct an extensive outreach program to identify and provide 
     information to veterans who served in the theater of 
     operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring 
     Freedom and who reside in rural communities in order to 
     enroll those veterans in the health-care system of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs during the period when they 
     are eligible for such enrollment.
       (b) Features of Program.--In carrying out the program under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek to work at the local 
     level with employers, State agencies, community health 
     centers located in rural areas, rural health clinics, and 
     critical access hospitals located in rural areas, and units 
     of the National Guard and other reserve components based in 
     rural areas, in order to increase the awareness of veterans 
     and their families of the availability of health care 
     provided by the Secretary and the means by which those 
     veterans can achieve access to the health-care services 
     provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

     SEC. 214. PILOT PROGRAM ON IMPROVEMENT OF CAREGIVER 
                   ASSISTANCE SERVICES.

       (a) In General.--Commencing not later than 120 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to assess 
     the feasibility and advisability of various mechanisms to 
     expand and improve caregiver assistance services.
       (b) Duration of Pilot Program.--The pilot program required 
     by subsection (a) shall be carried out during the two-year 
     period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot 
     program.
       (c) Caregiver Assistance Services.--For purposes of this 
     section, the term ``caregiver assistance services'' means 
     services of the Department of Veterans Affairs that assist 
     caregivers of veterans. Such services including the 
     following:
       (1) Adult-day health care services.
       (2) Coordination of services needed by veterans, including 
     services for readjustment and rehabilitation.
       (3) Transportation services.
       (4) Caregiver support services, including education, 
     training, and certification of family members in caregiver 
     activities.
       (5) Home care services.
       (6) Respite care.
       (7) Hospice services.
       (8) Any modalities of non-institutional long-term care.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 and 2008 to carry 
     out the pilot program authorized by this section.
       (e) Allocation of Funds to Facilities.--The Secretary shall 
     allocate funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of 
     appropriations in subsection (d) to individual medical 
     facilities of the Department in such amounts as the Secretary 
     determines appropriate, based upon proposals submitted by 
     such facilities for the use of such funds for improvements to 
     the support of the provision of caregiver assistance 
     services. Special consideration should be given to rural 
     facilities, including those without a long-term care facility 
     of the Department.
       (f) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, 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 report on the implementation of this 
     section. The report shall include--
       (1) a description and assessment of the activities carried 
     out under the pilot program;
       (2) information on the allocation of funds to facilities of 
     the Department under subsection (e); and
       (3) a description of the improvements made with funds so 
     allocated to the support of the provision of caregiver 
     assistance services.

     SEC. 215. EXPANSION OF OUTREACH ACTIVITIES OF VET CENTERS.

       (a) Additional Outreach Workers.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall employ not fewer than 100 veterans for the 
     purpose of providing outreach to veterans on the availability 
     of readjustment counseling and related mental health services 
     for veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       (b) Construction With Current Outreach Program.--The 
     veterans employed under subsection (a) are in addition to any 
     veterans employed by the Secretary for the purpose described 
     in that subsection under the February 2004 program of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs to provide outreach described 
     in that subsection.
       (c) Assignment to Vet Centers.--The Secretary may assign 
     any veteran employed under subsection (a) to any center for 
     the provision of readjustment counseling and related mental 
     health services under section 1712A of title 38, United 
     States Code, that the Secretary considers appropriate in 
     order to meet the purpose described in that subsection.
       (d) Inapplicability and Termination of Limitation on 
     Duration of Employment.--Any limitation on the duration of 
     employment of veterans under the program described in 
     subsection (b) is hereby terminated and shall not apply to 
     veterans employed under such program or under this section.
       (e) Employment Status.--Veterans employed under subsection 
     (a) shall be employed in career conditional status, which is 
     the employment status in which veterans are employed under 
     the program described in subsection (b).

     SEC. 216. CLARIFICATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF BEREAVEMENT 
                   COUNSELING.

       (a) Clarification of Members of Immediate Family Eligible 
     for Counseling.--Subsection (b) of section 1783 is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, the members of the 
     immediate family of a member of the Armed Forces described in 
     paragraph (1) include the parents of such member.''.
       (b) Provision of Counseling Through Vet Centers.--Such 
     section is further amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
     subsection (c):
       ``(c) Provision of Counseling Through Vet Centers.--
     Bereavement counseling may be provided under this section 
     through the facilities and personnel of centers for the 
     provision of readjustment counseling and related mental 
     health services under section 1712A of this title.''.

     SEC. 217. FUNDING FOR VET CENTER PROGRAM.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2007 $180,000,000 for the 
     provision of readjustment counseling and related mental 
     health services through centers under section 1712A of title 
     38, United States Code.

                      TITLE III--EDUCATION MATTERS

     SEC. 301. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SURVIVORS' AND 
                   DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Expansion of Eligibility.--Section 3501(a)(1) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``means--'' and inserting ``means any of the following:'';
       (2) in each of subparagraphs (A) through (D), by 
     capitalizing the first letter of the first word;
       (3) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) by inserting after ``a person who'' the following: ``, 
     as a result of qualifying service'';
       (B) by striking the comma at the end of clause (i) and 
     inserting ``; or'';
       (C) by striking ``, or'' at the end of clause (ii) and 
     inserting a period; and
       (D) by striking clause (iii);
       (4) in subparagraph (B) by striking the comma at the end 
     and inserting the following: ``sustained during a period of 
     qualifying service.'';
       (5) in subparagraph (C)--
       (A) by inserting ``or child'' after ``the spouse''; and
       (B) by striking ``, or'' at the end and inserting a period;
       (6) in subparagraph (D)--
       (A) in clause (i), by inserting before the comma the 
     following: ``sustained during a period of qualifying 
     service''; and
       (B) by striking the comma at the end and inserting a 
     period;
       (7) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(E) The spouse or child of a person who--
       ``(i) at the time of the Secretary's determination under 
     clause (ii), is a member of

[[Page 23109]]

     the Armed Forces who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient 
     medical care, services, or treatment;
       ``(ii) the Secretary determines has a total disability 
     permanent in nature incurred or aggravated in the line of 
     duty in the active military, naval, or air service; and
       ``(iii) is likely to be discharged or released from such 
     service for such disability.''; and
       (8) by striking ``arising out of'' and all that follows 
     through the end.
       (b) Conforming Amendments to Chapter 35.--Chapter 35 is 
     amended as follows:
       (1) Section 3501(a) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(12) The term `qualifying service' means service in the 
     active military, naval, or air service after the beginning of 
     the Spanish-American War that did not terminate under 
     dishonorable conditions.''.
       (2) Section 3511 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)(1)--
       (i) by striking ``Each eligible person'' and inserting the 
     following: ``Each eligible person, whether made eligible by 
     one or more of the provisions of section 3501(a)(1) of this 
     title,'';
       (ii) by striking ``a period'' and inserting ``an aggregate 
     period''; and
       (iii) by striking the second sentence;
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) in paragraph (2)--

       (I) by striking ``the provisions of section 
     3501(a)(1)(A)(iii) or'' and inserting ``section''; and
       (II) by striking ``or'' at the end;

       (ii) in paragraph (3)--

       (I) by striking ``section 3501(a)(1)(D)'' and inserting 
     ``subparagraph (D) or (E) of section 3501(a)(1)''; and
       (II) by inserting ``or'' after the comma at the end; and

       (iii) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(4) the parent or spouse from whom such eligibility is 
     derived based upon subparagraph (E) of section 3501(a)(1) of 
     this title no longer meets a requirement under clause (i), 
     (ii), or (iii) of that subparagraph,''; and
       (C) by striking subsection (c).
       (3) Section 3512 is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) by striking ``an eligible person (within the meaning of 
     section 3501(a)(1)(A) of this title)'' and inserting ``an 
     eligible person whose eligibility is based on the death or 
     disability of a parent or on a parent being listed in one of 
     the categories referred to in section 3501(a)(1)(C) of this 
     title''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (6), by striking ``the provisions of 
     section 3501(a)(1)(A)(iii)'' and inserting ``a parent being 
     listed in one of the categories referred to in section 
     3501(a)(1)(C)'';
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) in paragraph (1)(A)--

       (I) by inserting after ``section 3501(a)(1) of this title'' 
     the following: ``or a person made eligible by the disability 
     of a spouse under section 3501(a)(1)(E) of this title''; and
       (II) by striking ``or 3501(a)(1)(D)(ii) of this title'' and 
     inserting ``3501(a)(1)(D)(ii), or 3501(a)(1)(E) of this 
     title'';

       (ii) in paragraph (1)(B), by adding at the end the 
     following new clause:
       ``(iii) The date on which the Secretary notifies the member 
     of the Armed Forces from whom eligibility is derived that the 
     member has a total disability permanent in nature incurred or 
     aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, 
     or air service.''; and
       (iii) in paragraph (2)--

       (I) by striking ``or (D) of this title'' and inserting 
     ``(D), or (E) of this title''; and
       (II) by inserting ``whose eligibility is based on the death 
     or disability of a spouse or on a spouse being listed in one 
     of the categories referred to in section 3501(a)(1)(C) of 
     this title'' after ``of this title)'';

       (C) in subsection (d), by striking ``veteran'' and 
     inserting ``person''; and
       (D) in subsection (e)--
       (i) by inserting ``based on a spouse being listed in one of 
     the categories referred to in section 3501(a)(1)(C) of this 
     title'' after ``of this title'';
       (ii) by inserting ``so'' after ``the spouse was''; and
       (iii) by striking ``by the Secretary'' and all that follows 
     through ``occurs''.
       (4) Section 3540 is amended by striking ``(as defined in 
     subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) of section 3501(a)(1) of this 
     title)'' and inserting ``(other than a person made eligible 
     under subparagraph (C) of such section by reason of a spouse 
     being listed in one of the categories referred to in that 
     subparagraph)''.
       (5) Section 3563 is amended by striking ``each eligible 
     person defined in section 3501(a)(1)(A) of this title'' and 
     inserting ``each eligible person whose eligibility is based 
     on the death or disability of a parent or on a parent being 
     listed in one of the categories referred to in section 
     3501(a)(1)(C) of this title''.
       (c) Other Conforming Amendments.--Such title is further 
     amended as follows:
       (1) Section 3686(a)(1) is amended by striking ``or (D)'' 
     and inserting ``(D), or (E)''.
       (2) Section 5113(b)(3) is amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``section 3501(a)(1)'' 
     and all that follows through the end and inserting the 
     following: ``subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), and (E) of section 
     3501(a)(1) of this title.''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (C)--
       (i) by striking ``such veteran's death'' and inserting 
     ``the death of the person from whom such eligibility is 
     derived''; and
       (ii) by striking ``such veteran's service-connected total 
     disability permanent in nature'' and inserting ``the service-
     connected total disability permanent in nature (or, in the 
     case of a person made eligible under section 3501(a)(1)(E), 
     the total disability permanent in nature incurred or 
     aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, 
     or air service) of the person from whom such eligibility is 
     derived''.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to a payment of educational 
     assistance for a course of education pursued after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 302. RESTORATION OF LOST ENTITLEMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO 
                   DISCONTINUE A PROGRAM OF EDUCATION BECAUSE OF 
                   BEING ORDERED TO FULL-TIME NATIONAL GUARD DUTY.

       (a) Restoration of Entitlement.--Section 3511(a)(2)(B)(i) 
     is amended by inserting after ``title 10'' the following: 
     ``or of being involuntarily ordered to full-time National 
     Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to a payment of educational 
     assistance allowance made after September 11, 2001.

     SEC. 303. EXCEPTION FOR INSTITUTIONS OFFERING GOVERNMENT-
                   SPONSORED NONACCREDITED COURSES TO REQUIREMENT 
                   OF REFUNDING UNUSED TUITION.

       Section 3676(c)(13) is amended by striking ``prior to 
     completion'' and all that follows and inserting the 
     following: ``before completion and--
       ``(A) in the case of an institution (other than (i) a 
     Federal, State, or local Government institution or (ii) an 
     institution described in subparagraph (B)), such policy 
     provides that the amount charged to the eligible person for 
     tuition, fees, and other charges for a portion of the course 
     shall not exceed the approximate pro rata portion of the 
     total charges for tuition, fees, and other charges that the 
     length of the completed portion of the course bears to its 
     total length; or
       ``(B) in the case of an institution that is a nonaccredited 
     public educational institution, the institution has and 
     maintains a refund policy regarding the unused portion of 
     tuition, fees, and other charges that is substantially the 
     same as the refund policy followed by accredited public 
     educational institutions located within the same State as 
     such institution.''.

     SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE.

       Section 3485(a)(4) is amended by striking ``December 27, 
     2006'' each place it appears and inserting ``June 30, 2007''.

     SEC. 305. DEADLINE AND EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Deadline.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall each submit to Congress a 
     report containing the information specified in subsections 
     (b) and (c) of section 3036 of title 38, United States Code.
       (b) Extension of Requirement.--Subsection (d) of section 
     3036 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``January 1, 2005'' and inserting ``January 1, 2011''.

     SEC. 306. REPORT ON IMPROVEMENT IN ADMINISTRATION OF 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
     Congress a report on the administration of education 
     benefits, including benefits under chapters 30, 31, 32, 34, 
     35, and 36 of title 38, United States Code, and chapters 1606 
     and 1607 of title 10, United States Code. Such report shall 
     propose methods to streamline the processes and procedures of 
     administering such benefits.

     SEC. 307. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS RELATING TO EDUCATION LAWS.

       Section 3485 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(4)(E), by inserting ``or 1607'' after 
     ``chapter 1606'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``chapter 106'' and 
     inserting ``chapter 1606 or 1607''; and
       (3) in subsection (e)(1)--
       (A) by striking ``services of the kind described in clauses 
     (A) through (E) of subsection (a)(1) of this section'' and 
     inserting ``a qualifying work-study activity described in 
     subsection (a)(4)''; and
       (B) by striking ``chapter 106'' and inserting ``chapter 
     1606 or 1607''.

        TITLE IV--NATIONAL CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL AFFAIRS MATTERS

     SEC. 401. PROVISION OF GOVERNMENT MEMORIAL HEADSTONES OR 
                   MARKERS AND MEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS FOR DECEASED 
                   DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF VETERANS WHOSE REMAINS 
                   ARE UNAVAILABLE FOR BURIAL.

       (a) Provision of Memorial Headstones or Markers.--
     Subsection (b) of section 2306 is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following 
     new subparagraph:
       ``(C) An eligible dependent child of a veteran.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) For purposes of this section, the term `eligible 
     dependent child' means a child--

[[Page 23110]]

       ``(A) who is under 21 years of age, or under 23 years of 
     age if pursuing a course of instruction at an approved 
     educational institution; or
       ``(B) who is unmarried and became permanently physically or 
     mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before 
     reaching 21 years of age, or before reaching 23 years of age 
     if pursuing a course of instruction at an approved 
     educational institution.''.
       (b) Addition of Memorial Inscription to Headstone or Marker 
     of Veteran.--Subsection (f) of such section is amended by 
     inserting ``or eligible dependent child'' after ``surviving 
     spouse'' both places it appears.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall apply with respect to individuals dying after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 402. PROVISION OF GOVERNMENT MARKERS FOR MARKED GRAVES 
                   OF VETERANS AT PRIVATE CEMETERIES.

       (a) Extension of Authority.--Paragraph (3) of subsection 
     (d) of section 2306 is amended by striking ``December 31, 
     2006'' and inserting ``December 31, 2007''.
       (b) Provision of Headstone or Marker.--
       (1) In general.--Such subsection is further amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in the first sentence, by striking ``Government 
     marker'' and inserting ``Government headstone or marker''; 
     and
       (ii) in the second sentence, by inserting ``headstone or'' 
     before ``marker'' each place it appears; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``headstone or'' before 
     ``marker''.
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (g)(3) of such 
     section is amended by inserting ``headstone or'' before 
     ``marker''.
       (c) Placement of Headstone or Marker.--The second sentence 
     of subsection (d)(1) of such section, as amended by 
     subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii), is further amended by inserting 
     before the period the following: ``, or, if placement on the 
     grave is impossible or impracticable, as close as possible to 
     the grave within the grounds of the cemetery in which the 
     grave is located''.
       (d) Delivery of Headstone or Marker.--Subsection (d)(2) of 
     such section, as amended by subsection (b)(1)(B), is further 
     amended by inserting before the period the following: ``or to 
     a receiving agent for delivery to the cemetery''.
       (e) Repeal of Obsolete Report Requirement.--Subsection (d) 
     of such section is further amended by striking paragraph (4).
       (f) Scope of Headstones and Markers Furnished.--Subsection 
     (d) of such section is further amended by inserting after 
     paragraph (3) the following new paragraph (4):
       ``(4) The headstone or marker furnished under this 
     subsection shall be the headstone or marker selected by the 
     individual making the request from among all the headstones 
     and markers made available by the Government for 
     selection.''.

     SEC. 403. ELIGIBILITY OF INDIAN TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR 
                   GRANTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS 
                   CEMETERIES ON TRUST LANDS.

       Section 2408 is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(f)(1) The Secretary may make grants under this 
     subsection to any tribal organization to assist the tribal 
     organization in establishing, expanding, or improving 
     veterans' cemeteries on trust land owned by, or held in trust 
     for, the tribal organization.
       ``(2) Grants under this subsection shall be made in the 
     same manner, and under the same conditions, as grants to 
     States are made under the preceding provisions of this 
     section.
       ``(3) For purposes of this subsection:
       ``(A) The term `tribal organization' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 3765(4) of this title.
       ``(B) The term `trust land' has the meaning given that term 
     in section 3765(1) of this title.''.

     SEC. 404. REMOVAL OF REMAINS OF RUSSELL WAYNE WAGNER FROM 
                   ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.

       (a) Removal of Remains.--The Secretary of the Army shall 
     remove the remains of Russell Wayne Wagner from Arlington 
     National Cemetery.
       (b) Notification of Next-of-Kin.--The Secretary of the Army 
     shall--
       (1) notify the next-of-kin of record for Russell Wayne 
     Wagner of the impending removal of his remains; and
       (2) upon removal, relinquish the remains to the next-of-kin 
     of record for Russell Wayne Wagner or, if the next-of-kin of 
     record for Russell Wayne Wagner is unavailable, arrange for 
     an appropriate disposition of the remains.

              TITLE V--HOUSING AND SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

     SEC. 501. RESIDENTIAL COOPERATIVE HOUSING UNITS.

       (a) Housing Benefits for Cooperative Housing Units.--
     Subsection (a) of section 3710 is amended by inserting after 
     paragraph (11) the following new paragraph:
       ``(12) With respect to a loan guaranteed after the date of 
     the enactment of this paragraph and before the date that is 
     five years after that date, to purchase stock or membership 
     in a cooperative housing corporation for the purpose of 
     entitling the veteran to occupy for dwelling purposes a 
     single family residential unit in a development, project, or 
     structure owned or leased by such corporation, in accordance 
     with subsection (h).''.
       (b) Conditions of Housing Benefits for Cooperative Housing 
     Units.--Such section is further amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subsection:
       ``(h)(1) A loan may not be guaranteed under subsection 
     (a)(12) unless--
       ``(A) the development, project, or structure of the 
     cooperative housing corporation complies with such criteria 
     as the Secretary prescribes in regulations; and
       ``(B) the dwelling unit that the purchase of stock or 
     membership in the development, project, or structure of the 
     cooperative housing corporation entitles the purchaser to 
     occupy is a single family residential unit.
       ``(2) In this subsection, the term `cooperative housing 
     corporation' has the meaning given such term in section 
     216(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       ``(3) When applying the term `value of the property' to a 
     loan guaranteed under subsection (a)(12), such term means the 
     appraised value of the stock or membership entitling the 
     purchaser to the permanent occupancy of the dwelling unit in 
     the development, project, or structure of the cooperative 
     housing corporation.''.

     SEC. 502. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS GOALS FOR 
                   PARTICIPATION BY SMALL BUSINESSES OWNED AND 
                   CONTROLLED BY VETERANS IN PROCUREMENT 
                   CONTRACTS.

       (a) Goals.--
       (1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 81 is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 8127. Small business concerns owned and controlled by 
       veterans: contracting goals and preferences

       ``(a) Contracting Goals.--(1) In order to increase 
     contracting opportunities for small business concerns owned 
     and controlled by veterans and small business concerns owned 
     and controlled by veterans with service-connected 
     disabilities, the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) establish a goal for each fiscal year for 
     participation in Department contracts (including 
     subcontracts) by small business concerns owned and controlled 
     by veterans who are not veterans with service-connected 
     disabilities in accordance with paragraph (2); and
       ``(B) establish a goal for each fiscal year for 
     participation in Department contracts (including 
     subcontracts) by small business concerns owned and controlled 
     by veterans with service-connected disabilities in accordance 
     with paragraph (3).
       ``(2) The goal for a fiscal year for participation under 
     paragraph (1)(A) shall be determined by the Secretary.
       ``(3) The goal for a fiscal year for participation under 
     paragraph (1)(B) shall be not less than the Government-wide 
     goal for that fiscal year for participation by small business 
     concerns owned and controlled by veterans with service-
     connected disabilities under section 15(g)(1) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)(1)).
       ``(4) The Secretary shall establish a review mechanism to 
     ensure that, in the case of a subcontract of a Department 
     contract that is counted for purposes of meeting a goal 
     established pursuant to this section, the subcontract was 
     actually awarded to a business concern that may be counted 
     for purposes of meeting that goal.
       ``(b) Use of Noncompetitive Procedures for Certain Small 
     Contracts.--For purposes of meeting the goals under 
     subsection (a), and in accordance with this section, in 
     entering into a contract with a small business concern owned 
     and controlled by veterans for an amount less than the 
     simplified acquisition threshold (as defined in section 4 of 
     the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 
     403)), a contracting officer of the Department may use 
     procedures other than competitive procedures.
       ``(c) Sole Source Contracts for Contracts Above Simplified 
     Acquisition Threshold.--For purposes of meeting the goals 
     under subsection (a), and in accordance with this section, a 
     contracting officer of the Department may award a contract to 
     a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans 
     using procedures other than competitive procedures if--
       ``(1) such concern is determined to be a responsible source 
     with respect to performance of such contract opportunity;
       ``(2) the anticipated award price of the contract 
     (including options) will exceed the simplified acquisition 
     threshold (as defined in section 4 of the Office of Federal 
     Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403)) but will not exceed 
     $5,000,000; and
       ``(3) in the estimation of the contracting officer, the 
     contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price 
     that offers best value to the United States.
       ``(d) Use of Restricted Competition.--Except as provided in 
     subsections (b) and (c), for purposes of meeting the goals 
     under subsection (a), and in accordance with this section, a 
     contracting officer of the Department shall award contracts 
     on the basis of competition restricted to small business 
     concerns owned and controlled by veterans if the contracting 
     officer has a reasonable expectation that two or more small 
     business concerns owned and controlled by veterans will 
     submit offers and that the award can be made at a fair and 
     reasonable price that offers best value to the United States.

[[Page 23111]]

       ``(e) Eligibility of Small Business Concerns.--A small 
     business concern may be awarded a contract under this section 
     only if the small business concern and the veteran owner of 
     the small business concern are listed in the database of 
     veteran-owned businesses maintained by the Secretary under 
     subsection (f).
       ``(f) Database of Veteran-Owned Businesses.--(1) Subject to 
     paragraphs (2) through (6), the Secretary shall maintain a 
     database of small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     veterans and the veteran owners of such business concerns.
       ``(2) To be eligible for inclusion in the database, such a 
     veteran shall submit to the Secretary such information as the 
     Secretary may require with respect to the small business 
     concern or the veteran.
       ``(3) Information maintained in the database shall be 
     submitted on a voluntary basis by such veterans.
       ``(4) In maintaining the database, the Secretary shall 
     carry out at least the following two verification functions:
       ``(A) Verification that each small business concern listed 
     in the database is owned and controlled by veterans.
       ``(B) In the case of a veteran who indicates a service-
     connected disability, verification of the service-disabled 
     status of such veteran.
       ``(5) The Secretary shall make the database available to 
     all Federal departments and agencies and shall notify each 
     such department and agency of the availability of the 
     database.
       ``(6) If the Secretary determines that the public 
     dissemination of certain types of information maintained in 
     the database is inappropriate, the Secretary shall take such 
     steps as are necessary to maintain such types of information 
     in a secure and confidential manner.
       ``(g) Enforcement Penalties for Misrepresentation.--Any 
     business concern that is determined by the Secretary to have 
     misrepresented the status of that concern as a small business 
     concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small 
     business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled 
     veterans for purposes of this subsection shall be debarred 
     from contracting with the Department for a reasonable period 
     of time, as determined by the Secretary.
       ``(h) Treatment of Businesses After Death of Veteran-
     Owner.--(1) Subject to paragraph (3), if the death of a 
     veteran causes a small business concern to be less than 51 
     percent owned by one or more veterans, the surviving spouse 
     of such veteran who acquires ownership rights in such small 
     business concern shall, for the period described in paragraph 
     (2), be treated as if the surviving spouse were that veteran 
     for the purpose of maintaining the status of the small 
     business concern as a small business concern owned and 
     controlled by veterans.
       ``(2) The period referred to in paragraph (1) is the period 
     beginning on the date on which the veteran dies and ending on 
     the earliest of the following dates:
       ``(A) The date on which the surviving spouse remarries.
       ``(B) The date on which the surviving spouse relinquishes 
     an ownership interest in the small business concern.
       ``(C) The date that is ten years after the date of the 
     veteran's death.
       ``(3) Paragraph (1) only applies to a surviving spouse of a 
     veteran with a service-connected disability rated as 100 
     percent disabling or who dies as a result of a service-
     connected disability.
       ``(i) Priority for Contracting Preferences.--Preferences 
     for awarding contracts to small business concerns shall be 
     applied in the following order of priority:
       ``(1) Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection (b), (c), or 
     (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     veterans with service-connected disabilities.
       ``(2) Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection (b), (c), or 
     (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     veterans that are not covered by paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Contracts awarded pursuant to--
       ``(A) section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     637(a)); or
       ``(B) section 31 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 657a).
       ``(4) Contracts awarded pursuant to any other small 
     business contracting preference.
       ``(j) Annual Reports.--Not later than December 31 each 
     year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
     small business contracting during the fiscal year ending in 
     such year. Each report shall include, for the fiscal year 
     covered by such report, the following:
       ``(1) The percentage of the total amount of all contracts 
     awarded by the Department during that fiscal year that were 
     awarded to small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     veterans.
       ``(2) The percentage of the total amount of all such 
     contracts awarded to small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by veterans with service-connected disabilities.
       ``(3) The percentage of the total amount of all contracts 
     awarded by each Administration of the Department during that 
     fiscal year that were awarded to small business concerns 
     owned and controlled by veterans.
       ``(4) The percentage of the total amount of all contracts 
     awarded by each such Administration during that fiscal year 
     that were awarded to small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by veterans with service-connected disabilities.
       ``(k) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `small business concern' has the meaning 
     given that term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 632).
       ``(2) The term `small business concern owned and controlled 
     by veterans' means a small business concern--
       ``(A)(i) not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one 
     or more veterans or, in the case of a publicly owned 
     business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is 
     owned by one or more veterans; and
       ``(ii) the management and daily business operations of 
     which are controlled by one or more veterans; or
       ``(B) not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or 
     more veterans with service-connected disabilities that are 
     permanent and total who are unable to manage the daily 
     business operations of such concern or, in the case of a 
     publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the 
     stock of which is owned by one or more such veterans.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 8126 the following new item:

``8127. Small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans: 
              contracting goals and preferences.''.

       (b) Transition Rule.--A small business concern that is 
     listed in any small business database maintained by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the date of the enactment of 
     this Act shall be presumed to be eligible for inclusion in 
     the database under subsection (f) of section 8127 of title 
     38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), during 
     the period beginning on the effective date of that section 
     and ending one year after such effective date. Such a small 
     business concern may be removed from the database during that 
     period if it is found not to be a small business concern 
     owned and controlled by veterans (as defined in subsection 
     (k) of such section).
       (c) Comptroller General Study and Report.--
       (1) Study required.--During the first three fiscal years 
     for which this section is in effect, the Comptroller General 
     shall conduct a study on the efforts made by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs to meet the contracting goals established 
     pursuant to section 8127 of title 38, United States Code, as 
     added by subsection (a).
       (2) Information to congress on study.--On or before January 
     31 of each year during which the Comptroller General conducts 
     the study under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall 
     brief Congress on such study, placing special emphasis on any 
     structural or organizational issues within the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs that might act as an impediment to reaching 
     such contracting goals.
       (3) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the end of the 
     three-year period during which the Comptroller General 
     conducts the study under paragraph (1), the Comptroller 
     General shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of 
     such study.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made 
     by this section shall take effect on the date that is 180 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 503. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONTRACTING PRIORITY 
                   FOR VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES.

       (a) Priority for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.--
       (1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 81, as amended by 
     section 502 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the 
     end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 8128. Small business concerns owned and controlled by 
       veterans: contracting priority

       ``(a) Contracting Priority.--In procuring goods and 
     services pursuant to a contracting preference under this 
     title or any other provision of law, the Secretary shall give 
     priority to a small business concern owned and controlled by 
     veterans, if such business concern also meets the 
     requirements of that contracting preference.
       ``(b) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     `small business concern owned and controlled by veterans' 
     means a small business concern that is included in the small 
     business database maintained by the Secretary under section 
     8127(f) of this title.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter, as so amended, is further amended 
     by inserting after the item relating to section 8127 the 
     following new item:

``8128. Small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans: 
              contracting priority.''.

       (b) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made 
     by this section shall take effect on the date that is 180 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

               TITLE VI--EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING MATTERS

     SEC. 601. TRAINING OF NEW DISABLED VETERANS' OUTREACH PROGRAM 
                   SPECIALISTS AND LOCAL VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT 
                   REPRESENTATIVES BY NVTI REQUIRED.

       (a) Training Required.--Section 4102A(c) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:

[[Page 23112]]

       ``(8)(A) As a condition of a grant or contract under which 
     funds are made available to a State in order to carry out 
     section 4103A or 4104 of this title, the Secretary shall 
     require the State to require each employee hired by the State 
     who is assigned to perform the duties of a disabled veterans' 
     outreach program specialist or a local veterans' employment 
     representative under this chapter to satisfactorily complete 
     training provided by the National Veterans' Employment and 
     Training Services Institute during the three-year period that 
     begins on the date on which the employee is so assigned.
       ``(B) For any employee described in subparagraph (A) who 
     does not complete such training during such period, the 
     Secretary may reduce by an appropriate amount the amount made 
     available to the State employing that employee.
       ``(C) The Secretary may establish such reasonable 
     exceptions to the completion of training otherwise required 
     under subparagraph (A) as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.''.
       (b) Submission of Employee Training Information Required.--
     Section 4102A(c)(2)(A) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv); and
       (2) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause 
     (iii):
       ``(iii) For each employee of the State who is assigned to 
     perform the duties of a disabled veterans' outreach program 
     specialist or a local veterans' employment representative 
     under this chapter--
       ``(I) the date on which the employee is so assigned; and
       ``(II) whether the employee has satisfactorily completed 
     such training by the National Veterans' Employment and 
     Training Services Institute as the Secretary requires for 
     purposes of paragraph (8).''.
       (c) Applicability.--Paragraph (8) of section 4102A(c) of 
     title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), and 
     clause (iii) of section 4102A(c)(2)(A) of such title, as 
     added by subsection (b), shall apply with respect to a State 
     employee assigned to perform the duties of a disabled 
     veterans' outreach program specialist or a local veterans' 
     employment representative under chapter 41 of such title who 
     is so assigned on or after January 1, 2006.

     SEC. 602. RULES FOR PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT FOR DISABLED 
                   VETERANS' OUTREACH PROGRAM SPECIALISTS AND 
                   LOCAL VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT REPRESENTATIVES.

       (a) Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program Specialists.--
     Section 4103A is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(c) Part-Time Employees.--A part-time disabled veterans' 
     outreach program specialist shall perform the functions of a 
     disabled veterans' outreach program specialist under this 
     section on a half-time basis.''.
       (b) Local Veterans' Employment Representatives.--Section 
     4104 is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
     subsection (d):
       ``(d) Part-Time Employees.--A part-time local veterans' 
     employment representative shall perform the functions of a 
     local veterans' employment representative under this section 
     on a half-time basis.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--Section 4103A(c) of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (a), and section 4104(d) 
     of such title, as amended by subsection (b), shall apply with 
     respect to pay periods beginning after the date that is 180 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 603. PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE AWARDS FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICE 
                   OFFICES.

       (a) Provision of Incentives to Employment Service 
     Offices.--Section 4112 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by inserting ``and employment 
     service offices'' after ``recognize eligible employees''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by striking ``is'' and inserting ``in the case of such 
     an award made to an eligible employee, shall be''; and
       (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
     following: ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) in the case of such an award made to an employment 
     service office, may be used by that employment service office 
     for any purpose.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The heading for subsection (c) 
     of such section is amended to read as follows: 
     ``Administration and Use of Awards.--''.

     SEC. 604. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ON CREDENTIALING AND 
                   LICENSURE OF VETERANS.

       (a) Establishment of Demonstration Project.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 41 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 4114. Credentialing and licensure of veterans: 
       demonstration project

       ``(a) Demonstration Project Authorized.--The Assistant 
     Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training may carry out 
     a demonstration project on credentialing in accordance with 
     this section for the purpose of facilitating the seamless 
     transition of members of the Armed Forces from service on 
     active duty to civilian employment.
       ``(b) Identification of Military Occupational Specialties 
     and Associated Credentials and Licenses.--(1) The Assistant 
     Secretary shall select not less than 10 military occupational 
     specialties for purposes of the demonstration project. Each 
     specialty so selected by the Assistant Secretary shall 
     require a skill or set of skills that is required for 
     civilian employment in an industry with high growth or high 
     worker demand.
       ``(2) The Assistant Secretary shall consult with 
     appropriate Federal, State, and industry officials to 
     identify requirements for credentials, certifications, and 
     licenses that require a skill or set of skills required by a 
     military occupational specialty selected under paragraph (1).
       ``(3) The Assistant Secretary shall analyze the 
     requirements identified under paragraph (2) to determine 
     which requirements may be satisfied by the skills, training, 
     or experience acquired by members of the Armed Forces with 
     the military occupational specialties selected under 
     paragraph (1).
       ``(c) Elimination of Barriers to Credentialing and 
     Licensure.--The Assistant Secretary shall cooperate with 
     appropriate Federal, State, and industry officials to reduce 
     or eliminate any barriers to providing a credential, 
     certification, or license to a veteran who acquired any 
     skill, training, or experience while serving as a member of 
     the Armed Forces with a military occupational specialty 
     selected under subsection (b)(1) that satisfies the Federal 
     and State requirements for the credential, certification, or 
     license.
       ``(d) Task Force.--The Assistant Secretary may establish a 
     task force of individuals with appropriate expertise to 
     provide assistance to the Assistant Secretary in carrying out 
     this section.
       ``(e) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Assistant Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of 
     Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, appropriate 
     Federal and State officials, private-sector employers, labor 
     organizations, and industry trade associations.
       ``(f) Contract Authority.--For purposes of carrying out any 
     part of the demonstration project under this section, the 
     Assistant Secretary may enter into a contract with a public 
     or private entity with appropriate expertise.
       ``(g) Period of Project.--The period during which the 
     Assistant Secretary may carry out the demonstration project 
     under this section shall be the period beginning on the date 
     that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of the 
     Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology 
     Act of 2006 and ending on September 30, 2009.
       ``(h) Funding.--The Assistant Secretary may carry out the 
     demonstration project under this section utilizing 
     unobligated funds that are appropriated in accordance with 
     the authorization set forth in section 4106 of this title.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``4114. Credentialing and licensure of veterans: demonstration 
              project.''.

       (b) Membership of Advisory Committee on Veterans 
     Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach.--Section 
     4110(c)(1)(A) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Six'' and inserting ``Seven''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(vii) The National Governors Association.''.

     SEC. 605. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IMPLEMENTATION OF REGULATIONS 
                   FOR PRIORITY OF SERVICE.

       Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall prescribe regulations 
     to implement section 4215 of title 38, United States Code.

                TITLE VII--HOMELESS VETERANS ASSISTANCE

     SEC. 701. REAFFIRMATION OF NATIONAL GOAL TO END HOMELESSNESS 
                   AMONG VETERANS.

       (a) Reaffirmation.--Congress reaffirms the national goal to 
     end chronic homelessness among veterans within a decade of 
     the enactment of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive 
     Assistance Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-95; 115 Stat. 903).
       (b) Reaffirmation of Encouragement of Cooperative 
     Efforts.--Congress reaffirms its encouragement, as specified 
     in the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 
     (Public Law 107-95; 115 Stat. 903), that all departments and 
     agencies of the Federal, State, and local governments, quasi-
     governmental organizations, private and public sector 
     entities, including community-based organizations, faith-
     based organizations, and individuals, work cooperatively to 
     end chronic homelessness among veterans.

     SEC. 702. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE RESPONSE OF THE FEDERAL 
                   GOVERNMENT TO THE NEEDS OF HOMELESS VETERANS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--

[[Page 23113]]

       (1) homelessness is a significant problem in the veterans 
     community and veterans are disproportionately represented 
     among the homeless population;
       (2) while many effective programs assist homeless veterans 
     to become, once again, productive and self-sufficient members 
     of their communities and society, all the essential services, 
     assistance, and support that homeless veterans require are 
     not currently provided;
       (3) federally funded programs for homeless veterans should 
     be held accountable for achieving clearly defined results;
       (4) Federal efforts to assist homeless veterans should 
     include prevention of homelessness;
       (5) Federal efforts regarding homeless veterans should be 
     particularly vigorous where women veterans have minor 
     children in their care;
       (6) Federal agencies, particularly the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, and the Department 
     of Housing and Urban Development, should cooperate more fully 
     to address the problem of homelessness among veterans; and
       (7) the programs reauthorized by this title provide 
     important housing and services to homeless veterans.

     SEC. 703. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS FOR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE 
                   PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) Permanent Authority.--Section 2011(a) is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
       (2) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``(1)''; and
       (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) as 
     paragraphs (1) through (4), respectively.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--The text of section 
     2013 is amended to read as follows: ``There is authorized to 
     be appropriated to carry out this subchapter $130,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2007 and each fiscal year thereafter.''.

     SEC. 704. EXTENSION OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FOR 
                   SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) Extension of Authority for General Treatment.--Section 
     2031(b) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2006'' and 
     inserting ``December 31, 2011''.
       (b) Extension of Authority for Additional Services.--
     Section 2033(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2006'' 
     and inserting ``December 31, 2011''.

     SEC. 705. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TRANSFER OF PROPERTIES 
                   OBTAINED THROUGH FORECLOSURE OF HOME MORTGAGES.

       Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 
     2008'' and inserting ``December 31, 2011''.

     SEC. 706. EXTENSION OF FUNDING FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS 
                   VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

       Section 2061(c)(1) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Medical Care'' and inserting ``Medical 
     Services''; and
       (2) by striking ``fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005'' and 
     inserting ``fiscal years 2007 through 2011''.

     SEC. 707. EXTENSION OF FUNDING FOR HOMELESS VETERAN SERVICE 
                   PROVIDER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       Subsection (b) of section 2064 is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal 
     years 2007 through 2012 to carry out the program under this 
     section.''.

     SEC. 708. ADDITIONAL ELEMENT IN ANNUAL REPORT ON ASSISTANCE 
                   TO HOMELESS VETERANS.

       Section 2065(b) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
     paragraph (5):
       ``(5) Information on the efforts of the Secretary to 
     coordinate the delivery of housing and services to homeless 
     veterans with other Federal departments and agencies, 
     including--
       ``(A) the Department of Defense;
       ``(B) the Department of Health and Human Services;
       ``(C) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
       ``(D) the Department of Justice;
       ``(E) the Department of Labor;
       ``(F) the Interagency Council on Homelessness;
       ``(G) the Social Security Administration; and
       ``(H) any other Federal department or agency with which the 
     Secretary coordinates the delivery of housing and services to 
     homeless veterans.''.

     SEC. 709. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) Additional Ex Officio Members.--Subsection (a)(3) of 
     section 2066 is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subparagraphs:
       ``(E) The Executive Director of the Interagency Council on 
     Homelessness (or a representative of the Executive Director).
       ``(F) The Under Secretary for Health (or a representative 
     of the Under Secretary after consultation with the Director 
     of the Office of Homeless Veterans Programs).
       ``(G) The Under Secretary for Benefits (or a representative 
     of the Under Secretary after consultation with the Director 
     of the Office of Homeless Veterans Programs).''.
       (b) Extension.--Subsection (d) of such section is amended 
     by striking ``December 31, 2006'' and inserting ``December 
     30, 2011''.

     SEC. 710. RENTAL ASSISTANCE VOUCHERS FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM.

       Section (8)(o)(19)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 
     1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)(B)) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(B) Amount.--The amount specified in this subparagraph 
     is--
       ``(i) for fiscal year 2007, the amount necessary to provide 
     500 vouchers for rental assistance under this subsection;
       ``(ii) for fiscal year 2008, the amount necessary to 
     provide 1,000 vouchers for rental assistance under this 
     subsection;
       ``(iii) for fiscal year 2009, the amount necessary to 
     provide 1,500 vouchers for rental assistance under this 
     subsection;
       ``(iv) for fiscal year 2010, the amount necessary to 
     provide 2,000 vouchers for rental assistance under this 
     subsection; and
       ``(v) for fiscal year 2011, the amount necessary to provide 
     2,500 vouchers for rental assistance under this 
     subsection.''.

                    TITLE VIII--CONSTRUCTION MATTERS

             Subtitle A--Construction and Lease Authorities

     SEC. 801. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2006 MAJOR MEDICAL 
                   FACILITY PROJECTS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     carry out the following major medical facility projects in 
     fiscal year 2006, with each project to be carried out in the 
     amount specified for that project:
       (1) Restoration, new construction or replacement of the 
     medical center facility for the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, due to damage 
     from Hurricane Katrina in an amount not to exceed 
     $300,000,000. The Secretary is authorized to carry out the 
     project in or near New Orleans as a collaborative effort 
     consistent with the New Orleans Collaborative Opportunities 
     Study Group Report dated June 12, 2006.
       (2) Restoration of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center, Biloxi, Mississippi, and consolidation of 
     services performed at the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center, Gulfport, Mississippi, in an amount not to 
     exceed $310,000,000.
       (3) Replacement of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, in an amount not to exceed 
     $98,000,000.
       (b) Report on Replacement of Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center, Denver, Colorado.--Not later than 180 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 identifying and 
     outlining the various options available to the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs for replacing the current Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, Colorado. The report 
     shall include the following:
       (1) The feasibility of entering into a partnership with a 
     Federal, State, or local governmental agency, or a suitable 
     non-profit organization, for the construction and operation 
     of a new facility.
       (2) The medical, legal, and financial implications of each 
     of the options identified, including recommendations 
     regarding any statutory changes necessary for the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs to carry out any of the options 
     identified.
       (3) A detailed cost-benefit analysis of each of the options 
     identified.
       (4) Estimates regarding the length of time and associated 
     costs needed to complete such a facility under each of the 
     options identified.

     SEC. 802. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN MAJOR 
                   MEDICAL FACILITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 
                   PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION WITH 
                   CAPITAL ASSET REALIGNMENT INITIATIVE.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
     following major medical facility projects, with each such 
     project to be carried out in the amount specified for that 
     project:
       (1) Construction of an outpatient clinic and regional 
     office at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 
     Anchorage, Alaska, in an amount not to exceed $75,270,000.
       (2) Consolidation of clinical and administrative functions 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 
     Cleveland, Ohio, and the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center in Brecksville, Ohio, in an amount not to 
     exceed $102,300,000.
       (3) Construction of the Extended Care Building at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Des Moines, 
     Iowa, in an amount not to exceed $25,000,000.
       (4) Renovation of patient wards at the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, in 
     an amount not to exceed $9,100,000.
       (5) Correction of patient privacy deficiencies at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, 
     Florida, in an amount not to exceed $85,200,000.

[[Page 23114]]

       (6) 7th and 8th floor wards modernization addition at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Indianapolis, 
     Indiana, in an amount not to exceed $27,400,000.
       (7) Construction of a new Medical Center Facility at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Las Vegas, 
     Nevada, in an amount not to exceed $406,000,000.
       (8) Construction of an ambulatory surgery/outpatient 
     diagnostic support center in the Gulf South Submarket of 
     Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 8 and completion 
     of Phase I land purchase, Lee County, Florida, in an amount 
     not to exceed $65,100,000.
       (9) Seismic corrections, Buildings 7 and 126 at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, 
     California, in an amount not to exceed $107,845,000.
       (10) Seismic Corrections, Buildings 500 and 501 at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Los Angeles, 
     California, in an amount not to exceed $79,900,000.
       (11) Construction of a new medical center facility in the 
     Orlando, Florida, area in an amount not to exceed 
     $377,700,000.
       (12) Consolidation of campuses at the University Drive and 
     H. John Heinz III divisions, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in an 
     amount not to exceed $189,205,000.
       (13) Ward upgrades and expansion at the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, in an 
     amount not to exceed $19,100,000.
       (14) Construction of a spinal cord injury center at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Syracuse, New 
     York, in an amount not to exceed $77,700,000.
       (15) Upgrade essential electrical distribution systems at 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tampa, 
     Florida, in an amount not to exceed $49,000,000.
       (16) Expansion of the spinal cord injury center addition at 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tampa, 
     Florida, in an amount not to exceed $7,100,000.
       (17) Blind Rehabilitation and Psychiatric Bed renovation 
     and new construction project at the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Medical Center, Temple, Texas, in an amount not to 
     exceed $56,000,000.

     SEC. 803. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2007 MAJOR MEDICAL 
                   FACILITY PROJECTS.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
     following major medical facility projects in fiscal year 2007 
     in the amount specified for each project:
       (1) Seismic Corrections, Nursing Home Care Unit and 
     Dietetics at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
     Center, American Lake, Washington, in an amount not to exceed 
     $38,220,000.
       (2) Replacement of Operating Suite at the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Columbia, Missouri, in an 
     amount not to exceed $25,830,000.
       (3) Construction of a new clinical addition at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Fayetteville, 
     Arkansas, in an amount not to exceed $56,163,000.
       (4) Construction of Spinal Cord Injury Center at the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, 
     Wisconsin, in an amount not to exceed $32,500,000.
       (5) Medical facility improvements and cemetery expansion of 
     Jefferson Barracks at the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri, in an amount not to 
     exceed $69,053,000.

     SEC. 804. AUTHORIZATION OF ADVANCE PLANNING AND DESIGN FOR A 
                   MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY, CHARLESTON, SOUTH 
                   CAROLINA.

       (a) Agreement Authorized.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may enter into an agreement with the Medical 
     University of South Carolina to design, and plan for the 
     operation of, a co-located joint-use medical facility in 
     Charleston, South Carolina, to replace the Ralph H. Johnson 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, 
     South Carolina.
       (b) Cost Limitation.--Advance planning and design for a co-
     located, joint-use medical facility in Charleston, South 
     Carolina, under subsection (a) shall be carried out in an 
     amount not to exceed $36,800,000.
       (c) Limitation on Naming.--A joint-use medical facility 
     referred to in subsection (a) may not be named by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs or any other entity after any 
     living Member or former Member of the Senate or House of 
     Representatives.

     SEC. 805. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2006 MAJOR MEDICAL 
                   FACILITY LEASES.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
     following major medical facility leases in fiscal year 2006 
     at the locations specified, and in an amount for each lease 
     not to exceed the amount shown for such location:
       (1) For an outpatient clinic, Baltimore, Maryland, 
     $10,908,000.
       (2) For an outpatient clinic, Evansville, Indiana, 
     $8,989,000.
       (3) For an outpatient clinic, Smith County, Texas, 
     $5,093,000.

     SEC. 806. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2007 MAJOR MEDICAL 
                   FACILITY LEASES.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
     following major medical facility leases in fiscal year 2007 
     at the locations specified, and in an amount for each lease 
     not to exceed the amount shown for such location:
       (1) For an outpatient and specialty care clinic, Austin, 
     Texas, $6,163,000.
       (2) For an outpatient clinic, Lowell, Massachusetts, 
     $2,520,000.
       (3) For an outpatient clinic, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 
     $4,409,000.
       (4) For up to four outpatient clinics, Las Vegas, Nevada, 
     $8,518,000.
       (5) For an outpatient clinic, Parma, Ohio, $5,032,000.

     SEC. 807. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2006 
     Major Medical Facility Projects.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 
     year 2006 for the Construction, Major Projects, account, 
     $708,000,000 for the projects authorized in section 801(a).
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations for Major Medical 
     Facility Projects Under Capital Asset Realignment 
     Initiative.--
       (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 
     fiscal year 2007 for the Construction, Major Projects, 
     account, $1,758,920,000 for the projects whose authorization 
     is extended by section 802.
       (2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall remain 
     available until September 30, 2009.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2007 
     Major Medical Facility Projects.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 
     year 2007 for the Construction, Major Projects, account, 
     $221,766,000 for the projects authorized in section 803.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations for Advance Planning 
     and Design for Major Medical Facility, Charleston, South 
     Carolina.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Construction, Major 
     Projects, account, $36,800,000 for the advance planning and 
     design authorized in section 804.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations for Major Medical 
     Facility Leases.--
       (1) Fiscal year 2006 leases.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 
     year 2006 for the Medical Care account, $24,990,000 for the 
     leases authorized in section 805.
       (2) Fiscal year 2007 leases.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 
     year 2007 for the Medical Care account, $26,642,000 for the 
     leases authorized in section 806.
       (f) Limitation.--The projects authorized in sections 801(a) 
     and 802 may only be carried out using--
       (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2006 or 2007 
     pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in 
     subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section;
       (2) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a 
     fiscal year before fiscal year 2006 that remain available for 
     obligation;
       (3) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a 
     fiscal year after fiscal year 2006 or 2007 that are available 
     for obligation; and
       (4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
     for fiscal year 2006 or 2007 for a category of activity not 
     specific to a project.

                 Subtitle B--Facilities Administration

     SEC. 811. DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT.

       (a) Establishment of Position.--Chapter 3 is amended by 
     inserting after section 312 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 312A. Director of Construction and Facilities 
       Management

       ``(a) In General.--(1) There is in the Department a 
     Director of Construction and Facilities Management, who shall 
     be appointed by the Secretary.
       ``(2) The position of Director of Construction and 
     Facilities Management is a career reserved position, as such 
     term is defined in section 3132(a)(8) of title 5.
       ``(3) The Director shall provide direct support to the 
     Secretary in matters covered by the responsibilities of the 
     Director under subsection (c).
       ``(4) The Director shall report to the Deputy Secretary in 
     the discharge of the responsibilities of the Director under 
     subsection (c).
       ``(b) Qualifications.--Each individual appointed as 
     Director of Construction and Facilities Management shall be 
     an individual who--
       ``(1) holds an undergraduate or master's degree in 
     architectural design or engineering; and
       ``(2) has substantive professional experience in the area 
     of construction project management.
       ``(c) Responsibilities.--(1) The Director of Construction 
     and Facilities Management shall--
       ``(A) be responsible for overseeing and managing the 
     planning, design, construction, and operation of facilities 
     and infrastructure of the Department, including major and 
     minor construction projects; and
       ``(B) perform such other functions as the Secretary shall 
     prescribe.
       ``(2) In carrying out the oversight and management of 
     construction and operation of facilities and infrastructure 
     under this section,

[[Page 23115]]

     the Director shall be responsible for the following:
       ``(A) Development and updating of short-range and long-
     range strategic capital investment strategies and plans of 
     the Department.
       ``(B) Planning, design, and construction of facilities for 
     the Department, including determining architectural and 
     engineering requirements and ensuring compliance of the 
     Department with applicable laws relating to the construction 
     program of the Department.
       ``(C) Management of the short-term and long-term leasing of 
     real property by the Department.
       ``(D) Repair and maintenance of facilities of the 
     Department, including custodial services, building management 
     and administration, and maintenance of roads, grounds, and 
     infrastructure.
       ``(E) Management of procurement and acquisition processes 
     relating to the construction and operation of facilities of 
     the Department, including the award of contracts related to 
     design, construction, furnishing, and supplies and 
     equipment.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 312 the following new item:

``312A. Director of Construction and Facilities Management.''.

     SEC. 812. INCREASE IN THRESHOLD FOR MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
                   PROJECTS.

       Section 8104(a)(3)(A) is amended by striking ``$7,000,000'' 
     and inserting ``$10,000,000''.

     SEC. 813. LAND CONVEYANCE, CITY OF FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may convey to the city of Fort Thomas, Kentucky (in 
     this section referred to as the ``City''), all right, title, 
     and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real 
     property, including the 15 structures located thereon, 
     consisting of approximately 11.75 acres that is managed by 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs and located in the 
     northeastern portion of Tower Park in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. 
     Any such conveyance shall be subject to valid existing 
     rights, easements, and rights-of-way.
       (b) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance 
     under subsection (a), the City shall pay to the United States 
     an amount equal to the fair market value of the conveyed real 
     property, as determined by the Secretary.
       (c) Treatment of Consideration.--The consideration received 
     under subsection (b) shall be deposited, at the discretion of 
     the Secretary, in the ``Medical Facilities'' account or the 
     ``Construction, Minor Projects'' account (or a combination of 
     those accounts) and shall be available to the Secretary, 
     without limitation and until expended--
       (1) to cover costs incurred by the Secretary associated 
     with the environmental remediation of the real property 
     before conveyance under subsection (a); and
       (2) with any funds remaining after the Secretary has 
     covered costs as required under paragraph (1), for 
     acquisition of a site for use as a parking facility, or 
     contract (by lease or otherwise) for the operation of a 
     parking facility, to be used in connection with the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility, Cincinnati, 
     Ohio.
       (d) Release From Liability.--Effective on the date of the 
     conveyance under subsection (a), the United States shall not 
     be liable for damages arising out of any act, omission, or 
     occurrence relating to the conveyed real property, but shall 
     continue to be liable for damages caused by acts of 
     negligence committed by the United States or by any employee 
     or agent of the United States before the date of conveyance, 
     consistent with chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code.
       (e) Payment of Costs of Conveyance.--
       (1) Payment required.--The Secretary shall require the City 
     to cover costs to be incurred by the Secretary, or to 
     reimburse the Secretary for costs incurred by the Secretary, 
     to carry out the conveyance under subsection (a), including 
     survey costs, costs related to environmental documentation, 
     and other administrative costs related to the conveyance. If 
     amounts are collected from the City in advance of the 
     Secretary incurring the actual costs, and the amount 
     collected exceeds the costs actually incurred by the 
     Secretary to carry out the conveyance, the Secretary shall 
     refund the excess amount to the City.
       (2) Treatment of amounts received.--Amounts received as 
     reimbursement under paragraph (1) shall be credited to the 
     fund or account that was used to cover the costs incurred by 
     the Secretary in carrying out the conveyance. Amounts so 
     credited shall be merged with amounts in such fund or account 
     and shall be available for the same purposes, and subject to 
     the same conditions and limitations, as amounts in such fund 
     or account.
       (f) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal 
     description of the real property to be conveyed under 
     subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory 
     to the Secretary.
       (g) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may 
     require such additional terms and conditions in connection 
     with the conveyance under subsection (a) as the Secretary 
     considers necessary to protect the interests of the United 
     States.

          Subtitle C--Reports on Medical Facility Improvements

     SEC. 821. REPORT ON OPTION FOR MEDICAL FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS 
                   IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO.

       Not later than 180 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 identifying and outlining the 
     various options available to the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs for replacing the current Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Medical Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The report 
     shall not affect current contracts at the current site, and 
     the report shall include the following:
       (1) The feasibility of entering into a partnership with a 
     Federal, Commonwealth, or local governmental agency, or a 
     suitable non-profit organization, for the construction and 
     operation of a new facility.
       (2) The medical, legal, and financial implications of each 
     of the options identified, including recommendations 
     regarding any statutory changes necessary for the Department 
     to carry out any of the options identified.
       (3) A detailed cost-benefit analysis of each of the options 
     identified.
       (4) Estimates regarding the length of time and associated 
     costs needed to complete such a facility under each of the 
     options identified.

     SEC. 822. BUSINESS PLANS FOR ENHANCED ACCESS TO OUTPATIENT 
                   CARE IN CERTAIN RURAL AREAS.

       (a) Requirement.--Not later than 180 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 business plan for enhanced access to 
     outpatient care (as described in subsection (b)) for primary 
     care, mental health care, and specialty care in each of the 
     following areas:
       (1) The Lewiston-Auburn area of Maine.
       (2) The area of Houlton, Maine.
       (3) The area of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine.
       (4) Whiteside County, Illinois.
       (b) Means of Enhanced Access.--The means of enhanced access 
     to outpatient care to be covered by the business plans under 
     subsection (a) are, with respect to each area specified in 
     that subsection, one or more of the following:
       (1) New sites of care.
       (2) Expansions at existing sites of care.
       (3) Use of existing authority and policies to contract for 
     care where necessary.
       (4) Increased use of telemedicine.

     SEC. 823. REPORT ON OPTION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER IN OKALOOSA 
                   COUNTY, FLORIDA.

       (a) Feasibility Study.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
     Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 
     of the House of Representatives a report identifying and 
     outlining the various options available to the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs for the placement of a Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Okaloosa County, Florida. 
     The report shall be prepared in conjunction with the 
     Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Air Force.
       (b) Matters to Be Included.--The report under subsection 
     (a) shall include the following:
       (1) The feasibility of entering into a partnership with 
     Eglin Air Force Base for the construction and operation of a 
     new, joint Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of 
     Defense facility.
       (2) The medical, legal, and financial implications of each 
     of the options identified, including recommendations 
     regarding any statutory changes necessary for the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs to carry out any of the options 
     identified.
       (3) A detailed cost-benefit analysis of each of the options 
     identified.
       (4) Estimates regarding the length of time and associated 
     costs needed to complete such a facility under each of the 
     options identified.

                 TITLE IX--INFORMATION SECURITY MATTERS

     SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Information Security Enhancement Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 902. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INFORMATION SECURITY 
                   PROGRAMS AND REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Information Security Programs and Requirements.--
     Chapter 57 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subchapter:

                 ``SUBCHAPTER III--INFORMATION SECURITY

     ``Sec. 5721. Purpose

       ``The purpose of the Information Security Program is to 
     establish a program to provide security for Department 
     information and information systems commensurate to the risk

[[Page 23116]]

     of harm, and to communicate the responsibilities of the 
     Secretary, Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, other 
     key officials, Assistant Secretary for Information and 
     Technology, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber 
     and Information Security, and Inspector General of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs as outlined in the provisions 
     of subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44 (also known as 
     the `Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002', 
     which was enacted as part of the E-Government Act of 2002 
     (Public Law 107-347)).

     ``Sec. 5722. Policy

       ``(a) In General.--The security of Department information 
     and information systems is vital to the success of the 
     mission of the Department. To that end, the Secretary shall 
     establish and maintain a comprehensive Department-wide 
     information security program to provide for the development 
     and maintenance of cost-effective security controls needed to 
     protect Department information, in any media or format, and 
     Department information systems.
       ``(b) Elements.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
     Department information security program includes the 
     following elements:
       ``(1) Periodic assessments of the risk and magnitude of 
     harm that could result from the unauthorized access, use, 
     disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of 
     information and information systems that support the 
     operations and assets of the Department.
       ``(2) Policies and procedures that--
       ``(A) are based on risk assessments;
       ``(B) cost-effectively reduce security risks to an 
     acceptable level; and
       ``(C) ensure that information security is addressed 
     throughout the life cycle of each Department information 
     system.
       ``(3) Selection and effective implementation of minimum, 
     mandatory technical, operational, and management security 
     controls, or other compensating countermeasures, to protect 
     the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of each 
     Department system and its information.
       ``(4) Subordinate plans for providing adequate security for 
     networks, facilities, systems, or groups of information 
     systems, as appropriate.
       ``(5) Annual security awareness training for all Department 
     employees, contractors, and all other users of VA sensitive 
     data and Department information systems that identifies the 
     information security risks associated with the activities of 
     such employees, contractors, and users and the 
     responsibilities of such employees, contractors, and users to 
     comply with Department policies and procedures designed to 
     reduce such risks.
       ``(6) Periodic testing and evaluation of the effectiveness 
     of security controls based on risk, including triennial 
     certification testing of all management, operational, and 
     technical controls, and annual testing of a subset of those 
     controls for each Department system.
       ``(7) A process for planning, developing, implementing, 
     evaluating, and documenting remedial actions to address 
     deficiencies in information security policies, procedures, 
     and practices.
       ``(8) Procedures for detecting, immediately reporting, and 
     responding to security incidents, including mitigating risks 
     before substantial damage is done as well as notifying and 
     consulting with the US-Computer Emergency Readiness Team of 
     the Department of Homeland Security, law enforcement 
     agencies, the Inspector General of the Department, and other 
     offices as appropriate.
       ``(9) Plans and procedures to ensure continuity of 
     operations for Department systems.
       ``(c) Compliance With Certain Requirements.--The Secretary 
     shall comply with the provisions of subchapter III of chapter 
     35 of title 44 and other related information security 
     requirements promulgated by the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology and the Office of Management and 
     Budget that define Department information system mandates.

     ``Sec. 5723. Responsibilities

       ``(a) Secretary of Veterans Affairs.--In accordance with 
     the provisions of subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44, 
     the Secretary is responsible for the following:
       ``(1) Ensuring that the Department adopts a Department-wide 
     information security program and otherwise complies with the 
     provisions of subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44 and 
     other related information security requirements.
       ``(2) Ensuring that information security protections are 
     commensurate with the risk and magnitude of the potential 
     harm to Department information and information systems 
     resulting from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, 
     disruption, modification, or destruction.
       ``(3) Ensuring that information security management 
     processes are integrated with Department strategic and 
     operational planning processes.
       ``(4) Ensuring that the Under Secretaries, Assistant 
     Secretaries, and other key officials of the Department 
     provide adequate security for the information and information 
     systems under their control.
       ``(5) Ensuring enforcement and compliance with the 
     requirements imposed on the Department under the provisions 
     of subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44.
       ``(6) Ensuring that the Department has trained program and 
     staff office personnel sufficient to assist in complying with 
     all the provisions of subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 
     44 and other related information security requirements.
       ``(7) Ensuring that the Assistant Secretary for Information 
     and Technology, in coordination with the Under Secretaries, 
     Assistant Secretaries, and other key officials of the 
     Department report to Congress, the Office of Management and 
     Budget, and other entities as required by law and Executive 
     Branch direction on the effectiveness of the Department 
     information security program, including remedial actions.
       ``(8) Notifying officials other than officials of the 
     Department of data breaches when required under this 
     subchapter.
       ``(9) Ensuring that the Assistant Secretary for Information 
     and Technology has the authority and control necessary to 
     develop, approve, implement, integrate, and oversee the 
     policies, procedures, processes, activities, and systems of 
     the Department relating to subchapter III of chapter 35 of 
     title 44, including the management of all related mission 
     applications, information resources, personnel, and 
     infrastructure.
       ``(10) Submitting to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of 
     the Senate and House of Representatives, the Committee on 
     Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
     the Senate, not later than March 1 each year, a report on the 
     compliance of the Department with subchapter III of chapter 
     35 of title 44, with the information in such report displayed 
     in the aggregate and separately for each Administration, 
     office, and facility of the Department.
       ``(11) Taking appropriate action to ensure that the budget 
     for any fiscal year, as submitted by the President to 
     Congress under section 1105 of title 31, sets forth 
     separately the amounts required in the budget for such fiscal 
     year for compliance by the Department with Federal law and 
     regulations governing information security, including this 
     subchapter and subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44.
       ``(12) Providing notice to the Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget, the Inspector General of the 
     Department, and such other Federal agencies as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate of a presumptive data breach of which 
     notice is provided the Secretary under subsection (b)(16) if, 
     in the opinion of the Assistant Secretary for Information and 
     Technology, the breach involves the information of twenty or 
     more individuals.
       ``(b) Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology.--
     The Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology, as 
     the Chief Information Officer of the Department, is 
     responsible for the following:
       ``(1) Establishing, maintaining, and monitoring Department-
     wide information security policies, procedures, control 
     techniques, training, and inspection requirements as elements 
     of the Department information security program.
       ``(2) Issuing policies and handbooks to provide direction 
     for implementing the elements of the information security 
     program to all Department organizations.
       ``(3) Approving all policies and procedures that are 
     related to information security for those areas of 
     responsibility that are currently under the management and 
     the oversight of other Department organizations.
       ``(4) Ordering and enforcing Department-wide compliance 
     with and execution of any information security policy.
       ``(5) Establishing minimum mandatory technical, 
     operational, and management information security control 
     requirements for each Department system, consistent with 
     risk, the processes identified in standards of the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology, and the 
     responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary to operate and 
     maintain all Department systems currently creating, 
     processing, collecting, or disseminating data on behalf of 
     Department information owners.
       ``(6) Establishing standards for access to Department 
     information systems by organizations and individual 
     employees, and to deny access as appropriate.
       ``(7) Directing that any incidents of failure to comply 
     with established information security policies be immediately 
     reported to the Assistant Secretary.
       ``(8) Reporting any compliance failure or policy violation 
     directly to the appropriate Under Secretary, Assistant 
     Secretary, or other key official of the Department for 
     appropriate administrative or disciplinary action.
       ``(9) Reporting any compliance failure or policy violation 
     directly to the appropriate Under Secretary, Assistant 
     Secretary, or other key official of the Department along with 
     taking action to correct the failure or violation.
       ``(10) Requiring any key official of the Department who is 
     so notified to report to the Assistant Secretary with respect 
     to an action to be taken in response to any compliance 
     failure or policy violation reported by the Assistant 
     Secretary.

[[Page 23117]]

       ``(11) Ensuring that the Chief Information Officers and 
     Information Security Officers of the Department comply with 
     all cyber security directives and mandates, and ensuring that 
     these staff members have all necessary authority and means to 
     direct full compliance with such directives and mandates 
     relating to the acquisition, operation, maintenance, or use 
     of information technology resources from all facility staff.
       ``(12) Establishing the VA National Rules of Behavior for 
     appropriate use and protection of the information which is 
     used to support Department missions and functions.
       ``(13) Establishing and providing supervision over an 
     effective incident reporting system.
       ``(14) Submitting to the Secretary, at least once every 
     quarter, a report on any deficiency in the compliance with 
     subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44 of the Department or 
     any Administration, office, or facility of the Department.
       ``(15) Reporting immediately to the Secretary on any 
     significant deficiency in the compliance described by 
     paragraph (14).
       ``(16) Providing immediate notice to the Secretary of any 
     presumptive data breach.
       ``(c) Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber and 
     Information Security.--In accordance with the provisions of 
     subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44, the Associate 
     Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber and Information 
     Security, as the Senior Information Security Officer of the 
     Department, is responsible for carrying out the 
     responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary for Information 
     and Technology under the provisions of subchapter III of 
     chapter 35 of title 44, as set forth in subsection (b).
       ``(d) Department Information Owners.--In accordance with 
     the criteria of the Centralized IT Management System, 
     Department information owners are responsible for the 
     following:
       ``(1) Providing assistance to the Assistant Secretary for 
     Information and Technology regarding the security 
     requirements and appropriate level of security controls for 
     the information system or systems where sensitive personal 
     information is currently created, collected, processed, 
     disseminated, or subject to disposal.
       ``(2) Determining who has access to the system or systems 
     containing sensitive personal information, including types of 
     privileges and access rights.
       ``(3) Ensuring the VA National Rules of Behavior is signed 
     on an annual basis and enforced by all system users to ensure 
     appropriate use and protection of the information which is 
     used to support Department missions and functions.
       ``(4) Assisting the Assistant Secretary for Information and 
     Technology in the identification and assessment of the common 
     security controls for systems where their information 
     resides.
       ``(5) Providing assistance to Administration and staff 
     office personnel involved in the development of new systems 
     regarding the appropriate level of security controls for 
     their information.
       ``(e) Other Key Officials.--In accordance with the 
     provisions of subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44, the 
     Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and other key 
     officials of the Department are responsible for the 
     following:
       ``(1) Implementing the policies, procedures, practices, and 
     other countermeasures identified in the Department 
     information security program that comprise activities that 
     are under their day-to-day operational control or 
     supervision.
       ``(2) Periodically testing and evaluating information 
     security controls that comprise activities that are under 
     their day-to-day operational control or supervision to ensure 
     effective implementation.
       ``(3) Providing a plan of action and milestones to the 
     Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology on at 
     least a quarterly basis detailing the status of actions being 
     taken to correct any security compliance failure or policy 
     violation.
       ``(4) Complying with the provisions of subchapter III of 
     chapter 35 of title 44 and other related information security 
     laws and requirements in accordance with orders of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology to execute 
     the appropriate security controls commensurate to responding 
     to a security bulletin of the Security Operations Center of 
     the Department, with such orders to supersede and take 
     priority over all operational tasks and assignments and be 
     complied with immediately.
       ``(5) Ensuring that--
       ``(A) all employees within their organizations take 
     immediate action to comply with orders from the Assistant 
     Secretary for Information and Technology to--
       ``(i) mitigate the impact of any potential security 
     vulnerability;
       ``(ii) respond to a security incident; or
       ``(iii) implement the provisions of a bulletin or alert of 
     the Security Operations Center; and
       ``(B) organizational managers have all necessary authority 
     and means to direct full compliance with such orders from the 
     Assistant Secretary.
       ``(6) Ensuring the VA National Rules of Behavior is signed 
     and enforced by all system users to ensure appropriate use 
     and protection of the information which is used to support 
     Department missions and functions on an annual basis.
       ``(f) Users of Department Information and Information 
     Systems.--Users of Department information and information 
     systems are responsible for the following:
       ``(1) Complying with all Department information security 
     program policies, procedures, and practices.
       ``(2) Attending security awareness training on at least an 
     annual basis.
       ``(3) Reporting all security incidents immediately to the 
     Information Security Officer of the system or facility and to 
     their immediate supervisor.
       ``(4) Complying with orders from the Assistant Secretary 
     for Information and Technology directing specific activities 
     when a security incident occurs.
       ``(5) Signing an acknowledgment that they have read, 
     understand, and agree to abide by the VA National Rules of 
     Behavior on an annual basis.
       ``(g) Inspector General of Department of Veterans 
     Affairs.--In accordance with the provisions of subchapter III 
     of chapter 35 of title 44, the Inspector General of the 
     Department is responsible for the following:
       ``(1) Conducting an annual audit of the Department 
     information security program.
       ``(2) Submitting an independent annual report to the Office 
     of Management and Budget on the status of Department 
     information security program, based on the results of the 
     annual audit.
       ``(3) Conducting investigations of complaints and referrals 
     of violations as considered appropriate by the Inspector 
     General.

     ``Sec. 5724. Provision of credit protection and other 
       services

       ``(a) Independent Risk Analysis.--(1) In the event of a 
     data breach with respect to sensitive personal information 
     that is processed or maintained by the Secretary, the 
     Secretary shall ensure that, as soon as possible after the 
     data breach, a non-Department entity or the Office of 
     Inspector General of the Department conducts an independent 
     risk analysis of the data breach to determine the level of 
     risk associated with the data breach for the potential misuse 
     of any sensitive personal information involved in the data 
     breach.
       ``(2) If the Secretary determines, based on the findings of 
     a risk analysis conducted under paragraph (1), that a 
     reasonable risk exists for the potential misuse of sensitive 
     personal information involved in a data breach, the Secretary 
     shall provide credit protection services in accordance with 
     the regulations prescribed by the Secretary under this 
     section.
       ``(b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and 
     Information Technology Act of 2006, the Secretary shall 
     prescribe interim regulations for the provision of the 
     following in accordance with subsection (a)(2):
       ``(1) Notification.
       ``(2) Data mining.
       ``(3) Fraud alerts.
       ``(4) Data breach analysis.
       ``(5) Credit monitoring.
       ``(6) Identity theft insurance.
       ``(7) Credit protection services.
       ``(c) Report.--(1) For each data breach with respect to 
     sensitive personal information processed or maintained by the 
     Secretary, the Secretary shall promptly submit to the 
     Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives a report containing the findings of any 
     independent risk analysis conducted under subsection (a)(1), 
     any determination of the Secretary under subsection (a)(2), 
     and a description of any services provided pursuant to 
     subsection (b).
       ``(2) In the event of a data breach with respect to 
     sensitive personal information processed or maintained by the 
     Secretary that is the sensitive personal information of a 
     member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps or a 
     civilian officer or employee of the Department of Defense, 
     the Secretary shall submit the report required under 
     paragraph (1) to the Committee on Armed Services of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives in addition to the Committees on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives.

     ``Sec. 5725. Contracts for data processing or maintenance

       ``(a) Contract Requirements.--If the Secretary enters into 
     a contract for the performance of any Department function 
     that requires access to sensitive personal information, the 
     Secretary shall require as a condition of the contract that--
       ``(1) the contractor shall not, directly or through an 
     affiliate of the contractor, disclose such information to any 
     other person unless the disclosure is lawful and is expressly 
     permitted under the contract;
       ``(2) the contractor, or any subcontractor for a 
     subcontract of the contract, shall promptly notify the 
     Secretary of any data breach that occurs with respect to such 
     information.
       ``(b) Liquidated Damages.--Each contract subject to the 
     requirements of subsection (a) shall provide for liquidated 
     damages to be paid by the contractor to the Secretary in the 
     event of a data breach with respect to any sensitive personal 
     information processed

[[Page 23118]]

     or maintained by the contractor or any subcontractor under 
     that contract.
       ``(c) Provision of Credit Protection Services.--Any amount 
     collected by the Secretary under subsection (b) shall be 
     deposited in or credited to the Department account from which 
     the contractor was paid and shall remain available for 
     obligation without fiscal year limitation exclusively for the 
     purpose of providing credit protection services pursuant to 
     section 5724(b) of this title.

     ``Sec. 5726. Reports and notice to Congress on data breaches

       ``(a) Quarterly Reports.--(1) Not later than 30 days after 
     the last day of a fiscal quarter, the Secretary shall submit 
     to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
     House of Representatives a report on any data breach with 
     respect to sensitive personal information processed or 
     maintained by the Department that occurred during that 
     quarter.
       ``(2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
     identify, for each data breach covered by the report--
       ``(A) the Administration and facility of the Department 
     responsible for processing or maintaining the sensitive 
     personal information involved in the data breach; and
       ``(B) the status of any remedial or corrective action with 
     respect to the data breach.
       ``(b) Notification of Significant Data Breaches.--(1) In 
     the event of a data breach with respect to sensitive personal 
     information processed or maintained by the Secretary that the 
     Secretary determines is significant, the Secretary shall 
     provide notice of such breach to the Committees on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives.
       ``(2) In the event of a data breach with respect to 
     sensitive personal information processed or maintained by the 
     Secretary that is the sensitive personal information of a 
     member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps or a 
     civilian officer or employee of the Department of Defense 
     that the Secretary determines is significant under paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary shall provide the notice required under 
     paragraph (1) to the Committee on Armed Services of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives in addition to the Committees on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives.
       ``(3) Notice under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be provided 
     promptly following the discovery of such a data breach and 
     the implementation of any measures necessary to determine the 
     scope of the breach, prevent any further breach or 
     unauthorized disclosures, and reasonably restore the 
     integrity of the data system.

     ``Sec. 5727. Definitions

       ``In this subchapter:
       ``(1) Availability.--The term `availability' means ensuring 
     timely and reliable access to and use of information.
       ``(2) Confidentiality.--The term `confidentiality' means 
     preserving authorized restrictions on access and disclosure, 
     including means for protecting personal privacy and 
     proprietary information.
       ``(3) Control techniques.--The term `control techniques' 
     means methods for guiding and controlling the operations of 
     information systems to ensure adherence to the provisions of 
     subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44 and other related 
     information security requirements.
       ``(4) Data breach.--The term `data breach' means the loss, 
     theft, or other unauthorized access, other than those 
     incidental to the scope of employment, to data containing 
     sensitive personal information, in electronic or printed 
     form, that results in the potential compromise of the 
     confidentiality or integrity of the data.
       ``(5) Data breach analysis.--The term `data breach 
     analysis' means the process used to determine if a data 
     breach has resulted in the misuse of sensitive personal 
     information.
       ``(6) Fraud resolution systems.--The term `fraud resolution 
     services' means services to assist an individual in the 
     process of recovering and rehabilitating the credit of the 
     individual after the individual experiences identity theft.
       ``(7) Identity theft.--The term `identity theft' has the 
     meaning given such term under section 603 of the Fair Credit 
     Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a).
       ``(8) Identity theft insurance.--The term `identity theft 
     insurance' means any insurance policy that pays benefits for 
     costs, including travel costs, notary fees, and postage 
     costs, lost wages, and legal fees and expenses associated 
     with efforts to correct and ameliorate the effects and 
     results of identity theft of the insured individual.
       ``(9) Information owner.--The term `information owner' 
     means an agency official with statutory or operational 
     authority for specified information and responsibility for 
     establishing the criteria for its creation, collection, 
     processing, dissemination, or disposal, which 
     responsibilities may extend to interconnected systems or 
     groups of interconnected systems.
       ``(10) Information resources.--The term `information 
     resources' means information in any medium or form and its 
     related resources, such as personnel, equipment, funds, and 
     information technology.
       ``(11) Information security.--The term `information 
     security' means protecting information and information 
     systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, 
     disruption, modification, or destruction in order to provide 
     integrity, confidentiality, and availability.
       ``(12) Information security requirements.--The term 
     `information security requirements' means information 
     security requirements promulgated in accordance with law, or 
     directed by the Secretary of Commerce, the National Institute 
     of Standards and Technology, and the Office of Management and 
     Budget, and, as to national security systems, the President.
       ``(13) Information system.--The term `information system' 
     means a discrete set of information resources organized for 
     the collection, processing, maintenance, use, sharing, 
     dissemination, or disposition of information, whether 
     automated or manual.
       ``(14) Integrity.--The term `integrity' means guarding 
     against improper information modification or destruction, and 
     includes ensuring information non-repudiation and 
     authenticity.
       ``(15) National security system.--The term `national 
     security system' means an information system that is 
     protected at all times by policies and procedures established 
     for the processing, maintenance, use, sharing, dissemination 
     or disposition of information that has been specifically 
     authorized under criteria established by statute or Executive 
     Order to be kept classified in the interest of national 
     defense or foreign policy.
       ``(16) Plan of action and milestones.--The term `plan of 
     action and milestones', means a plan used as a basis for the 
     quarterly reporting requirements of the Office of Management 
     and Budget that includes the following information:
       ``(A) A description of the security weakness.
       ``(B) The identity of the office or organization 
     responsible for resolving the weakness.
       ``(C) An estimate of resources required to resolve the 
     weakness by fiscal year.
       ``(D) The scheduled completion date.
       ``(E) Key milestones with estimated completion dates.
       ``(F) Any changes to the original key milestone date.
       ``(G) The source that identified the weakness.
       ``(H) The status of efforts to correct the weakness.
       ``(17) Principal credit reporting agency.--The term 
     `principal credit reporting agency' means a consumer 
     reporting agency as described in section 603(p) of the Fair 
     Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(p)).
       ``(18) Security incident.--The term `security incident' 
     means an event that has, or could have, resulted in loss or 
     damage to Department assets, or sensitive information, or an 
     action that breaches Department security procedures.
       ``(19) Sensitive personal information.--The term `sensitive 
     personal information', with respect to an individual, means 
     any information about the individual maintained by an agency, 
     including the following:
       ``(A) Education, financial transactions, medical history, 
     and criminal or employment history.
       ``(B) Information that can be used to distinguish or trace 
     the individual's identity, including name, social security 
     number, date and place of birth, mother's maiden name, or 
     biometric records.
       ``(20) Subordinate plan.--The term `subordinate plan', also 
     referred to as a `system security plan', means a subordinate 
     plan defines the security controls that are either planned or 
     implemented for networks, facilities, systems, or groups of 
     systems, as appropriate, within a specific accreditation 
     boundary.
       ``(21) Training.--The term `training' means a learning 
     experience in which an individual is taught to execute a 
     specific information security procedure or understand the 
     information security common body of knowledge.
       ``(22) Va national rules of behavior.--The term `VA 
     National Rules of Behavior' means a set of Department rules 
     that describes the responsibilities and expected behavior of 
     personnel with regard to information system usage.
       ``(23) Va sensitive data.--The term `VA sensitive data' 
     means all Department data, on any storage media or in any 
     form or format, which requires protection due to the risk of 
     harm that could result from inadvertent or deliberate 
     disclosure, alteration, or destruction of the information and 
     includes information whose improper use or disclosure could 
     adversely affect the ability of an agency to accomplish its 
     mission, proprietary information, and records about 
     individuals requiring protection under applicable 
     confidentiality provisions.

     ``Sec. 5728. Authorization of appropriations

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     subchapter such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal 
     year.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 57 is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:


                 ``SUBCHAPTER III--Information Security

``5721. Purpose.
``5722. Policy.
``5723. Responsibilities.

[[Page 23119]]

``5724. Provision of credit protection and other services.
``5725. Contracts for data processing or maintenance.
``5726. Reports and notice to Congress on data breaches.
``5727. Definitions.
``5728. Authorization of appropriations.''.
       (c) Deadline for Regulations.--Not later than one year 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations to carry out 
     subchapter III of chapter 57 of title 38, United States Code, 
     as added by subsection (a).

     SEC. 903. INFORMATION SECURITY EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

       (a) Programs Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--Title 38 is amended by inserting after 
     chapter 78 the following new chapter:

    ``CHAPTER 79--INFORMATION SECURITY EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

``Sec.
``7901. Programs; purpose.
``7902. Scholarship program.
``7903. Education debt reduction program.
``7904. Preferences in awarding financial assistance.
``7905. Requirement of honorable discharge for veterans receiving 
              assistance.
``7906. Regulations.
``7907. Termination.

     ``Sec. 7901. Programs; purpose

       ``(a) In General.--To encourage the recruitment and 
     retention of Department personnel who have the information 
     security skills necessary to meet Department requirements, 
     the Secretary may carry out programs in accordance with this 
     chapter to provide financial support for education in 
     computer science and electrical and computer engineering at 
     accredited institutions of higher education.
       ``(b) Types of Programs.--The programs authorized under 
     this chapter are as follows:
       ``(1) Scholarships for pursuit of doctoral degrees in 
     computer science and electrical and computer engineering at 
     accredited institutions of higher education.
       ``(2) Education debt reduction for Department personnel who 
     hold doctoral degrees in computer science and electrical and 
     computer engineering at accredited institutions of higher 
     education.

     ``Sec. 7902. Scholarship program

       ``(a) Authority.--(1) Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, the Secretary may establish a scholarship 
     program under which the Secretary shall, subject to 
     subsection (d), provide financial assistance in accordance 
     with this section to a qualified person--
       ``(A) who is pursuing a doctoral degree in computer science 
     or electrical or computer engineering at an accredited 
     institution of higher education; and
       ``(B) who enters into an agreement with the Secretary as 
     described in subsection (b).
       ``(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the 
     Secretary may provide financial assistance under this section 
     to an individual for up to five years.
       ``(B) The Secretary may waive the limitation under 
     subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines that such a 
     waiver is appropriate.
       ``(b) Service Agreement for Scholarship Recipients.--(1) To 
     receive financial assistance under this section an individual 
     shall enter into an agreement to accept and continue 
     employment in the Department for the period of obligated 
     service determined under paragraph (2).
       ``(2) For the purposes of this subsection, the period of 
     obligated service for a recipient of financial assistance 
     under this section shall be the period determined by the 
     Secretary as being appropriate to obtain adequate service in 
     exchange for the financial assistance and otherwise to 
     achieve the goals set forth in section 7901(a) of this title. 
     In no event may the period of service required of a recipient 
     be less than the period equal to the total period of pursuit 
     of a degree for which the Secretary agrees to provide the 
     recipient with financial assistance under this section. The 
     period of obligated service is in addition to any other 
     period for which the recipient is obligated to serve on 
     active duty or in the civil service, as the case may be.
       ``(3) An agreement entered into under this section by a 
     person pursuing an doctoral degree shall include terms that 
     provide the following:
       ``(A) That the period of obligated service begins on a date 
     after the award of the degree that is determined under the 
     regulations prescribed under section 7906 of this title.
       ``(B) That the individual will maintain satisfactory 
     academic progress, as determined in accordance with those 
     regulations, and that failure to maintain such progress 
     constitutes grounds for termination of the financial 
     assistance for the individual under this section.
       ``(C) Any other terms and conditions that the Secretary 
     determines appropriate for carrying out this section.
       ``(c) Amount of Assistance.--(1) The amount of the 
     financial assistance provided for an individual under this 
     section shall be the amount determined by the Secretary as 
     being necessary to pay--
       ``(A) the tuition and fees of the individual; and
       ``(B) $1,500 to the individual each month (including a 
     month between academic semesters or terms leading to the 
     degree for which such assistance is provided or during which 
     the individual is not enrolled in a course of education but 
     is pursuing independent research leading to such degree) for 
     books, laboratory expenses, and expenses of room and board.
       ``(2) In no case may the amount of assistance provided for 
     an individual under this section for an academic year exceed 
     $50,000.
       ``(3) In no case may the total amount of assistance 
     provided for an individual under this section exceed 
     $200,000.
       ``(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, financial 
     assistance paid an individual under this section shall not be 
     considered as income or resources in determining eligibility 
     for, or the amount of benefits under, any Federal or 
     federally assisted program.
       ``(d) Repayment for Period of Unserved Obligated Service.--
     (1) An individual who receives financial assistance under 
     this section shall repay to the Secretary an amount equal to 
     the unearned portion of the financial assistance if the 
     individual fails to satisfy the requirements of the service 
     agreement entered into under subsection (b), except in 
     circumstances authorized by the Secretary.
       ``(2) The Secretary may establish, by regulations, 
     procedures for determining the amount of the repayment 
     required under this subsection and the circumstances under 
     which an exception to the required repayment may be granted.
       ``(3) An obligation to repay the Secretary under this 
     subsection is, for all purposes, a debt owed the United 
     States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 does not 
     discharge a person from such debt if the discharge order is 
     entered less than five years after the date of the 
     termination of the agreement or contract on which the debt is 
     based.
       ``(e) Waiver or Suspension of Compliance.--The Secretary 
     shall prescribe regulations providing for the waiver or 
     suspension of any obligation of an individual for service or 
     payment under this section (or an agreement under this 
     section) whenever noncompliance by the individual is due to 
     circumstances beyond the control of the individual or 
     whenever the Secretary determines that the waiver or 
     suspension of compliance is in the best interest of the 
     United States.
       ``(f) Internships.--(1) The Secretary may offer a 
     compensated internship to an individual for whom financial 
     assistance is provided under this section during a period 
     between academic semesters or terms leading to the degree for 
     which such assistance is provided. Compensation provided for 
     such an internship shall be in addition to the financial 
     assistance provided under this section.
       ``(2) An internship under this subsection shall not be 
     counted toward satisfying a period of obligated service under 
     this section.
       ``(g) Ineligibility of Individuals Receiving Montgomery GI 
     Bill Education Assistance Payments.--An individual who 
     receives a payment of educational assistance under chapter 
     30, 31, 32, 34, or 35 of this title or chapter 1606 or 1607 
     of title 10 for a month in which the individual is enrolled 
     in a course of education leading to a doctoral degree in 
     information security is not eligible to receive financial 
     assistance under this section for that month.

     ``Sec. 7903. Education debt reduction program

       ``(a) Authority.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, the Secretary may establish an education debt 
     reduction program under which the Secretary shall make 
     education debt reduction payments under this section to 
     qualified individuals eligible under subsection (b) for the 
     purpose of reimbursing such individuals for payments by such 
     individuals of principal and interest on loans described in 
     paragraph (2) of that subsection.
       ``(b) Eligibility.--An individual is eligible to 
     participate in the program under this section if the 
     individual--
       ``(1) has completed a doctoral degree in computer science 
     or electrical or computer engineering at an accredited 
     institution of higher education during the five-year period 
     preceding the date on which the individual is hired;
       ``(2) is an employee of the Department who serves in a 
     position related to information security (as determined by 
     the Secretary); and
       ``(3) owes any amount of principal or interest under a 
     loan, the proceeds of which were used by or on behalf of that 
     individual to pay costs relating to a doctoral degree in 
     computer science or electrical or computer engineering at an 
     accredited institution of higher education.
       ``(c) Amount of Assistance.--(1) Subject to paragraph (2), 
     the amount of education debt reduction payments made to an 
     individual under this section may not exceed $82,500 over a 
     total of five years, of which not more than $16,500 of such 
     payments may be made in each year.
       ``(2) The total amount payable to an individual under this 
     section for any year may not exceed the amount of the 
     principal and interest on loans referred to in subsection 
     (b)(3) that is paid by the individual during such year.

[[Page 23120]]

       ``(d) Payments.--(1) The Secretary shall make education 
     debt reduction payments under this section on an annual 
     basis.
       ``(2) The Secretary shall make such a payment--
       ``(A) on the last day of the one-year period beginning on 
     the date on which the individual is accepted into the program 
     established under subsection (a); or
       ``(B) in the case of an individual who received a payment 
     under this section for the preceding fiscal year, on the last 
     day of the one-year period beginning on the date on which the 
     individual last received such a payment.
       ``(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, education 
     debt reduction payments under this section shall not be 
     considered as income or resources in determining eligibility 
     for, or the amount of benefits under, any Federal or 
     federally assisted program.
       ``(e) Performance Requirement.--The Secretary may make 
     education debt reduction payments to an individual under this 
     section for a year only if the Secretary determines that the 
     individual maintained an acceptable level of performance in 
     the position or positions served by the individual during the 
     year.
       ``(f) Notification of Terms of Provision of Payments.--The 
     Secretary shall provide to an individual who receives a 
     payment under this section notice in writing of the terms and 
     conditions that apply to such a payment.
       ``(g) Covered Costs.--For purposes of subsection (b)(3), 
     costs relating to a course of education or training include--
       ``(1) tuition expenses; and
       ``(2) all other reasonable educational expenses, including 
     fees, books, and laboratory expenses.

     ``Sec. 7904. Preferences in awarding financial assistance

       ``In awarding financial assistance under this chapter, the 
     Secretary shall give a preference to qualified individuals 
     who are otherwise eligible to receive the financial 
     assistance in the following order of priority:
       ``(1) Veterans with service-connected disabilities.
       ``(2) Veterans.
       ``(3) Persons described in section 4215(a)(1)(B) of this 
     title.
       ``(4) Individuals who received or are pursuing degrees at 
     institutions designated by the National Security Agency as 
     Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance 
     Education.
       ``(5) Citizens of the United States.

     ``Sec. 7905. Requirement of honorable discharge for veterans 
       receiving assistance

       ``No veteran shall receive financial assistance under this 
     chapter unless the veteran was discharged from the Armed 
     Forces under honorable conditions.

     ``Sec. 7906. Regulations

       ``The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for the 
     administration of this chapter.

     ``Sec. 7907. Termination

       ``The authority of the Secretary to make a payment under 
     this chapter shall terminate on July 31, 2017.''.
       (2) Clerical amendments.--The tables of chapters at the 
     beginning of title 38, and of part V of title 38, are each 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 78 
     the following new item:

``79. Information Security Education Assistance Program.....7901''.....

       (b) GAO Report.--Not later than three years after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
     submit to Congress a report on the scholarship and education 
     debt reduction programs under chapter 79 of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (a).
       (c) Applicability of Scholarships.--Section 7902 of title 
     38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), may only 
     apply with respect to financial assistance provided for an 
     academic semester or term that begins on or after August 1, 
     2007.

                         TITLE X--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 1001. NOTICE TO CONGRESSIONAL VETERANS COMMITTEES OF 
                   CERTAIN TRANSFERS OF FUNDS.

       To the extent that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is 
     required or directed, under any provision of law, to provide 
     written notice to any committee of Congress other than the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives on the transfer of appropriations from one 
     account to any other account, the Secretary shall also 
     transmit such notice to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     House of Representatives.

     SEC. 1002. CLARIFICATION OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES COVERED 
                   BY CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF LAW.

       (a) Payment of Pension During Confinement in Penal 
     Institutions.--Section 1505(a) is amended by striking ``or 
     local penal institution'' and inserting ``local, or other 
     penal institution or correctional facility''.
       (b) Allowances for Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans 
     With Service-Connected Disabilities.--Section 3108(g)(1) is 
     amended by striking ``or local penal institution'' and 
     inserting ``local, or other penal institution or correctional 
     facility''.
       (c) Educational Assistance Benefits for Post-Vietnam Era 
     Veterans.--Section 3231(d)(1) is amended by striking ``or 
     local penal institution'' and inserting ``local, or other 
     penal institution or correctional facility''.
       (d) Computation of Educational Assistance Allowances for 
     Veterans Generally.--Section 3482(g)(1) is amended by 
     striking ``or local penal institution'' and inserting 
     ``local, or other penal institution or correctional 
     facility''.
       (e) Computation of Educational Assistance Allowance for 
     Survivors and Dependents.--Section 3532(e) is amended by 
     striking ``or local penal institution'' and inserting 
     ``local, or other penal institution or correctional 
     facility''.
       (f) Limitation on Payment of Compensation and Dependency 
     and Indemnity Compensation.--Section 5313 is amended by 
     striking ``or local penal institution'' each place it appears 
     and inserting ``local, or other penal institution or 
     correctional facility''.
       (g) Limitation on Payment of Clothing Allowance.--Section 
     5313A is amended by striking ``or local penal institution'' 
     and inserting ``local, or other penal institution or 
     correctional facility''.

     SEC. 1003. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE FOR 
                   PARTICIPATION IN DOD CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL 
                   WARFARE TESTING.

       Section 1710(e)(3)(D) is amended by striking ``December 31, 
     2005'' and inserting ``December 31, 2007''.

     SEC. 1004. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Title 38, United States Code.--
       (1) Citation correction.--Section 1718(c)(2) is amended by 
     inserting ``of 1938'' after ``Act''.
       (2) Citation correction.--Section 1785(b)(1) is amended by 
     striking ``Robert B.'' and inserting ``Robert T.''.
       (3) Punctuation correction.--Section 2002(1) is amended by 
     inserting a closing parenthesis before the period at the end.
       (4) Punctuation correction.--Section 2011(a)(1)(C) is 
     amended by inserting a period at the end.
       (5) Cross reference correction.--Section 2041(a)(3)(A)(i) 
     is amended by striking ``under this chapter'' and inserting 
     ``established under section 3722 of this title''.
       (6) Citation correction.--Section 8111(b)(1) is amended by 
     striking ``into the strategic'' and all that follows through 
     ``and Results Act of 1993'' and inserting ``into the 
     strategic plan of each Department under section 306 of title 
     5 and the performance plan of each Department under section 
     1115 of title 31''.
       (7) Repeal of obsolete text.--Section 8111 is further 
     amended--
       (A) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``effective October 
     1, 2003,''; and
       (B) in subsection (e)(2)--
       (i) in the second sentence, by striking ``shall be 
     implemented no later than October 1, 2003, and''; and
       (ii) in the third sentence, by striking ``, following 
     implementation of the schedule,''.
       (8) Citation correction.--Section 8111A(a)(2)(B)(i) is 
     amended by striking ``Robert B.'' and inserting ``Robert 
     T.''.
       (b) Public Law 107-296.--Effective as of November 25, 2002, 
     section 1704(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public 
     Law 107-296; 116 Stat. 2315) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``101(25)(d)'' and inserting 
     ``101(25)(D)''; and
       (2) by striking ``3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(II)'' and inserting 
     ``3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(III)''.

     SEC. 1005. CODIFICATION OF COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT PROVIDED 
                   IN PUBLIC LAW 109-361.

       (a) Veterans' Disability Compensation.--Section 1114 is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$112'' and inserting 
     ``$115'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$218'' and inserting 
     ``$225'';
       (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$337'' and inserting 
     ``$348'';
       (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``$485'' and inserting 
     ``$501'';
       (5) in subsection (e), by striking ``$690'' and inserting 
     ``$712'';
       (6) in subsection (f), by striking ``$873'' and inserting 
     ``$901'';
       (7) in subsection (g), by striking ``$1,099'' and inserting 
     ``$1,135'';
       (8) in subsection (h), by striking ``$1,277'' and inserting 
     ``$1,319'';
       (9) in subsection (i), by striking ``$1,436'' and inserting 
     ``$1,483'';
       (10) in subsection (j), by striking ``$2,393'' and 
     inserting ``$2,471'';
       (11) in subsection (k)--
       (A) by striking ``$87'' both places it appears and 
     inserting ``$89''; and
       (B) by striking ``$2,977'' and ``$4,176'' and inserting 
     ``$3,075'' and ``$4,313'', respectively;
       (12) in subsection (l), by striking ``$2,977'' and 
     inserting ``$3,075'';
       (13) in subsection (m), by striking ``$3,284'' and 
     inserting ``$3,392'';
       (14) in subsection (n), by striking ``$3,737'' and 
     inserting ``$3,860'';
       (15) in subsections (o) and (p), by striking ``$4,176'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``$4,313'';
       (16) in subsection (r)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$1,792'' and inserting 
     ``$1,851''; and

[[Page 23121]]

       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2,669'' and inserting 
     ``$2,757''; and
       (17) in subsection (s), by striking ``$2,678'' and 
     inserting ``$2,766''.
       (b) Additional Compensation for Dependents.--Section 
     1115(1) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$135'' and inserting 
     ``$139'';
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$233'' and ``$68'' 
     and inserting ``$240'' and ``$70'', respectively;
       (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``$91'' and ``$68'' 
     and inserting ``$94'' and ``$70'', respectively;
       (4) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``$109'' and inserting 
     ``$112'';
       (5) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``$257'' and inserting 
     ``$265''; and
       (6) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``$215'' and inserting 
     ``$222''.
       (c) Clothing Allowance for Certain Disabled Veterans.--
     Section 1162 is amended by striking ``$641'' and inserting 
     ``$662''.
       (d) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Surviving 
     Spouses.--
       (1) New law dic.--Subsection (a) of section 1311 is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$1,033'' and inserting 
     ``$1,067''; and
         (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$221'' and inserting 
     ``$228''.
         (2) Old law dic.--The table in paragraph (3) of such 
     subsection is amended to read as follows:


 
                                         Monthly                Monthly
              Pay grade                   rate      Pay grade     rate
 
E-1..................................     $1,067         W-4      $1,276
E-2..................................     $1,067         O-1      $1,128
E-3..................................     $1,067         O-2      $1,165
E-4..................................     $1,067         O-3      $1,246
E-5..................................     $1,067         O-4      $1,319
E-6..................................     $1,067         O-5      $1,452
E-7..................................     $1,104         O-6      $1,637
E-8..................................     $1,165         O-7      $1,768
E-9..................................    $1,2151         O-8      $1,941
W-1..................................     $1,128         O-9      $2,076
W-2..................................     $1,172        O-10     2$2,276
W-3..................................     $1,207   ..........  .........
 
1If the veteran served as Sergeant Major of the Army, Senior Enlisted
  Advisor of the Navy, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Sergeant
  Major of the Marine Corps, or Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast
  Guard, at the applicable time designated by section 1302 of this
  title, the surviving spouse's rate shall be $1,312.
2If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
  of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief
  of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or
  Commandant of the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by
  section 1302 of this title, the surviving spouse's rate shall be
  $2,443.

         (3) Additional dic for children or disability.--Such 
     section is further amended--
         (A) in subsection (b), by striking ``$257'' and inserting 
     ``$265'';
         (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``$257'' and inserting 
     ``$265''; and
         (C) in subsection (d), by striking ``$122'' and inserting 
     ``$126''.
         (e) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Children.--
         (1) DIC when no surviving spouse.--Section 1313(a) is 
     amended--
         (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$438'' and inserting 
     ``$452'';
         (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$629'' and inserting 
     ``$649'';
         (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$819'' and inserting 
     ``$846''; and
         (D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``$819'' and ``$157'' 
     and inserting ``$846'' and ``$162'', respectively.
         (2) Supplemental dic for certain children.--Section 1314 
     is amended--
         (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``$257'' and inserting 
     ``$265'';
         (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``$438'' and inserting 
     ``$452''; and
         (C) in subsection (c), by striking ``$218'' and inserting 
     ``$225''.

     SEC. 1006. COORDINATION OF PROVISIONS WITH VETERANS PROGRAMS 
                   EXTENSION ACT OF 2006.

         (a) Earlier Enactment of This Act.--If this Act is 
     enacted before the Veterans Programs Extension Act of 2006 is 
     enacted into law, the Veterans Programs Extension Act of 
     2006, and the amendments made by that Act, shall not take 
     effect.
         (b) Earlier Enactment of Veterans Programs Extension Act 
     of 2006.--If this Act is enacted after the enactment of the 
     Veterans Programs Extension Act of 2006, then as of the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Veterans Programs Extension 
     Act of 2006 and the amendments made by that Act shall be 
     deemed for all purposes not to have taken effect and the 
     Veterans Programs Extension Act of 2006 and the amendments 
     made by that Act shall cease to be in effect.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Buyer) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine 
Brown) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, under title I of the amended bill, veterans making 
claims would be able to hire an attorney or an agent after a notice of 
disagreement referred to as an NOD, with a VA benefits decision having 
been filed. In the spirit of compromise, we worked with our Senate 
counterparts to craft this provision in such a way as to provide 
veterans with the opportunity to retain representation while protecting 
them from unscrupulous attorneys, while at the same time with great 
hope, not adding to the burden on VA's already overwhelmed claims 
system.
  Title II of the compromise language increases support of 
servicemembers returning from the war on terror by improving VA's 
outreach and increasing the number of clinicians treating post-
traumatic stress disorder, referred to as PTSD, and improving their 
training.
  The funds will also expand telehealth initiatives that are invaluable 
to rural veterans and expand the number of community-based outpatient 
clinics able to treat mental illnesses. The title further authorizes 
spending for collaboration and PTSD diagnosis and treatment between the 
VA and the Department of Defense. Families contending with the loss of 
a loved one will also benefit from bereavement counseling authorized 
under this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, veterans undergoing blind rehabilitation treatment for 
Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, and those trying to break 
the cycle of homelessness, will also see increased support under this 
legislation. The bill authorizes $2 billion for blind rehabilitation 
specialists and increases the number of facilities where these 
specialists will be located. It also authorizes the VA to designate six 
Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers of 
Excellence and at least two multiple sclerosis centers of excellence.
  The compromise legislation also strengthens VA's homeless grant and 
per diem programs. The provisions in title III would also make 
modifications to veterans education programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been fortunate to meet some of these spouses of 
our severely wounded veterans, and I must say there is no one more 
deserving than these spouses who care for their wounded, America's 
heroes and their husbands on a daily basis.
  Therefore, section 3 of the compromise contains a provision to 
authorize the VA to provide these education benefits under chapter 35 
of title 38 of U.S.C. to these spouses' independent children of these 
severely injured servicemembers prior to the members' discharge, these 
servicemembers who in the opinion of the VA will most likely be 
discharged with permanent and total service-connected disabilities.
  Rather than wait the 2- or 3-year time period, let us permit the 
spouses then to obtain their educational benefits so they can gain an 
education. When the husband or wife receives his or her discharge, they 
are then able to care for the family. Given the long convalescence many 
of these severely injured servicemembers experience while being on 
active duty, this provision, I think, makes a great deal of sense in 
how we support our families.

                              {time}  1130

  This is not a new benefit. The current law requires severely injured 
servicemembers to already be discharged for a condition qualifying for 
a chapter 35 benefit. We merely authorize the VA to pay these benefits 
sooner to those who would qualify following a member's discharge.
  Mr. Speaker, under title III of the amended bill, it would also 
clarify the VA's pro rata refund policy for nonaccredited education 
institutions. We extend the authorization for work-study positions 
located at the VA cemeteries, State veterans homes and State approving 
agencies through June 30, 2007. We would require the VA to report on 
methods to improve and streamline the administrative processes and 
procedures of education programs in chapters 30 through 36 of title 38 
of the United States Code and restore lost entitlement for certain 
chapter 35 education beneficiaries forced to discontinue a course of 
education due to being called to full-time National Guard duty.
  Mr. Speaker, title IV, section 402, contains a provision that would 
extend

[[Page 23122]]

for 1 year the VA Secretary's authority to provide the family of a 
veteran interred in a private cemetery with a government marker or any 
headstone. Congress had previously given the Secretary a 5-year 
authority effective for deaths that had occurred as of September 11, 
2001. However, this authority expires on December 31 of this year.
  Section 403 of the compromise agreement would allow tribal 
governments to participate in the VA's State Cemeteries Grants Program. 
This program dates back to 1978 and complements the department's 
National Cemetery System.
  Title V of the compromise language improves the status of veteran and 
disabled veterans small businesses when competing for contracts at the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. There would be a reasonable 
expectation, Mr. Speaker, that all of the Federal Government's agencies 
in the Department of Veterans Affairs would be a leader in achieving 
the President's goal for annual procurement from at least 3 percent of 
the disabled veteran-owned businesses. Sadly, our most recent data from 
fiscal year 2005 indicates that the VA did barely over half of what the 
President directed and the public law required.
  Mr. Speaker, the compromise agreement would also require the VA 
Secretary to establish annual contracting goals for small businesses 
owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans. The 
goal of the service-disabled veterans would not be less than 3 percent 
of these contracts. The veteran and disabled veteran-owned small 
businesses would be given priority in VA contracting as well as 
priority among other set-aside groups eligible for preferential 
treatment under the Small Business Act.
  Title VI of this compromise bill contains provisions affecting the 
Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service. The 
compromise agreement would also clarify the part-time employment of 
DVOPS and LVERs, which is half-time employment, and require that DVOPS 
and LVERs hired after the date of enactment successfully complete 
training by the National Veterans Training Institute within 3 years of 
appointment.
  Finally, title VI of the compromise would establish a 3-year 
demonstration program to identify not less than 10 military 
occupational specialties that would lead to State licensing and 
authorize the use of any unobligated funds for the project through 
fiscal year 2009.
  Title VII provisions of the legislation strengthen support for 
homeless veterans, increasing authorization for housing, per diem 
payments and other specialized services. It also creates a VA Office of 
Rural Health and dramatically improves outreach for rural veterans.
  State veterans homes will now be reimbursed by VA for the cost of 
care provided to veterans with 70 percent or higher service-connected 
conditions. Further, veterans in these homes with service-connected 
conditions rated at least 50 percent would receive their medications 
free of charge. In order to increase access to long-term care, VA would 
conduct a pilot program that makes non-VA facilities, such as community 
hospitals, eligible for State veterans home per diem payments.
  Mr. Speaker, title VIII of the compromise language authorizes $36.8 
million for advanced planning of a collaboration project between the 
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, S.C. and the adjacent 
Medical University of South Carolina, referred to as MUSC.
  The project is likely to ensure that veterans in the low country of 
South Carolina receive the highest quality and state-of-the-art 
facilities. It would replace the aging infrastructure of the VA 
facilities and combine this with the MUSC facilities which are 
adjacent. Connecting these facilities, not just the sharing of 
clinicians, which is now the case, is the way to go.
  There is very expensive and advanced medical equipment, lab and 
ancillary services. That is the goal of this collaboration. Both VA and 
the Medical University will remain committed to preserving VA's unique 
identity and commitment to veterans priorities. The enhanced 
collaboration envisioned in Charleston is innovative and will serve as 
a national model as its design and operation benefiting from the best 
minds in the public and private sectors will afford South Carolina 
veterans higher quality, more efficient care and truly state-of-the-art 
facilities.
  This is a big deal, Mr. Speaker. It is a big deal because this idea 
is going to be leveraged also into Louisiana.
  We are authorizing over $600 million for repair and replacement of 
flood and hurricane-damaged facilities in New Orleans and along the 
gulf coast of Mississippi.
  The bill authorizes $98 million for the replacement of the VA Medical 
Center in Denver and directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
explore the viability of public-private partnerships as he moves 
forward in Denver.
  Twenty-two other major construction projects in 15 States are 
authorized in this bill, which also approves continued leasing of eight 
medical facilities and requires the VA to explore options for 
construction of a new facility in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  Mr. Speaker, on May 3, 2006, an incident of a VA employee's stolen 
laptop computer potentially put at risk the personal data of 25.6 
million veterans and 2.2 million Active Duty, Guard and Reservists. 
This was the largest information security breach to have occurred in 
government and it is the second largest such security breach in the 
Nation's history.
  Title IX of the compromise bill would protect our veterans and 
servicemembers from the misuse of their sensitive personal information. 
The bill directs the VA to provide breach notification to individuals, 
reports to Congress, broad alerts, data breach analysis and credit 
monitoring services, and identify theft insurance.
  Title IX, what we do is direct the Secretary to issue implementing 
regulations within 180 days of enactment of this bill.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, title X of the compromise language makes 
technical and clarifying amendments to title 38.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she 
may consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to particularly thank the gentlelady 
for yielding. We have a bit of a time crunch, and I appreciate her 
graciousness.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Buyer, Ranking Member 
Evans and acting Ranking Member Filner for moving forward on this bill. 
This legislation will provide our veterans with a number of important 
benefits, and I am absolutely delighted to be able to be here and speak 
in favor of it.
  I want to particularly mention a provision in this legislation that 
will permit Native American tribal organizations to apply for VA State 
cemetery grants. This will allow tribes such as the Paiutes in Nevada 
to build or expand cemeteries on their reservations so that Native 
American veterans can be laid to rest near their families in veterans 
cemeteries.
  In addition, with this bill, veterans will have the choice as to 
whether to have attorney representation in the VA claims process. While 
some veterans may choose to hire a lawyer, veteran service 
organizations will continue to maintain their traditional role in the 
VA claims process.
  I am pleased that this legislation includes a number of safeguards. 
For example, veterans will only be able to hire an attorney after they 
actually disagree with the VA decision. This provision is from similar 
legislation that Lane Evans and I introduced earlier. This legislation 
is about giving veterans a choice. Now our Nation's heroes will simply 
have the option of hiring an attorney if they choose to.
  I am delighted that this bill includes four lease authorizations on 
leases that will soon expire in Las Vegas, and perhaps most important 
and most sought after is a $406 million authorization for a new VA 
medical center in Las Vegas on which we broke ground this past October. 
This complex will include a hospital, an outpatient clinic and a 
nursing home. My veterans desperately

[[Page 23123]]

need this facility as Las Vegas has the fastest growing veterans 
population in the United States, but does not have a VA medical center 
or hospital or clinic.
  This authorization is crucial, crucial, to veterans in Southern 
Nevada. I am pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement on 
these provisions during a time of war and when we are seeing new 
veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. We must provide our 
veterans with the benefits and care they deserve, they have earned, and 
that they are entitled to.
  I fully support this legislation, and I urge its support.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. BERKLEY. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. BUYER. Ms. Berkley, I want to thank you. I want to thank you for 
your tenacity, for your commitment to your veterans that you serve, not 
only in your district, but across the country. I have enjoyed working 
with you on your project in Las Vegas. I enjoyed my visits with you 
when I was out there.
  One of the challenges which we face is the growth of population that 
you have in Las Vegas, which is like none other in the country. I know 
that Ms. Brown believes that Orlando is growing the fastest, but Las 
Vegas, it is beyond comprehension how you are able to stay ahead of it.
  So whatever we plan today, what I have learned about working with 
you, what we planned 2 years ago is already obsolete today. This is an 
ongoing issue that I want to work with the gentlelady with, and I 
compliment your effort and leadership.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, while I don't want to 
turn Congress into a mutual admiration society, let me thank the 
chairman for helping make this compromise a reality. I know that he 
must have been working very late into the night last night. This is 
important stuff. We both know it. We all know it. I am very glad we 
were able to bring this to the floor. Thank you very much for your 
sensitivity to my veterans needs. I don't think Las Vegas will soon 
forget your visit to our fair city.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank Congresswoman Brown.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the gentlelady. Having visited her 
area, I understand the fast growth that she is experiencing with VA and 
her veterans. So I strongly support a new facility in her area, and 
will talk in a few minutes about the needs of the veterans in Central 
Florida for over 25 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Veterans Benefit Health Care 
and Information Technology Act of 2006. This bill, as its title 
suggests, authorizes new benefits and health care programs for 
veterans. The bill authorizes needed construction of VA medical 
facilities and leases for VA clinics across the Nation. The bill also 
addresses significant vulnerabilities in VA's information technology 
security.
  I am proud that working with the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Buyer, 
the chairman of our committee, and our colleagues in the Senate, 
Chairman Craig and Ranking Member Akaka, we have been able to draft a 
solid veterans bill before we recess.
  Mental health: I have been a firm advocate that we must do more to 
help veterans with mental health concerns and their families. The 
legislation we consider today has many important mental health 
provisions which will expand VA capacities to address the mental health 
concerns of veterans.
  One example, the bill authorizes the VA to have marriage and family 
therapists and the other mental health professionals. Today we are 
sending a clear signal that we want to help the families of veterans 
with posttraumatic stress disorder stay strong, stay resilient and stay 
together.
  This bill requires the VA to ensure that each community-based 
outreach clinic has the capacity to provide mental health services. 
This bill requires the VA to increase the number of vet centers able to 
use telemedicine to provide counseling for veterans. This is especially 
important for veterans living in rural areas. This bill requires VA to 
increase the outreach service of vet centers.
  Passing this legislation is an important first step, but we must be 
vigilant to be sure that VA implements the law as we intended them.
  Long-term care: In just a few years, VA estimates that there will be 
1.3 million veterans who will be 85 years old and older. Because of 
their age, these men and women will most likely need long-term nursing 
care or other assistance. This bill requires VA to develop and publish 
a comprehensive plan for the long-term care of veterans.
  Since 1888, State veterans homes have played an important role to 
provide care for our Nation's disabled veterans. This bill enhances 
this important Federal and State partnership by ensuring that 
medication is provided at no cost to veterans with a 50 percent or more 
service-connected disability. This bill also increases veterans 
reimbursement for the cost of care for veterans with significant 
service-connected disabilities.
  Rural care: We all have heard of the frustration and challenges rural 
veterans face in trying to access medical care from the VA. This 
legislation helps focus VA efforts on addressing the needs of veterans 
in rural areas. The bill establishes a VA Office of Rural Health Care 
and requires the director of the new office to develop a plan to 
improve rural veterans access to VA care.
  Outreach to recent veterans. This bill also requires the VA to 
conduct an extensive outreach program to veterans who served in Iraq 
and Afghanistan and have returned home to rural communities.

                              {time}  1145

  This provision is proactive and presses VA to reach out to veterans 
and build on the strengths of our small towns and communities.
  Construction. This omnibus measure also authorizes VA major facility 
construction projects and leases. It has been some time now since 
Congress acted to address the health care infrastructure of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
  At this time, I want to mention the facility in Orlando, which has 
been in the pipeline and gone through the process for over 25 years, 
and that is one reason why I am extremely pleased that we are bringing 
this bill up today. The veterans in our area that have come from all 
over the country can no longer wait for a facility, and I am very 
pleased that the facility in Orlando and the facility not just in 
Orlando but in Florida and all over the country, including New Orleans 
whose facility was destroyed, and other places will get the 
authorization that it needs to move forward.
  While I am proud that we are moving forward on important veterans 
legislation, I remain deeply frustrated and concerned that it still 
appears that we are still ending this congressional session leaving 
veterans without a funding bill. Even with a continuing resolution, we 
are undermining VA's health care system and shortchanging veterans. At 
the medical center level, a delay in the fiscal year 2007 funding 
translates into delays in hiring nurses and other hospital staff. It 
means staff work longer hours and are stretched thin. It means quality 
of care is put at risk. It means longer waiting lines for veterans.
  This failure to pass a budget is a clear illustration of the need for 
mandatory or assured funding of VA health care, and I firmly support 
it. In the next Congress, we need to look seriously at alternate ways 
to assure adequate funding for veterans health care.
  Needed action. This bill is a good bill, but even this hefty omnibus 
bill leaves some of our work incomplete.
  I believe that we owe it to our newest veterans to modernize the GI 
bill, especially including meaningful benefits for the Guard and 
Reserve.
  We must increase VA's capacity to meet the rehabilitation and long-
term care needs of veterans with traumatic brain injuries.

[[Page 23124]]

  We must continue to monitor and strengthen VA's capacity to help 
veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health 
concerns.
  As we work to address the emerging issues of veterans returning from 
Iraq and Afghanistan, we must also continue to press VA to meet the 
health care needs of veterans exposed to Agent Orange and veterans 
struggling with a range of Gulf War illnesses.
  Today's bill permanently authorizes VA's homeless grant and per diem 
program, which I think is very important because I know that we have 
all looked in our area and seen the homelessness. We know that one-
third of those homeless are veterans, and so this bill helps homeless 
grants and per diem programs. This is a good program. We must help it 
grow to address more than a fraction of the homeless veterans on the 
streets. This is really unacceptable.
  We need to work together in the next Congress to acknowledge where 
there are problems in the VA system and fix them.
  Finally, I want to thank all of the VA staff on both the Republican 
and Democratic side for their dedication and hard work, and I know they 
have worked into the night for the last two nights to serve our 
Nation's veterans. I personally appreciate the work that they have 
done, and I appreciate the work that the leadership has done. I think 
it is a good bill. It is a good start, and I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Brown), the subcommittee chairman on health.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time.
  Let me begin by thanking our esteemed chairman Mr. Buyer for all his 
hard work this Congress. Under his leadership, this committee has 
fought to do what is right for veterans, and I am proud to serve on 
this committee and even more proud to call him my friend.
  I also want to thank our ranking member, Mr. Evans, and acting 
ranking member, Mr. Filner, and my ranking colleague Mr. Michaud for 
all of their efforts. I have a great deal of respect for the bipartisan 
commitment to our Nation's veterans this committee holds and look 
forward to continuing our work together next year.
  Likewise, Chairman Craig and Ranking Member Akaka of our sister 
committee in the Senate have also made enormous contributions to the 
bill before the House today, and I appreciate their support for moving 
this compromise agreement before this Congress adjourns.
  All of us have had the opportunity to spend time with some of the men 
and women who have been injured as a result of their service to this 
Nation. There are few more important ways we could demonstrate our 
appreciation for their sacrifice than to set in place authorizations 
that will help improve the quality and access to health care services 
these folks will require. I believe we have accomplished that in this 
bill.
  The legislation we are now considering incorporates substantial 
measures contained in a number of House and Senate bills addressing 
veterans health care benefits. As the Health Subcommittee chairman, I 
am especially pleased that this bill supports new and innovative 
collaborative partnerships between VA and medical universities and 
Federal, State and local health entities and the private sector to 
improve the quality of care delivered to those who have faithfully 
served this country. The chairman believes, as I do, that local health 
care economies can and should be leveraged whenever possible to enhance 
VA health care delivery and keep pace with 21st-century technology.
  Collaboration is becoming increasingly essential in delivering health 
care across the Nation. So long as we remain true to the distinct 
identity of the VA, and so long as we ensure the continued quality 
associated with VA care, VA collaboration on joint ventures with its 
extensive medical university affiliations and the Department of Defense 
could be mutually advantageous for all organizations.
  In the package before us today, we have a number of exciting possible 
collaboration projects, including one that is certainly dear to me, and 
that is the authorization of the advanced planning and design for what 
might someday be a joint hospital complex between the VA and the 
Medical University of South Carolina. Likewise, the bill also 
authorizes co-location of a new VA medical center with the Louisiana 
State University in New Orleans, a project that is incredibly important 
considering the devastation that was visited on the area by Hurricane 
Katrina.
  As I have stated, I believe the collaborative projects are critically 
important in terms of fully leveraging available local resources, and I 
am hopeful that the diligent and bipartisan work of the committee in 
this area will continue in the new Congress.
  In addition to the construction-related provisions of this bill, I 
would like to briefly mention a few of the important health measures 
this bill includes:
  Improves VA's ability to respond to the mental health needs of our 
veterans, including increasing mental health care funding, expanding 
mental health services at all VA facilities and increasing the number 
of clinical care providers dedicated to the treatment of PTSD;
  Establishes an Office of Rural Health and improves outreach programs 
to increase access to care for veterans in rural areas;
  Requires the Secretary of the VA to establish a strategic plan for 
long-term care; and
  Extends and improves programs for homeless veterans, including grants 
for community care providers and VA treatment and rehabilitation 
services for homeless veterans who are mentally ill.
  Whether it is improved access to vet centers for newly returning 
veterans, the improved access to telehealth services, or the 
codification of the Parkinson's disease and MS centers, this bill is 
important. It is not only important because of the authorizations it 
contains but because it represents our commitment to those who have 
served. I am committed to doing what is right on their behalf, and I 
know my colleagues on the committee feel the same.
  So I would urge the rest of my friends in this body to support this 
bill, and in doing so, send a strong signal to our servicemembers 
letting them know that we support them, not only when they are in 
harm's way but upon their return as well.
  Again, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
legislation.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), subcommittee chairman.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to congratulate Mr. Buyer 
and thank him and thank the staff on both sides, the chairman, Ranking 
Member Evans, Acting Ranking Member Filner, and again all of the staff 
for your hard work in getting this bill together. It is a very, very 
good bill.
  The bill before the House makes improvements in nearly every major 
area of veterans programs. I am especially proud of the provisions that 
originally passed the House in H.R. 3082. That bill, and now S. 3421, 
contains significant changes to how the Department of Veterans Affairs 
and the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service 
meet the small business and employment needs of America's veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has fallen woefully short in 
meeting the disabled veteran-owned small business contracting goals set 
forth in Public Law 106-50 and Presidential Executive Order 13360. 
Since the law and directive took effect, only one major Federal agency 
has met the 3 percent goal for disabled veteran-owned small businesses. 
This is certainly a very, very poor record. This bill provides the 
Department of Veterans Affairs with the tools and requisite authorities 
to not only meet the goal but to exceed the goal.
  The bill also makes several important improvements in the delivery of

[[Page 23125]]

employment services to veterans. As a result, State workforce agency 
employees funded by the Veterans Employment and Training Service will 
be better trained in their duties. The Secretary of Labor will have 
additional authority to hold States accountable for job placement 
results. The bill also makes it easier for servicemembers transitioning 
to civilian life by authorizing a pilot program to break down barriers 
to qualifying for State licenses based on military training, education, 
and experience.
  Mr. Speaker, again, this is an excellent bill. I want to again thank 
you for all of the hard work on both sides for the effort that was done 
and very much support the passage of this bill.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), my classmate.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and 
for her leadership on this extremely important issue and many others.
  I rise in strong support of this bill. We need to support our 
veterans when they are in harm's way; and when they return home, we 
have to give them the support for their health care and for their lives 
that they deserve.
  I am very pleased that the Veterans Administration is continuing to 
support the 23rd Street Veterans Hospital in Manhattan in my district, 
which is rated as one of the best veterans hospitals in this country, a 
center of excellence in six different categories.
  Under this bill, that hospital and other veterans hospitals and 
outreach centers will have additional support for mental health. 
Regrettably, many of our veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, and our 
veterans even from the Vietnam and the Gulf wars, are suffering from 
post-traumatic stress. Many of them have this challenge, and this bill 
addresses it and puts support there for our returning men and women.
  I am extremely pleased that one of the first bills that I ever 
introduced in this Congress, H.R. 4537, the Veterans Housing Fairness 
Act, is part of this bill. A home is a home whether you live in a 
condominium or in a traditional house or a mobile home or a townhouse. 
Yet, currently, VA loans cannot be used to purchase cooperative 
residential units.

                              {time}  1200

  This bill corrects this and allows veterans, whether they live 
vertically in co-ops or horizontally in homes or in mobile homes, it 
allows them to use this loan to purchase their home. A home is a home 
for a veteran, no matter where they are. This will help many returning 
veterans and veterans that currently live in New York City. And I thank 
my colleagues for their support, particularly Senator Schumer in the 
Senate and of course Chairman Buyer and Ranking Member Filner for their 
hard work on this. Let me tell you that it is so important, what we are 
doing today. This includes many important provisions, and I thank them.
  As the cochair of the Parkinson's caucus, I am very pleased that the 
bill includes six Parkinson's Disease research education centers. 
Regrettably, many of our returning veterans are suffering from 
Parkinson's similar symptoms, and this will help us to research this, 
help our veterans and others suffering from Parkinson's.
  It is a thoughtful bill, it is inclusive, and I am particularly 
pleased that it is one of the first bills that I introduced; a home is 
a home whether it is a co-op or a mobile home, and our veterans will be 
able to use their VA loans to purchase the appropriate housing for them 
in the areas that they live.
  I thank all of my colleagues for their hard work on this. My 
colleague, Corrine Brown, we came to Congress together. I thank you 
very much. I thank as well Shelley Berkley.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests 
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues from the 
committee from both sides of the aisle for their bipartisanship in the 
crafting and supporting of a substantive and forward-thinking bill. It 
enhances veterans health care and benefits both through stronger 
veterans programs and through fundamental organizational reforms and 
innovation.
  I would also like to thank the chairman of the House Armed Services 
Committee and Ranking Member Ike Skelton. Mr. Skelton, if you please, 
extend to your staff, they worked through the night with us, because 
there are certain things in our bill that mentioned DOD and they were 
wonderful to work with. So please extend our appreciation for their 
work.
  I would also like to thank the leadership of Chairman Henry Brown and 
Ranking Member Mike Michaud for their good work on the Health 
Subcommittee; Chairman Jeff Miller and Berkley on their leadership on 
benefits; Chairman John Boozman and his leadership, along with Ms. 
Herseth on economic opportunity; Chairman Michael Bilirakis and Mr. 
Strickland on ONI.
  I would also like to extend an appreciation to Ranking Member Lane 
Evans and that of the acting Ranking Member, Mr. Filner. I also extend 
deep appreciation to Senator Larry Craig and Ranking Member Akaka of 
the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee whose vision and collaborative 
spirit do veterans justice.
  Without the around-the-clock efforts by our dedicated staff both in 
the House and the Senate, I would not be standing here today, nor would 
our veterans and their families be the beneficiaries of a better VA 
system tomorrow.
  I also want to thank Senator Lindsey Graham and former Senator Ernest 
Hollings and Dr. Ray Greenberg of MUSE, who recognized the value of the 
``Charleston model'' that will now be hopefully leveraged across the 
country to bring state-of-the-art medicine to veterans.
  I also want to thank Senator Richard Burr from North Carolina for his 
leadership and care to provide for America's homeless veterans.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend 
my remarks, and that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise 
and extend their remarks and include extraneous matter on S. 3421.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I seek recognition to express my 
support for the House amendment to S. 3421, the Veterans Benefits, 
Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006. This bill contains 
more than 60 provisions that will improve the lives and well-being of 
servicemembers, veterans, and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
beneficiaries. I would like to address a few of the provisions 
contained in the compromise agreement.
  Section 101 of the House amendment would permit veterans and other 
claimants seeking benefits from VA to have the choice of hiring and 
paying an attorney to represent them before the agency once a notice of 
disagreement has been filed. Current law prohibits an attorney from 
receiving a fee for representing a claimant until the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals renders its first decision on the claim. 
Unfortunately, the claims process has become very complex and can be 
very overwhelming to some claimants. This provision would give veterans 
the option of hiring an attorney earlier in the process if they believe 
they need assistance with their claim. Unlike some who have opposed 
this policy change, I believe veterans are competent to make their own 
decision as to whether they want to hire an attorney to assist them 
with their claim. This section is similar to a bill I introduced 
earlier this year, H.R. 5549, the Veterans' Choice of Representation 
Act of 2006.
  Section 401 of the House amendment would authorize the Secretary to 
furnish a memorial headstone or marker for an eligible dependent child 
whose remains are unavailable, or, if feasible, add a memorial 
inscription to an existing headstone or marker provided by VA. 
Currently, VA may provide a memorial headstone or marker for a veteran, 
spouse, or surviving spouse when remains are unavailable. However, if a 
spouse and child die at the same time and in the same manner and their 
remains are unavailable, a veteran cannot receive a memorial headstone 
honoring the child. The provision would correct this inconsistency and 
is identical to a provision what was passed by the House in July 2006.

[[Page 23126]]

  Section 402 of the House amendment would extend, until December 31, 
2007, the Secretary's authority to furnish a government marker to those 
families who request one for the marked grave of a veteran buried at a 
private cemetery and who died on or after September 11, 2001. Under 
current law the Secretary's authority expires on December 31, 2006. 
This provision was also passed by the House in July of this year.
  Section 403 of the House amendment would authorize the Secretary to 
make grants to tribal organizations to assist them in establishing, 
expanding, or improving veterans' cemeteries on trust lands. Under 
current law, tribal organizations are not eligible for state cemetery 
grants. This provision was passed by the House in July 2006.
  Section 404 of the House amendment would direct the Secretary of the 
Army to remove the remains of Russell Wayne Wagner from Arlington 
National Cemetery and establish procedures that the Secretary must 
follow in carrying out this directive. Mr. Wagner was a convicted 
murderer who died in prison but slipped through a crack in the law and 
was inurned at Arlington National Cemetery. Congress amended the law to 
tighten eligibility standards earlier this year and this provision 
would restore the sanctity of Arlington by removing his remains from 
this hallowed ground. I support this provision, which is similar to 
section 3 of H.R. 4352, a bill I introduced in November 2005.
  I would like to mention one final provision that is of interest to 
me. Section 823 of the House amendment would require the VA, in 
consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and Air Force, to submit 
to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report on the options for the 
construction of a new medical facility in Okaloosa County, Florida. The 
report would be due 180 days after the date of enactment of this bill. 
This report is an important step forward in determining the best way to 
address the VA health care needs of veterans and servicemembers in and 
around Okaloosa County.
  In closing, it has been an honor to serve with the dedicated members 
of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and to chair the Subcommittee on 
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs during the 109th Congress. I 
look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle in the 110th Congress to continue to build on the good works 
we have done this Congress.
  The bill before us today represents the culmination of thousands of 
hours of work and a great amount of energy expended by members and 
staff of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees and the 
provisions of this bill will benefit veterans and other VA 
beneficiaries.
  I urge my colleagues to support the House amendment to S. 3421.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today we are debating S. 3421, a bill that 
would authorize major Veterans Affairs medical facility projects and 
also overhaul VA information technology.
  A goal of this bill is also to provide more resources for mental 
health services to veterans. It is one of our most important 
obligations to help those troops returning from combat to readjust to 
society, particularly those suffering from mental health issues, such 
as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Research has already 
demonstrated that military service in Iraq and Afghanistan, like 
service in past combat zones, is having an adverse effect on the mental 
health of our men and women in uniform.
  We have certainly improved the mental health services offered to our 
troops. However, I am concerned about a recent Government 
Accountability Office report which found that not only did the VA not 
spend all of its money allocated for mental health services, but they 
also lacked proper oversight of how the funding was spent. Furthermore, 
there have been media reports that the mental health services in place 
for servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have been 
overwhelmed and unable to accommodate those seeking help in a timely 
fashion. It has also been reported that the stigma surrounding the 
admission of having mental health issues still exists. Sadly, many 
servicemembers are afraid to admit to symptoms related to PTSD while 
still in the service, since it may jeopardize their military career.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot cut corners on this issue, and we certainly 
cannot ignore the veterans and servicemembers who will be left behind 
if they do not get the help they need. Our patriotic and reassuring 
words are not enough, especially when we are dealing with men and women 
with real mental health issues. We must ensure that our veterans and 
servicemembers are provided with the access to specialized mental 
health care they deserve. We need to legislate better oversight, both 
to ensure the funding is allocated appropriately, and also to make sure 
the programs are working properly and addressing all concerns.
  I am ready to deal with this difficult issue in the next Congress 
because we owe it to the brave men and women who have served our nation 
with courage and integrity. We need to show them the same.
  Mr. BUYER. 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 Indiana (Mr. Buyer) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 3421, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the Senate 
bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the Senate bill was amended so as to read: ``An Act to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal certain limitations on 
attorney representation of claimants for benefits under laws 
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to expand 
eligibility for the Survivors' and Education Assistance Program, to 
otherwise improve veterans benefits, memorial affairs, and healthcare 
programs, to enhance information security programs of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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