[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 21375-21381]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             VETERANS' HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2007

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2874) to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain 
improvements in the provision of health care to veterans, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2874

       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' 
     Health Care Improvement Act of 2007''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Grants for support of therapeutic readjustment programs for 
              veterans.
Sec. 3. Transportation grants for rural veterans service organizations.
Sec. 4. Permanent treatment authority for participants in Department of 
              Defense chemical and biological testing conducted by 
              Deseret Test Center (including Project Shipboard Hazard 
              and Defense).
Sec. 5. Extension of expiring collections authorities.
Sec. 6. Readjustment and mental health services for Operation Enduring 
              Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans.

[[Page 21376]]

Sec. 7. Expansion and extension of authority for program of referral 
              and counseling services for at-risk veterans 
              transitioning from certain institutions.
Sec. 8. Permanent authority for domiciliary services for homeless 
              veterans and enhancement of capacity of domiciliary care 
              programs for female veterans.
Sec. 9. Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-
              income veteran families in permanent housing.
Sec. 10. Expansion of eligibility for dental care.
Sec. 11. Technical amendments.

     SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR SUPPORT OF THERAPEUTIC READJUSTMENT 
                   PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS.

       (a) Grant Program.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 521 
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 521A. Assistance to therapeutic readjustment programs

       ``(a) Grant Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     make grants to qualified entities described in subsection (b) 
     to conduct workshop programs that have been shown to assist 
     in the therapeutic readjustment and rehabilitation of 
     participants to assist in the therapeutic readjustment of 
     covered veterans.
       ``(b) Qualified Entities.--In order to qualify for grant 
     assistance under subsection (a), a private nonprofit entity 
     must have, as determined by the Secretary, experience and 
     expertise in offering programs to assist in the therapeutic 
     readjustment of participants and that such programs will 
     likely assist covered veterans.
       ``(c) Amount of Grant; Use of Funds.--A grant under this 
     section shall not exceed $100,000 for any calendar year and 
     shall be used by the recipient exclusively for the benefit of 
     covered veterans.
       ``(d) Application.--An application for a grant under this 
     section shall include details regarding the extent and nature 
     of the proposed program, the therapeutic readjustment and 
     rehabilitation benefits expected to be achieved by 
     participants, and any other information the Secretary 
     determines may be necessary to assist the Secretary in 
     ensuring that covered veterans receive therapeutic 
     readjustment and rehabilitation benefits.
       ``(e) Covered Veterans.--For the purposes of this 
     subsection, a `covered veteran' is a veteran who served on 
     active duty in a theater of combat operations (as determined 
     by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Defense) during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, 
     or in combat against a hostile force during a period of 
     hostilities (as defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this 
     title) after November 11, 1998, and who is discharged or 
     released from active military, naval, or air service on or 
     after September 11, 2001.
       ``(f) Reports.--Not later than 60 days after the last day 
     of a fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives a report detailing the number and amount of 
     grants made under this section during the previous fiscal 
     year, the total number of covered veterans participating in 
     workshop programs funded by such grants, a description of the 
     programs, and the therapeutic benefits to covered veterans of 
     participation in the various programs funded.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011 
     $2,000,000 to carry out this section.
       ``(h) Termination.--The authority of the Secretary to make 
     a grant under subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 
     2011.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 521 the following new item:

``521A. Assistance to therapeutic readjustment programs.''.

     SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION GRANTS FOR RURAL VETERANS SERVICE 
                   ORGANIZATIONS.

       (a) Grant Program.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 1709. Grants for provision of transportation to 
       Department medical facilities for veterans in remote rural 
       areas

       ``(a) Grants Authorized.--(1) The Secretary shall establish 
     a grant program to provide innovative transportation options 
     to veterans in remote rural areas.
       ``(2) Grants awarded under this section may be used by 
     State veterans' service agencies, veterans service 
     organizations, and private nonprofit entities to assist 
     veterans in remote rural areas to travel to Department 
     medical facilities.
       ``(3) The amount of a grant under this section may not 
     exceed $50,000.
       ``(4) The recipient of a grant under this section shall not 
     be required to provide matching funds as a condition for 
     receiving such grant.
       ``(b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe 
     regulations for--
       ``(1) evaluating grant applications under this section; and
       ``(2) otherwise administering the program established by 
     this section.
       ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 
     through 2012 to carry out this section.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 1708 the following new item:

``1709. Grants for provision of transportation to Department medical 
              facilities for veterans in remote rural areas.''.

     SEC. 4. PERMANENT TREATMENT AUTHORITY FOR PARTICIPANTS IN 
                   DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL 
                   TESTING CONDUCTED BY DESERET TEST CENTER 
                   (INCLUDING PROJECT SHIPBOARD HAZARD AND 
                   DEFENSE).

       Section 1710(e)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a period; and
       (3) by striking subparagraph (D).

     SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING COLLECTIONS AUTHORITIES.

       (a) Health Care Copayments.--Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is 
     amended by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2009''.
       (b) Medical Care Cost Recovery.--Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is 
     amended by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2009''.

     SEC. 6. READJUSTMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR COVERED 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) Provision of Readjustment Counseling and Mental Health 
     Services.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 1712C. Provision of readjustment counseling and mental 
       health services for covered veterans

       ``(a) Program Required.--The Secretary shall carry out a 
     program to provide peer outreach services, peer support 
     services, and readjustment and mental health services to 
     covered veterans.
       ``(b) Contracts With Community Mental Health Centers.--In 
     carrying out the program required by subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall contract with community mental health centers 
     and other qualified entities to provide the services referred 
     to in that paragraph in areas the Secretary determines are 
     not adequately served by health care facilities of the 
     Department. Such contracts shall require each community 
     health center or other entity--
       ``(1) to the extent practicable, to employ covered veterans 
     trained under subsection (c);
       ``(2) to the extent practicable, to use telehealth services 
     for the provision of such services;
       ``(3) to participate in the training program under 
     subsection (d);
       ``(4) to comply with applicable protocols of the Department 
     before incurring any liability on behalf of the Department 
     for the provision of such the services;
       ``(5) to submit annual reports to the Secretary containing, 
     with respect to the program required by subsection (a) and 
     for the last full calendar year ending before the submission 
     of such report--
       ``(A) the number of veterans served, veterans diagnosed, 
     and courses of treatment provided to veterans as part of the 
     program required by subsection (a); and
       ``(B) demographic information for such services, diagnoses, 
     and courses of treatment;
       ``(6) to provide to the Secretary such clinical summary 
     information as the Secretary may require for each veteran for 
     whom the center or entity provides mental health services 
     under the contract; and
       ``(7) to meet such other requirements as the Secretary may 
     require.
       ``(c) Training Program for Veterans.--In carrying out the 
     program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
     contract with a nonprofit mental health organization to carry 
     out a program to train covered veterans to provide peer 
     outreach and peer support services.
       ``(d) Training Program for Clinicians.--The Secretary shall 
     conduct a training program for clinicians of community mental 
     health centers or other entities that have entered into 
     contracts with the Secretary under subsection (b) to ensure 
     that such clinicians are able to provide the services 
     required by subsection (a) in a manner that--
       ``(1) recognizes factors that are unique to the experience 
     of veterans who served on active duty in Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom (including the combat 
     and military training experiences of such veterans); and
       ``(2) utilizes best practices and technologies.
       ``(e) Covered Veterans.--For the purposes of this 
     subsection, a `covered veteran' is a veteran who served on 
     active duty in a theater of combat operations (as determined 
     by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Defense) during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, 
     or in combat against a hostile force during a period of 
     hostilities (as defined in section1712A(a)(2)(B) of this 
     title) after November 11, 1998, and who is discharged or 
     released from active military,

[[Page 21377]]

     naval, or air service on or after September 11, 2001.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 1712B the following new item:

``1712C. Provision of readjustment counseling and mental health 
              services for covered veterans.''.

     SEC. 7. EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM OF 
                   REFERRAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR AT-RISK 
                   VETERANS TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN 
                   INSTITUTIONS.

       (a) Program Authority.--Subsection (a) of section 2023 of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``a 
     demonstration program for the purpose of determining the 
     costs and benefits of providing'' and inserting ``a program 
     to provide''.
       (b) Scope of Program.--Subsection (b) of such section is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``Demonstration'' in the subsection 
     heading;
       (2) by striking ``demonstration''; and
       (3) by striking ``in at least six locations'' and inserting 
     ``in at least 12 locations''.
       (c) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (d) of such section 
     is amended by striking ``shall cease'' and all that follows 
     and inserting ``shall cease on September 30, 2011.''.
       (d) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Scope of program.--Subsection (c)(1) of such section is 
     amended by striking ``demonstration''.
       (2) Section heading.--The heading of such section is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 2023. Referral and counseling services: veterans at 
       risk of homelessness who are transitioning from certain 
       institutions''.

       (3) Other conforming amendment.--Section 2022(f)(2)(C) of 
     such title is amended by striking ``demonstration''.
       (e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 2023 and inserting the following 
     new item:

``2023. Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of 
              homelessness who are transitioning from certain 
              institutions.''.

     SEC. 8. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR DOMICILIARY SERVICES FOR 
                   HOMELESS VETERANS AND ENHANCEMENT OF CAPACITY 
                   OF DOMICILIARY CARE PROGRAMS FOR FEMALE 
                   VETERANS.

       Subsection (b) of section 2043 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) Enhancement of Capacity of Domiciliary Care Programs 
     for Female Veterans.--The Secretary shall take appropriate 
     actions to ensure that the domiciliary care programs of the 
     Department are adequate, with respect to capacity and safety, 
     to meet the needs of veterans who are women.''.

     SEC. 9. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY 
                   LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT 
                   HOUSING.

       (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to facilitate 
     the provision of supportive services for very low-income 
     veteran families in permanent housing.
       (b) Authorization of Financial Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--Subchapter V of chapter 20 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 2044. Financial assistance for supportive services for 
       very low-income veteran families residing in permanent 
       housing

       ``(a) Distribution of Financial Assistance.--
       ``(1) The Secretary shall provide financial assistance to 
     eligible entities approved under this section to provide and 
     coordinate the provision of the supportive services for very 
     low-income veteran families residing in permanent housing.
       ``(2)(A) Financial assistance under this section shall 
     consist of payments for each such family for which an 
     approved eligible entity provides or coordinates the 
     provision of supportive services.
       ``(B) The Secretary shall establish a formula for 
     determining the rate of payments provided to a very low-
     income veteran family receiving supportive services under 
     this section. The rate shall be adjusted not less than once 
     annually to reflect changes in the cost of living. In 
     calculating the payment formula under this subparagraph, the 
     Secretary may consider geographic cost of living variances, 
     family size, and the cost of services provided.
       ``(3) In providing financial assistance under paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary shall give preference to an entity that 
     provides or coordinates the provision of supportive services 
     for very low-income veteran families who are transitioning 
     from homelessness to permanent housing.
       ``(4) The Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent 
     practicable, financial assistance under this subsection is 
     equitably distributed across geographic regions, including 
     rural communities and tribal lands.
       ``(5) Each entity receiving financial assistance under this 
     section to provide supportive services to a very low-income 
     veteran family shall notify the family that such services are 
     being paid for, in whole or in part, by the Department.
       ``(6) The Secretary may require an entity receiving 
     financial assistance under this section to submit a report to 
     the Secretary describing the supportive services provided 
     with such financial assistance.
       ``(b) Application for Financial Assistance.--
       ``(1) An eligible entity seeking financial assistance under 
     subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application 
     in such form, in such manner, and containing such commitments 
     and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary.
       ``(2) An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
     contain--
       ``(A) a description of the supportive services proposed to 
     be provided by the eligible entity;
       ``(B) a description of the types of very low-income veteran 
     families proposed to be provided such services;
       ``(C) an estimate of the number of very low-income veteran 
     families proposed to be provided such services;
       ``(D) evidence of the experience of the eligible entity in 
     providing supportive services to very low-income veteran 
     families; and
       ``(E) a description of the managerial capacity of the 
     eligible entity to--
       ``(i) coordinate the provision of supportive services with 
     the provision of permanent housing, by the eligible entity or 
     by other organizations;
       ``(ii) continuously assess the needs of very low-income 
     veteran families for supportive services;
       ``(iii) coordinate the provision of supportive services 
     with the services of the Department;
       ``(iv) tailor supportive services to the needs of very low-
     income veteran families; and
       ``(v) continuously seek new sources of assistance to ensure 
     the long-term provision of supportive services to very low-
     income veteran families.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall establish criteria for the 
     selection of eligible entities to receive financial 
     assistance under this section.
       ``(c) Technical Assistance.--
       ``(1) The Secretary shall provide training and technical 
     assistance to eligible entities that receive financial 
     assistance under this section with respect to the planning, 
     development, and provision of supportive services to very 
     low-income veteran families occupying permanent housing.
       ``(2) The Secretary may provide the training described in 
     paragraph (1) directly or through grants or contracts with 
     appropriate public or nonprofit private entities.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated, for each fiscal year, $25,000,000, to 
     carry out this section, of which not more than $750,000 for 
     each fiscal year may be used to provide technical assistance 
     under subsection (c).
       ``(e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
       ``(1) The term `very low-income veteran family' means a 
     veteran family whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the 
     median income for the area, as determined by the Secretary in 
     accordance with this paragraph, except that--
       ``(A) the Secretary shall make appropriate adjustments to 
     the income requirement under subparagraph (A) based on family 
     size; and
       ``(B) the Secretary may establish an income ceiling higher 
     or lower than 50 percent of the median income for an area if 
     the Secretary determines that such variations are necessary 
     because the area has unusually high or low construction 
     costs, fair market rents (as determined under section 8 of 
     the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f)), or 
     family incomes.
       ``(C) the Secretary shall establish criteria for 
     determining the need for specific supportive services (as 
     defined by paragraph (8)) of individual very low income 
     veteran families occupying permanent housing.
       ``(2) The term `veteran family' includes a veteran who is a 
     single person and a family in which the head of household or 
     the spouse of the head of household is a veteran.
       ``(3) The term `consumer cooperative' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 
     U.S.C. 1701q).
       ``(4) The term `eligible entity' means--
       ``(A) a private nonprofit organization; or
       ``(B) a consumer cooperative.
       ``(5) The term `homeless' has the meaning given the term in 
     section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 11302).
       ``(6) The term `permanent housing' means community-based 
     housing without a designated length of stay.
       ``(7) The term `private nonprofit organization' means--
       ``(A) any incorporated private institution or foundation--
       ``(i) no part of the net earnings of which inures to the 
     benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual;
       ``(ii) which has a governing board that is responsible for 
     the operation of the supportive services provided under this 
     section; and
       ``(iii) which is approved by the Secretary as to financial 
     responsibility;

[[Page 21378]]

       ``(B) a for-profit limited partnership, the sole general 
     partner of which is an organization meeting the requirements 
     of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A);
       ``(C) a corporation wholly owned and controlled by an 
     organization meeting the requirements of clauses (i), (ii), 
     and (iii) of subparagraph (A); and
       ``(D) a tribally designated housing entity (as defined in 
     section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
     Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)).
       ``(8) The term `supportive services' means the following:
       ``(A) Services provided by an eligible entity or 
     subcontractors that address the needs of very low-income 
     veteran families occupying permanent housing, including--
       ``(i) outreach services;
       ``(ii) health care services, including diagnosis, 
     treatment, and counseling for mental health and substance 
     abuse disorders and for post-traumatic stress disorder, if 
     such services are not readily available through the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs medical center serving the 
     geographic area in which the veteran family is housed;
       ``(iii) habilitation and rehabilitation services;
       ``(iv) case management services;
       ``(v) daily living services;
       ``(vi) personal financial planning;
       ``(vii) transportation services;
       ``(viii) vocational counseling;
       ``(ix) employment and training;
       ``(x) educational services;
       ``(xi) assistance in obtaining veterans benefits and other 
     public benefits, including health care provided by the 
     Department;
       ``(xii) assistance in obtaining income support;
       ``(xiii) assistance in obtaining health insurance;
       ``(xiv) fiduciary and representative payee services;
       ``(xv) legal services to assist the veteran family with 
     reconsiderations or appeals of veterans and public benefit 
     claim denials and to resolve outstanding warrants that 
     interfere with the family's ability to obtain or retain 
     housing or supportive services;
       ``(xvi) child care;
       ``(xvii) housing counseling;
       ``(xviii) other services necessary for maintaining 
     independent living; and
       ``(xix) coordination of services described in this 
     paragraph.
       ``(B) Services provided by an eligible entity or 
     subcontractors, including services described in clauses (i) 
     through (xix) of subparagraph (A), that are delivered to very 
     low-income veteran families who are homeless and who are 
     scheduled to become residents of permanent housing within 90 
     days of the date on which the service is provided pending the 
     location or development of housing suitable for permanent 
     housing.
       ``(C) Services provided by an eligible entity or 
     subcontractors, including services described in clauses (i) 
     through (xix) of subparagraph (A), for very low-income 
     veteran families who have voluntarily chosen to seek other 
     housing after a period of tenancy in permanent housing, that 
     are provided, for a period of 90 days beginning on the date 
     on which such a family exits permanent housing or until such 
     a family commences receipt of other housing services adequate 
     to meet the needs of the family, but only to the extent that 
     services under this paragraph are designed to support such a 
     family in the choice to transition into housing that is 
     responsive to the individual needs and preferences of the 
     family.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 2043 the following new item:

``2044. Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-
              income veteran families residing in permanent housing.''.

     SEC. 10. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DENTAL CARE.

       Section 2062(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``60 consecutive days'' both places it appears 
     and inserting ``30 consecutive days''.

     SEC. 11. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

       Title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in each of sections 1708(d), 7314(f), 7320(j)(2), 
     7325(i)(2), and 7328(i)(2), by striking ``medical care 
     account'' and inserting ``medical services account'';
       (2) in section 1712A--
       (A) by striking subsection (g);
       (B) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and (i) as 
     subsections (c) through (f), respectively; and
       (C) in subsection (f)(1), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``(including a Resource Center designated under subsection 
     (h)(3)(A) of this section)'';
       (3) in section 2065(b)(3)(C), by striking ``)'';
       (4) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 
     36, by striking the item relating to section 3684A and 
     inserting the following new item:

``3684A. Procedures relating to computer matching program.'';
       (5) in section 3684(a)(1), by striking ``34,,'' and 
     inserting ``34,'';
       (6) in section 4110(c)(1), by striking ``15'' and inserting 
     ``16'';
       (7) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 
     51, by striking the item relating to section 5121 and 
     inserting the following new item:

``5121. Payment of certain accrued benefits upon death of a 
              beneficiary.'';
       (8) in section 7458(b)(2), by striking ``pro rated'' and 
     inserting ``pro-rated''; and
       (9) in section 8117(a)(1), by striking ``such such'' and 
     inserting ``such''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, as with the last bill, I want to just thank 
both the chair, Mr. Michaud of Maine, and the ranking member, Mr. 
Miller from Florida, for their great leadership and bipartisan 
cooperation to get an important piece of legislation out.
  This bill, the Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007, 
combines a lot of different ideas from Members on both sides of the 
aisle, and we are pleased to have this bill on the floor today.
  Certainly, the mental health and well-being of our newest generation 
of veterans is a serious cause for concern and deserves our fullest 
attention.
  The VA reported in April of this year that of the OEF/OIF veterans 
who have separated and sought health care through the VA, mental 
disorders rank second of frequency of possible diagnoses amongst these 
veterans.
  Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, is the number one health 
concern. At this point, over 39,000 returning veterans have received a 
provisional diagnosis of this, and we are looking into, in fact, maybe 
a systemic underestimation of those who are diagnosed and, therefore, 
to get treatment.
  Mr. Speaker, the composition of the fighting forces in Iraq and 
Afghanistan today is unique from past conflicts. Guard and Reserve 
forces make up a large percentage of those fighting, around 50 percent 
or a little more. Though only 19 percent of the Nation lives in rural 
America, 44 percent of U.S. military recruits come from rural areas.
  We must ensure that their health care and services meet the needs 
that they deserve and have earned. It must be available and accessible 
to all, and I would say we will take up as a committee the broad 
subject of rural veterans sometime in the near future.
  This bill requires the VA to award grants to conduct workshop 
programs to help heal and better the lives of veterans who need it 
through therapeutic programs such as art, writing and music to name 
just a few. It establishes a grant program to provide transportation 
options to veterans living in rural areas that will help to lessen the 
burden on veterans who are unable to drive long distances due to their 
disability or illness.
  It also provides permanent authority to the VA to treat veterans who 
are subject to chemical and biological testing. This is an obligation 
we owe to those who have served.
  We provide also for readjustment counseling and mental health 
services. We include contracting with community mental health centers 
in areas not adequately served by VA and contracting with nonprofit 
mental health organizations to train OEF/OIF veterans in outreach and 
peer support.
  We address issues affecting homeless veterans and their families. The 
VA has now become the largest single provider of direct services to 
homeless veterans, reaching 25 percent of homeless veterans a year 
through various programs. Our aim is to make it 100 percent. Many 
communities have recently gone through what they call stand-downs, 2- 
or 3-day efforts to bring the whole community in cooperation to provide 
the services that homeless veterans need, whether they be medical or 
dental or legal or drug abuse counseling, of course, food and clothing; 
and we do that in 3 days a year in many communities. It is up to the VA 
to do that 365 days a year for all our veterans, and we estimate over 
200,000 on the streets tonight who served our Nation.
  Prior to becoming homeless, a large number of veterans have struggled 
with PTSD or had addictions acquired during or worsened by their 
military

[[Page 21379]]

service, and we want to expand and extend the counseling services for 
these veterans. We expand programs to 12 locations throughout the 
Veterans Health Administration and extend this program through 2011.
  The VA domiciliary care programs are an essential piece in assisting 
veterans and providing needed services to help them recover and become 
productive citizens again. We enhance in this bill the capacity of such 
domiciliary care programs, for female veterans especially.
  Finally, we want to authorize VA to provide financial assistance to 
provide supportive services for very low-income veteran families who 
reside in permanent housing.
  In short, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2874 takes care of the men and women who 
have so selflessly taken care of us. It provides our veterans with the 
quality health care programs and services they need and they so richly 
deserve. It is another down payment, another measurable piece of 
keeping our promise to those who have kept their promise to us.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again, the eloquence of our 
able chairman, he has done an excellent job in explaining the bill 
that's before us on the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an outstanding bill. It was a true bipartisan 
effort. I appreciate the chairman of the committee, Mr. Michaud's, able 
leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. It does all of the 
things that our chairman had talked about.
  It deals with veterans in rural and remote areas. It does deal with 
certain DOD biological and chemical warfare testing that was done 
during the Cold War. It also deals with domiciliary programs, providing 
adequate and safe environments to meet the needs of women veterans.
  This is not just a good bill. It is a very good bill that helps VA 
provide better care for our Nation's veteran, and I do urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.
  H.R. 2874, the Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007, as 
amended, has strong bipartisan support and I want to express my sincere 
thanks to Subcommittee Chairman Michaud for his leadership and hard 
work to develop this legislation.
  H.R. 2874, as amended, would establish a number of meaningful 
improvements that will help VA to provide better care for our Nation's 
veterans.
  Veterans in remote rural areas would benefit with the establishment 
of a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to 
access VA medical facilities.
  Readjustment counseling and mental health services for OIF/OEF 
veterans would be enhanced through programs that would provide peer 
outreach and support services, with special emphasis for Guard and 
Reservists.
  Veterans who participated in certain Department of Defense biological 
and chemical warfare testing during the Cold War would permanently be 
granted free VA medical care for conditions that may have resulted from 
their participation in such testing.
  VA domiciliary programs would be required to have adequate and safe 
environments to meet the needs of women veterans.
  Very low-income veteran families residing in or transitioning to 
permanent housing would be eligible for VA financial assistance for 
supportive services.
  This is a good bill that would help VA provide better care for our 
Nation's veterans.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, again, I yield 3 minutes to the Chair of our 
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Ms. Herseth Sandlin.
  Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
2874, and I'd like to once again thank Chairman Filner for his focused 
and effective leadership in advancing this important legislation. 
Ranking Member Buyer and especially subcommittee Chairman Michaud and 
Ranking Member Miller are also to be commended for their hard work and 
bipartisanship and for including Services to Prevent Homelessness Act, 
a bill which I introduced, in the Veterans' Health Care Improvement 
Act.
  This legislation would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
provide financial assistance to nonprofit organizations and consumer 
cooperatives to provide and coordinate the provision of supportive 
services that address the needs of very low-income veterans occupying 
permanent housing.
  While Federal programs exist to help enhanced veterans homeownership, 
there is no national housing assistance program targeted to low-income 
veterans. Permanent housing opportunities for veterans ready for 
independent living are limited. In addition, the VA currently is not 
permitted to provide grants for affordable permanent housing, and the 
resources that are available for providers are inadequate and highly 
sought after by competing housing programs.
  So I thank the chairman once again for supporting this legislation. I 
thank the committee staff on both sides of the aisle for their 
excellent work as well on this bill and others considered today, and I 
look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee to support efforts to meet the housing assistance 
needs, among other needs, of our Nation's low-income veterans.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2874.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I see that the chairman has other 
speakers that he may wish to yield time to, so we will reserve the 
balance of our time.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Rodriguez from Texas has been particularly active 
and energetic in advocating for the treatment of the mental health 
needs of our veterans, and I yield 3 minutes to him.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2874, The 
Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007. I would also like to 
take this opportunity to recognize our chairman, Bob Filner, for his 
leadership on this issue, and I want to personally thank him for what's 
accomplished on a variety of issues regarding veterans.
  I also want to acknowledge my friend, Congressman Miller, for his 
efforts also on this particular bill.
  This is an important piece of legislation and the nearly 60,000 
veterans in my mostly rural district will certainly benefit from this 
particular bill.
  Earlier this year, I sponsored H.R. 2689, a bill that improves mental 
health services for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 
Freedom veterans. This bill would establish a program for peer-to-peer 
outreach and counseling for veterans. Many experts believe this method 
is critical for getting veterans in need of services into the VA 
system.
  Additionally, under H.R. 2689, the VA would be required to look 
beyond its current services to ensure that veterans have access to the 
services that they need by embracing the expertise available in our 
communities and contract out to qualified providers such as community 
mental health centers who have been providing quality mental health 
services for families for many years.
  Under the leadership of the chairman, my bill was incorporated into 
this bill, and I want to personally thank him.
  Also included in this bill are provisions critical to veterans, as 
our Speaker today understands, in Texas, such as the transportation 
grants for rural veterans service organizations. In some parts of my 
district and throughout this country, veterans have to drive long hours 
to get access to services. This bill allows an opportunity for us to 
provide some needed assistance and services in this specific area.
  I also want to acknowledge that this bill also has language that 
deals with Project SHAD, a bill that was extremely important to begin 
to identify those thousands of soldiers that we also used weapons such 
as nerve gas and other types of testing on, that we did on our own 
soldiers that allows an opportunity for them to continue to get 
service.
  And other members of this committee, I want to personally thank them 
for their efforts. Once again, I want to take this opportunity to thank 
the chairman for his leadership.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we continue to reserve.

[[Page 21380]]


  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, one of our new Members, Congressman Murphy 
from Pennsylvania, returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom. He gives us 
the benefit of that experience both as an advocate for our active duty 
and to the veterans who have served. We welcome you to the Congress. We 
thank you for your expertise, and I yield as much time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the 
chairman.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give voice to a terrible injustice. On 
any given night in America, nearly 200,000 veterans go homeless and 
twice as many will go homeless over the course of the year. This is 
shameful.
  In my district in southeastern Pennsylvania, this problem is very 
real. There are more than 3,300 homeless veterans in Pennsylvania and 
at least 550 in the greater Philadelphia area alone. These are veterans 
who saw combat in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.
  As someone who spent 10 years in the Army and walked the streets of 
Baghdad, I cannot stand by while more of my fellow soldiers go hungry 
and seek shelter. Over the last 3 years, as many as 1,300 veterans from 
Iraq and Afghanistan have participated in homeless outreach programs by 
the VA in their community. Who knows how many others went without help.
  That's why, Mr. Speaker, I proudly support the Veterans' Health Care 
Improvement Act, which looks after those who have sacrificed so much 
for our country.

                              {time}  1700

  This much-needed bill makes permanent a program to identify at-risk 
servicemembers to prevent them from ever becoming homeless once they 
leave the military. With the rapidly increasing number of women 
veterans, the bill also instructs the VA to make their programs for 
homeless veterans more accommodating for female veterans.
  I was proud to introduce these important provisions, and I thank the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), and the gentleman from Maine 
(Mr. Michaud), for bringing this bill to the floor and their leadership 
on this issue. These brave American veterans, who once faced down our 
enemies, shouldn't have to face one more night out on the street.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would just say H.R. 
2874, as amended, would establish a number of meaningful improvements 
that would help VA to provide better care for our Nation's veterans. 
Once again, I support my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Again, I thank Mr. Miller and Mr. Michaud for their 
leadership on the bill and all the Members on both sides of the aisle 
that have contributed to it.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 2874.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).
  Mr. KENNEDY. I would like to commend the chairman and Ranking Member 
Miller for the work they have done on this legislation, but moreover, 
the attention they paid to our Nation's veterans. I also want to 
commend the members of this committee for all the work that they have 
done on mental health.
  Mr. Speaker, I have had an opportunity, as a member of the Veterans 
Appropriations Committee, to sit in on some of the committee hearings 
on the Veterans Authorizing Committee and seeing the work that they 
have done to try to increase the outreach to veterans with post-
traumatic stress disorder. I am pleased to see that this committee is 
starting to do as much as they can to reach out to these veterans as 
they return from Iraqi Freedom. But, clearly, more needs to be done. We 
have witnessed that in these recent hearings.
  I think that, clearly, the Appropriations Committee has recognized 
this this year. I am pleased to announce that this Congress has voted 
the largest increase in veterans health care spending in the 77-year 
history of the Veterans Department.
  Within that, there is an over $100 million increase in veterans 
specialty mental health care. This is just one acknowledgment of many 
that our veterans, when they come home, we need to make sure they come 
home not only in body, but that they come home in spirit, and that it's 
not enough just to take care of the outer wounds of our Nation's 
veterans, but we also need to make sure that we mend the inner wounds, 
the psychological and emotional wounds that they have sustained during 
war defending our country's freedom.
  Mr. FILNER. I thank the gentleman for his leadership on mental health 
parity in this Nation.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Filner and Ranking 
Member Buyer for their leadership on the Committee and for moving these 
four bills forward to help our veterans. I would also like to thank 
Ranking Member Miller for working with me on the veterans' health care 
bills we are considering today.
  I will limit my comments to H.R. 2874, although I support each of the 
bills we are considering today. H.R. 2874 was passed unanimously by our 
Committee. It represents a bipartisan effort to address a variety of 
issues facing our veterans.
  Section 2 of H.R. 2874 supports therapeutic readjustment programs to 
assist veterans in their long physical and mental journey home through 
a new grant program. Veterans already participate in these programs 
without any financial assistance or guidance from the VA. It is my hope 
that this new grant program will increase the number of veterans using 
these rehabilitative options and that this will enable VA and providers 
to better assess the benefits of these programs to veterans.
  Section 3 authorizes funding for transportation grants for rural 
veterans. Access to care is a significant challenge for rural veterans. 
This program will provide grants to VSOs to implement innovative ways 
of overcoming this challenge. This section was authored by Mr. Salazar.
  Section 4 provides permanent authority for VA treatment of 
participants in the DOD chemical and biological testing conducted by 
Deseret Test Center, including Project SHAD (Shipboard Hazard and 
Defense). This permanent authority was requested by the VA. Section 5 
extends collections authorities for the VA until 2009. This extension 
was also requested by the VA.
  Section 6 authorizes the VA to provide expanded readjustment and 
mental health services in areas determined by the secretary to be 
underserved, especially peer-to-peer outreach services, for Operation 
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans.
  Sections 7 and 8 come from Congressman Patrick Murphy's legislation, 
H.R. 2699. It is no surprise that Congressman Murphy has taken a 
leadership role in helping our Nation's veterans, and I thank him for 
his work. There are as many as 200,000 veterans on the streets each 
night. This is a shame on our Nation that must be addressed. The 
provisions from Congressman Murphy's bill are critical to ending this 
shame and helping these veterans find their way home.
  Section 7 expands and extends the successful VA program of referral 
and counseling for at-risk veterans transitioning from certain 
institutions. The program is extended to 2011 and expanded from six 
locations to 12. These services are largely directed toward 
incarcerated veterans. There were over 225,000 veterans in prison in 
1998. I believe it is important that we make every effort to make sure 
that they do not return to prison.
  Section 8 requires the Secretary to ensure that VA domiciliary 
programs are adequate in capacity and safety to meet the needs of women 
veterans. Homeless women veterans are an increasing proportion of the 
homeless veteran population. We need to make sure that facilities are 
capable of safely caring for this population and helping them get back 
on their feet.
  Section 9 authorizes funding for the Secretary to provide financial 
assistance to eligible entities to provide supportive services for very 
low-income veteran families residing in permanent housing. This section 
comes from a bill authored by Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin.
  Section 10 changes from 60 days to 30 days the required time for a 
homeless veteran

[[Page 21381]]

to be in a VA program before they are eligible for dental care. Section 
11 makes technical amendments to title 38.
  Overall, this bill continues the ongoing efforts of our Committee and 
this Congress to address the needs of our veterans and their families. 
It is my hope that when we return in September, we can work quickly 
with the Senate to create an omnibus package that includes H.R. 2874, 
H.R. 2199, Mr. Miller's bill H.R. 2623, and other important veterans' 
health care initiatives to send to the President for his signature.
  I believe this is a good bipartisan bill and I ask my colleagues for 
their support.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2874, the 
Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007, which will make the 
readjustment period easier for our troops returning from combat. It 
focuses on the improvement of mental health services as well as 
homelessness prevention.
  These brave men and women in uniform have dedicated themselves to 
defending our freedom, and as a grateful nation we owe them whatever 
support we can provide to ensure that after they return home our 
veterans have their needs met.
  This bill puts into place a number of important and timely measures 
to improve the care offered to veterans. It allows for readjustment 
counseling and mental health services provided by qualified peers. This 
will allow veterans to receive whatever therapy they might require to 
readjust to civilian life from fellow veterans who have undergone a 
similar process, and are best placed to offer understanding and quality 
care.
  I am especially pleased that this legislation contains provisions 
addressing the needs of female veterans. It also deals with the 
prevention of homelessness for returning troops. The problem of 
homelessness is worse for the veteran community than society at large, 
and thus we must ensure that all programs, for both men and women, are 
of a high standard.
  Finally, H.R. 2874 offers more support to low-income veteran families 
living in permanent housing. The Federal Government needs to provide 
more assistance to these families and the organizations that help care 
for them, and I am pleased that this bill offers that assistance. I 
urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation and support our 
troops as they return from their courageous missions.
  Mr. FILNER. 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 California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2874, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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