[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1327-1330]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Portman):
  S. 256. A bill to amend the definition of ``homeless person'' under 
the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to include certain homeless 
children and youth, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce bipartisan 
legislation with my colleague Senator Portman that would expand the 
definition of ``homeless'' used by the U.S. Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, HUD, to ensure all homeless children and families 
are considered eligible for existing Federal homeless assistance 
programs. This change in the definition would be in alignment with what 
is already currently used by the U.S. Department of Education.
  According to the U.S. Department of Education, approximately 1.2 
million children were homeless during the 2012-2013 school year, which 
accounts for a 6 percent increase from the 1,166,436 homeless students 
enrolled in the 2011-2012 school year.
  In California, 259,656 children experienced homelessness last year. 
This increase is nearly four times the 65,000 homeless children that 
were reported in California in 2003.
  Unfortunately, the numbers reported by the HUD ``Point-in-Time 
Count'' fail to accurately reflect the upward trend in homeless 
families.
  According to the 2013 HUD ``Point-in-Time Count,'' there were only 
222,197 people counted as homeless in households that included 
children, a fraction of the number reported by the Department of 
Education.
  This issue is important because only those children and their 
families counted by HUD are eligible for vital homeless assistance 
programs. The rest of these children and families are simply out of 
luck and are turned away by providers that do not want to be 
reprimanded for not following HUD regulations.
  The Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2015 would expand the homeless 
definition to allow HUD funded homeless assistance programs to serve 
extremely vulnerable children and families, specifically those staying 
in self-paid motels or in doubled up situations because they have 
nowhere else to go.
  These families are especially susceptible to physical and sexual 
abuse, trafficking, and neglect because they are often not served by a 
case manager, and thus remain hidden from potential social service 
providers.
  As a result of the current narrow HUD definition, communities that 
receive federal funding through the discretionary grant process are 
unable to prioritize or direct resources to help these children and 
families.

[[Page 1328]]

  This bill would provide communities with the flexibility to use 
federal funds to meet local priorities.
  I would also like to note that this legislation comes at no 
additional cost to taxpayers and does not impose any new mandates on 
service providers.
  Finally, this legislation improves data collection transparency by 
requiring HUD to report data on homeless individuals and families 
currently recorded under the existing Homeless Management Information 
System survey.
  I am pleased that Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) has joined me as an 
original cosponsor on this bill.
  Homelessness continues to plague our Nation. If we fail to address 
the needs of these children and families today, they will remain 
invisible and stuck in a cycle of poverty and chronic homelessness.
  It is our responsibility to ensure that we do not erect more barriers 
for these children and families to access services when they are 
experiencing extreme hardship. I believe this bill is a commonsense 
solution that will ensure that homeless families and children can 
receive the help they need.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 256

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Homeless Children and Youth 
     Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE 
                   ACT.

       The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 
     et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 103--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) in paragraph (5)(A)--

       (I) by striking ``are sharing'' and all that follows 
     through ``charitable organizations,'';
       (II) by striking ``14 days'' each place that term appears 
     and inserting ``30 days'';
       (III) in clause (i), by inserting ``or'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (IV) by striking clause (ii); and
       (V) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii); and

       (ii) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
       ``(6) unaccompanied youth and homeless families with 
     children and youth defined as homeless under other Federal 
     statutes who--
       ``(A) are certified as homeless by the director or designee 
     of a director of a program funded under any other Federal 
     statute; or
       ``(B) have been certified by a director or designee of a 
     director of a program funded under this Act or a director or 
     designee of a director of a public housing agency as lacking 
     a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, which 
     shall include--
       ``(i) temporarily sharing the housing of another person due 
     to loss of housing, economic hardship, or other similar 
     reason; or
       ``(ii) living in a room in a motel or hotel.''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Other Definitions.--In this section--
       ``(1) the term `other Federal statute' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 401; and
       ``(2) the term `public housing agency' means an agency 
     described in section 3(b)(6) of the United States Housing Act 
     of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(6)).'';
       (2) in section 401--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(C)--
       (i) by striking clause (iv); and
       (ii) by redesignating clauses (v), (vi), and (vii) as 
     clauses (iv), (v), and (vi);
       (B) in paragraph (7)--
       (i) by striking ``Federal statute other than this 
     subtitle'' and inserting ``other Federal statute''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``of'' before ``this Act'';
       (C) by redesignating paragraphs (14) through (33) as 
     paragraphs (15) through (34), respectively; and
       (D) by inserting after paragraph (13) the following:
       ``(14) Other federal statute.--The term `other Federal 
     statute' includes--
       ``(A) the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et 
     seq.);
       ``(B) the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.);
       ``(C) subtitle N of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 
     (42 U.S.C. 14043e et seq.);
       ``(D) section 330(h) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 254b(h));
       ``(E) section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
     U.S.C. 1786);
       ``(F) the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et 
     seq.); and
       ``(G) subtitle B of title VII of this Act.'';
       (3) by inserting after section 408 the following:

     ``SEC. 409. AVAILABILITY OF HMIS REPORT.

       ``(a) In General.--The information provided to the 
     Secretary under section 402(f)(3) shall be made publically 
     available on the Internet website of the Department of 
     Housing and Urban Development in aggregate, non-personally 
     identifying reports.
       ``(b) Required Data.--Each report made publically available 
     under subsection (a) shall be updated on at least an annual 
     basis and shall include--
       ``(1) a cumulative count of the number of individuals and 
     families experiencing homelessness;
       ``(2) a cumulative assessment of the patterns of assistance 
     provided under subtitles B and C for the each geographic area 
     involved; and
       ``(3) a count of the number of individuals and families 
     experiencing homelessness that are documented through the 
     HMIS by each collaborative applicant.'';
       (4) in section 422--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
       (ii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Restriction.--In awarding grants under paragraph (1), 
     the Secretary may not consider or prioritize the specific 
     homeless populations intended to be served by the applicant 
     if the applicant demonstrates that the project--
       ``(A) would meet the priorities identified in the plan 
     submitted under section 427(b)(1)(B); and
       ``(B) is cost-effective in meeting the overall goals and 
     objectives identified in that plan.''; and
       (B) by striking subsection (j);
       (5) in section 424(d), by striking paragraph (5);
       (6) in section 427(b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A)--

       (I) in clause (vi), by adding ``and'' at the end;
       (II) in clause (vii), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
       (III) by striking clause (viii);

       (ii) in subparagraph (B)--

       (I) in clause (iii), by adding ``and'' at the end;
       (II) in clause (iv)(VI), by striking ``and'' at the end; 
     and
       (III) by striking clause (v);

       (iii) in subparagraph (E), by adding ``and'' at the end;
       (iv) by striking subparagraph (F); and
       (v) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (F); 
     and
       (B) by striking paragraph (3); and
       (7) by amending section 433 to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 433. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress 
     an annual report, which shall--
       ``(1) summarize the activities carried out under this 
     subtitle and set forth the findings, conclusions, and 
     recommendations of the Secretary as a result of the 
     activities; and
       ``(2) include, for the year preceding the date on which the 
     report is submitted--
       ``(A) data required to be made publically available in the 
     report under section 409; and
       ``(B) data on programs funded under any other Federal 
     statute, as such term is defined in section 401.
       ``(b) Timing.--A report under subsection (a) shall be 
     submitted not later than 4 months after the end of each 
     fiscal year.''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. INHOFE:
  S. 261. A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 
200 NW 4th Street in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as the William J. 
Holloway, Jr. United States Courthouse; to the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I am introducing a bill to name the 
Federal courthouse serving the Western District of Oklahoma after the 
late Judge William J. Holloway.
  This legislation has the support of the judges on the Western 
District, retired Judge Ralph Thompson who served on the bench in the 
Western District for from 1975 to 2007, and many in the legal community 
in the Western District of Oklahoma.
  Judge Holloway was born in Hugo, OK, and his father was the eighth 
governor of the State of Oklahoma. He served in the U.S. Army during 
the height of World War II, received his law degree from Harvard 
University in 1950, and worked in private practice with a 2-year stint 
for the Department of Justice. President Lyndon Johnson nominated Judge 
Holloway to the 10th Circuit in August 1968, and the Senate confirmed 
him on September 13, 1968, where he served as chief judge from 1984 to 
1991. Judge Holloway assumed senior status in May 1992 and passed away 
April 25, 2014, in Oklahoma City.
  Judge Holloway was the longest serving judge on the 10th Circuit, and 
during his service, he authored over 900

[[Page 1329]]

opinions. He was well regarded by all who worked with him, appeared 
before him, and knew him. I have not found a person knowledgeable of 
Judge Holloway or his service who could not unequivocally tell you that 
Judge Holloway adhered to precedent when deciding cases. He did not 
proclaim any type of philosophy. As new 10th Circuit Judge Robert 
Bacharach described Judge Holloway, ``He simply decided cases by asking 
`What does the statute say? What does the Constitution say? What are 
the facts of this case?'' We know that is a high standard, and a 
standard lost sometimes in our judiciary.
  When he passed away last year, 10th Circuit Judge Jerome Holmes said 
of Judge Holloway, ``The nation has lost a thoughtful, dedicated, and 
compassionate jurist, and, as a former law clerk of Judge Holloway, I 
have lost a mentor, dear friend, and colleague. I know that Judge 
Holloway was very honored to serve his nation as a judge on the Tenth 
Circuit, and he served with great distinction.''
  On behalf of Judge Holloway and his family, I introduce this bill in 
his honor.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and 
a letter of support be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 261

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

     SECTION 1. WILLIAM J. HOLLOWAY, JR. UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE.

       (a) Designation.--The United States courthouse located at 
     200 NW 4th Street in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, shall be known 
     and designated as the ``William J. Holloway, Jr. United 
     States Courthouse''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     United States courthouse referred to in subsection (a) shall 
     be deemed to be a reference to the ``William J. Holloway, Jr. 
     United States Courthouse''.
                                  ____

                                              U.S. District Court,


                                 Western District of Oklahoma,

                         Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, August 14, 2014.
     Hon. James M. Inhofe,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Inhofe: We are writing to respectfully request 
     that the United States Courthouse in Oklahoma City be named 
     the ``William J. Holloway, Jr. United States Courthouse.'' 
     Judge Holloway died on April 25, 2014, at the age of 90. At 
     that time, he was the longest serving judge in the history of 
     the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, having served for over 45 
     years. During his remarkable tenure on the court, Judge 
     Holloway authored over 900 opinions and participated in the 
     decision of thousands more.
       Judge Holloway was a kind, compassionate man who quietly 
     and diligently spent his lifetime working for justice. He did 
     so without fanfare, seeking only to fulfill the great 
     responsibility given to him. Though Judge Holloway is 
     deceased, we can think of no more noble name for our 
     courthouse than the ``William J. Holloway, Jr. United States 
     Courthouse.'' He embodied every trait that all federal judges 
     should strive to achieve.
       This request is made by every federal judge in Oklahoma 
     City. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us if you have 
     any questions about our request.
           Yours very truly,
         Jerome A. Holmes, U.S. Circuit Judge; Vicki Miles-
           LaGrange, Chief U.S. District Judge; Robert E. 
           Bacharach, U.S. Circuit Judge; Robin J. Cauthron, U.S. 
           District Judge; Stephen P. Friot, U.S. District Judge; 
           Timothy D. DeGiusti, U.S. District Judge; David L. 
           Russell, Senior U.S. District Judge; Gary M. Purcell, 
           Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge; Suzanne Mitchell, U.S. 
           Magistrate Judge; Sarah Hall, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy 
           Judge; Joe Heaton, U.S. District Judge; Lee R. West, 
           Senior U.S. District Judge; Tim Leonard, Senior U.S. 
           District Judge; Shon T. Erwin, U.S. Magistrate Judge; 
           Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. Magistrate Judge; Niles L. 
           Jackson, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Ayotte, and Mr. 
        Booker):
  S. 262. A bill to reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am proud today to introduce the Leahy-
Collins Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. It 
is deplorable that in the wealthiest country in the world, 1.6 million 
teenagers live on the streets because they have no home. We know that 
those who do not have a safe place to sleep at night are particularly 
vulnerable to being exploited and trafficked. A recent study found that 
nearly one in four homeless young people have been victims of 
trafficking or sexual exploitation. We often talk about human 
trafficking as an international problem, but the sad truth is that it 
is a major problem right here at home. It is time we provide the 
resources to help protect our children from this very real threat.
  The Runaway Youth Act, first signed into law in 1974, has proven 
essential to providing the basic services and resources that runaway 
and homeless youth need, and our continued support is vital. Thirty-
nine percent of the homeless population is under the age of 18, and the 
average age at which a teen becomes homeless is 14.7 years old. Think 
about that. The average teen living on the streets is not even old 
enough to drive. These young people represent our country's future and 
its optimism, and as a father and a grandfather, I believe that we must 
do more to address the needs of the 1.6 million homeless youth in our 
country.
  Teens run away and become homeless for myriad reasons. A U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services study found that 46 percent of 
homeless youth had run away because of physical abuse and 17 percent 
because of sexual abuse. Nearly 40 percent of homeless youth identify 
as LGBT and report leaving home because of a lack of acceptance. By 
including a new provision that prohibits grantees from denying services 
based on the sexual orientation or gender identity of the homeless 
youth, this bill takes important new steps to make sure that we are 
meeting the needs of this growing and particularly vulnerable 
population. No young person should be turned away from these essential 
services.
  We have made great strides in recent years in our efforts to combat 
human trafficking. Most recently, we reauthorized the comprehensive 
Trafficking Victims Protection Act, a bipartisan bill I introduced and 
was proud to see enacted as part of the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against 
Women Reauthorization Act. And last year, we saw historic levels of 
funding for victims of trafficking, an urgently needed increase that I 
was proud to support as the most senior member of the Appropriations 
Committee. But we must not forget the importance of investing in 
prevention efforts as well, and I was disappointed that Congress failed 
to pass the bipartisan Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking 
Prevention Act. If we are to make a real difference to end modern day 
slavery, we must protect those who are most vulnerable and prevent the 
exploitation in the first place. We cannot simply focus on ending 
demand and arrest our way out of this problem; we must eliminate the 
conditions that make these children so vulnerable. That means investing 
in stable housing and support services for more kids in need; we are 
not doing enough. I hope that we can finally enact this meaningful bill 
in 2015.
  In addition to the dangers of human trafficking, homeless youth are 
at greater risk of suicide, unintended pregnancy, and substance abuse. 
They are less likely to finish school, more likely to enter our 
juvenile justice system, and are often ill-equipped to find a job. The 
services authorized by this bill are designed to intervene early and 
encourage the development of successful, productive young adults.
  I have heard from dozens of service providers from across the 
country, including in my home state of Vermont, that these programs 
work. I am proud to say that last year, 95 percent of youth receiving 
services from the Vermont Coalition for Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Programs were able to exit to a safe living situation upon their 
completion of programming. Without the programs funded through the 
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, hundreds of thousands of children would 
be left on the street and vulnerable to exploitation. Congress has an 
opportunity to respond in a meaningful and historic way.
  I thank Senators Collins, Booker, and Ayotte for working with me on

[[Page 1330]]

this legislation and for joining me as original cosponsors. We have the 
chance to make a real difference by passing the Runway and Homeless 
Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. Every day we wait is another 
night too many children are sleeping on the streets.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. Wyden):
  S. 271. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit 
certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-
connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the 
Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired 
pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related 
Special Compensation, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed 
Services.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of our Nation's 
veterans to once again discuss the unjust and outdated policy of 
failing to give our veterans the full military retirement and veterans 
disability compensation benefits that they have earned in their service 
to the Nation. Full payment of retirement and disability benefits, 
together known as ``concurrent receipt,'' is an issue that I have 
strongly advocated for more than a decade.
  In the past, veterans were prevented from receiving the full pay and 
benefits they earned in dedicated service to our country. The law 
required that military retirement pay be reduced dollar-for-dollar by 
the amount of any disability compensation a veteran received. I am 
pleased to say that many Senators have joined me in fighting this 
policy, and we have made some progress on behalf of our Nation's 
veterans
  In 2003, Congress passed legislation that allowed disabled retired 
veterans with at least a 50 percent disability rating to become 
eligible for full concurrent receipt benefits by 2013. In 2004, the 10-
year phase-in period was eliminated for veterans with 100 percent 
service-related disability. With the phase-in period now complete, I am 
deeply gratified that all those veterans with over 50 percent 
disability ratings are now receiving the full benefits they earned from 
their service. These are significant victories that put hundreds of 
thousands of veterans on track to receive both their retirement and 
disability benefits. However, many more of our veterans remain unjustly 
impacted by the denial of concurrent receipt.
  For me, this is a simple matter of fairness. There is no reason to 
deny a veteran who has served their country honorably the right to the 
full value of their retirement pay simply because their service also 
resulted in a disability that affects them each and every day for the 
rest of their lives. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the current 
law does. This legislation will bring that indefensible practice to an 
end.
  This is not a partisan issue. Our Nation has been at war for over a 
decade, through both Republican and Democratic administrations, and our 
service members have performed with unmatched valor around the world. 
Our utmost duty as lawmakers should be to ensure that the brave men and 
women who served in the United States Armed Forces receive the benefits 
they have earned.
  So once again, I rise on behalf of our Nation's veterans. Today, I 
introduce legislation that will eliminate all limitations to concurrent 
receipt. We must take action now to support our veterans who have never 
faltered in their unwavering service to this grateful Nation. This is 
the right thing to do.
  I hope my Senate colleagues will join me in supporting this bill.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 271

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Retired Pay Restoration Act 
     of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR PAYMENT OF BOTH RETIRED PAY AND 
                   VETERANS' DISABILITY COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN 
                   MILITARY RETIREES WITH COMPENSABLE SERVICE-
                   CONNECTED DISABILITIES.

       (a) Extension of Concurrent Receipt Authority to Retirees 
     With Service-Connected Disabilities Rated Less Than 50 
     Percent.--
       (1) Repeal of 50 percent requirement.--Section 1414 of 
     title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     paragraph (2) of subsection (a).
       (2) Computation.--Paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of such 
     section is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(G) For a month for which the retiree receives veterans' 
     disability compensation for a disability rated as 40 percent 
     or less or has a service-connected disability rated as zero 
     percent, $0.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendments.--
       (1) The heading of section 1414 of such title is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``Sec. 1414. Members eligible for retired pay who are also 
       eligible for veterans' disability compensation: concurrent 
       payment of retired pay and disability compensation''.

       (2) The item relating to such section in the table of 
     sections at the beginning of chapter 71 of such title is 
     amended to read as follows:

``1414. Members eligible for retired pay who are also eligible for 
              veterans' disability compensation: concurrent payment of 
              retired pay and disability compensation.''.

       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on January 1, 2016, and shall apply to 
     payments for months beginning on or after that date.

     SEC. 3. COORDINATION OF SERVICE ELIGIBILITY FOR COMBAT-
                   RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION AND CONCURRENT 
                   RECEIPT.

       (a) Amendments To Standardize Similar Provisions.--
       (1) Qualified retirees.--Subsection (a) of section 1414 of 
     title 10, United States Code, as amended by section 2(a), is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking ``a member or'' and all that follows 
     through ``retiree')'' and inserting ``a qualified retiree''; 
     and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Qualified retirees.--For purposes of this section, a 
     qualified retiree, with respect to any month, is a member or 
     former member of the uniformed services who--
       ``(A) is entitled to retired pay (other than by reason of 
     section 12731b of this title); and
       ``(B) is also entitled for that month to veterans' 
     disability compensation.''.
       (2) Disability retirees.--Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) 
     of section 1414 of such title is amended to read as follows:
       ``(2) Special rule for retirees with fewer than 20 years of 
     service.--The retired pay of a qualified retiree who is 
     retired under chapter 61 of this title with fewer than 20 
     years of creditable service is subject to reduction by the 
     lesser of--
       ``(A) the amount of the reduction under sections 5304 and 
     5305 of title 38; or
       ``(B) the amount (if any) by which the amount of the 
     member's retired pay under such chapter exceeds the amount 
     equal to 2\1/2\ percent of the member's years of creditable 
     service multiplied by the member's retired pay base under 
     section 1406(b)(1) or 1407 of this title, whichever is 
     applicable to the member.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on January 1, 2016, and shall apply to 
     payments for months beginning on or after that date.

                          ____________________