[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9007-9020]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   VETERANS' HOUSING OPPORTUNITY AND BENEFITS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2006

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill (S. 1235) to amend title 38, United States Code, 
to extend the availability of $400,000 in life insurance coverage to 
servicemembers and veterans, to make a stillborn child an insurable 
dependent for purposes of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance 
program, to make technical corrections to the Veterans Benefits 
Improvement Act of 2004, to make permanent a pilot program for direct 
housing loans for Native American veterans, and to require an annual 
plan on outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1235

       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' 
     Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                        TITLE I--HOUSING MATTERS

Sec. 101. Adapted housing assistance for disabled veterans residing 
              temporarily in housing owned by family member.
Sec. 102. Adjustable rate mortgages.
Sec. 103. Permanent authority to make direct housing loans to Native 
              American veterans.
Sec. 104. Extension of eligibility for direct loans for Native American 
              veterans to a veteran who is the spouse of a Native 
              American.
Sec. 105. Technical corrections to Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 
              2004.

                      TITLE II--EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

Sec. 201. Additional duty for the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
              Veterans' Employment and Training to raise awareness of 
              skills of veterans and of the benefits of hiring 
              veterans.
Sec. 202. Modifications to the Advisory Committee on Veterans 
              Employment and Training.
Sec. 203. Reauthorization of appropriations for homeless veterans 
              reintegration programs.

              TITLE III--LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE MATTERS

Sec. 301. Duration of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage for 
              totally disabled veterans following separation from 
              service.
Sec. 302. Limitation on premium increases for reinstated health 
              insurance of servicemembers released from active military 
              service.
Sec. 303. Preservation of employer-sponsored health plan coverage for 
              certain reserve-component members who acquire TRICARE 
              eligibility.

                        TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 401. Inclusion of additional diseases and conditions in diseases 
              and disabilities presumed to be associated with prisoner 
              of war status.
Sec. 402. Consolidation and revision of outreach authorities.
Sec. 403. Extension of annual report requirement on equitable relief 
              cases.

                     TITLE V--TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS

Sec. 501. Technical and clarifying amendments to new traumatic injury 
              protection coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life 
              Insurance.
Sec. 502. Terminology amendments to revise references to certain 
              veterans in provisions relating to eligibility for 
              compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation.
Sec. 503. Technical and clerical amendments.

                        TITLE I--HOUSING MATTERS

     SEC. 101. ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR DISABLED VETERANS 
                   RESIDING TEMPORARILY IN HOUSING OWNED BY A 
                   FAMILY MEMBER.

       (a) Assistance Authorized.--Chapter 21 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by

[[Page 9008]]

     inserting after section 2102 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 2102A. Assistance for veterans residing temporarily in 
       housing owned by a family member

       ``(a) Provision of Assistance.--In the case of a disabled 
     veteran who is described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) of 
     section 2101 of this title and who is residing, but does not 
     intend to permanently reside, in a residence owned by a 
     member of such veteran's family, the Secretary may assist the 
     veteran in acquiring such adaptations to such residence as 
     are determined by the Secretary to be reasonably necessary 
     because of the veteran's disability.
       ``(b) Amount of Assistance.--The assistance authorized 
     under subsection (a) may not exceed--
       ``(1) $14,000, in the case of a veteran described in 
     section 2101(a)(2) of this title; or
       ``(2) $2,000, in the case of a veteran described in section 
     2101(b)(2) of this title.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The assistance authorized by subsection 
     (a) shall be limited in the case of any veteran to one 
     residence.
       ``(d) Regulations.--Assistance under this section shall be 
     provided in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary 
     may prescribe.
       ``(e) Termination.--No assistance may be provided under 
     this section after the end of the five-year period that 
     begins on the date of the enactment of the Veterans' Housing 
     Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006.''.
       (b) Limitations on Adapted Housing Assistance.--Section 
     2102 of such title is amended--
       (1) in the matter in subsection (a) preceding paragraph 
     (1)--
       (A) by striking ``shall be limited in the case of any 
     veteran to one housing unit, and necessary land therefor, 
     and''; and
       (B) by striking ``veteran but shall not exceed $50,000 in 
     any one case--'' and inserting ``veteran--''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(d)(1) The aggregate amount of assistance available to a 
     veteran under sections 2101(a) and 2102A of this title shall 
     be limited to $50,000.
       ``(2) The aggregate amount of assistance available to a 
     veteran under sections 2101(b) and 2102A of this title shall 
     be limited to $10,000.
       ``(3) No veteran may receive more than three grants of 
     assistance under this chapter.''.
       (c) Coordination of Administration of Benefits.--Chapter 21 
     of such title is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 2107. Coordination of administration of benefits

       ``The Secretary shall provide for the coordination of the 
     administration of programs to provide specially adapted 
     housing that are administered by the Under Secretary for 
     Health and such programs that are administered by the Under 
     Secretary for Benefits under this chapter, chapter 17, and 
     chapter 31 of this title.''.
       (d) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended--
       (1) by inserting after the item relating to section 2102 
     the following new item:

``2102A. Assistance for veterans residing temporarily in housing owned 
              by a family member.''

     ; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new item:

``2107 Coordination of administration of benefits.''.

       (e) GAO Reports.--
       (1) Interim report.--Not later than three years after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
     shall submit to Congress an interim report on the 
     implementation by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of 
     section 2102A of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a).
       (2) Final report.--Not later than five years after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
     submit to Congress a final report on the implementation of 
     such section.
       (f) Temporary Increase in Certain Housing Loan Fees.--For a 
     subsequent loan described in subsection (a) of section 3710 
     of title 38, United States Code, to purchase or construct a 
     dwelling with 0-down or any other subsequent loan described 
     in that subsection, other than a loan with 5-down or 10-down, 
     that is closed during fiscal year 2007, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall apply section 3729(b)(2) of such title 
     by substituting ``3.35'' for ``3.30''.

     SEC. 102. ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES.

       Section 3707A(c)(4) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``1 percentage point'' and inserting 
     ``such percentage points as the Secretary may prescribe''.

     SEC. 103. PERMANENT AUTHORITY TO MAKE DIRECT HOUSING LOANS TO 
                   NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS.

       (a) Permanent Authority.--Section 3761 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``establish and implement a pilot program 
     under which the Secretary may'' in the first sentence; and
       (B) by striking ``shall establish and implement the pilot 
     program'' in the third sentence and inserting ``shall make 
     such loans'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``In carrying out the 
     pilot program under this subchapter, the'' and inserting 
     ``The''; and
       (3) by striking subsection (c).
       (b) Reports.--Section 3762(j) of such title is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(j) The Secretary shall include as part of the annual 
     benefits report of the Veterans Benefits Administration 
     information concerning the cost and number of loans provided 
     under this subchapter for the fiscal year covered by the 
     report.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Section 3762.--Section 3762 of such title is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``under this 
     subchapter'' after ``to a Native American veteran'';
       (B) in subsection (b)(1)(E), by striking ``the pilot 
     program established under this subchapter is implemented'' 
     and inserting ``loans under this subchapter are made'';
       (C) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ``carry out the 
     pilot program under this subchapter in a manner that 
     demonstrates the advisability of making direct housing 
     loans'' in the second sentence and inserting ``make direct 
     housing loans under this subchapter'';
       (D) in subsection (i)--
       (i) by striking ``the pilot program provided for under this 
     subchapter and'' in paragraph (1);
       (ii) by striking ``under the pilot program and in assisting 
     such organizations and veterans in participating in the pilot 
     program'' in paragraph (2)(A) and inserting ``under this 
     subchapter and in assisting such organizations and veterans 
     with respect to such housing benefits''; and
       (iii) by striking ``in participating in the pilot program'' 
     in paragraph (2)(E) and inserting ``with respect to such 
     benefits''.
       (2) Conforming repeal.--Section 8(b) of the Veterans Home 
     Loan Program Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 102-547; 38 
     U.S.C. 3761 note) is repealed.
       (d) Establishment of Maximum Amount of Loans.--Section 
     3762(c)(1)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(B) The'' and inserting ``(B)(i) Subject 
     to clause (ii), the''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(ii) The amount of a loan made by the Secretary under 
     this subchapter may not exceed the maximum loan amount 
     authorized for loans guaranteed under section 3703(a)(1)(C) 
     of this title.''.
       (e) Technical Amendment.--Subsection (c)(1)(A) of section 
     3762 of such title is amended by inserting ``veteran'' after 
     ``Native American''.
       (f) Clerical Amendments.--
       (1) Subchapter heading.--The heading for subchapter V of 
     chapter 37 of such title is amended to read as follows:

  ``SUBCHAPTER V--DIRECT HOUSING LOANS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS''.

       (2) Section heading.--The heading for section 3761 of such 
     title is amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 3761. Direct housing loans to Native American 
       veterans; program authority''.

       (3) Section heading.--The heading for section 3762 of such 
     title is amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 3762. Direct housing loans to Native American 
       veterans; program administration''.

       (4) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended by striking 
     the items relating to subchapter V and sections 3761 and 3762 
     and inserting the following new items:

   ``SUBCHAPTER V--DIRECT HOUSING LOANS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS

``3761. Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program 
              authority.
``3762. Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program 
              administration.''.

     SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DIRECT LOANS FOR 
                   NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS TO A VETERAN WHO IS 
                   THE SPOUSE OF A NATIVE AMERICAN.

       (a) Extension.--Subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 3764 as section 3765; and
       (2) by inserting after section 3763 the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 3764. Qualified non-Native American veterans

       ``(a) Treatment of Non-Native American Veterans.--Subject 
     to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of 
     this subchapter--
       ``(1) a qualified non-Native American veteran is deemed to 
     be a Native American veteran; and
       ``(2) for purposes of applicability to a non-Native 
     American veteran, any reference in this subchapter to the 
     jurisdiction of a tribal organization over a Native American 
     veteran is deemed to be a reference to jurisdiction of a 
     tribal organization over the Native American spouse of the 
     qualified non-Native American veteran.

[[Page 9009]]

       ``(b) Use of Loan.--In making direct loans under this 
     subchapter to a qualified non-Native American veteran by 
     reason of eligibility under subsection (a), the Secretary 
     shall ensure that the tribal organization permits, and the 
     qualified non-Native American veteran actually holds, 
     possesses, or purchases, using the proceeds of the loan, 
     jointly with the Native American spouse of the qualified non-
     Native American veteran, a meaningful interest in the lot, 
     dwelling, or both, that is located on trust land.
       ``(c) Restrictions Imposed by Tribal Organizations.--
     Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed as precluding a 
     tribal organization from imposing reasonable restrictions on 
     the right of the qualified non-Native American veteran to 
     convey, assign, or otherwise dispose of such interest in the 
     lot or dwelling, or both, if such restrictions are designed 
     to ensure the continuation in trust status of the lot or 
     dwelling, or both. Such requirements may include the 
     termination of the interest of the qualified non-Native 
     American veteran in the lot or dwelling, or both, upon the 
     dissolution of the marriage of the qualified non-Native 
     American veteran to the Native American spouse.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3765 of such title, as 
     redesignated by subsection (a)(1), is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) The term `qualified non-Native American veteran' 
     means a veteran who--
       ``(A) is the spouse of a Native American, but
       ``(B) is not a Native American.''.
       (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 3764 and inserting the following 
     new items:

``3764. Qualified non-Native American veterans.
``3765. Definitions.''.

     SEC. 105. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO VETERANS BENEFITS 
                   IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2004.

       (a) Corrections.--Section 2101 of title 38, United States 
     Code, as amended by section 401 of the Veterans Benefits 
     Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-454; 118 Stat. 3614), 
     is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
       (2) by inserting after subsection (b) a new subsection (c) 
     consisting of the text of subsection (c) of such section 2101 
     as in effect immediately before the enactment of such Act, 
     modified--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in the first sentence, by striking ``paragraph (1), 
     (2), or (3)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or 
     (D) of paragraph (2)''; and
       (ii) in the second sentence, by striking ``the second 
     sentence'' and inserting ``paragraph (3)''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in the first sentence, by striking ``paragraph (1)'' 
     and inserting ``paragraph (2)''; and
       (ii) in the second sentence, by striking ``paragraph (2)'' 
     and inserting ``paragraph (3)''; and
       (3) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``subsection (c)'' in 
     the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting 
     ``subsection (d)''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect as of December 10, 2004, as if enacted 
     immediately after the enactment of the Veterans Benefits 
     Improvement Act of 2004 on that date.

                      TITLE II--EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

     SEC. 201. ADDITIONAL DUTY FOR THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF 
                   LABOR FOR VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING TO 
                   RAISE AWARENESS OF SKILLS OF VETERANS AND OF 
                   THE BENEFITS OF HIRING VETERANS.

       Subsection (b) of section 4102A of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(8) With advice and assistance from the Advisory 
     Committee on Veterans Employment and Training, and Employer 
     Outreach established under section 4110 of this title, 
     furnish information to employers (through meetings in person 
     with hiring executives of corporations and otherwise) with 
     respect to the training and skills of veterans and disabled 
     veterans, and the advantages afforded employers by hiring 
     veterans with such training and skills, and to facilitate 
     employment of veterans and disabled veterans through 
     participation in labor exchanges (Internet-based and 
     otherwise), and other means.''.

     SEC. 202. MODIFICATIONS TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS 
                   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.

       (a) Committee Name.--
       (1) Change of name.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 4110 of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment and Training'' 
     and inserting ``Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, 
     Training, and Employer Outreach''.
       (2) Section heading.--The heading of such section is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 4110. Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, 
       Training, and Employer Outreach''.

       (3) Table of sections.--The item relating to section 4110 
     in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 41 of 
     such title is amended to read as follows:

``4110. Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and 
              Employer Outreach.''.

       (4) References.--Any reference to the Advisory Committee 
     established under section 4110 of such title in any law, 
     regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the 
     United States shall be considered to be a reference to the 
     Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and 
     Employer Outreach.
       (b) Expansion of Duties of Advisory Committee.--Subsection 
     (a)(2) of such section is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and their 
     integration into the workforce'' after ``veterans'';
       (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
       (3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (E); 
     and
       (4) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
     subparagraphs:
       ``(C) assist the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
     Employment and Training in carrying out outreach activities 
     to employers with respect to the training and skills of 
     veterans and the advantages afforded employers by hiring 
     veterans;
       ``(D) make recommendations to the Secretary, through the 
     Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and 
     Training, with respect to outreach activities and the 
     employment and training of veterans; and''.
       (c) Modification of Advisory Committee Membership.--
       (1) Membership.--Subsection (c)(1) of such section is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(c)(1) The Secretary of Labor shall appoint at least 12, 
     but no more than 15, individuals to serve as members of the 
     advisory committee as follows:
       ``(A) Six individuals, one each from among representatives 
     nominated by each of the following organizations:
       ``(i) The National Society of Human Resource Managers.
       ``(ii) The Business Roundtable.
       ``(iii) The National Association of State Workforce 
     Agencies.
       ``(iv) The United States Chamber of Commerce.
       ``(v) The National Federation of Independent Business.
       ``(vi) A nationally recognized labor union or organization.
       ``(B) Not more than five individuals from among 
     representatives nominated by veterans service organizations 
     that have a national employment program.
       ``(C) Not more than five individuals who are recognized 
     authorities in the fields of business, employment, training, 
     rehabilitation, or labor and who are not employees of the 
     Department of Labor.''.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--Subsection (d) of such section 
     is amended--
       (A) by striking paragraphs (3), (4), (8), (10), (11), and 
     (12); and
       (B) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (9) as 
     paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6), respectively.
       (d) Reinstatement and Modification of Reporting 
     Requirement.--Subsection (f)(1) of such section is amended--
       (1) by striking the first sentence and inserting the 
     following: ``Not later than December 31 of each year, the 
     advisory committee shall submit to the Secretary and to the 
     Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives a report on the employment and training needs 
     of veterans, with special emphasis on disabled veterans, for 
     the previous fiscal year.'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and their 
     integration into the workforce'' after ``veterans'';
       (3) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
       (4) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
     subparagraphs (C) and (F), respectively;
       (5) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(B) an assessment of the outreach activities carried out 
     by the Secretary of Labor to employers with respect to the 
     training and skills of veterans and the advantages afforded 
     employers by hiring veterans;''; and
       (6) by inserting after subparagraph (C), as so 
     redesignated, the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(D) a description of the activities of the advisory 
     committee during that fiscal year;
       ``(E) a description of activities that the advisory 
     committee proposes to undertake in the succeeding fiscal 
     year; and''.

     SEC. 203. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR HOMELESS 
                   VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS.

       Subsection (e)(1) of section 2021 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subparagraph:
       ``(F) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 
     2009.''.

[[Page 9010]]



              TITLE III--LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE MATTERS

     SEC. 301. DURATION OF SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE 
                   COVERAGE FOR TOTALLY DISABLED VETERANS 
                   FOLLOWING SEPARATION FROM SERVICE.

       (a) Separation or Release From Active Duty.--
       (1) Extension of period of coverage.--Paragraph (1)(A) of 
     section 1968(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``shall cease'' and all that follows and 
     inserting ``shall cease on the earlier of the following dates 
     (but in no event before the end of 120 days after such 
     separation or release):
       ``(i) The date on which the insured ceases to be totally 
     disabled.
       ``(ii) The date that is--

       ``(I) two years after the date of separation or release 
     from such active duty or active duty for training, in the 
     case of such a separation or release during the period 
     beginning on the date that is one year before the date of the 
     enactment of Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits 
     Improvement Act of 2006 and ending on September 30, 2011; and
       ``(II) 18 months after the date of separation or release 
     from such active duty or active duty for training, in the 
     case of such a separation or release on or after October 1, 
     2011.''.

       (2) Technical amendments.--Paragraph (1) of such section is 
     further amended--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``shall cease--'' and inserting ``shall cease as follows:''; 
     and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``at'' after ``(B)'' 
     and inserting ``At''.
       (b) Separation or Release From Certain Reserve 
     Assignments.--Paragraph (4) of such section is amended by 
     striking ``shall cease'' the second place it appears and all 
     that follows and inserting ``shall cease on the earlier of 
     the following dates (but in no event before the end of 120 
     days after separation or release from such assignment):
       ``(A) The date on which the insured ceases to be totally 
     disabled.
       ``(B) The date that is--
       ``(i) two years after the date of separation or release 
     from such assignment, in the case of such a separation or 
     release during the period beginning on the date that is one 
     year before the date of the enactment of Veterans' Housing 
     Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006 and ending 
     on September 30, 2011; and
       ``(ii) 18 months after the date of separation or release 
     from such assignment, in the case of such a separation or 
     release on or after October 1, 2011.''.

     SEC. 302. LIMITATION ON PREMIUM INCREASES FOR REINSTATED 
                   HEALTH INSURANCE OF SERVICEMEMBERS RELEASED 
                   FROM ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE.

       (a) Premium Protection.--Section 704 of the Servicemembers 
     Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 594) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) Limitation on Premium Increases.--
       ``(1) Premium protection.--The amount of the premium for 
     health insurance coverage that was terminated by a 
     servicemember and required to be reinstated under subsection 
     (a) may not be increased, for the balance of the period for 
     which coverage would have been continued had the coverage not 
     been terminated, to an amount greater than the amount 
     chargeable for such coverage before the termination.
       ``(2) Increases of general applicability not precluded.--
     Paragraph (1) does not prevent an increase in premium to the 
     extent of any general increase in the premiums charged by the 
     carrier of the health care insurance for the same health 
     insurance coverage for persons similarly covered by such 
     insurance during the period between the termination and the 
     reinstatement.''.
       (b) Technical Amendment.--Subsection (b)(3) of such section 
     is amended by striking ``if the'' and inserting ``in a case 
     in which the''.

     SEC. 303. PRESERVATION OF EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH PLAN 
                   COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN RESERVE-COMPONENT MEMBERS 
                   WHO ACQUIRE TRICARE ELIGIBILITY.

       (a) Continuation of Coverage.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 
     4317 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
     after ``by reason of service in the uniformed services,'' the 
     following: ``or such person becomes eligible for medical and 
     dental care under chapter 55 of title 10 by reason of 
     subsection (d) of section 1074 of that title,''.
       (b) Reinstatement of Coverage.--Subsection (b) of such 
     section is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by inserting after ``by reason of service in the 
     uniformed services,'' the following: ``or by reason of the 
     person's having become eligible for medical and dental care 
     under chapter 55 of title 10 by reason of subsection (d) of 
     section 1074 of that title,''; and
       (B) by inserting ``or eligibility'' before the period at 
     the end of the first sentence; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) In the case of a person whose coverage under a health 
     plan is terminated by reason of the person having become 
     eligible for medical and dental care under chapter 55 of 
     title 10 by reason of subsection (d) of section 1074 of that 
     title but who subsequently does not commence a period of 
     active duty under the order to active duty that established 
     such eligibility because the order is canceled before such 
     active duty commences, the provisions of paragraph (1) 
     relating to any exclusion or waiting period in connection 
     with the reinstatement of coverage under a health plan shall 
     apply to such person's continued employment, upon the 
     termination of such eligibility for medical and dental care 
     under chapter 55 of title 10 that is incident to the 
     cancellation of such order, in the same manner as if the 
     person had become reemployed upon such termination of 
     eligibility.''.

                        TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 401. INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL DISEASES AND CONDITIONS IN 
                   DISEASES AND DISABILITIES PRESUMED TO BE 
                   ASSOCIATED WITH PRISONER OF WAR STATUS.

       Section 1112(b)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(L) Atherosclerotic heart disease or hypertensive 
     vascular disease (including hypertensive heart disease) and 
     their complications (including myocardial infarction, 
     congestive heart failure and arrhythmia).
       ``(M) Stroke and its complications.''.

                   ``CHAPTER 63--OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

``6301. Purpose; definitions.
``6302. Biennial plan.
``6303. Outreach services.
``6304. Veterans assistance offices.
``6305. Outstationing of counseling and outreach personnel.
``6306. Use of other agencies.
``6307. Outreach for eligible dependents.
``6308. Biennial report to Congress.

     ``Sec. 6301. Purpose; definitions

       ``(a) Purpose.--The Congress declares that--
       ``(1) the outreach services program authorized by this 
     chapter is for the purpose of ensuring that all veterans 
     (especially those who have been recently discharged or 
     released from active military, naval, or air service and 
     those who are eligible for readjustment or other benefits and 
     services under laws administered by the Department) are 
     provided timely and appropriate assistance to aid and 
     encourage them in applying for and obtaining such benefits 
     and services in order that they may achieve a rapid social 
     and economic readjustment to civilian life and obtain a 
     higher standard of living for themselves and their 
     dependents; and
       ``(2) the outreach services program authorized by this 
     chapter is for the purpose of charging the Department with 
     the affirmative duty of seeking out eligible veterans and 
     eligible dependents and providing them with such services.
       ``(b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this chapter--
       ``(1) the term `other governmental programs' includes all 
     programs under State or local laws as well as all programs 
     under Federal law other than those authorized by this title; 
     and
       ``(2) the term `eligible dependent' means a spouse, 
     surviving spouse, child, or dependent parent of a person who 
     served in the active military, naval, or air service.

     ``Sec. 6302. Biennial plan

       ``(a) Biennial Plan Required.--The Secretary shall, during 
     the first nine months of every odd-numbered year, prepare a 
     biennial plan for the outreach activities of the Department 
     for the two-fiscal-year period beginning on October 1 of that 
     year.
       ``(b) Elements.--Each biennial plan under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       ``(1) Plans for efforts to identify eligible veterans and 
     eligible dependents who are not enrolled or registered with 
     the Department for benefits or services under the programs 
     administered by the Secretary.
       ``(2) Plans for informing eligible veterans and eligible 
     dependents of modifications of the benefits and services 
     under the programs administered by the Secretary, including 
     eligibility for medical and nursing care and services.
       ``(c) Coordination in Development.--In developing the 
     biennial plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
     consult with the following:
       ``(1) Directors or other appropriate officials of 
     organizations approved by the Secretary under section 5902 of 
     this title.
       ``(2) Directors or other appropriate officials of State and 
     local education and training programs.
       ``(3) Representatives of nongovernmental organizations that 
     carry out veterans outreach programs.
       ``(4) Representatives of State and local veterans 
     employment organizations.
       ``(5) Other individuals and organizations that the 
     Secretary considers appropriate.

     ``Sec. 6303. Outreach services

       ``(a) Requirement to Provide Services.--In carrying out the 
     purposes of this chapter, the Secretary shall provide the 
     outreach services specified in subsections (b) through (d). 
     In areas where a significant number of eligible veterans and 
     eligible dependents speak a language other than English as 
     their principal language, such services shall, to the maximum 
     feasible extent, be provided in the principal language of 
     such persons.
       ``(b) Individual Notice to New Veterans.--The Secretary 
     shall by letter advise each veteran at the time of the 
     veteran's discharge or release from active military, naval, 
     or air service (or as soon as possible

[[Page 9011]]

     after such discharge or release) of all benefits and services 
     under laws administered by the Department for which the 
     veteran may be eligible. In carrying out this subsection, the 
     Secretary shall ensure, through the use of veteran-student 
     services under section 3485 of this title, that contact, in 
     person or by telephone, is made with those veterans who, on 
     the basis of their military service records, do not have a 
     high school education or equivalent at the time of discharge 
     or release.
       ``(c) Distribution of Information.--(1) The Secretary--
       ``(A) shall distribute full information to eligible 
     veterans and eligible dependents regarding all benefits and 
     services to which they may be entitled under laws 
     administered by the Secretary; and
       ``(B) may, to the extent feasible, distribute information 
     on other governmental programs (including manpower and 
     training programs) which the Secretary determines would be 
     beneficial to veterans.
       ``(2) Whenever a veteran or dependent first applies for any 
     benefit under laws administered by the Secretary (including a 
     request for burial or related benefits or an application for 
     life insurance proceeds), the Secretary shall provide to the 
     veteran or dependent information concerning benefits and 
     health care services under programs administered by the 
     Secretary. Such information shall be provided not later than 
     three months after the date of such application.
       ``(d) Provision of Aid and Assistance.--The Secretary shall 
     provide, to the maximum extent possible, aid and assistance 
     (including personal interviews) to members of the Armed 
     Forces, veterans, and eligible dependents with respect to 
     subsections (b) and (c) and in the preparation and 
     presentation of claims under laws administered by the 
     Department.
       ``(e) Assignment of Employees.--In carrying out this 
     section, the Secretary shall assign such employees as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate to conduct outreach programs 
     and provide outreach services for homeless veterans. Such 
     outreach services may include site visits through which 
     homeless veterans can be identified and provided assistance 
     in obtaining benefits and services that may be available to 
     them.

     ``Sec. 6304. Veterans assistance offices

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and 
     maintain veterans assistance offices at such places 
     throughout the United States and its territories and 
     possessions, and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as the 
     Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out the 
     purposes of this chapter. The Secretary may maintain such 
     offices on such military installations located elsewhere as 
     the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of 
     Defense and taking into account recommendations, if any, of 
     the Secretary of Labor, determines to be necessary to carry 
     out such purposes.
       ``(b) Location of Offices.--In establishing and maintaining 
     such offices, the Secretary shall give due regard to--
       ``(1) the geographical distribution of veterans recently 
     discharged or released from active military, naval, or air 
     service;
       ``(2) the special needs of educationally disadvantaged 
     veterans (including their need for accessibility of outreach 
     services); and
       ``(3) the necessity of providing appropriate outreach 
     services in less populated areas.

     ``Sec. 6305. Outstationing of counseling and outreach 
       personnel

       ``The Secretary may station employees of the Department at 
     locations other than Department offices, including 
     educational institutions, to provide--
       ``(1) counseling and other assistance regarding benefits 
     under this title to veterans and other persons eligible for 
     benefits under this title; and
       ``(2) outreach services under this chapter.

     ``Sec. 6306. Use of other agencies

       ``(a) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall 
     arrange with the Secretary of Labor for the State employment 
     service to match the particular qualifications of an eligible 
     veteran or eligible dependent with an appropriate job or job 
     training opportunity, including, where possible, arrangements 
     for outstationing the State employment personnel who provide 
     such assistance at appropriate facilities of the Department.
       ``(b) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Labor, actively seek to 
     promote the development and establishment of employment 
     opportunities, training opportunities, and other 
     opportunities for veterans, with particular emphasis on the 
     needs of veterans with service-connected disabilities and 
     other eligible veterans, taking into account applicable rates 
     of unemployment and the employment emphases set forth in 
     chapter 42 of this title.
       ``(c) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall 
     cooperate with and use the services of any Federal department 
     or agency or any State or local governmental agency or 
     recognized national or other organization.
       ``(d) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall, 
     where appropriate, make referrals to any Federal department 
     or agency or State or local governmental unit or recognized 
     national or other organization.
       ``(e) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary may 
     furnish available space and office facilities for the use of 
     authorized representatives of such governmental unit or other 
     organization providing services.
       ``(f) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall 
     conduct and provide for studies, in consultation with 
     appropriate Federal departments and agencies, to determine 
     the most effective program design to carry out the purposes 
     of this chapter.

     ``Sec. 6307. Outreach for eligible dependents

       ``(a) Needs of Dependents.--In carrying out this chapter, 
     the Secretary shall ensure that the needs of eligible 
     dependents are fully addressed.
       ``(b) Information as to Availability of Outreach Services 
     for Dependents.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
     availability of outreach services and assistance for eligible 
     dependents under this chapter is made known through a variety 
     of means, including the Internet, announcements in veterans 
     publications, and announcements to the media.

     ``Sec. 6308. Biennial report to Congress

       ``(a) Report Required.--The Secretary shall, not later than 
     December 1 of every even-numbered year (beginning in 2008), 
     submit to Congress a report on the outreach activities 
     carried out by the Department.
       ``(b) Content.--Each report under this section shall 
     include the following:
       ``(1) A description of the implementation during the 
     preceding fiscal year of the current biennial plan under 
     section 6302 of this title.
       ``(2) Recommendations for the improvement or more effective 
     administration of the outreach activities of the 
     Department.''.
       (b) Incorporation of Recommendations to Improve Outreach 
     and Awareness.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to 
     the extent appropriate, incorporate the recommendations for 
     the improvement of veterans outreach and awareness activities 
     included in the report submitted to Congress by the Secretary 
     pursuant to section 805 of the Veterans Benefits Improvement 
     Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-454).
       (c) Repeal of Recodified Provisions.--Subchapter II of 
     chapter 77 of title 38, United States Code, is repealed.
       (d) Conforming and Clerical Amendments.--
       (1) Subchapter III of chapter 77 of such title is 
     redesignated as subchapter II.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by striking the items relating to the heading for 
     subchapter II, sections 7721 through 7727, and the heading 
     for subchapter III and inserting the following:

                 ``subchapter ii--quality assurance''.

       (3) The tables of chapters at the beginning of such title, 
     and at the beginning of part IV of such title, are amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to chapter 61 the following 
     new item:

``63. Outreach Activities.......................................6301''.

       (e) Cross-Reference Amendments.--
       (1) Section 3485(a)(4)(A) of title 38, United States Code, 
     is amended by striking ``subchapter II of chapter 77'' and 
     inserting ``chapter 63''.
       (2) Section 4113(a)(2) of such title is amended by striking 
     ``section 7723(a)'' and inserting ``section 6304(a)''.
       (3) Section 4214(g) of such title is amended by striking 
     ``section 7722'' and ``section 7724'' and inserting ``section 
     6303'' and ``section 6305'', respectively.
       (4) Section 168(b)(2)(B) of the Workforce Investment Act of 
     1998 (29 U.S.C. 2913(b)(2)(B)) is amended by striking 
     ``subchapter II of chapter 77'' and inserting ``chapter 63''.

     SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF ANNUAL REPORT REQUIREMENT ON EQUITABLE 
                   RELIEF CASES.

       Section 503(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``December 31, 2004'' and inserting ``December 
     31, 2009''.

                     TITLE V--TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS

     SEC. 501. TECHNICAL AND CLARIFYING AMENDMENTS TO NEW 
                   TRAUMATIC INJURY PROTECTION COVERAGE UNDER 
                   SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE.

       (a) Section 1980A.--Section 1980A of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Subsection (a) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a)(1) A member of the uniformed services who is insured 
     under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance shall 
     automatically be insured for traumatic injury in accordance 
     with this section. Insurance benefits under this section 
     shall be payable if the member, while so insured, sustains a 
     traumatic injury on or after December 1, 2005, that results 
     in a qualifying loss specified pursuant to subsection (b)(1).
       ``(2) If a member suffers more than one such qualifying 
     loss as a result of traumatic injury from the same traumatic 
     event, payment shall be made under this section in accordance 
     with the schedule prescribed pursuant to subsection (d) for 
     the single loss providing the highest payment.''.
       (2) Subsection (b) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking ``issued a'' and all that follows through 
     ``limited to--'' and inserting ``insured against traumatic 
     injury under this section is insured against such losses due 
     to

[[Page 9012]]

     traumatic injury (in this section referred to as `qualifying 
     losses') as are prescribed by the Secretary by regulation. 
     Qualifying losses so prescribed shall include the 
     following:'';
       (ii) by capitalizing the first letter of the first word of 
     each of subparagraphs (A) through (H);
       (iii) by striking the semicolon at the end of each of 
     subparagraphs (A) through (F) and inserting a period; and
       (iv) by striking ``; and'' at the end of subparagraph (G) 
     and inserting a period;
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by striking ``subsection--'' and inserting 
     ``subsection:'';
       (ii) by striking ``the'' at the beginning of subparagraphs 
     (A), (B), and (C) and inserting ``The'';
       (iii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``4 limbs;'' and 
     inserting ``four limbs.'';
       (iv) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' at the end 
     and inserting a period;
       (v) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``1 side'' and 
     inserting ``one side''; and
       (vi) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(D) The term `inability to carry out the activities of 
     daily living' means the inability to independently perform 
     two or more of the following six functions:
       ``(i) Bathing.
       ``(ii) Continence.
       ``(iii) Dressing.
       ``(iv) Eating.
       ``(v) Toileting.
       ``(vi) Transferring.'';
       (C) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) by striking ``, in collaboration with the Secretary of 
     Defense,'';
       (ii) by striking ``shall prescribe'' and inserting ``may 
     prescribe''; and
       (iii) by striking ``the conditions under which coverage 
     against loss will not be provided'' and inserting 
     ``conditions under which coverage otherwise provided under 
     this section is excluded''; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) A member shall not be considered for the purposes of 
     this section to be a member insured under Servicemembers' 
     Group Life Insurance if the member is insured under 
     Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance only as an insurable 
     dependent of another member pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii) 
     or (C)(ii) of section 1967(a)(1) of this title.''.
       (3) Subsection (c) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(c)(1) A payment may be made to a member under this 
     section only for a qualifying loss that results directly from 
     a traumatic injury sustained while the member is covered 
     against loss under this section and from no other cause.
       ``(2)(A) A payment may be made to a member under this 
     section for a qualifying loss resulting from a traumatic 
     injury only for a loss that is incurred during the applicable 
     period of time specified pursuant to subparagraph (B).
       ``(B) For each qualifying loss, the Secretary shall 
     prescribe, by regulation, a period of time to be the period 
     of time within which a loss of that type must be incurred, 
     determined from the date on which the member sustains the 
     traumatic injury resulting in that loss, in order for that 
     loss to be covered under this section.''.
       (4) Subsection (d) is amended by striking ``losses 
     described in subsection (b)(1) shall be--'' and all that 
     follows and inserting ``qualifying losses shall be made in 
     accordance with a schedule prescribed by the Secretary, by 
     regulation, specifying the amount of payment to be made for 
     each type of qualifying loss, to be based on the severity of 
     the qualifying loss. The minimum payment that may be 
     prescribed for a qualifying loss is $25,000, and the maximum 
     payment that may be prescribed for a qualifying loss is 
     $100,000.''.
       (5) Subsection (e) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``of Veterans Affairs'' each place it 
     appears;
       (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``as the premium 
     allocable'' and all that follows through ``protection under 
     this section'';
       (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Secretary of the 
     concerned service'' and inserting ``Secretary concerned''; 
     and
       (D) by striking paragraphs (6), (7), and (8) and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(6) The cost attributable to insuring members under this 
     section for any month or other period specified by the 
     Secretary, less the premiums paid by the members, shall be 
     paid by the Secretary concerned to the Secretary. The 
     Secretary shall allocate the amount payable among the 
     uniformed services using such methods and data as the 
     Secretary determines to be reasonable and practicable. 
     Payments under this paragraph shall be made on a monthly 
     basis or at such other intervals as may be specified by the 
     Secretary and shall be made within 10 days of the date on 
     which the Secretary provides notice to the Secretary 
     concerned of the amount required.
       ``(7) For each period for which a payment by a Secretary 
     concerned is required under paragraph (6), the Secretary 
     concerned shall contribute such amount from appropriations 
     available for active duty pay of the uniformed service 
     concerned.
       ``(8) The sums withheld from the basic or other pay of 
     members, or collected from them by the Secretary concerned, 
     under this subsection, and the sums contributed from 
     appropriations under this subsection, together with the 
     income derived from any dividends or premium rate adjustments 
     received from insurers shall be deposited to the credit of 
     the revolving fund established in the Treasury of the United 
     States under section 1869(d)(1) of this title.''.
       (6) Subsection (f) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(f) When a claim for benefits is submitted under this 
     section, the Secretary of Defense or, in the case of a member 
     not under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense, the 
     Secretary concerned, shall certify to the Secretary whether 
     the member with respect to whom the claim is submitted--
       ``(1) was at the time of the injury giving rise to the 
     claim insured under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for 
     the purposes of this section; and
       ``(2) has sustained a qualifying loss.''.
       (7) Subsection (g) of such section is amended--
       (A) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(g)'';
       (B) by striking ``will not be made'' and inserting ``may 
     not be made under the insurance coverage under this 
     section'';
       (C) by striking ``the period'' and all that follows through 
     ``the date'' and inserting ``a period prescribed by the 
     Secretary, by regulation, for such purpose that begins on the 
     date'';
       (D) by designating the second sentence as paragraph (2);
       (E) by striking ``If the member'' and inserting ``If a 
     member eligible for a payment under this section'';
       (F) by striking ``will be'' and inserting ``shall be''; and
       (G) by striking ``according to'' and all that follows and 
     inserting ``to the beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom the 
     payment would be made if the payment were life insurance 
     under section 1967(a) of this title.''.
       (8) Subsection (h) of such section is amended--
       (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``member's 
     separation from the uniformed service'' and inserting 
     ``termination of the member's duty status in the uniformed 
     services that established eligibility for Servicemembers' 
     Group Life Insurance'';
       (B) by striking the second sentence; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The 
     termination of coverage under this section is effective in 
     accordance with the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any 
     continuation after the date specified in that sentence of 
     Service-
     members' Group Life Insurance coverage pursuant to 1968(a) of 
     this title for a period specified in that section.''.
       (9) Such section is further amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subsection:
       ``(j) Regulations under this section shall be prescribed in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense.''.
       (b) Applicability to Qualifying Losses Incurred in 
     Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Before 
     Effective Date of New Program.--
       (1) Eligibility.--A member of the uniformed services who 
     during the period beginning on October 7, 2001, and ending at 
     the close of November 30, 2005, sustains a traumatic injury 
     resulting in a qualifying loss is eligible for coverage for 
     that loss under section 1980A of title 38, United States 
     Code, if, as determined by the Secretary concerned, that loss 
     was a direct result of a traumatic injury incurred in the 
     theater of operations for Operation Enduring Freedom or 
     Operation Iraqi Freedom.
       (2) Certification of persons entitled to payment.--The 
     Secretary concerned shall certify to the life insurance 
     company issuing the policy of life insurance for Service-
     members' Group Life Insurance under chapter 19 of title 38, 
     United States Code, the name and address of each person who 
     the Secretary concerned determines to be entitled by reason 
     of paragraph (1) to a payment under section 1980A of title 
     38, United States Code, plus such additional information as 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may require.
       (3) Funding.--At the time a certification is made under 
     paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned, from funds then 
     available to that Secretary for the pay of members of the 
     uniformed services under the jurisdiction of that Secretary, 
     shall pay to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the amount of 
     funds the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines to be 
     necessary to pay all costs related to payments to be made 
     under that certification. Amounts received by the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs under this paragraph shall be deposited 
     to the credit of the revolving fund in the Treasury of the 
     United States established under section 1969(d) of title 38, 
     United States Code.
       (4) Qualifying loss.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
     term ``qualifying loss'' means--
       (A) a loss specified in the second sentence of subsection 
     (b)(1) of section 1980A of title 38, United States Code, as 
     amended by subsection (a); and
       (B) any other loss specified by the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs pursuant to the first sentence of that subsection.

[[Page 9013]]

       (5) Secretary concerned.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     the term ``Secretary concerned'' has the meaning given that 
     term in paragraph (25) of section 101 of title 38, United 
     States Code.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Section 1965 of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking paragraph (11).
       (2) Section 1032(c) of Public Law 109-13 (119 Stat. 257; 38 
     U.S.C. 1980A note) is repealed.

     SEC. 502. TERMINOLOGY AMENDMENTS TO REVISE REFERENCES TO 
                   CERTAIN VETERANS IN PROVISIONS RELATING TO 
                   ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPENSATION OR DEPENDENCY AND 
                   INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

       Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Section 1114(l) is amended by striking ``so helpless'' 
     and inserting ``with such significant disabilities''.
       (2) Section 1114(m) is amended by striking ``so helpless'' 
     and inserting ``so significantly disabled''.
       (3) Sections 1115(1)(E)(ii), 1122(b)(2), 1311(c)(2), 
     1315(g)(2), and 1502(b)(2) are amended by striking ``helpless 
     or blind, or so nearly helpless or blind as to'' and 
     inserting ``blind, or so nearly blind or significantly 
     disabled as to''.

     SEC. 503. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.

       Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
       (1) Typographical error.--Section 1117(h)(1) is amended by 
     striking ``nothwithstanding'' and inserting 
     ``notwithstanding''.
       (2) Insertion of missing word.--Section 1513(a) is amended 
     by inserting ``section'' after ``prescribed by''.
       (3) Deletion of extra words.--Section 3012(a)(1)(C)(ii) is 
     amended by striking ``on or''.
       (4) Cross reference correction.--Section 3017(b)(1)(D) is 
     amended by striking ``3011(c)'' and inserting ``3011(e)''.
       (5) Stylistic amendments.--Section 3018A is amended--
       (A) by striking ``of this section'' in subsections (b) and 
     (c);
       (B) by striking ``of this subsection'' in subsections 
     (a)(4), (a)(5), (d)(1) (both places it appears), and (d)(3); 
     and
       (C) by striking ``of this chapter'' in subsection (d)(3) 
     and inserting ``of this title''.
       (6) Cross reference correction.--Section 3117(b)(1) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking ``section 8'' and inserting ``section 
     4(b)(1)''; and
       (B) by striking ``633(b)'' and inserting ``633(b)(1)''.
       (7) Insertion of missing word.--Section 3511(a)(1) is 
     amended by inserting ``sections'' after ``under both''.
       (8) Subsection headings.--
       (A) Sections 3461, 3462, 3481, 3565, 3680, and 3690 are 
     each amended by revising each subsection heading for a 
     subsection therein (appearing as a centered heading 
     immediately before the text of the subsection) so that such 
     heading appears immediately after the subsection designation 
     and is set forth in capitals-and-small-capitals typeface, 
     followed by a period and a one-em dash.
       (B) Section 3461(c) is amended by inserting after the 
     subsection designation the following: ``Duration of 
     Entitlement.--''.
       (C) Section 3462 is amended--
       (i) in subsection (d), by inserting after the subsection 
     designation the following: ``Prisoners of War.--''; and
       (ii) in subsection (e), by inserting after the subsection 
     designation the following: ``Termination of Assistance.--''.
       (9) Cross reference correction.--Section 3732(c)(10)(D) is 
     amended by striking ``clause (B) of paragraphs (5), (6), (7), 
     and (8) of this subsection'' and inserting ``paragraphs 
     (5)(B), (6), (7)(B), and (8)(B)''.
       (10) Date of enactment reference.--Section 3733(a)(7) is 
     amended by striking ``the date of the enactment of the 
     Veterans Benefits Act of 2003'' and inserting ``December 16, 
     2003''.
       (11) Repeal of obsolete provisions.--Section 4102A is 
     amended--
       (A) in subsection (c)(7)--
       (i) by striking ``With respect to program years beginning 
     during or after fiscal year 2004, one percent of'' and 
     inserting ``Of''; and
       (ii) by striking ``for the program year'' and inserting 
     ``for any program year, one percent''; and
       (B) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``By not later than 
     May 7, 2003, the'' and inserting ``The''.
       (12) Repeal of obsolete provisions.--Section 4105(b) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking ``shall provide,'' and all that follows 
     through ``Affairs with'' and inserting ``shall, on the 15th 
     day of each month, provide the Secretary and the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs with updated information regarding''; and
       (B) by striking ``and shall'' and all that follows through 
     ``regarding the list''.
       (13) Citation correction.--Section 4110B is amended--
       (A) by striking ``this Act'' and inserting ``the Workforce 
     Investment Act of 1998''; and
       (B) by inserting ``(29 U.S.C. 2822(b))'' before the period 
     at the end.
       (14) Cross-reference correction.--Section 4331(b)(2)(C) is 
     amended by striking ``section 2303(a)(2)(C)(ii)'' and 
     inserting ``section 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii)''.
       (15) Capitalization correction.--Section 7253(d)(5) is 
     amended by striking ``court'' and inserting ``Court''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Salazar) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1235, as amended, the Veterans' 
Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006.
  S. 1235, as amended, the Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits 
Improvement Act of 2006, reflects a compromise agreement that has been 
reached by the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs on the 
following bills:
  S. 1235, as amended, which passed the Senate on September 28, 2005; 
H.R. 1220, as amended, which passed the House on July 13, 2005; H.R. 
2046, as amended, which passed the House on May 23, 2005; and H.R. 
3665, as amended, which passed the House on November 10, 2005.
  Mr. Speaker, I will insert at this point in the Record for the 
benefit of my colleagues a joint explanatory statement describing the 
compromise agreement we have reached with the other body.

 Explanatory Statement on Amendment to Senate Bill, S. 1235, as Amended

       S. 1235, as amended, the Veterans' Housing Opportunity and 
     Benefits Improvement Act of 2006, reflects a Compromise 
     Agreement reached by the Senate and House Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs (the Committees) on the following bills 
     reported during the 109th Congress: S. 1235, as amended 
     (Senate Bill), H.R. 1220, as amended, H.R. 2046, as amended, 
     and H.R. 3665, as amended (House Bills). S. 1235, as amended, 
     passed the Senate on September 28, 2005; H.R. 2046, as 
     amended, passed the House on May 23, 2005; H.R. 3665, as 
     amended, passed the House on November 10, 2005.
       The Committees have prepared the following explanation of 
     S. 1235, as further amended to reflect a compromise agreement 
     between the Committees (Compromise Agreement). Differences 
     between the provisions contained in the Compromise Agreement 
     and the related provision of the Senate Bill and the House 
     Bills are noted in this document, except for clerical 
     corrections, conforming changes made necessary by the 
     Compromise Agreement, and minor drafting, technical, and 
     clarifying changes.


                        title i--housing matters

     Adapted Housing Assistance for Disabled Veterans Residing in 
         Housing Owned by Family Member
       Current Law.--Chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, 
     authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to adapt or 
     acquire suitable housing for certain severely disabled 
     veterans. The grant amounts are limited to $50,000 for 
     severely disabled veterans with impairments of locomotion or 
     loss of function of both arms described in section 2101(a) of 
     title 38, United States Code, and $10,000 to severely 
     disabled veterans with loss of vision or loss of function of 
     both hands as described in section 2101(b) of title 38, 
     United States Code. Currently a veteran may receive a grant 
     for specially adapted housing only once. However, a veteran 
     who has qualified for the smaller grant may nonetheless 
     receive a higher grant if disabilities under that provision 
     later develop.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 101 (a) through (e) of H.R. 3665, as 
     amended, would amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States 
     Code, by inserting a new section 2102A. Subparagraph (a) 
     would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct 
     a program providing a partial adapted housing grant to 
     severely injured veterans residing temporarily in housing 
     owned by a family member. Subparagraph (b) would authorize 
     the Secretary to provide up to a $10,000 grant for such 
     veterans with disabilities involving impairments of 
     locomotion and up to a $2,000 grant for such veterans with 
     visual impairments or loss of function of both hands. 
     Subparagraph (c) would limit the assistance to one family 
     residence. Subparagraph (d) would require the Secretary to 
     issue relevant regulations. Finally, subparagraph (e) would 
     limit the program to 5 years after enactment.
       Section 101(b) of H.R. 3665, as amended, would amend 
     section 2102 of title 38, United States Code, to allow a 
     veteran to receive no more than three grants of assistance 
     under chapter 21 of title 8, United States Code. The total 
     value of all grants would not exceed $50,000 for the most 
     severely disabled veterans and $10,000 for less severely 
     disabled veterans. However, a veteran who receives a grant 
     under section 2102(b) of title 38, United States Code, would 
     still be allowed to receive

[[Page 9014]]

     grants under section 2102(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
     if he or she becomes eligible.
       Section 101(c) would amend chapter 21 of title 38, United 
     States Code, by adding at the end a new section 2107 to 
     provide that the Secretary shall coordinate the 
     administration of programs to provide specially adapted 
     housing that are administered by both the Under Secretary for 
     Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits under chapters 
     17, 21, and 31 of title 38, United States Code.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 101 of the Compromise 
     Agreement generally follows the House language except in the 
     case of veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a 
     family member, veterans with disabilities involving 
     impairments of locomotion may receive up to $14,000. Section 
     101 would also increase the funding fee for a subsequent use 
     of the VA home loan guaranty with no money down by 5 basis 
     points for the period October 1, 2006 through September 30, 
     2007.
     Adjustable Rate Mortgages
       Current Law.--Section 3707A(c)(4) of title 38, United 
     States Code, limits the maximum increase or decrease of any 
     single annual interest rate adjustment after the initial 
     contract interest rate adjustment to 1 percentage point.
       Senate Bill.--Section 201 of the Senate Bill would give VA 
     the flexibility to prescribe an appropriate annual rate 
     adjustment cap for VA hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgage loans 
     with an initial rate of interest fixed for 5 or more years.
       House Bills.--The House Bills contain no comparable 
     provision.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 102 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the Senate language.
     Permanent Authority To Make Direct Housing Loans to Native 
         American Veterans
       Current Law.--Section 3761 of title 38, United States Code, 
     establishes a pilot program to make direct housing loans to 
     Native American veterans for homes on tribal lands. The 
     authorization expires on December 31, 2008. Section 3762 of 
     title 38, United States Code, describes the administration of 
     the program and limits the maximum loan amount to $80,000, 
     unless the Secretary allows a larger amount due to higher 
     housing costs in a particular geographic area.
       Senate Bill.--Section 203 of the Senate Bill contains a 
     similar provision.
       House Bills.--Section 102 of H.R. 3665, as amended, would 
     make permanent the Native American Veteran Housing Loan 
     Program. It would also limit the Secretary's discretion in 
     approving a loan large than $80,000 to the loan limitation 
     amount provided by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 
     Act for a single-family residence.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 103 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the House language.
     Extension of Eligibility for Direct Loans for Native American 
         Veterans to a Veteran Who Is The Spouse of a Native 
         American
       Current Law.--Section 3761 of title 38, United States Code, 
     limits loans under the Native American Home Loan Program to 
     veterans who are Native Americans. Under current law, a 
     veteran residing on tribal lands with a Native American 
     spouse is not eligible to receive a home loan under this 
     program.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 103 of H.R. 3665, as amended, would 
     extend eligibility for the Native American Veteran Housing 
     Loan Program to non-Native American veterans who are spouses 
     of Native American eligible to be housed on tribal land. The 
     non-Native American veteran must be able to acquire a 
     meaningful interest in the property under tribal law.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 104 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the House language.
     Technical Corrections to Veterans' Benefit Improvement Act of 
         2004
       Current Law.--Section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, 
     provides for grants to adapt or acquire suitable housing for 
     certain severely disabled veterans. Section 401 of Public Law 
     108-183 amended section 2101 to authorize the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs to provide adapted housing assistance to 
     certain disabled servicemembers who have not yet been 
     processed for discharge from military service, but who will 
     qualify for the benefit upon discharge due to the severity of 
     their disabilities. However, this provision was inadvertently 
     omitted from section 2101 of title 38, United States Code 
     when changes to that section were made by P.L. 108-454.
       Senate Bill.--Section 202 of S. 1235 would amend section 
     2101 of title 38, United States Code, to reinstate the 
     authority of the Secretary to provide adapted housing 
     assistance to certain members of the armed services and make 
     other conforming amendments. The amendments made by this 
     provision would take effect on December 10, 2004, immediately 
     after the enactment of Public Law 108-454.
       House Bill.--Section 4 of H.R. 2046, as amended, contains a 
     similar provision.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 105 of the Compromise 
     Agreement contains this provision.


                      title ii--employment matters

     Additional Duty for the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
         Veterans' Employment and Training To Raise Awareness of 
         Skills of Veterans and of the Benefits of Hiring Veterans
       Current Law.--Subsection (b) of section 4102A of title 38, 
     United States Code, describes the duties to be carried out by 
     the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and 
     Training.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 202(a) of H.R. 3665, as amended, 
     would add a new duty for the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
     Veterans' Employment and Training (ASVET) under section 4102A 
     of title 38, United States Code, to furnish information to 
     employers (through meetings with hiring executive of 
     corporations and otherwise) concerning the training and 
     skills of veterans and disabled veterans, and the advantages 
     of hiring veterans. The ASVET would also be required to 
     facilitate employment of veterans and disabled veterans 
     through participation in labor exchanges (Internet-based and 
     otherwise), and by other means.
       Section 202(b) of H.R. 3665, as amended, would require the 
     Secretary of Labor, acting through the ASVET, to develop a 
     transition plan for the ASVET to assume certain duties and 
     functions of the President's National Hire Veterans Committee 
     and transmit the plan to the House and Senate Veterans' 
     Affairs Committees not later than July 1, 2006.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 201 of the Compromise 
     Agreement generally follows the House language, but does not 
     include the requirement that the Secretary of Labor develop 
     and transmit a transition plan.
     Modifications to the Advisory Committee on Veterans 
         Employment and Training
       Current Law.--Section 4110 of title 38, United States Code, 
     establishes the Advisory Committee on Veterans employment and 
     Training, its membership, and its duties. The Advisory 
     Committee advises the ASVET on the employment and training 
     needs of veterans and how the Department of Labor is meeting 
     those needs. No outreach efforts are required of the Advisory 
     Committee in current law.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 203(a) of H.R. 3665, as amended, 
     would amend section 4110 of title 38, United States Code, by 
     renaming the ``Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment and 
     Training'' to ``Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, 
     Training, and Employer Outreach''.
       Section 203(b) would modify the duties of the Advisory 
     Committee to include assisting and advising the Assistant 
     Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training 
     (ASVET) in carrying out outreach to employers.
       Section 203(c) would modify the membership of the Advisory 
     Committee to include representatives from the National 
     Society of Human Resource Managers, The Business Roundtable, 
     the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, the 
     United States Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of 
     Independent Business, a nationally recognized labor union or 
     organization, veterans service organizations that have a 
     national employment program, and recognized authorities in 
     the fields of business, employment, training, rehabilitation, 
     or labor. Section 203(c) would also retain six nonvoting ex 
     officio members of the Advisory Committee: Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, Secretary of Defense, Director of the 
     Office of Personnel Management, Assistant Secretary of Labor 
     for Veterans' Employment and Training, Assistant Secretary of 
     Labor for Employment and Training, and the Administrator of 
     the Small Business Administration.
       Setion 203(d) of H.R. 3665, as amended, would require the 
     Advisory Committee to submit a report to the Secretary of 
     Labor on the employment and training needs of veterans for 
     the previous fiscal year. The report would include a 
     description of the activities of the Advisory Committee 
     during that fiscal year as well as suggested outreach 
     activities to be carried out by the Secretary of Labor to 
     employers with respect to the training and skills of veterans 
     and the advantage afforded employers by hiring veterans.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 202 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the House language.
     Reauthorization of Appropriations for Homeless Veterans 
         Reintegration Programs
       Current Law.--Section 2021 of title 38, United States Code, 
     authorizes appropriations for the Homeless Veterans 
     Reintegration Programs (HVRP) through fiscal year 2006.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 301 of H.R. 3665, as amended, would 
     reauthorize HVRP for fiscal years 2007 through 2009, and 
     retain the maximum authorization of $50 million per year.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 203 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the House language.

[[Page 9015]]




              TITLE III--LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE MATTERS

     Duration of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Coverage for 
         Totally Disabled Veterans Following Separation From 
         Service
       Current Law.--Section 1968 of title 38, United States Code, 
     provides coverage at no charge under the Servicemembers' 
     Group Life Insurance program for 1 year after the date of 
     separation or release from active duty if a veteran is rated 
     totally disabled at the time of separation. Veterans may also 
     convert their insurance coverage from Servicemembers' Group 
     Life Insurance to Veterans' Group Life Insurance, or to an 
     individual policy of insurance, during the 1-year, post-
     separation period.
       Senate Bill.--Section 101 of the Senate Bill would extend 
     from 1 to 2 years, after separation from active duty service, 
     the period within which totally disabled members may receive 
     premium-free SGLI coverage. In addition, such members would 
     be eligible to convert their coverage to Veterans' Group Life 
     Insurance or an individual policy of insurance.
       House Bills.--The House Bills contain no comparable 
     provision.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 301 of the Compromise 
     Agreement would extend the post-separation coverage period 
     from 1 to 2 years until September 30, 2011, for all members 
     who are totally disabled when separated or released from 
     active duty 1 year before date of enactment of this Act. For 
     members who are totally disabled when they separate or are 
     released on or after October 1, 2011, the post-separation 
     coverage period would be reduced to 18 months.
     Limitation on Premium Increases for Reinstated Health 
         Insurance of Servicemembers Released From Active Military 
         Service
       Current Law.--Section 704 of the Service-
     members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides that a servicemember 
     who is ordered to active duty is entitled, upon release from 
     active duty, to reinstatement of any health insurance 
     coverage in effect on the day before such service commenced. 
     Section 704 of the SCRA currently contains no express 
     provision regarding premium increases.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bill.--Section 2 of H.R. 2046, as amended, would 
     amend section 704 of SCRA by adding at the end a new 
     subsection that would limit health insurance premium 
     increases. The amount charged for the coverage once 
     reinstated would not exceed the amount charged for coverage 
     before the termination except for any general increase for 
     persons similarly covered by the insurance during the period 
     between termination and the reinstatement.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 302 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the House language.
     Preservation of Employer-Sponsored Health Plan Coverage for 
         Certain Reserve-Component Members Who Acquire TRICARE 
         Eligibility
       Current Law.--Section 4317 of title 38, United States Code, 
     requires an employer to provide employees returning from 
     active duty with the same employer-sponsored health benefits 
     they had when they reported for active duty. However, section 
     4317 does not preserve employer-sponsored health plan 
     reinstatement rights for certain Reserve-component members 
     who acquire health insurance coverage under TRICARE prior to 
     entering active duty under section 1074(d) of title 10, 
     United States Code. This option became available by an 
     amendment to the TRICARE authority enacted on November 24, 
     2003.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 3 of H.R. 2046, as amended, would 
     amend section 4317 of title 38, United States Code, to 
     preserve employer-sponsored health plan reinstatement rights 
     under the Uniformed Services employment and Reemployment 
     Rights Act for Reserve-component members who acquire TRICARE 
     coverage prior to entering active duty. This includes those 
     Reserve Component members whose active duty orders are 
     canceled prior to reporting to active duty.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 303 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the House language.


                        TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

     Inclusion of Additional Diseases and Conditions in Diseases 
         and Disabilities Presumed To Be Associated with Prisoner 
         of War Status
       Current Law.--Section 1112(b) of title 38, United States 
     Code, contains two lists of diseases that are presumed to be 
     related to an individual's experience as a prisoner of war. 
     The first presumptive list require no minimum internment 
     period and includes diseases associated with mental trauma or 
     acute physical trauma, which could plausibly be caused by a 
     single day of captivity. The second list has a 30-day minimum 
     internment requirement.
       Senate Bill.--Section 303 of the Senate Bill would codify a 
     June 28, 2005, VA regulation which added atherosclerotic 
     heart disease or hypertensive vascular disease (including 
     hypertensive heart disease) and their complications 
     (including myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure 
     and arrhythmia), and stroke and its complications as 
     presumptive conditions for service-connection when related to 
     the prisoner of war experience. These diseases would be 
     included under the list requiring minimum 30-day internment 
     period.
       House Bills.--The House Bills contain no comparable 
     provision.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 401 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the Senate language.
     Consolidation and Revision of Outreach Activities
       Current Law.--Section 7722 of title 38, United States Code, 
     requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to distribute full 
     information to eligible servicemembers, veterans, and 
     dependents regarding all benefits and services to which they 
     may be entitled under laws administered by the Department.
       Senate Bill.--Section 301 of the Senate Bill would require 
     the VA to prepare annually (and submit to Congress) a plan 
     governing an upcoming year's outreach activities. Such a plan 
     would incorporate the recommendations of the report mandated 
     by Public Law 108-454, and would be prepared after 
     consultations with veterans service organizations, State and 
     local officials, and other interested groups and advocates.
       House Bills.--The House Bills contain no comparable 
     provision.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 402 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the Senate language with modifications. VA 
     outreach activities would be revised and consolidated in a 
     new chapter 63 of title 38, United States Code. Additionally, 
     VA would be required to prepare biennially an outreach plan 
     governing an upcoming 2 years of outreach activities, 
     beginning on October 1, 2007. Furthermore, VA would be 
     required to report biennially on the execution of the 
     outreach plan, beginning on October 1, 2008.
     Extension of Reporting Requirements on Equitable Relief Cases
       Current Law.--Section 503 of title 38, United States Code, 
     authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide 
     monetary relief to persons whom the Secretary determines were 
     deprived of VA benefits by reason of administrative error by 
     a federal government employee. The Secretary may also provide 
     relief which the Secretary determines is equitable to a VA 
     beneficiary who has suffered loss as a consequence of an 
     erroneous decision made by a federal government employee. No 
     later than April 1 of each year, the Secretary was required 
     to submit to Congress a report containing a statement as to 
     the disposition of each case recommended to the Secretary for 
     equitable relief during the preceding calendar year; the 
     requirement for this report expired on December 31, 2004.
       Senate Bill.--Section 302 of the Senate Bill would extend 
     the equitable relief reporting requirement through December 
     31, 2009.
       House Bills.--The House Bills contain no comparable 
     provision.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 403 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the Senate language.


                     TITLE V--TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS

     Technical and Clarifying Amendments to New Traumatic Injury 
         Protection Coverage Under Servicemembers' Group Life 
         Insurance
       Current Law.--Section 1032 of Public Law 109-13 (119 STAT. 
     257) established, effective December 1, 2005, a new traumatic 
     injury protection program within title 38, United States 
     Code. Section 1980A provides servicemembers enrolled in the 
     Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program automatic 
     coverage against qualified traumatic injuries. In the event a 
     servicemember sustains a qualified traumatic injury, SGLI 
     will pay the injured servicemember between $25,000 to 
     $100,000, depending on the nature of the injury and in 
     accordance with a payment scheduled prescribe by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 401 of H.R. 3665, as amended, would 
     make various technical and clerical amendments to section 
     1980A of title 38, United States Code. These technical 
     amendments more clearly specify the responsibilities of the 
     different uniformed services who participate in the Service-
     members' Groups Life Insurance program: military services 
     under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense, the 
     United States Coast Guard under the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security, the Public Health Service under the jurisdiction of 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the jurisdiction 
     of the Secretary of Commerce.
       The technical amendments in section 401 are intended to 
     clarify and to conform section 1980A of title 38, United 
     States Code, to current provisions and are not intended to 
     make any substantive change in current law.
       Compromrise Agreement.--Section 501 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the House language.

[[Page 9016]]


     Terminlogy Amendments To Revise References to Certain 
         Veterans in Provisions Relating to Eligibility for 
         Compensation or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
       Current Law.--Sections 1114(1), 1114(m), 1115(b)(2), 
     1122(b)(2), 1311 (c)(2), 1315(g)(2), and 1502(b)(2) of title 
     38, United States Code, contain language that refers to 
     ``helpless veterans'' when relating to eligibility for 
     compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bill.--Section 104 of H.R. 3665, as amended, would 
     amend sections 1114(1), 1114(m), 1115(1)(E)(ii), 1122(b)(2), 
     1311(c)(2), 1315(g)(2), and 1502(b)(2) of title 38, United 
     States Code, eliminating use of the obsolete term 
     ``helpless'' when describing significantly disabled veterans. 
     No substantive change is intended by these amendments.
       Compromise Agreement.--Section 502 of the Compromise 
     Agreement follows the House language.


                   LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS NOT ADOPTED

     Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Claims
       Current Law.--Section 501 of title 38, United States Code, 
     provides the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with the authority 
     to prescribe all rules and regulations necessary or 
     appropriate to carry out the laws administered by VA, 
     including the methods of making medical examinations and the 
     manner and form of adjudications and awards.
       Senate Bill.--Section 304 would require VA to develop and 
     implement policy and training initiatives to standardize the 
     assessment of PTSD disability compensation claims.
       House Bills.--The House bills contain no comparable 
     provision.
     Increase in Rates of Disability Compensation Paid to Certain 
         Surviving Spouses With Children
       Current Law.--Under current law, a surviving spouse with 
     one or more children under the age of 18 is entitled to 
     receive a transitional benefit of an additional $250 per 
     month for the first two years of eligibility or dependency 
     and indemnity compensation (DIC).
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 206 of H.R. 1220, as amended, would 
     provide a cost-of-living adjustment for the $250 transitional 
     DIC for 2006.
     Treatment of Stillborn Children as Insurable Dependents Under 
         Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Program
       Current Law.--Section 1967 of title 38, United States Code, 
     provides coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life 
     Insurance program to the spouse and children of insured, 
     full-time, active duty servicemembers, as well as covered 
     members of the Ready Reserve. Coverage for the spouse may not 
     exceed $100,000, and the servicemember may elect in writing 
     not to insure a spouse. Coverage for each child, in the 
     amount of $10,000, is automatic. Coverage for the dependent 
     begins immediately following a live birth.
       Senate Bill.--Section 102 of the Senate Bill would cover a 
     member's stillborn child as an insurable dependent under the 
     Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program.
       House Bills.--The House Bills contain no comparable 
     provision.
     Demonstration Project To Improve Business Practices of 
         Veterans Health Administration
       Current Law.--There is no applicable current law.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 5 of H.R. 1220, as amended, would 
     establish a demonstration project to improve the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs' (VA) collections from third-party 
     payers.
     Parkinson's Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Centers
       Current Law.--There is no applicable current law.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 6 of H.R. 1220, as amended, would 
     permanently authorize six Parkinson's disease Research 
     Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs), subject to 
     appropriations, and give priority to the existing PADRECCs 
     for medical care and research dollars, insofar as such funds 
     are awarded to projects for research in Parkinson's disease 
     and other movement disorders.
     Extension of Operation of the President's National Hire 
         Veterans Committee
       Current Law.--Section 6 of the Jobs for Veterans Act, 
     Public Law 107-288, established the President's National Hire 
     Veterans Committee (PNHVC) within the Department of Labor. 
     The PNHVC furnishes information to employers with respect to 
     the training and skills of veterans and disabled veterans and 
     the advantages of hiring veterans. The Secretary of Labor 
     provides staff and administrative support to the PNHVC to 
     assist it in carrying out its duties under this section. The 
     PNHVC also has the authority to contract with government and 
     private agencies to furnish information to employers. Under 
     current law, the PNHVC terminated on December 31, 2005. The 
     PNHVC was authorized $3 million appropriated from the 
     Unemployment Trust Fund through fiscal year 2005.
       Senate Bill.--The Senate Bill contains no comparable 
     provision.
       House Bills.--Section 201 of H.R. 3665, as amended, would 
     amend section 6 of the Jobs for Veterans Act by extending, 
     for up to 1 year, the President's National Hire Veterans 
     Committee until not later than December 31, 2006. Section 201 
     would also extend the authorization for appropriations 
     through fiscal year 2006 and require an additional PNHVC 
     report to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees 
     in 2006.

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. The provisions in this bill will directly or 
indirectly impact the lives of servicemembers, veterans, and their 
survivors. Several of them fall within the jurisdiction of the 
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, which I 
chair.
  The other provisions fall within the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee 
on Economic Opportunity, which is chaired by Mr. Boozman. Mr. Boozman 
is currently conducting a roundtable on employment in Michigan, so I 
will describe his subcommittee's provisions as well.
  In title I of the bill, we provide additional flexibility to the 
Adapted Housing Grant program and the Native American Home Loan 
program. These provisions were originally in H.R. 3665, introduced by 
Mr. Boozman, and H.R. 1773, introduced by Ms. Herseth.
  Mr. Speaker, some of those wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan return 
home with significant disabilities. Many severely disabled 
servicemembers spend much of their convalescence at a family home 
before moving on to a home of their own. Under current rules, VA cannot 
help adapt family homes to the veteran's disability unless the veteran 
has an ownership interest in that property.
  Section 101 would eliminate the ownership requirement and would also 
provide a partial Adaptive Housing Assistance grant, ranging from 
$2,000 to $13,000 depending on the level of disability to veterans 
temporarily in housing owned by a family member.
  It would also authorize up to three separate specially adaptive 
housing grants within the current maximum amounts.
  Section 102 of this bill would give the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
the authority to prescribe an appropriate annual rate adjustment cap 
for the VA Hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan program. This provision 
brings VA ARMs in line with the mortgage industry and improves their 
value on the secondary market.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill would also make permanent the Pilot Program 
for Housing Loans to Native American Veterans; extend the eligibility 
for Native American loans to certain non-Native American veterans who 
have a meaningful interest in the property under tribal law and are the 
spouses of a Native American; and, finally, adjust the maximum loan to 
conform to the Freddie Mac limits, similar to other VA loans currently 
at $359,650.
  Title II of the bill would transition some of the President's 
National Hire Veterans Committee's duties to the Assistant Secretary of 
Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training, and modifies the title of 
the Assistant Secretary's advisory committee to the Advisory Committee 
on Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach, its membership 
and its duties to improve employer outreach activities.
  Taxpayers made a significant investment in the work of the 
President's National Hire Veterans Committee, and we feel strongly that 
some of the duties and products of the committee should be adopted by 
the Veterans Employment and Training Service at the Department of 
Labor.
  Section 203 would reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration 
Programs for fiscal years 2007 through 2009, and retain the maximum 
authorization of $50 million per year. Mr. Speaker, we recognize that 
homelessness among veterans continues to be a problem. While there are 
varying estimates about the total number of homeless veterans and the 
causes for homelessness, there is no disagreement that a job is one of 
the keys to breaking the cycle of homelessness and that the Homeless 
Veterans Reintegration Programs remain a valuable tool to assist

[[Page 9017]]

homeless veterans in finding gainful employment.
  I do want to emphasize that this is an employment program managed by 
the Veterans Employment and Training Service at the Department of 
Labor, and it is not a housing program.
  Title III of the bill would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act 
and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act to 
provide additional protections to servicemembers. Section 302 and 303 
originated in H.R. 2046, introduced by Chairman Buyer.
  Under current law, when a member is rated totally disabled at the 
time of separation, Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage is 
provided for 1 year free of charge. Section 301 of the bill would 
extend this coverage to 2 years through September 30, 2011, and 18 
months as of October 1, 2011.
  Members then may convert to Veterans' Group Life Insurance or a 
commercial policy. Section 302 would prohibit any increase in premiums 
for health insurance after reinstatement except for any general 
increase in the premiums being charged by the carrier for persons 
similarly covered.
  Currently, a servicemember who is ordered to active duty and 
terminated their health insurance, employer-sponsored insurance 
coverage upon release from active duty is entitled to reinstatement of 
their previous health insurance coverage.
  Section 303 closes a current gap in health insurance coverage for 
those Reservists who elect TRICARE coverage in advance of activation 
and allows them to retain reinstatement rights under their employer-
sponsored health plan, even if they do not eventually report to active 
duty.
  Since members of the Reserve component play such an important role in 
today's military, these important changes to the law will protect the 
members and their families from loss of coverage and unwarranted cost 
increases.
  Section 401 of the bill would codify a June 2005 Department of 
Veterans Affairs regulation to add heart disease and ensuing 
complications and stroke to the list of diseases presumed service-
connected for former prisoners of war that were interned for at least 
30 days.
  Section 402 would revise and consolidate VA outreach activities into 
a new chapter of title 38, United States Code, to ensure that 
servicemembers, veterans, and their survivors are aware of the benefits 
and services to which they may be entitled.
  This section would further require VA to prepare a biennial outreach 
plan, as well as report to Congress every 2 years on the execution of 
that plan. I held a committee hearing on March 16 of this year, and I 
was disappointed to learn that VA was no longer filing an annual 
outreach report as mandated by law.
  It is our interpretation that by creating this chapter, VA will put 
more of an emphasis on its outreach activities.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Senate bill 1235, as 
amended, the Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act 
of 2006. This bipartisan and bicameral benefit package incorporates a 
number of important measures aimed at improving the quality of life for 
our servicemembers, veterans, and military families.
  I would like to thank Chairman Buyer and Ranking Member Lane Evans 
for their leadership on the full committee and for their assistance in 
moving this bill to the floor today.
  I also want to express my appreciation to the chairman and ranking 
member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, John Boozman and 
Stephanie Herseth, respectively, for their hard work and bipartisan 
leadership in this legislative package.

                              {time}  1445

  Additionally, I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member 
of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, Jeff 
Miller and Shelley Berkley, for their diligence and hard work on this 
bill.
  Our Nation's servicemembers and veterans have earned and their 
families deserve all of the benefits and opportunities provided under 
Senate bill 1235. In fact, they deserve much more. I am pleased, 
however, that this legislative package takes a strong step in the right 
direction, and I am sure the veterans and military families in my home 
State of Colorado will appreciate their efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, Senate bill 1235, as amended, will enable severely 
disabled veterans to make necessary adaptations to homes in which they 
are temporarily residing, and it will give totally disabled veteran 
servicemembers who are leaving military service an additional year of 
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage and limit unjustified 
health premium increases on activated National Guard members and 
Reservists. It will extend the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program 
which provides employment opportunities for homeless veterans and 
improve the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training 
Service.
  In addition, the bill includes language from H.R. 1773, the Native 
American Veterans Home Loan Act, a measure introduced by Representative 
Stephanie Herseth of South Dakota. This bill will make permanent the 
Native American Housing Loan Program so that veterans residing on 
tribal land can obtain an appropriate home loan.
  It will also provide housing opportunities for veterans who are 
residing on tribal land with Native American spouses.
  By all accounts, the pilot program has been a great success and, in 
fact, has a negative subsidy; that is, it actually pays for itself. 
That is something that is rarely done here at the Federal level. Making 
this program permanent is the right thing to do for Native American 
veterans and their families.
  Mr. Speaker, we also know that veterans who are former prisoners of 
war have been found to have disproportionate rates of heart disease and 
stroke. This bill will assure that they will be compensated for these 
conditions by codifying a current regulation.
  Finally, this bill will improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' 
outreach to veterans and their families in an organized fashion.
  Mr. Speaker, the servicemembers, veterans and military families of 
this Nation have earned and deserve our best efforts here in Congress. 
As we approach Memorial Day today, I am very proud to support this long 
overdue legislation, and I am confident that it will benefit the 
veterans of my home State of Colorado as well as other veterans around 
this country.
  I fully support Senate bill 1235, as amended, and urge my colleagues 
to do the same. But before I reserve the balance of my time, I would 
like to bring attention to a matter of deep concern. We learned today 
of the theft of 26.5 million veterans' records from the home of a 
career VA employee. I am very concerned about this theft because the 
records include the name, Social Security number and date of birth of 
every veteran in this country.
  I would like to encourage veterans to visit www.firstgov.gov or call 
1-800-FED-INFO, 333-4636.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner).
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time, 
and I thank Mr. Miller of Florida.
  I rise in strong support of this Veterans' Housing Opportunity and 
Benefits Improvement Act that is before us. This is bipartisan 
legislation and includes several provisions introduced by both 
Democrats and Republicans. It demonstrates what can be accomplished 
when we work together to deliver the best to our Nation's veterans, and 
again, I thank Chairman Miller and all the Members on his side for 
bringing to us this bipartisan legislation.
  One of the most important parts of the bill is the reauthorization of 
appropriations for the Labor Department's

[[Page 9018]]

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP), through fiscal year 
2009 with a maximum level of $50 million per year. This program has 
proven to be very successful in providing job training and other 
services that help our Nation's veterans get back into productive 
lives.
  Mr. Speaker, together with the ranking member, Mr. Evans, I convened 
a homeless veterans forum just last Thursday, May 18. We heard some 
very tough statistics, hard-to-hear statistics about our Nation's 
veterans. Each night as many as 200,000 veterans are sleeping in a 
doorway, under a bridge, in an alley, in a box, in a barn or a car or 
homeless shelter. In fact, one out of every three homeless males is a 
veteran, most of those from Vietnam. A hard-to-believe fact is that the 
number of homeless Vietnam-era veterans is greater, Mr. Speaker, than 
the number of servicemembers who died during that war. This is almost 
unbelievable, and Congress must renew efforts to fight this plague.
  Women veterans, unfortunately, are also joining the ranks of the 
homeless. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, a 
survey of their members revealed that the percentage of women among 
homeless vets rose from 2 percent in 1966 to 7 percent at the end of 
2005. Women who have served in the military are up to four times more 
likely to become homeless when compared with their peers in the general 
population. These statistics demonstrate the importance of passing S. 
1235.
  At the forum last week, we heard from a woman veteran, formerly 
homeless. Her story is one of a courageous person who fought for years 
to overcome the problems that kept her homeless. At the Mary E. Walker 
House on the grounds of the VA Coatesville Medical Center in 
Pennsylvania, she finally was able to get the assistance she needed to 
reestablish her life, regain her children and begin again. While 
testifying, tears came to her eyes. She said they were tears of joy at 
what the VA program had helped her accomplish.
  We heard also about the success of the Stand Downs, which began in my 
home town of San Diego in 1988 and provide a one-stop 3-day event to 
provide all the services needed by homeless vets; that is, counseling, 
clothing, food, medical and dental, assistance with job applications.
  We know how to help our vets. We have to bring together all these 
services in one place. And rather than have 3-day Stand Downs around 
the country, we ought to have these services available to our veterans 
everyday. In addition, the Homeless Court Program, which began a few 
years ago, brings the court to homeless shelters to assist homeless 
defendants in resolving outstanding cases that prevent them from 
getting jobs and moving forward.
  I would also like to call attention to another important successful 
program not in this bill before us today, the VA Homeless Grant and Per 
Diem program which directs funding to providers of housing and 
traditional services for homeless vets. I believe this program should 
be given an authorized annual spending level of $130 million for the 
next 5 years. This would mean that the funding level would increase 
each year to reach by increments the $130 million level.
  Our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have authorized this 
program through September of 2007. I suggest our committee take steps 
to continue the authorization of this program through 2012.
  Mr. Speaker, we have heard of other important components of this 
bill, improvements in employment, life and health insurance, adapted 
housing, and housing loans to Native American veterans. I would like to 
thank Chairman Buyer, Ranking Member Evans, and the chairman and 
ranking members of the subcommittees and their staff who diligently 
worked to make this bill a reality. I urge the passage of this bill.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
American Samoa, Eni Faleomavaega.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Senate bill 
1235, the Veterans Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 
2006, and I thank my colleagues for including my provision which makes 
it possible for Samoan or Hawaiian or Native American veterans to 
qualify for VA home loans.
  In 1992, as a result of the leadership of the chairman and ranking 
members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of both Houses, we were able 
to establish a pilot program in 1992 which became Public Law 102-547, 
making it possible for Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and American 
Samoans to qualify for VA home loans.
  One of the problems that was encountered by the thousands of Native 
Americans, Native Hawaiians and American Samoans was the fact that they 
were not able to get any commercial loans because they lived in 
reservations for Native Americans; they lived in reservations for 
Native Hawaiians. They lived in homestead lands. For my people, they 
lived in communally owned lands. What this legislation does is it 
simply allows these people to participate in this important program. I 
especially want to thank Chairman Steve Buyer and Ranking Member Lane 
Evans of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and also Chairman John 
Boozman and Ranking Member Stephanie Herseth of the Subcommittee on 
Economic Opportunity, and Mary Ellen McCarthy, Democratic Staff 
Director for Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for their 
support and tireless efforts in making this possible.
  I also want to thank the VA for assisting the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee and my office in drafting the appropriate language to make 
this a go.
  Mr. Speaker, as we approach Memorial Day to remember and honor our 
military men and women who have died in serving our Nation during a 
time of war, I believe Senate bill 1235 is a fitting tribute to the 
veterans who are still with us. And I am especially pleased that this 
legislation provides my district's veterans with the housing 
opportunities and other benefits that they deserve. For this reason, I 
again thank my colleagues and I sincerely ask my colleagues to approve 
this legislation.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to let folks know that 
this is a great step in the right direction in making sure that we keep 
our promise to our veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Buyer, 
Ranking Member Evans, Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Berkley and 
Ranking Member Herseth for their leadership on crafting this bill. I 
also want to recognize Chairman Craig and Ranking Member Akaka of the 
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and the staff on both sides of the 
aisle for their hard work.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Senate bill 1235, as 
amended.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I offer this statement in support of S. 1235, 
as amended, the Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement 
Act of 2006.
  Working together with the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, we 
have reached a compromise that will provide significant improvements in 
veterans' benefits, for those who have served this country and for 
those who will follow in their footsteps.
  Under title one, this bill will increase the flexibility enjoyed by 
the Adapted Housing Grant Program and the Native American Home Loan 
Program. I commend Mr. Boozman and Ms. Herseth for their leadership in 
originally introducing these provisions, in H.R. 3665 and H.R. 1773, 
respectively.
  As they return home to convalesce from medical care, many injured or 
wounded servicemembers spend time in a family member's home before 
returning to their own home. This legislation authorizes the Department 
of Veterans Affairs to equip a family member's home with necessary 
adaptive equipment. Further, it provides a partial adaptive housing 
allowance grant of between $2,000 and $14,000 to accomplish that 
adaptation.
  This bill also helps Native American veterans and their families by 
making it easier for them to own their own home. We do that by

[[Page 9019]]

making permanent a housing loan pilot program for Native American 
veterans and extend eligibility for Native American loans to non-native 
American veterans who are spouses of a Native American and who have a 
meaningful interest in the property under tribal law. We also increase 
the maximum loan amount available on tribal lands from $80,000 to the 
maximum limit used for Freddie Mac loans, now over $417,00.
  Finally, under title one, we authorize the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to prescribe annual rate adjustment caps for VA's hybrid 
adjustable rate mortgage loans, thus bringing these ARMs into line with 
the mortgage industry and enhancing their value on the secondary 
market.
  Mr. Speaker, title two of the bill would migrate some of the 
sunsetted President's National Hire Veterans Committee duties to the 
Veterans' Employment and Training Service of the Assistant Secretary of 
Labor. Further, to improve employer outreach, the bill modifies 
membership and duties to the Department of Labor's newly named Advisory 
Committee on Veterans Employment, Training and Outreach.
  Title two also reauthorizes the Homeless Veterans Reintegration 
Program for fiscal years 2007 through 2009, retaining the maximum 
authorization of $50 million per year. Winning the fight against 
homelessness means finding homeless veterans good jobs, and that is 
what this program, managed by the Department of Labor, is intended to 
do. It is therefore a critical component of our program to end chronic 
homelessness among veterans.
  Members of the Reserve and National Guard today play roles of 
unprecedented importance in our national security and must be accorded 
commensurate protections.
  In provisions originally introduced by H.R. 2046, which I sponsored, 
title three of the bill increases job security among veterans by 
improving the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act, SCRA, and the Uniformed 
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, USERRA. Servicemembers 
who are activated and drop their commercial health insurance are now 
entitled to reinstatement of that policy upon their return from active 
duty. This bill prohibits premium increases after reinstatement other 
than such increases charged by that insurer for other policy holders 
similarly covered.
  Some reservists choose to enroll in TRICARE before they are 
activated, for example in anticipation of activation; and S. 1235 as 
amended preserves their reinstatement rights under the provision 
detailed in the preceding paragraph, even if they ultimately do not 
serve on active duty.
  Section 301 of the bill would, until September 30, 2011, double to 2 
years the provision of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage 
free of charge when a member is rated totally disabled at separation. 
From October 2001 forward, the limit will be 18 months of free SGLI 
coverage.
  Former prisoners of war experience great hardships that often 
manifest themselves in ailments years after interment. Section 401 of 
the bill would codify the VA's June 2005 regulation that added heart 
disease and ensuing complications, as well as stroke, to those diseases 
presumptively service-connected for former prisoners of war who were 
captive for at least 30 days.
  Outreach to veterans is a perennial criticism leveled at VA by the 
Congress. Veterans cannot access benefits they don't know about. This 
bill will increase accountability by causing outreach activities to be 
collected into a discrete chapter of title 38, facilitating management 
and oversight of outreach and require VA to prepare a biennial outreach 
plan and report to Congress on its performance of that plan every two 
years.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend and thank Ranking Member Lane Evans, Chairman 
Boozman, Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Berkley, and Ranking Member 
Herseth for their work bringing in this legislation to the Congress an 
ultimately to the cause of service to our veterans. I also recognize my 
counterpart, Senator Larry Craig, chairman of the Senate Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, and Ranking Member Akaka, for their leadership on 
this important legislation.
  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of S. 1235, the 
Veterans' Benefits Act, which addresses a multitude of important issues 
facing our nation's veterans: life and health insurance, housing for 
our disabled and Native American veterans, adjustable rate mortgages, 
POW diseases, Tricare, homeless veterans, and veterans outreach.
  Section 104 of S. 1235 provides permanent authority for the Native 
American Direct Home Loan Program and extends eligibility for such 
loans to non-Native American spouses of Native Americans living on 
Native American trust lands. H.R. 3665, which I cosponsored and which 
passed the House last November, also contained this important 
provision.
  The Native American Direct Home Loan Program has been a highly 
successful veterans effort, particularly in my Hawaii where it applies 
to veterans living on lands held in trust under this Congress' Hawaiian 
Homes Commission Act of 1920.
  The majority of these Hawaiian home lands are in my 2nd Congressional 
District, on the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Maui, Hawaii, and 
Lanai.
  Since the inception of this program, which was spearheaded by Hawaii 
Senator Spark Matsunaga, and continued by Senator Daniel Akaka, Native 
Hawaiian veterans have successfully utilized this direct home loan 
program for their acute housing needs, and, I am proud to say, with 
nominal delinquency. Over $20 million has been approved for over 200 
loans in Hawaii, with 106 loans, totaling $7.5 million, pending.
  This is an incredible help not only with the needs of many veterans 
who would likely otherwise be precluded from quality housing, but with 
Hawaii's overall housing crisis.
  Due to its success over the last 13 years, the Native American Direct 
Home Loan Program, which initially started out as a pilot program, was 
twice extended by Congress, but is currently set to expire on December 
31, 2005.
  It is vital to understand why this program is so important to our 
Native American veterans and why we should make the program permanent, 
as S. 1235 purposes.
  Of course, the most basic reason is the success of the overall 
program in honoring our commitment to our nation's veterans.
  Beyond that, Congress found some years ago that, during the entire 
history to that date of the program, not a single Native American 
veteran living on Indian trust lands or Hawaiian home lands had 
received a VA home loan under the VA's traditional home loan program.
  The reason for that was that the unique trust status of native lands 
did not lend itself to conventional lending practices because banks and 
other financial institutions did not recognize those lands as valid 
collateral.
  As part of our obligation to all of our Nation's veterans is to 
ensure that they are all able to tap fully into VA programs, the Native 
American Direct Home Loan Program addressed this unique and discrete 
challenge facing many Native American veterans and afforded them the 
same opportunity of homeownership availed their comrades-in-arms.
  This bill recognizes and improves upon the clear success of this 
effort, and I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of S. 1235.
  Mahalo.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Veterans 
Benefits Improvement Act.
  For more then 10 years, Congress has taken unprecedented steps to 
support our veterans and the families. The American veteran is the 
model of integrity. They have given this Nation so much and ask for so 
little in return. They symbolize all that is great about America.
  Since 1995, Congress has increased the Department of Veterans 
Affairs' healthcare budget by 80 percent, drastically increased 
coverage and benefits, and taken great steps to better the lives of 
families left behind. This legislation continues to help our veterans, 
and it is my privilege to cast a vote in favor of our veterans.
  Today, Congress takes another step in our on-going effort to better 
the lives and well being our Nation's veterans and their families. This 
legislation will increase the availabilty and amount of coverage for 
life insurance, assist in stabilizing low mortgage rates, require 
educational outreach by the VA to better inform our veterans of 
services available to them.
  As our brave service men and women continue to serve in harm's way, 
it is important that we always honor their sacrifices and support their 
families. They return home as veterans and join the ranks of many who 
have selflessly served our Nation. These brave men and women have given 
so much so that the American people and our values would remain safe.
  As they faithfully upheld their duty to defend our flag and all that 
it stands for--now we have a duty to stand strong for them.
  I urge passage of this legislation.
  Mr. MICHAUD.  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for S. 
1235, the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2005.
  This legislation will improve the benefits provided to our veterans 
and their families.
  During war and equally importantly, after our soldiers come home and 
take off the uniform, we as a nation must support them fully. The 
Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2005 contains many provisions 
that will help us achieve this goal.
  I would like to point out one particular provision that is similar to 
a bill, H.R. 821, which I have introduced.

[[Page 9020]]

  Like H.R. 821, the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act will amend 
title 38 to extend the requirement for reports from the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs on the disposition of cases recommended to the 
Secretary for equitable relief due to administrative error. Extending 
this reporting requirement will assist the VA in its efforts to 
properly care for our veterans and their families.
  Adminstrative error should not prevent a veteran or their loved one 
from receiving the benefits they have fully earned.
  I would like to thank and congratulate Chairman Buyer and Ranking 
Member Evans as well as the other chairmen and ranking members from our 
committee who have worked so hard to move this important legislation 
forward.
  It is my hope that we will also be moving a health bill forward with 
the same bipartisan spirit our veterans have come to expect from our 
committee.
  I support this legislation and I urge all of my colleagues to do the 
same.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. 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 Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 1235, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

                          ____________________