[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18073-18089]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              21ST CENTURY VETERANS BENEFITS DELIVERY ACT

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 267, S. 1203.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1203) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
     improve the processing by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     of claims for benefits under laws administered by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, with 
an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``21st 
     Century Veterans Benefits Delivery and Other Improvements 
     Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                      TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

     Subtitle A--Expansion and Improvement of Health Care Benefits

Sec. 101. Improved access to appropriate immunizations for veterans.
Sec. 102. Expansion of provision of chiropractic care and services to 
              veterans.

                 Subtitle B--Health Care Administration

Sec. 111. Expansion of availability of prosthetic and orthotic care for 
              veterans.
Sec. 112. Public access to Department of Veterans Affairs research and 
              data sharing between Departments.
Sec. 113. Revival of Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program of 
              Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 114. Transfer of health care provider credentialing data from 
              Secretary of Defense to Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 115. Examination and treatment by Department of Veterans Affairs 
              for emergency medical conditions and women in labor.

              Subtitle C--Improvement of Medical Workforce

Sec. 121. Inclusion of mental health professionals in education and 
              training program for health personnel of the Department 
              of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 122. Expansion of qualifications for licensed mental health 
              counselors of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
              include doctoral degrees.
Sec. 123. Requirement that physician assistants employed by the 
              Department of Veterans Affairs receive competitive pay.
Sec. 124. Report on medical workforce of the Department of Veterans 
              Affairs.

           TITLE II--COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS MATTERS

                 Subtitle A--Benefits Claims Submission

Sec. 201. Participation of veterans service organizations in Transition 
              Assistance Program.
Sec. 202. Requirement that Secretary of Veterans Affairs publish the 
              average time required to adjudicate timely and untimely 
              appeals.
Sec. 203. Determination of manner of appearance for hearings before 
              Board of Veterans' Appeals.

 Subtitle B--Practices of Regional Offices Relating to Benefits Claims

Sec. 211. Comptroller General review of claims processing performance 
              of regional offices of Veterans Benefits Administration.
Sec. 212. Inclusion in annual budget submission of information on 
              capacity of Veterans Benefits Administration to process 
              benefits claims.
Sec. 213. Report on staffing levels at regional offices of Department 
              of Veterans Affairs after transition to National Work 
              Queue.
Sec. 214. Annual report on progress in implementing Veterans Benefits 
              Management System.
Sec. 215. Report on plans of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reduce 
              inventory of non-rating workload.
Sec. 216. Sense of Congress on increased transparency relating to 
              claims for benefits and appeals of decisions relating to 
              benefits in Monday Morning Workload Report.

                   Subtitle C--Other Benefits Matters

Sec. 221. Modification of pilot program for use of contract physicians 
              for disability examinations.
Sec. 222. Development of procedures to increase cooperation with 
              National Guard Bureau.
Sec. 223. Review of determination of certain service in Philippines 
              during World War II.
Sec. 224. Reports on Department disability medical examinations and 
              prevention of unnecessary medical examinations.
Sec. 225. Sense of Congress on submittal of information relating to 
              claims for disabilities incurred or aggravated by 
              military sexual trauma.

[[Page 18074]]

                      TITLE III--EDUCATION MATTERS

Sec. 301. Retention of entitlement to educational assistance during 
              certain additional periods of active duty.
Sec. 302. Reports on progress of students receiving Post-9/11 
              Educational Assistance.
Sec. 303. Secretary of Defense report on level of education attained by 
              those who transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 educational 
              assistance.
Sec. 304. Reports on educational levels attained by certain members of 
              the Armed Forces at time of separation from the Armed 
              Forces.

              TITLE IV--EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSITION MATTERS

Sec. 401. Required coordination between Directors for Veterans' 
              Employment and Training with State departments of labor 
              and veterans affairs.
Sec. 402. Report on job fairs attended by one-stop career center 
              employees at which such employees encounter veterans.
Sec. 403. Review of challenges faced by employers seeking to hire 
              veterans and sharing of information among Federal 
              agencies that serve veterans.
Sec. 404. Review of Transition GPS Program Core Curriculum.
Sec. 405. Modification of requirement for provision of preseparation 
              counseling.

                TITLE V--VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

Sec. 501. Modification of treatment under contracting goals and 
              preferences of Department of Veterans Affairs for small 
              businesses owned by veterans of small businesses after 
              death of disabled veteran owners.
Sec. 502. Treatment of businesses after deaths of servicemember-owners 
              for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs 
              contracting goals and preferences.

                        TITLE VI--BURIAL MATTERS

Sec. 601. Department of Veterans Affairs study on matters relating to 
              burial of unclaimed remains of veterans in national 
              cemeteries.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 701. Honoring as veterans certain persons who performed service in 
              the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
Sec. 702. Report on Laotian military support of Armed Forces of the 
              United States during Vietnam War.
Sec. 703. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers.

                      TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

     Subtitle A--Expansion and Improvement of Health Care Benefits

     SEC. 101. IMPROVED ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE IMMUNIZATIONS FOR 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) Inclusion of Recommended Adult Immunizations as Medical 
     Services.--
       (1) Covered benefit.--Subparagraph (F) of section 1701(9) 
     of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(F) immunizations against infectious diseases, including 
     each immunization on the recommended adult immunization 
     schedule at the time such immunization is indicated on that 
     schedule;''.
       (2) Recommended adult immunization schedule defined.--
     Section 1701 of such title is amended by adding after 
     paragraph (9) the following new paragraph:
       ``(10) The term `recommended adult immunization schedule' 
     means the schedule established (and periodically reviewed 
     and, as appropriate, revised) by the Advisory Committee on 
     Immunization Practices established by the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services and delegated to the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention.''.
       (b) Inclusion of Recommended Adult Immunizations in Annual 
     Report.--Section 1704(1)(A) of such title is amended--
       (1) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new 
     clause:
       ``(iii) to provide veterans each immunization on the 
     recommended adult immunization schedule at the time such 
     immunization is indicated on that schedule.''.
       (c) Report to Congress.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the development and 
     implementation by the Department of Veterans Affairs of 
     quality measures and metrics, including targets for 
     compliance, to ensure that veterans receiving medical 
     services under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, 
     receive each immunization on the recommended adult 
     immunization schedule at the time such immunization is 
     indicated on that schedule.
       (2) Recommended adult immunization schedule defined.--In 
     this subsection, the term ``recommended adult immunization 
     schedule'' has the meaning given that term in section 
     1701(10) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a)(2).

     SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF PROVISION OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE AND 
                   SERVICES TO VETERANS.

       (a) Program for Provision of Chiropractic Care and Services 
     to Veterans.--Section 204(c) of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 (Public 
     Law 107-135; 115 Stat. 2459; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The program''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) The program shall be carried out at not fewer than 
     two medical centers or clinics in each Veterans Integrated 
     Service Network by not later than two years after the date of 
     the enactment of the 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery 
     and Other Improvements Act, and at not fewer than 50 percent 
     of all medical centers in each Veterans Integrated Service 
     Network by not later than three years after such date of 
     enactment.''.
       (b) Expanded Chiropractor Services Available to Veterans.--
       (1) Medical services.--Paragraph (6) of section 1701 of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subparagraph:
       ``(H) Chiropractic services.''.
       (2) Rehabilitative services.--Paragraph (8) of such section 
     is amended by inserting ``chiropractic,'' after 
     ``counseling,''.
       (3) Preventive health services.--Paragraph (9) of such 
     section is amended--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K) as 
     subparagraphs (G) through (L), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new 
     subparagraph (F):
       ``(F) periodic and preventive chiropractic examinations and 
     services;''.

                 Subtitle B--Health Care Administration

     SEC. 111. EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF PROSTHETIC AND 
                   ORTHOTIC CARE FOR VETERANS.

       (a) Establishment or Expansion of Advanced Degree Programs 
     to Expand Availability of Provision of Care.--The Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs shall work with institutions of higher 
     education to develop partnerships for the establishment or 
     expansion of programs of advanced degrees in prosthetics and 
     orthotics in order to improve and enhance the availability of 
     high quality prosthetic and orthotic care for veterans.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the effective 
     date specified in subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit 
     to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report setting forth a plan for carrying 
     out subsection (a). The Secretary shall develop the plan in 
     consultation with veterans service organizations, 
     institutions of higher education with accredited degree 
     programs in prosthetics and orthotics, and representatives of 
     the prosthetics and orthotics field.
       (c) Funding.--
       (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is hereby 
     authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2017 for the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, $5,000,000 to carry out this 
     section.
       (2) Availability.--The amount authorized to be appropriated 
     by paragraph (1) shall remain available for expenditure until 
     September 30, 2019.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 112. PUBLIC ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   RESEARCH AND DATA SHARING BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.

       (a) Establishment of Internet Website.--The Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall make available on an Internet website 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs available to the public 
     the following:
       (1) Data files that contain information on research of the 
     Department.
       (2) A data dictionary on each data file.
       (3) Instructions for how to obtain access to each data file 
     for use in research.
       (b) Public Access to Manuscripts on Department Funded 
     Research.--
       (1) In general.--Beginning not later than 18 months after 
     the effective date specified in subsection (e), the Secretary 
     shall require, as a condition on the use of any data gathered 
     or formulated from research funded by the Department, that 
     any final, peer-reviewed manuscript prepared for publication 
     that uses such data be submitted to the Secretary for deposit 
     in the digital archive under paragraph (2) and publication 
     under paragraph (3).
       (2) Digital archive.--Not later than 18 months after the 
     effective date specified in subsection (e), the Secretary 
     shall--
       (A) establish a digital archive consisting of manuscripts 
     described in paragraph (1); or
       (B) partner with another executive agency to compile such 
     manuscripts in a digital archive.
       (3) Public availability.--
       (A) Availability of archive.--The Secretary shall ensure 
     that the digital archive under paragraph (2) and the contents 
     of such archive are available to the public via a publicly 
     accessible Internet website at no cost to the public.
       (B) Availability of manuscripts.--The Secretary shall 
     ensure that each manuscript submitted to the Secretary under 
     paragraph (1) is available to the public under subparagraph 
     (A) not later than one year after the official date on which 
     the manuscript is otherwise published.

[[Page 18075]]

       (4) Consistent with copyright law.--The Secretary shall 
     carry out this subsection in a manner consistent with 
     applicable copyright law.
       (5) Annual report.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date the 
     Secretary begins making manuscripts available to the public 
     under this subsection and not less frequently than once each 
     year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
     on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on 
     the implementation of this subsection during the most recent 
     one-year period.
       (B) Contents.--Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) 
     shall include for the period of the report:
       (i) The number of manuscripts submitted under paragraph 
     (1).
       (ii) The titles of such manuscripts.
       (iii) The authors of such manuscripts.
       (iv) For each such manuscript, the name and issue number or 
     volume number, as the case may be, of the journal or other 
     publication in which such manuscript was published.
       (c) Recommendations for Data Sharing Between Department of 
     Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense.--Not later than 
     one year after the effective date specified in subsection 
     (e), the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense 
     Joint Executive Committee established by section 320(a) of 
     title 38, United States Code, shall submit to the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense options and 
     recommendations for the establishment of a program for long-
     term cooperation and data sharing between and within the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense 
     to facilitate research on outcomes of military service, 
     readjustment after combat deployment, and other topics of 
     importance to the following:
       (1) Veterans.
       (2) Members of the Armed Forces.
       (3) Family members of veterans.
       (4) Family members of members of the Armed Forces.
       (5) Members of communities that have a significant 
     population of veterans or members of the Armed Forces.
       (d) Executive Agency Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``executive agency'' has the meaning given that term in 
     section 133 of title 41, United States Code.
       (e) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 113. REVIVAL OF INTERMEDIATE CARE TECHNICIAN PILOT 
                   PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Revival.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     revive the Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs that was carried out by the 
     Secretary between January 2013 and February 2014.
       (b) Technicians.--
       (1) Selection.--The Secretary shall select not less than 45 
     intermediate care technicians to participate in the pilot 
     program.
       (2) Facilities.--
       (A) In general.--Any intermediate care technician hired 
     pursuant to paragraph (1) may be assigned to a medical 
     facility of the Department as determined by the Secretary for 
     purposes of this section.
       (B) Priority.--In assigning intermediate care technicians 
     under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to 
     facilities at which veterans have the longest wait times for 
     appointments for the receipt of hospital care or medical 
     services from the Department, as determined by the Secretary 
     for purposes of this section.
       (c) Termination.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
     program under subsection (a) during the three-year period 
     beginning on the effective date specified in subsection (e).
       (d) Hospital Care and Medical Services Defined.--In this 
     section, the terms ``hospital care'' and ``medical services'' 
     have the meanings given such terms in section 1701 of title 
     38, United States Code.
       (e) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 114. TRANSFER OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDER CREDENTIALING DATA 
                   FROM SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO SECRETARY OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--In a case in which the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs hires a covered health care provider, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall, after receiving a request from 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the credentialing data 
     of the Secretary of Defense relating to such health care 
     provider, transfer to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs such 
     credentialing data.
       (b) Covered Health Care Providers.--For purposes of this 
     section, a covered provider is a health care provider who--
       (1) is or was employed by the Secretary of Defense;
       (2) provides or provided health care related services as 
     part of such employment; and
       (3) was credentialed by the Secretary of Defense.
       (c) Policies and Regulations.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall establish such 
     policies and promulgate such regulations as may be necessary 
     to carry out this section.
       (d) Credentialing Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``credentialing'' means the systematic process of screening 
     and evaluating qualifications and other credentials, 
     including licensure, required education, relevant training 
     and experience, and current competence and health status.
       (e) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 115. EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND 
                   WOMEN IN LABOR.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
     1784 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 1784A. Examination and treatment for emergency medical 
       conditions and women in labor

       ``(a) In General.--In the case of a hospital of the 
     Department that has an emergency department, if any 
     individual comes to the hospital or the campus of the 
     hospital and a request is made on behalf of the individual 
     for examination or treatment for a medical condition, the 
     hospital must provide for an appropriate medical screening 
     examination within the capability of the emergency 
     department, including ancillary services routinely available 
     to the emergency department, to determine whether or not an 
     emergency medical condition exists.
       ``(b) Necessary Stabilizing Treatment for Emergency Medical 
     Conditions and Labor.--(1) If any individual comes to a 
     hospital of the Department that has an emergency department 
     or the campus of such a hospital and the hospital determines 
     that the individual has an emergency medical condition, the 
     hospital must provide either--
       ``(A) within the staff and facilities available at the 
     hospital, for such further medical examination and such 
     treatment as may be required to stabilize the medical 
     condition; or
       ``(B) for transfer of the individual to another medical 
     facility in accordance with subsection (c).
       ``(2) A hospital is deemed to meet the requirement of 
     paragraph (1)(A) with respect to an individual if the 
     hospital offers the individual the further medical 
     examination and treatment described in that paragraph and 
     informs the individual (or a person acting on behalf of the 
     individual) of the risks and benefits to the individual of 
     such examination and treatment, but the individual (or a 
     person acting on behalf of the individual) refuses to consent 
     to the examination and treatment. The hospital shall take all 
     reasonable steps to secure the written informed consent of 
     the individual (or person) to refuse such examination and 
     treatment.
       ``(3) A hospital is deemed to meet the requirement of 
     paragraph (1) with respect to an individual if the hospital 
     offers to transfer the individual to another medical facility 
     in accordance with subsection (c) and informs the individual 
     (or a person acting on behalf of the individual) of the risks 
     and benefits to the individual of such transfer, but the 
     individual (or a person acting on behalf of the individual) 
     refuses to consent to the transfer. The hospital shall take 
     all reasonable steps to secure the written informed consent 
     of the individual (or person) to refuse such transfer.
       ``(c) Restricting Transfers Until Individual Stabilized.--
     (1) If an individual at a hospital of the Department has an 
     emergency medical condition that has not been stabilized, the 
     hospital may not transfer the individual unless--
       ``(A)(i) the individual (or a legally responsible person 
     acting on behalf of the individual), after being informed of 
     the obligations of the hospital under this section and of the 
     risk of transfer, requests, in writing, transfer to another 
     medical facility;
       ``(ii) a physician of the Department has signed a 
     certification that, based upon the information available at 
     the time of transfer, the medical benefits reasonably 
     expected from the provision of appropriate medical treatment 
     at another medical facility outweigh the increased risks to 
     the individual and, in the case of labor, to the unborn child 
     from effecting the transfer; or
       ``(iii) if a physician of the Department is not physically 
     present in the emergency department at the time an individual 
     is transferred, a qualified medical person (as defined by the 
     Secretary for purposes of this section) has signed a 
     certification described in clause (ii) after a physician of 
     the Department, in consultation with the person, has made the 
     determination described in such clause, and subsequently 
     countersigns the certification; and
       ``(B) the transfer is an appropriate transfer to that 
     facility.
       ``(2) A certification described in clause (ii) or (iii) of 
     paragraph (1)(A) shall include a summary of the risks and 
     benefits upon which the certification is based.
       ``(3) For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), an appropriate 
     transfer to a medical facility is a transfer--
       ``(A) in which the transferring hospital provides the 
     medical treatment within its capacity that minimizes the 
     risks to the health of the individual and, in the case of a 
     woman in labor, the health of the unborn child;
       ``(B) in which the receiving facility--
       ``(i) has available space and qualified personnel for the 
     treatment of the individual; and
       ``(ii) has agreed to accept transfer of the individual and 
     to provide appropriate medical treatment;
       ``(C) in which the transferring hospital sends to the 
     receiving facility all medical records (or copies thereof) 
     available at the time of the transfer relating to the 
     emergency medical condition for which the individual has 
     presented, including--

[[Page 18076]]

       ``(i) observations of signs or symptoms;
       ``(ii) preliminary diagnosis;
       ``(iii) treatment provided;
       ``(iv) the results of any tests; and
       ``(v) the informed written consent or certification (or 
     copy thereof) provided under paragraph (1)(A);
       ``(D) in which the transfer is effected through qualified 
     personnel and transportation equipment, including the use of 
     necessary and medically appropriate life support measures 
     during the transfer; and
       ``(E) that meets such other requirements as the Secretary 
     considers necessary in the interest of the health and safety 
     of individuals transferred.
       ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `campus' means, with respect to a hospital 
     of the Department--
       ``(A) the physical area immediately adjacent to the main 
     buildings of the hospital;
       ``(B) other areas and structures that are not strictly 
     contiguous to the main buildings but are located not less 
     than 250 yards from the main buildings; and
       ``(C) any other areas determined by the Secretary to be 
     part of the campus of the hospital.
       ``(2) The term `emergency medical condition' means--
       ``(A) a medical condition manifesting itself by acute 
     symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such 
     that the absence of immediate medical attention could 
     reasonably be expected to result in--
       ``(i) placing the health of the individual (or, with 
     respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or her 
     unborn child) in serious jeopardy;
       ``(ii) serious impairment to bodily functions; or
       ``(iii) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part; or
       ``(B) with respect to a pregnant woman who is having 
     contractions--
       ``(i) that there is inadequate time to effect a safe 
     transfer to another hospital before delivery; or
       ``(ii) that transfer may pose a threat to the health or 
     safety of the woman or the unborn child.
       ``(3)(A) The term `to stabilize' means, with respect to an 
     emergency medical condition described in paragraph (2)(A), to 
     provide such medical treatment of the condition as may be 
     necessary to assure, within reasonable medical probability, 
     that no material deterioration of the condition is likely to 
     result from or occur during the transfer of the individual 
     from a facility, or, with respect to an emergency medical 
     condition described in paragraph (2)(B), to deliver 
     (including the placenta).
       ``(B) The term `stabilized' means, with respect to an 
     emergency medical condition described in paragraph (2)(A), 
     that no material deterioration of the condition is likely, 
     within reasonable medical probability, to result from or 
     occur during the transfer of the individual from a facility, 
     or, with respect to an emergency medical condition described 
     in paragraph (2)(B), that the woman has delivered (including 
     the placenta).
       ``(4) The term `transfer' means the movement (including the 
     discharge) of an individual outside the facilities of a 
     hospital of the Department at the direction of any person 
     employed by (or affiliated or associated, directly or 
     indirectly, with) the hospital, but does not include such a 
     movement of an individual who--
       ``(A) has been declared dead; or
       ``(B) leaves the facility without the permission of any 
     such person.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 1784 the following new 
     item:

``Sec. 1784A. Examination and treatment for emergency medical 
              conditions and women in labor.''.

              Subtitle C--Improvement of Medical Workforce

     SEC. 121. INCLUSION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN 
                   EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HEALTH 
                   PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       In carrying out the education and training program required 
     under section 7302(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include education and 
     training of marriage and family therapists and licensed 
     professional mental health counselors.

     SEC. 122. EXPANSION OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSED MENTAL 
                   HEALTH COUNSELORS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS TO INCLUDE DOCTORAL DEGREES.

       Section 7402(b)(11)(A) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting ``or doctoral degree'' after ``master's 
     degree''.

     SEC. 123. REQUIREMENT THAT PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS EMPLOYED BY 
                   THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS RECEIVE 
                   COMPETITIVE PAY.

       Section 7451(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new 
     subparagraph (B):
       ``(B) Physician assistant.''; and
       (3) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by paragraph (1), 
     by striking ``and registered nurse'' and inserting 
     ``registered nurse, and physician assistant''.
  


     SEC. 124. REPORT ON MEDICAL WORKFORCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the medical workforce of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) With respect to licensed professional mental health 
     counselors and marriage and family therapists of the 
     Department--
       (A) how many such counselors and therapists are currently 
     enrolled in the mental health professionals trainee program 
     of the Department;
       (B) how many such counselors and therapists are expected to 
     enroll in the mental health professionals trainee program of 
     the Department during the 180-day period beginning on the 
     date of the submittal of the report;
       (C) a description of the eligibility criteria for such 
     counselors and therapists as compared to other behavioral 
     health professions in the Department;
       (D) a description of the objectives, goals, and timing of 
     the Department with respect to increasing the representation 
     of such counselors and therapists in the behavioral health 
     workforce of the Department; and
       (E) a description of the actions taken by the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management, to create an occupational series for such 
     counselors and therapists and a timeline for the creation of 
     such an occupational series.
       (2) A breakdown of spending by the Department in connection 
     with the education debt reduction program of the Department 
     under subchapter VII of chapter 76 of title 38, United States 
     Code, including--
       (A) the amount spent by the Department in debt reduction 
     payments during the three-year period preceding the submittal 
     of the report disaggregated by the medical profession of the 
     individual receiving the payments;
       (B) a description of how the Department prioritizes such 
     spending by medical profession, including an assessment of 
     whether such priority reflects the five occupations 
     identified in the most recent determination by the Inspector 
     General of the Department of Veterans Affairs as having the 
     largest staffing shortages in the Veterans Health 
     Administration; and
       (C) a description of the actions taken by the Secretary to 
     increase the effectiveness of such spending for purposes of 
     recruitment of health care providers to the Department, 
     including efforts to more consistently include eligibility 
     for the education debt reduction program in vacancy 
     announcements of positions for health care providers at the 
     Department.
       (3) A description of any impediments to the delivery by the 
     Department of telemedicine services to veterans and any 
     actions taken by the Department to address such impediments, 
     including with respect to--
       (A) restrictions under Federal or State laws;
       (B) licensing or credentialing issues for health care 
     providers, including non-Department health care providers, 
     practicing telemedicine with a veteran located in a different 
     State;
       (C) the effect of limited broadband access or limited 
     information technology capabilities on the delivery of health 
     care;
       (D) the distance a veteran is required to travel to access 
     a facility or clinic with telemedicine capabilities;
       (E) the effect on the provision of telemedicine services to 
     veterans of policies of and limited liability protection for 
     certain entities; and
       (F) issues relating to reimbursement and travel limitations 
     for veterans that affect the participation of non-Department 
     health care providers in the telemedicine program.
       (4) An update on the efforts of the Secretary to offer 
     training opportunities in telemedicine to medical residents 
     in medical facilities of the Department that use 
     telemedicine, consistent with medical residency program 
     requirements established by the Accreditation Council for 
     Graduate Medical Education, as required in section 108(b) of 
     the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune 
     Families Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-154; 38 U.S.C. 7406 
     note).
       (5) An assessment of the development and implementation by 
     the Secretary of succession planning policies to address the 
     prevalence of vacancies in positions in the Veterans Health 
     Administration of more than 180 days, including the 
     development of an enterprise position management system to 
     more effectively identify, track, and resolve such vacancies.
       (6) A description of the actions taken by the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management, to address any impediments to the timely 
     appointment and determination of qualifications for Directors 
     of Veterans Integrated Service Networks and Medical Directors 
     of the Department.

           TITLE II--COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS MATTERS

                 Subtitle A--Benefits Claims Submission

     SEC. 201. PARTICIPATION OF VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN 
                   TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary 
     of Labor, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, should establish a process by 
     which a representative of a veterans service organization may 
     be present at any portion of the program carried out under 
     section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, relating to the 
     submittal of claims to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 
     compensation under chapter 11 or 13 of title 38, United 
     States Code.

[[Page 18077]]

       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to Congress a report on participation of veterans 
     service organizations in the program carried out under 
     section 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) An assessment of the compliance of facilities of the 
     Department of Defense with the directives included in the 
     memorandum of the Secretary of Defense entitled 
     ``Installation Access and Support Services for Nonprofit Non-
     Federal Entities'' and dated December 23, 2014.
       (B) The number of military bases that have complied with 
     such directives.
       (C) How many veterans service organizations have been 
     present at a portion of a program as described in subsection 
     (a).
       (c) Veterans Service Organization Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``veterans service organization'' means any 
     organization recognized by the Secretary for the 
     representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38.

     SEC. 202. REQUIREMENT THAT SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   PUBLISH THE AVERAGE TIME REQUIRED TO ADJUDICATE 
                   TIMELY AND UNTIMELY APPEALS.

       (a) Publication Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--On an ongoing basis, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall make available to the public the 
     following:
       (A) The average length of time to adjudicate a timely 
     appeal.
       (B) The average length of time to adjudicate an untimely 
     appeal.
       (2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act and shall apply until the date that is three years after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 39 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on whether publication pursuant to 
     subsection (a)(1) has had an effect on the number of timely 
     appeals filed.
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) The number of appeals and timely appeals that were 
     filed during the one-year period ending on the effective date 
     specified in subsection (a)(2).
       (B) The number of appeals and timely appeals that were 
     filed during the one-year period ending on the date that is 
     two years after the effective date specified in subsection 
     (a)(2).
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appeal.--The term ``appeal'' means a notice of 
     disagreement filed pursuant to section 7105(a) of title 38, 
     United States Code, in response to notice of the result of an 
     initial review or determination regarding a claim for a 
     benefit under a law administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs.
       (2) Timely.--The term ``timely'' with respect to an appeal 
     means that the notice of disagreement was filed not more than 
     180 days after the date of mailing of the notice of the 
     result of the initial review or determination described in 
     paragraph (1).
       (3) Untimely.--The term ``untimely'' with respect to an 
     appeal means the notice of disagreement was filed more than 
     180 days after the date of mailing of the notice of the 
     result of the initial review or determination described in 
     paragraph (1).

     SEC. 203. DETERMINATION OF MANNER OF APPEARANCE FOR HEARINGS 
                   BEFORE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS.

       (a) In General.--Section 7107 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (e);
       (2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (f) as subsections 
     (f) and (g), respectively;
       (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
     subsections (d) and (e):
       ``(d)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a hearing before the 
     Board shall be conducted, as the Board considers 
     appropriate--
       ``(A) in person; or
       ``(B) through picture and voice transmission, by electronic 
     or other means, in such manner that the appellant is not 
     present in the same location as the member or members of the 
     Board during the hearing.
       ``(2) Upon request by an appellant, a hearing before the 
     Board shall be conducted, as the appellant considers 
     appropriate--
       ``(A) in person; or
       ``(B) through picture and voice transmission as described 
     in paragraph (1)(B).
       ``(e)(1) In a case in which a hearing before the Board is 
     to be conducted through picture and voice transmission as 
     described in subsection (d)(1)(B), the Secretary shall 
     provide suitable facilities and equipment to the Board or 
     other components of the Department to enable an appellant 
     located at an appropriate facility within the area served by 
     a regional office to participate as so described.
       ``(2) Any hearing conducted through picture and voice 
     transmission as described in subsection (d)(1)(B) shall be 
     conducted in the same manner as, and shall be considered the 
     equivalent of, a personal hearing.''; and
       (4) in subsection (f)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (2), 
     by striking ``An appellant may request'' and all that follows 
     through ``office of the Department'' and inserting ``In a 
     case in which a hearing before the Board is to be conducted 
     in person, the hearing shall be held at the principal 
     location of the Board or at a facility of the Department 
     located within the area served by a regional office of the 
     Department''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (a)(1) of such 
     section is amended by striking ``in subsection (f)'' and 
     inserting ``in subsection (g)''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to cases received by the Board of 
     Veterans' Appeals pursuant to notices of disagreement 
     submitted on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

 Subtitle B--Practices of Regional Offices Relating to Benefits Claims

     SEC. 211. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW OF CLAIMS PROCESSING 
                   PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL OFFICES OF VETERANS 
                   BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Review Required.--Not later than 15 months after the 
     effective date specified in subsection (e), the Comptroller 
     General of the United States shall complete a review of the 
     regional offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration to 
     help the Veterans Benefits Administration achieve more 
     consistent performance in the processing of claims for 
     disability compensation.
       (b) Elements.--The review required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) An identification of the following:
       (A) The factors, including management practices, that 
     distinguish higher performing regional offices from other 
     regional offices with respect to claims for disability 
     compensation.
       (B) The best practices employed by higher performing 
     regional offices that distinguish the performance of such 
     offices from other regional offices.
       (C) Such other management practices or tools as the 
     Comptroller General determines could be used to improve the 
     performance of regional offices.
       (2) An assessment of the effectiveness of communication 
     with respect to the processing of claims for disability 
     compensation between the regional offices and veterans 
     service organizations and caseworkers employed by Members of 
     Congress.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 15 months after the effective 
     date specified in subsection (e), the Comptroller General 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the results of the review 
     completed under subsection (a).
       (d) Veterans Service Organization Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``veterans service organization'' means any 
     organization recognized by the Secretary for the 
     representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, 
     United States Code.
       (e) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is 270 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 212. INCLUSION IN ANNUAL BUDGET SUBMISSION OF 
                   INFORMATION ON CAPACITY OF VETERANS BENEFITS 
                   ADMINISTRATION TO PROCESS BENEFITS CLAIMS.

       (a) In General.--Along with the supporting information 
     included in the budget submitted to Congress by the President 
     pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, 
     the President shall include information on the capacity of 
     the Veterans Benefits Administration to process claims for 
     benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, including information described in 
     subsection (b), during the fiscal year covered by the budget 
     with which the information is submitted.
       (b) Information Described.--The information described in 
     this subsection is the following:
       (1) An estimate of the average number of claims for 
     benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary, 
     excluding such claims completed during mandatory overtime, 
     that a single full-time equivalent employee of the 
     Administration can process in a year, based on the following:
       (A) A time and motion study that the Secretary shall 
     conduct on the processing of such claims.
       (B) Such other information relating to such claims as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate.
       (2) A description of the actions the Secretary will take to 
     improve the processing of such claims.
       (3) An assessment of the actions identified by the 
     Secretary under paragraph (2) in the previous year and an 
     identification of the effects of those actions.
       (c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect 
     to any budget submitted as described in subsection (a) with 
     respect to any fiscal year after fiscal year 2017.

     SEC. 213. REPORT ON STAFFING LEVELS AT REGIONAL OFFICES OF 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AFTER TRANSITION 
                   TO NATIONAL WORK QUEUE.

       Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
     the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the criteria and procedures that 
     the Secretary will use to determine appropriate staffing 
     levels at the regional offices of the Department once the 
     Department has transitioned to using the National Work Queue 
     for the distribution of the claims processing workload.

     SEC. 214. ANNUAL REPORT ON PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING VETERANS 
                   BENEFITS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--Not later than each of one year, two 
     years, and three years after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of

[[Page 18078]]

     Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the 
     progress of the Secretary in implementing the Veterans 
     Benefits Management System.
       (b) Contents.--Each report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) An assessment of the current functionality of the 
     Veterans Benefits Management System.
       (2) Recommendations submitted to the Secretary by employees 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are involved in 
     processing claims for benefits under the laws administered by 
     the Secretary, including veterans service representatives, 
     rating veterans service representatives, and decision review 
     officers, for such legislative or administrative action as 
     the employees consider appropriate to improve the processing 
     of such claims.
       (3) Recommendations submitted to the Secretary by veterans 
     service organizations who use the Veterans Benefits 
     Management System for such legislative or administrative 
     action as the veterans service organizations consider 
     appropriate to improve such system.
       (c) Veterans Service Organization Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``veterans service organization'' means any 
     organization recognized by the Secretary for the 
     representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, 
     United States Code.

     SEC. 215. REPORT ON PLANS OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
                   REDUCE INVENTORY OF NON-RATING WORKLOAD.

       Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
     the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report that details the plans of the 
     Secretary to reduce the inventory of work items listed in the 
     Monday Morning Workload Report under End Products 130, 137, 
     173, 290, 400, 600, 607, 690, 930, and 960.

     SEC. 216. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INCREASED TRANSPARENCY 
                   RELATING TO CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS AND APPEALS OF 
                   DECISIONS RELATING TO BENEFITS IN MONDAY 
                   MORNING WORKLOAD REPORT.

       It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs should include in each Monday Morning Workload Report 
     published by the Secretary the following:
       (1) With respect to each regional office of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs, the following:
       (A) The number of fully developed claims for benefits under 
     the laws administered by the Secretary that have been 
     received.
       (B) The number of claims described in subparagraph (A) that 
     are pending a decision.
       (C) The number of claims described in subparagraph (A) that 
     have been pending a decision for more than 125 days.
       (2) Enhanced information on appeals of decisions relating 
     to claims for benefits under the laws administered by the 
     Secretary that are pending, including information contained 
     in the reports of the Department entitled ``Appeals Pending'' 
     and ``Appeals Workload By Station''.

                   Subtitle C--Other Benefits Matters

     SEC. 221. MODIFICATION OF PILOT PROGRAM FOR USE OF CONTRACT 
                   PHYSICIANS FOR DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS.

       Section 504 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 
     1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
     (d) and (e), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
     subsection (c):
       ``(c) Licensure of Contract Physicians.--
       ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any law regarding the 
     licensure of physicians, a physician described in paragraph 
     (2) may conduct an examination pursuant to a contract entered 
     into under subsection (a) at any location in any State, the 
     District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or 
     possession of the United States, so long as the examination 
     is within the scope of the authorized duties under such 
     contract.
       ``(2) Physician described.--A physician described in this 
     paragraph is a physician who--
       ``(A) has a current license to practice the health care 
     profession of the physician; and
       ``(B) is performing authorized duties for the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs pursuant to a contract entered into under 
     subsection (a).''.

     SEC. 222. DEVELOPMENT OF PROCEDURES TO INCREASE COOPERATION 
                   WITH NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall jointly develop and 
     implement procedures, including requirements relating to 
     timeliness, to improve the timely provision to the Secretary 
     of such information in the possession of the Chief as the 
     Secretary requires to process claims submitted to the 
     Secretary for benefits under the laws administered by the 
     Secretary.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the 
     implementation of the procedures under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary and the Chief shall jointly submit to Congress a 
     report describing--
       (1) the requests for information relating to records of 
     members of the National Guard made by the Secretary to the 
     Chief pursuant to such procedures; and
       (2) the timeliness of the responses of the Chief to such 
     requests.

     SEC. 223. REVIEW OF DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN SERVICE IN 
                   PHILIPPINES DURING WORLD WAR II.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense and such military 
     historians as the Secretary of Defense recommends, shall 
     review the process used to determine whether a covered 
     individual served in support of the Armed Forces of the 
     United States during World War II in accordance with section 
     1002(d) of title X of Division A of the American Recovery and 
     Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5; 38 U.S.C. 107 
     note) for purposes of determining whether such covered 
     individual is eligible for payments described in such 
     section.
       (b) Covered Individuals.--In this section, a covered 
     individual is any individual who timely submitted a claim for 
     benefits under subsection (c) of section 1002 of title X of 
     Division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 
     2009 (Public Law 111-5; 38 U.S.C. 107 note) based on service 
     as described in subsection (d) of that section.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report detailing any findings, actions 
     taken, or recommendations for legislative action with respect 
     to the review conducted under subsection (a).
       (d) Prohibition on Benefits for Disqualifying Conduct Under 
     New Process Pursuant to Review.--If pursuant to the review 
     conducted under subsection (a) the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs determines to establish a new process for the making 
     of payments as described in that subsection, the process 
     shall include mechanisms to ensure that individuals are not 
     treated as covered individuals for purposes of such payments 
     if such individuals engaged in any disqualifying conduct 
     during service described in that subsection, including 
     collaboration with the enemy or criminal conduct.

     SEC. 224. REPORTS ON DEPARTMENT DISABILITY MEDICAL 
                   EXAMINATIONS AND PREVENTION OF UNNECESSARY 
                   MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS.

       (a) Report on Disability Medical Examinations Furnished by 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the furnishing of general medical 
     and specialty medical examinations by the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs for purposes of adjudicating claims for 
     benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.
       (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following:
       (A) The number of general medical examinations furnished by 
     the Department during the period of fiscal years 2011 through 
     2014 for purposes of adjudicating claims for benefits under 
     laws administered by the Secretary.
       (B) The number of general medical examinations furnished by 
     the Department during the period of fiscal years 2011 through 
     2014 for purposes of adjudicating a claim in which a 
     comprehensive joint examination was conducted, but for which 
     no disability relating to a joint, bone, or muscle had been 
     asserted as an issue in the claim.
       (C) The number of specialty medical examinations furnished 
     by the Department during the period of fiscal years 2011 
     through 2014 for purposes of adjudicating a claim.
       (D) The number of specialty medical examinations furnished 
     by the Department during the period of fiscal years 2011 
     through 2014 for purposes of adjudicating a claim in which 
     one or more joint examinations were conducted.
       (E) A summary with citations to any medical and scientific 
     studies that provide a basis for determining that three 
     repetitions is adequate to determine the effect of repetitive 
     use on functional impairments.
       (F) The names of all examination reports, including general 
     medical examinations and Disability Benefits Questionnaires, 
     used for evaluation of compensation and pension disability 
     claims which require measurement of repeated ranges of motion 
     testing and the number of examinations requiring such 
     measurements which were conducted in fiscal year 2014.
       (G) The average amount of time taken by an individual 
     conducting a medical examination to perform the three 
     repetitions of movement of each joint.
       (H) A discussion of whether there are more efficient and 
     effective scientifically reliable methods of testing for 
     functional loss on repetitive use of an extremity other than 
     the three time repetition currently used by the Department.
       (I) Recommendations as to the continuation of the practice 
     of measuring functional impairment by using three repetitions 
     of movement of each joint during the examination as a 
     criteria for evaluating the effect of repetitive motion on 
     functional impairment with supporting rationale.
       (b) Report and Plan to Prevent the Ordering of Unnecessary 
     Medical Examinations.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the efforts of the Secretary in 
     reducing the necessity for in-person disability examinations 
     and other efforts to comply with the provisions of section 
     5125 of title 38, United States Code.
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:

[[Page 18079]]

       (A) Criteria used by the Secretary to determine if a claim 
     is eligible for the Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative.
       (B) The number of claims determined to be eligible for the 
     Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative during the period 
     beginning on the date of the initiation of the initiative and 
     ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     disaggregated--
       (i) by fiscal year; and
       (ii) by claims determined eligible based in whole or in 
     part on medical evidence provided by a private health care 
     provider.
       (C) The total number of claims determined to be eligible 
     for the Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative that required 
     an employee of the Department to supplement the evidence with 
     information obtained during a telephone interview with a 
     claimant or health care provider.
       (D) Information on any other initiatives or efforts, 
     including Disability Benefits Questionnaires, of the 
     Department to further encourage the use of medical evidence 
     provided by a private health care provider and reliance upon 
     reports of a medical examination administered by a private 
     physician if the report is sufficiently complete to be 
     adequate for the purposes of adjudicating a claim.
       (E) A plan--
       (i) to measure, track, and prevent the ordering of 
     unnecessary medical examinations when the provision by a 
     claimant of a medical examination administered by a private 
     physician in support of a claim for benefits under chapter 11 
     or 15 of title 38, United States Code, is adequate for the 
     purpose of making a decision on that claim; and
       (ii) that includes the actions the Secretary will take to 
     eliminate any request by the Department for a medical 
     examination in the case of a claim for benefits under chapter 
     11 or 15 of such title in support of which a claimant submits 
     medical evidence or a medical opinion provided by a private 
     health care provider that is competent, credible, probative, 
     and otherwise adequate for purposes of making a decision on 
     that claim.

     SEC. 225. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SUBMITTAL OF INFORMATION 
                   RELATING TO CLAIMS FOR DISABILITIES INCURRED OR 
                   AGGRAVATED BY MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.

       (a) In General.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs should submit to Congress 
     information on the covered claims submitted to the Secretary 
     during each fiscal year, including the information specified 
     in subsection (b).
       (b) Elements.--The information specified in this subsection 
     with respect to each fiscal year is the following:
       (1) The number of covered claims submitted to or considered 
     by the Secretary during such fiscal year.
       (2) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1), the number 
     and percentage of such claims--
       (A) submitted by each gender;
       (B) that were approved, including the number and percentage 
     of such approved claims submitted by each gender; and
       (C) that were denied, including the number and percentage 
     of such denied claims submitted by each gender.
       (3) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) that were 
     approved, the number and percentage, listed by each gender, 
     of claims assigned to each rating percentage of disability.
       (4) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) that were 
     denied--
       (A) the three most common reasons given by the Secretary 
     under section 5104(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, for 
     such denials; and
       (B) the number of denials that were based on the failure of 
     a veteran to report for a medical examination.
       (5) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) that were 
     resubmitted to the Secretary after denial in a previous 
     adjudication--
       (A) the number of such claims submitted to or considered by 
     the Secretary during such fiscal year;
       (B) the number and percentage of such claims--
       (i) submitted by each gender;
       (ii) that were approved, including the number and 
     percentage of such approved claims submitted by each gender; 
     and
       (iii) that were denied, including the number and percentage 
     of such denied claims submitted by each gender;
       (C) the number and percentage, listed by each gender, of 
     claims assigned to each rating percentage of disability; and
       (D) of such claims that were again denied--
       (i) the three most common reasons given by the Secretary 
     under section 5104(b)(1) of such title for such denials; and
       (ii) the number of denials that were based on the failure 
     of a veteran to report for a medical examination.
       (6) The number of covered claims that, as of the end of 
     such fiscal year, are pending and, separately, the number of 
     such claims on appeal.
       (7) The average number of days that covered claims take to 
     complete beginning on the date on which the claim is 
     submitted.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered claims.--The term ``covered claims'' means 
     claims for disability compensation submitted to the Secretary 
     based on post-traumatic stress disorder alleged to have been 
     incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma.
       (2) Military sexual trauma.--The term ``military sexual 
     trauma'' shall have the meaning specified by the Secretary 
     for purposes of this section and shall include ``sexual 
     harassment'' (as so specified).

                      TITLE III--EDUCATION MATTERS

     SEC. 301. RETENTION OF ENTITLEMENT TO EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
                   DURING CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PERIODS OF ACTIVE 
                   DUTY.

       (a) Educational Assistance Allowance.--Section 
     16131(c)(3)(B)(i) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``or 12304'' and inserting ``12304, 12304a, or 
     12304b''.
       (b) Expiration Date.--Section 16133(b)(4) of such title is 
     amended by striking ``or 12304'' and inserting ``12304, 
     12304a, or 12304b''.

     SEC. 302. REPORTS ON PROGRESS OF STUDENTS RECEIVING POST-9/11 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 33 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection 3325(c)--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
     paragraph (3):
       ``(3) the information received by the Secretary under 
     section 3326 of this title; and''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 3326. Report on student progress

       ``As a condition on approval under chapter 36 of this title 
     of a course offered by an educational institution (as defined 
     in section 3452 of this title), each year, each educational 
     institution (as so defined) that received a payment in that 
     year on behalf of an individual entitled to educational 
     assistance under this chapter shall submit to the Secretary 
     such information regarding the academic progress of the 
     individual as the Secretary may require.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``3326. Report on student progress.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 303. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE REPORT ON LEVEL OF EDUCATION 
                   ATTAINED BY THOSE WHO TRANSFER ENTITLEMENT TO 
                   POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Section 3325(b)(1) of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(D) indicating the highest level of education attained by 
     each individual who transfers a portion of the individual's 
     entitlement to educational assistance under section 3319 of 
     this title; and''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 304. REPORTS ON EDUCATIONAL LEVELS ATTAINED BY CERTAIN 
                   MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AT TIME OF 
                   SEPARATION FROM THE ARMED FORCES.

       (a) Annual Reports Required.--Each Secretary concerned 
     shall submit to Congress each year a report on the 
     educational levels attained by members of the Armed Forces 
     described in subsection (b) under the jurisdiction of such 
     Secretary who separated from the Armed Forces during the 
     preceding year.
       (b) Covered Members.--The members of the Armed Forces 
     described in this subsection are members of the Armed Forces 
     who transferred unused education benefits to family members 
     pursuant to section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, 
     while serving as members of the Armed Forces.
       (c) Secretary Concerned Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``Secretary concerned'' has the meaning given that term in 
     section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

              TITLE IV--EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSITION MATTERS

     SEC. 401. REQUIRED COORDINATION BETWEEN DIRECTORS FOR 
                   VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING WITH STATE 
                   DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Section 4103 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(c) Coordination With State Departments of Labor and 
     Veterans Affairs.--Each Director for Veterans' Employment and 
     Training for a State shall coordinate the Director's 
     activities under this chapter with the State department of 
     labor and the State department of veterans affairs.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 402. REPORT ON JOB FAIRS ATTENDED BY ONE-STOP CAREER 
                   CENTER EMPLOYEES AT WHICH SUCH EMPLOYEES 
                   ENCOUNTER VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Section 136(d)(1) of the Workforce 
     Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2871(d)(1)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The report 
     also shall include information, for the year preceding the 
     year the report is submitted, on the number of

[[Page 18080]]

     job fairs attended by One-Stop Career Center employees at 
     which the employees had contact with a veteran, and the 
     number of veterans contacted at each such job fair.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 403. REVIEW OF CHALLENGES FACED BY EMPLOYERS SEEKING TO 
                   HIRE VETERANS AND SHARING OF INFORMATION AMONG 
                   FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT SERVE VETERANS.

       (a) Review.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs, shall conduct a review of--
       (A) the challenges faced by employers seeking to hire 
     veterans; and
       (B) information sharing among Federal departments and 
     agencies that serve veterans and members of the Armed Forces 
     who are separating from service.
       (2) Matters reviewed.--In conducting the review required by 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall examine the 
     following:
       (A) The barriers employers face in gaining information 
     identifying veterans who are seeking jobs.
       (B) The extent and quality of information sharing among 
     Federal departments and agencies that serve veterans and 
     members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service, 
     including how the departments and agencies may more easily 
     connect employers with such veterans and members.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the 
     effective date specified in subsection (c), the Secretary of 
     Labor shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
     a report on the review conducted under subsection (a).
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) Recommendations for addressing the barriers described 
     in subsection (a)(2)(A).
       (B) Recommendations for improving information sharing 
     described in subsection (a)(2)(B).
       (3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 404. REVIEW OF TRANSITION GPS PROGRAM CORE CURRICULUM.

       (a) Review.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 
     Labor, shall conduct a review of the Department of Defense 
     Transition GPS Program Core Curriculum in effect on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Matters reviewed.--The review shall examine the 
     following:
       (A) The Department of Defense Transition GPS Program Core 
     Curriculum in effect on the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
       (B) The roles and responsibilities of each Federal 
     department participating in the Transition GPS Program and 
     whether the various roles and responsibilities of the Federal 
     departments are adequately aligned with one another.
       (C) The allotment of time spent on issues under the 
     jurisdiction of each Federal department participating in the 
     Transition GPS Program and whether the allotment is adequate 
     to provide members of the Armed Forces with all the 
     information the members need regarding important benefits 
     that can assist members in transitioning out of military 
     service.
       (D) Whether any of the information in the three optional 
     tracks in the Transition GPS Program Core Curriculum should 
     be addressed more appropriately in mandatory tracks rather 
     than optional tracks.
       (E) The benefits of and obstacles to establishing--
       (i) a standard implementation plan of long-term outcome 
     measures for the Transition GPS Program; and
       (ii) a comprehensive system of metrics for such measures.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Secretary of Labor, shall submit to the appropriate 
     committees of Congress a report on the review conducted under 
     subsection (a).
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) Recommendations for improving the Department of Defense 
     Transition GPS Program Core Curriculum in order to more 
     accurately address the needs of members of the Armed Forces 
     transitioning out of military service.
       (B) Recommendations for improving the roles and 
     responsibilities described in subsection (a)(2)(B).
       (C) Recommendations for improving the allotment of time 
     described in subsection (a)(2)(C).
       (D) Such recommendations as the Secretary of Defense may 
     have regarding the optional and mandatory tracks in the 
     Transition GPS Program Core Curriculum.
       (E) Such recommendations as the Secretary of Defense may 
     have with respect to the outcome measures and metrics 
     described in subsection (a)(2)(E).
       (F) Identification of such other areas of concern as the 
     Secretary of Defense may have with respect to the Transition 
     GPS Program and such recommendations for legislative or 
     administrative action as the Secretary may have to address 
     such concerns.
       (3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.

     SEC. 405. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT FOR PROVISION OF 
                   PRESEPARATION COUNSELING.

       (a) Clarification of Requirement for 180 Continuous Days of 
     Active Duty Service.--Subparagraph (A) of section 1142(a)(4) 
     of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
     ``continuous'' before ``180 days''.
       (b) Exclusion of Training From Periods of Active Duty.--
     Such section is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `active 
     duty' does not include full-time training duty, annual 
     training duty, and attendance, while in the active military 
     service, at a school designated as a service school by law or 
     by the Secretary concerned.''.
  


                TITLE V--VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

     SEC. 501. MODIFICATION OF TREATMENT UNDER CONTRACTING GOALS 
                   AND PREFERENCES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OWNED BY VETERANS 
                   OF SMALL BUSINESSES AFTER DEATH OF DISABLED 
                   VETERAN OWNERS.

       (a) In General.--Section 8127(h) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``rated as'' and all that 
     follows through ``disability.'' and inserting a period; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (C) to read 
     as follows:
       ``(C) The date that--
       ``(i) in the case of a surviving spouse of a veteran with a 
     service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling 
     or who dies as a result of a service-connected disability, is 
     10 years after the date of the veteran's death; or
       ``(ii) in the case of a surviving spouse of a veteran with 
     a service-connected disability rated as less than 100 percent 
     disabling who does not die as a result of a service-connected 
     disability, is three years after the date of the veteran's 
     death.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to 
     applications received pursuant to section 8127(f)(2) of title 
     38, United States Code, that are verified on or after such 
     date.

     SEC. 502. TREATMENT OF BUSINESSES AFTER DEATHS OF 
                   SERVICEMEMBER-OWNERS FOR PURPOSES OF DEPARTMENT 
                   OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONTRACTING GOALS AND 
                   PREFERENCES.

       (a) In General.--Section 8127 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (i) through (l) as 
     subsections (j) through (m), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new 
     subsection (i):
       ``(i) Treatment of Businesses After Death of Servicemember-
     owner.--(1) If a member of the Armed Forces owns at least 51 
     percent of a small business concern and such member is killed 
     in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air 
     service, the surviving spouse or dependent child of such 
     member who acquires such ownership rights in such small 
     business concern shall, for the period described in paragraph 
     (2), be treated as if the surviving spouse or dependent child 
     were a veteran with a service-connected disability for 
     purposes of determining the status of the small business 
     concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by 
     veterans for purposes of contracting goals and preferences 
     under this section.
       ``(2) The period referred to in paragraph (1) is the period 
     beginning on the date on which the member of the Armed Forces 
     dies and ending on the date as follows:
       ``(A) In the case of a surviving spouse, the earliest of 
     the following dates:
       ``(i) The date on which the surviving spouse remarries.
       ``(ii) The date on which the surviving spouse relinquishes 
     an ownership interest in the small business concern and no 
     longer owns at least 51 percent of such small business 
     concern.
       ``(iii) The date that is ten years after the date of the 
     member's death.
       ``(B) In the case of a dependent child, the earliest of the 
     following dates:
       ``(i) The date on which the surviving dependent child 
     relinquishes an ownership interest in the small business 
     concern and no longer owns at least 51 percent of such small 
     business concern.
       ``(ii) The date that is ten years after the date of the 
     member's death.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (i) of section 8127 of such 
     title, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the 
     date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with 
     respect to the deaths of members of the Armed Forces 
     occurring on or after such date.

[[Page 18081]]



                        TITLE VI--BURIAL MATTERS

     SEC. 601. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS STUDY ON MATTERS 
                   RELATING TO BURIAL OF UNCLAIMED REMAINS OF 
                   VETERANS IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES.

       (a) Study and Report Required.--Not later than one year 
     after the effective date specified in subsection (d), the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
       (1) complete a study on matters relating to the interring 
     of unclaimed remains of veterans in national cemeteries under 
     the control of the National Cemetery Administration; and
       (2) submit to Congress a report on the findings of the 
     Secretary with respect to the study required under paragraph 
     (1).
       (b) Matters Studied.--The matters studied under subsection 
     (a)(1) shall include the following:
       (1) Determining the scope of issues relating to unclaimed 
     remains of veterans, including an estimate of the number of 
     unclaimed remains of veterans.
       (2) Assessing the effectiveness of the procedures of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs for working with persons or 
     entities having custody of unclaimed remains to facilitate 
     interment of unclaimed remains of veterans in national 
     cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery 
     Administration.
       (3) Assessing State and local laws that affect the ability 
     of the Secretary to inter unclaimed remains of veterans in 
     national cemeteries under the control of the National 
     Cemetery Administration.
       (4) Developing recommendations for such legislative or 
     administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (c) Methodology.--
       (1) Number of unclaimed remains.--In estimating the number 
     of unclaimed remains of veterans under subsection (b)(1), the 
     Secretary may review such subset of applicable entities as 
     the Secretary considers appropriate, including a subset of 
     funeral homes and coroner offices that possess unclaimed 
     veterans remains.
       (2) Assessment of state and local laws.--In assessing State 
     and local laws under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary may 
     assess such sample of applicable State and local laws as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate in lieu of reviewing all 
     applicable State and local laws.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 701. HONORING AS VETERANS CERTAIN PERSONS WHO PERFORMED 
                   SERVICE IN THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED 
                   FORCES.

       Any person who is entitled under chapter 1223 of title 10, 
     United States Code, to retired pay for nonregular service or, 
     but for age, would be entitled under such chapter to retired 
     pay for nonregular service shall be honored as a veteran but 
     shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of this honor.

     SEC. 702. REPORT ON LAOTIAN MILITARY SUPPORT OF ARMED FORCES 
                   OF THE UNITED STATES DURING VIETNAM WAR.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the 
     effective date specified in subsection (c), the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Defense and such agencies and individuals as the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs considers appropriate, shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report on--
       (1) the extent to which Laotian military forces provided 
     combat support to the Armed Forces of the United States 
     between February 28, 1961, and May 15, 1975;
       (2) whether the current classification by the Civilian/
     Military Service Review Board of the Department of Defense of 
     service by individuals of Hmong ethnicity is appropriate; and
       (3) such recommendations as the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may have for legislative action.
       (b) Appropriate Committees of Congress.--In this section, 
     the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 703. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS.

       During the 10-year period beginning on September 26, 2015, 
     the second sentence of subsection (c) of section 3684 of 
     title 38, United States Code, shall be applied--
       (1) by substituting ``$7'' for ``$12''; and
       (2) by substituting ``$11'' for ``$15''.

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Isakson amendment be agreed to; the committee-reported substitute, as 
amended, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and 
passed; the title amendment be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider 
be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2806) was agreed to, as follows:

                     (Purpose: To improve the bill)

       Beginning on page 29, strike line 1 and all that follows 
     through page 32, line 20, and insert the following:

     SEC. 112. REPORTS ON PUBLIC ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS RESEARCH.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act and not later than one year after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives a report on increasing public 
     access to scientific publications and digital data from 
     research funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       (1) Identification of where on the Internet website of the 
     Department the public will be able to access results of 
     research funded by the Department or be referred to other 
     sources to access the results of research funded by the 
     Department.
       (2) A description of the progress made by the Department in 
     meeting public access requirements set forth in the Federal 
     Register notice entitled ``Policy and Implementation Plan for 
     Public Access to Scientific Publications and Digital Data 
     from Research Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs'' 
     (80 Fed. Reg. 60751), including the following:
       (A) Compliance of Department investigators with 
     requirements relating to ensuring that research funded by the 
     Department is accessible by the public.
       (B) Ensuring data management plans of the Department 
     include provisions for long-term preservation of the 
     scientific data resulting from research funded by the 
     Department.
       (3) An explanation of the factors used to evaluate the 
     merit of data management plans of research funded by the 
     Veterans Health Administration.
       (4) An explanation of the process of the Department in 
     effect that enables stakeholders to petition a change to the 
     embargo period for a specific field and the factors 
     considered during such process.
       On page 33, line 6, strike ``45'' and insert ``72''.
       On page 43, strike lines 7 through 11 and insert the 
     following:
       (a) In General.--In carrying out the education and training 
     program required under section 7302(a)(1) of title 38, United 
     States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include 
     education and training of marriage and family therapists and 
     licensed professional mental health counselors.
       (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect on 
     the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       Beginning on page 43, strike line 19 and all that follows 
     through page 44, line 9.
       Beginning on page 65, strike line 3 and all that follows 
     through page 70, line 8.
       Beginning on page 91, strike line 22 and all that follows 
     through page 92, line 1, and insert the following:
       (a) In General.--During the 10-year period beginning on 
     September 26, 2015, the second sentence of subsection (c) of 
     section 3684 of title 38, United States Code, shall be 
     applied--
       (1) by substituting ``$8'' for ``$12''; and
       (2) by substituting ``$12'' for ``$15''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 406 of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (Public Law 
     113-175; 38 U.S.C. 3684 note), as amended by section 410 of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act 
     of 2015 (Public Law 114-58), is hereby repealed.

  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 1203), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1203

       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 ``21st 
     Century Veterans Benefits Delivery and Other Improvements 
     Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                      TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

     Subtitle A--Expansion and Improvement of Health Care Benefits

Sec. 101. Improved access to appropriate immunizations for veterans.
Sec. 102. Expansion of provision of chiropractic care and services to 
              veterans.

                 Subtitle B--Health Care Administration

Sec. 111. Expansion of availability of prosthetic and orthotic care for 
              veterans.
Sec. 112. Reports on public access to Department of Veterans Affairs 
              research.
Sec. 113. Revival of Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program of 
              Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 114. Transfer of health care provider credentialing data from 
              Secretary of Defense to Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[[Page 18082]]

              Subtitle C--Improvement of Medical Workforce

Sec. 121. Inclusion of mental health professionals in education and 
              training program for health personnel of the Department 
              of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 122. Expansion of qualifications for licensed mental health 
              counselors of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
              include doctoral degrees.
Sec. 123. Report on medical workforce of the Department of Veterans 
              Affairs.

           TITLE II--COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS MATTERS

                 Subtitle A--Benefits Claims Submission

Sec. 201. Participation of veterans service organizations in Transition 
              Assistance Program.
Sec. 202. Requirement that Secretary of Veterans Affairs publish the 
              average time required to adjudicate timely and untimely 
              appeals.
Sec. 203. Determination of manner of appearance for hearings before 
              Board of Veterans' Appeals.

 Subtitle B--Practices of Regional Offices Relating to Benefits Claims

Sec. 211. Comptroller General review of claims processing performance 
              of regional offices of Veterans Benefits Administration.
Sec. 212. Inclusion in annual budget submission of information on 
              capacity of Veterans Benefits Administration to process 
              benefits claims.
Sec. 213. Report on staffing levels at regional offices of Department 
              of Veterans Affairs after transition to National Work 
              Queue.
Sec. 214. Annual report on progress in implementing Veterans Benefits 
              Management System.
Sec. 215. Report on plans of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reduce 
              inventory of non-rating workload.
Sec. 216. Sense of Congress on increased transparency relating to 
              claims for benefits and appeals of decisions relating to 
              benefits in Monday Morning Workload Report.

                   Subtitle C--Other Benefits Matters

Sec. 221. Modification of pilot program for use of contract physicians 
              for disability examinations.
Sec. 222. Development of procedures to increase cooperation with 
              National Guard Bureau.
Sec. 223. Review of determination of certain service in Philippines 
              during World War II.
Sec. 224. Sense of Congress on submittal of information relating to 
              claims for disabilities incurred or aggravated by 
              military sexual trauma.

                      TITLE III--EDUCATION MATTERS

Sec. 301. Retention of entitlement to educational assistance during 
              certain additional periods of active duty.
Sec. 302. Reports on progress of students receiving Post-9/11 
              Educational Assistance.
Sec. 303. Secretary of Defense report on level of education attained by 
              those who transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 educational 
              assistance.
Sec. 304. Reports on educational levels attained by certain members of 
              the Armed Forces at time of separation from the Armed 
              Forces.

              TITLE IV--EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSITION MATTERS

Sec. 401. Required coordination between Directors for Veterans' 
              Employment and Training with State departments of labor 
              and veterans affairs.
Sec. 402. Report on job fairs attended by one-stop career center 
              employees at which such employees encounter veterans.
Sec. 403. Review of challenges faced by employers seeking to hire 
              veterans and sharing of information among Federal 
              agencies that serve veterans.
Sec. 404. Review of Transition GPS Program Core Curriculum.
Sec. 405. Modification of requirement for provision of preseparation 
              counseling.

                TITLE V--VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

Sec. 501. Modification of treatment under contracting goals and 
              preferences of Department of Veterans Affairs for small 
              businesses owned by veterans of small businesses after 
              death of disabled veteran owners.
Sec. 502. Treatment of businesses after deaths of servicemember-owners 
              for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs 
              contracting goals and preferences.

                        TITLE VI--BURIAL MATTERS

Sec. 601. Department of Veterans Affairs study on matters relating to 
              burial of unclaimed remains of veterans in national 
              cemeteries.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 701. Honoring as veterans certain persons who performed service in 
              the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
Sec. 702. Report on Laotian military support of Armed Forces of the 
              United States during Vietnam War.
Sec. 703. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers.

                      TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

     Subtitle A--Expansion and Improvement of Health Care Benefits

     SEC. 101. IMPROVED ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE IMMUNIZATIONS FOR 
                   VETERANS.

       (a) Inclusion of Recommended Adult Immunizations as Medical 
     Services.--
       (1) Covered benefit.--Subparagraph (F) of section 1701(9) 
     of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(F) immunizations against infectious diseases, including 
     each immunization on the recommended adult immunization 
     schedule at the time such immunization is indicated on that 
     schedule;''.
       (2) Recommended adult immunization schedule defined.--
     Section 1701 of such title is amended by adding after 
     paragraph (9) the following new paragraph:
       ``(10) The term `recommended adult immunization schedule' 
     means the schedule established (and periodically reviewed 
     and, as appropriate, revised) by the Advisory Committee on 
     Immunization Practices established by the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services and delegated to the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention.''.
       (b) Inclusion of Recommended Adult Immunizations in Annual 
     Report.--Section 1704(1)(A) of such title is amended--
       (1) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new 
     clause:
       ``(iii) to provide veterans each immunization on the 
     recommended adult immunization schedule at the time such 
     immunization is indicated on that schedule.''.
       (c) Report to Congress.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the development and 
     implementation by the Department of Veterans Affairs of 
     quality measures and metrics, including targets for 
     compliance, to ensure that veterans receiving medical 
     services under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, 
     receive each immunization on the recommended adult 
     immunization schedule at the time such immunization is 
     indicated on that schedule.
       (2) Recommended adult immunization schedule defined.--In 
     this subsection, the term ``recommended adult immunization 
     schedule'' has the meaning given that term in section 
     1701(10) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a)(2).

     SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF PROVISION OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE AND 
                   SERVICES TO VETERANS.

       (a) Program for Provision of Chiropractic Care and Services 
     to Veterans.--Section 204(c) of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 (Public 
     Law 107-135; 115 Stat. 2459; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The program''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) The program shall be carried out at not fewer than 
     two medical centers or clinics in each Veterans Integrated 
     Service Network by not later than two years after the date of 
     the enactment of the 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery 
     and Other Improvements Act, and at not fewer than 50 percent 
     of all medical centers in each Veterans Integrated Service 
     Network by not later than three years after such date of 
     enactment.''.
       (b) Expanded Chiropractor Services Available to Veterans.--
       (1) Medical services.--Paragraph (6) of section 1701 of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subparagraph:
       ``(H) Chiropractic services.''.
       (2) Rehabilitative services.--Paragraph (8) of such section 
     is amended by inserting ``chiropractic,'' after 
     ``counseling,''.
       (3) Preventive health services.--Paragraph (9) of such 
     section is amended--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K) as 
     subparagraphs (G) through (L), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new 
     subparagraph (F):
       ``(F) periodic and preventive chiropractic examinations and 
     services;''.

[[Page 18083]]



                 Subtitle B--Health Care Administration

     SEC. 111. EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF PROSTHETIC AND 
                   ORTHOTIC CARE FOR VETERANS.

       (a) Establishment or Expansion of Advanced Degree Programs 
     To Expand Availability of Provision of Care.--The Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs shall work with institutions of higher 
     education to develop partnerships for the establishment or 
     expansion of programs of advanced degrees in prosthetics and 
     orthotics in order to improve and enhance the availability of 
     high quality prosthetic and orthotic care for veterans.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the effective 
     date specified in subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit 
     to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report setting forth a plan for carrying 
     out subsection (a). The Secretary shall develop the plan in 
     consultation with veterans service organizations, 
     institutions of higher education with accredited degree 
     programs in prosthetics and orthotics, and representatives of 
     the prosthetics and orthotics field.
       (c) Funding.--
       (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is hereby 
     authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2017 for the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, $5,000,000 to carry out this 
     section.
       (2) Availability.--The amount authorized to be appropriated 
     by paragraph (1) shall remain available for expenditure until 
     September 30, 2019.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 112. REPORTS ON PUBLIC ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS RESEARCH.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act and not later than one year after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives a report on increasing public 
     access to scientific publications and digital data from 
     research funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       (1) Identification of where on the Internet website of the 
     Department the public will be able to access results of 
     research funded by the Department or be referred to other 
     sources to access the results of research funded by the 
     Department.
       (2) A description of the progress made by the Department in 
     meeting public access requirements set forth in the Federal 
     Register notice entitled ``Policy and Implementation Plan for 
     Public Access to Scientific Publications and Digital Data 
     from Research Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs'' 
     (80 Fed. Reg. 60751), including the following:
       (A) Compliance of Department investigators with 
     requirements relating to ensuring that research funded by the 
     Department is accessible by the public.
       (B) Ensuring data management plans of the Department 
     include provisions for long-term preservation of the 
     scientific data resulting from research funded by the 
     Department.
       (3) An explanation of the factors used to evaluate the 
     merit of data management plans of research funded by the 
     Veterans Health Administration.
       (4) An explanation of the process of the Department in 
     effect that enables stakeholders to petition a change to the 
     embargo period for a specific field and the factors 
     considered during such process.

     SEC. 113. REVIVAL OF INTERMEDIATE CARE TECHNICIAN PILOT 
                   PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Revival.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     revive the Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs that was carried out by the 
     Secretary between January 2013 and February 2014.
       (b) Technicians.--
       (1) Selection.--The Secretary shall select not less than 72 
     intermediate care technicians to participate in the pilot 
     program.
       (2) Facilities.--
       (A) In general.--Any intermediate care technician hired 
     pursuant to paragraph (1) may be assigned to a medical 
     facility of the Department as determined by the Secretary for 
     purposes of this section.
       (B) Priority.--In assigning intermediate care technicians 
     under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to 
     facilities at which veterans have the longest wait times for 
     appointments for the receipt of hospital care or medical 
     services from the Department, as determined by the Secretary 
     for purposes of this section.
       (c) Termination.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
     program under subsection (a) during the three-year period 
     beginning on the effective date specified in subsection (e).
       (d) Hospital Care and Medical Services Defined.--In this 
     section, the terms ``hospital care'' and ``medical services'' 
     have the meanings given such terms in section 1701 of title 
     38, United States Code.
       (e) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 114. TRANSFER OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDER CREDENTIALING DATA 
                   FROM SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO SECRETARY OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--In a case in which the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs hires a covered health care provider, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall, after receiving a request from 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the credentialing data 
     of the Secretary of Defense relating to such health care 
     provider, transfer to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs such 
     credentialing data.
       (b) Covered Health Care Providers.--For purposes of this 
     section, a covered provider is a health care provider who--
       (1) is or was employed by the Secretary of Defense;
       (2) provides or provided health care related services as 
     part of such employment; and
       (3) was credentialed by the Secretary of Defense.
       (c) Policies and Regulations.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall establish such 
     policies and promulgate such regulations as may be necessary 
     to carry out this section.
       (d) Credentialing Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``credentialing'' means the systematic process of screening 
     and evaluating qualifications and other credentials, 
     including licensure, required education, relevant training 
     and experience, and current competence and health status.
       (e) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 115. EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND 
                   WOMEN IN LABOR.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
     1784 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 1784A. Examination and treatment for emergency medical 
       conditions and women in labor

       ``(a) In General.--In the case of a hospital of the 
     Department that has an emergency department, if any 
     individual comes to the hospital or the campus of the 
     hospital and a request is made on behalf of the individual 
     for examination or treatment for a medical condition, the 
     hospital must provide for an appropriate medical screening 
     examination within the capability of the emergency 
     department, including ancillary services routinely available 
     to the emergency department, to determine whether or not an 
     emergency medical condition exists.
       ``(b) Necessary Stabilizing Treatment for Emergency Medical 
     Conditions and Labor.--(1) If any individual comes to a 
     hospital of the Department that has an emergency department 
     or the campus of such a hospital and the hospital determines 
     that the individual has an emergency medical condition, the 
     hospital must provide either--
       ``(A) within the staff and facilities available at the 
     hospital, for such further medical examination and such 
     treatment as may be required to stabilize the medical 
     condition; or
       ``(B) for transfer of the individual to another medical 
     facility in accordance with subsection (c).
       ``(2) A hospital is deemed to meet the requirement of 
     paragraph (1)(A) with respect to an individual if the 
     hospital offers the individual the further medical 
     examination and treatment described in that paragraph and 
     informs the individual (or a person acting on behalf of the 
     individual) of the risks and benefits to the individual of 
     such examination and treatment, but the individual (or a 
     person acting on behalf of the individual) refuses to consent 
     to the examination and treatment. The hospital shall take all 
     reasonable steps to secure the written informed consent of 
     the individual (or person) to refuse such examination and 
     treatment.
       ``(3) A hospital is deemed to meet the requirement of 
     paragraph (1) with respect to an individual if the hospital 
     offers to transfer the individual to another medical facility 
     in accordance with subsection (c) and informs the individual 
     (or a person acting on behalf of the individual) of the risks 
     and benefits to the individual of such transfer, but the 
     individual (or a person acting on behalf of the individual) 
     refuses to consent to the transfer. The hospital shall take 
     all reasonable steps to secure the written informed consent 
     of the individual (or person) to refuse such transfer.
       ``(c) Restricting Transfers Until Individual Stabilized.--
     (1) If an individual at a hospital of the Department has an 
     emergency medical condition that has not been stabilized, the 
     hospital may not transfer the individual unless--
       ``(A)(i) the individual (or a legally responsible person 
     acting on behalf of the individual), after being informed of 
     the obligations of the hospital under this section and of the 
     risk of transfer, requests, in writing, transfer to another 
     medical facility;
       ``(ii) a physician of the Department has signed a 
     certification that, based upon the information available at 
     the time of transfer, the medical benefits reasonably 
     expected

[[Page 18084]]

     from the provision of appropriate medical treatment at 
     another medical facility outweigh the increased risks to the 
     individual and, in the case of labor, to the unborn child 
     from effecting the transfer; or
       ``(iii) if a physician of the Department is not physically 
     present in the emergency department at the time an individual 
     is transferred, a qualified medical person (as defined by the 
     Secretary for purposes of this section) has signed a 
     certification described in clause (ii) after a physician of 
     the Department, in consultation with the person, has made the 
     determination described in such clause, and subsequently 
     countersigns the certification; and
       ``(B) the transfer is an appropriate transfer to that 
     facility.
       ``(2) A certification described in clause (ii) or (iii) of 
     paragraph (1)(A) shall include a summary of the risks and 
     benefits upon which the certification is based.
       ``(3) For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), an appropriate 
     transfer to a medical facility is a transfer--
       ``(A) in which the transferring hospital provides the 
     medical treatment within its capacity that minimizes the 
     risks to the health of the individual and, in the case of a 
     woman in labor, the health of the unborn child;
       ``(B) in which the receiving facility--
       ``(i) has available space and qualified personnel for the 
     treatment of the individual; and
       ``(ii) has agreed to accept transfer of the individual and 
     to provide appropriate medical treatment;
       ``(C) in which the transferring hospital sends to the 
     receiving facility all medical records (or copies thereof) 
     available at the time of the transfer relating to the 
     emergency medical condition for which the individual has 
     presented, including--
       ``(i) observations of signs or symptoms;
       ``(ii) preliminary diagnosis;
       ``(iii) treatment provided;
       ``(iv) the results of any tests; and
       ``(v) the informed written consent or certification (or 
     copy thereof) provided under paragraph (1)(A);
       ``(D) in which the transfer is effected through qualified 
     personnel and transportation equipment, including the use of 
     necessary and medically appropriate life support measures 
     during the transfer; and
       ``(E) that meets such other requirements as the Secretary 
     considers necessary in the interest of the health and safety 
     of individuals transferred.
       ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `campus' means, with respect to a hospital 
     of the Department--
       ``(A) the physical area immediately adjacent to the main 
     buildings of the hospital;
       ``(B) other areas and structures that are not strictly 
     contiguous to the main buildings but are located not less 
     than 250 yards from the main buildings; and
       ``(C) any other areas determined by the Secretary to be 
     part of the campus of the hospital.
       ``(2) The term `emergency medical condition' means--
       ``(A) a medical condition manifesting itself by acute 
     symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such 
     that the absence of immediate medical attention could 
     reasonably be expected to result in--
       ``(i) placing the health of the individual (or, with 
     respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or her 
     unborn child) in serious jeopardy;
       ``(ii) serious impairment to bodily functions; or
       ``(iii) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part; or
       ``(B) with respect to a pregnant woman who is having 
     contractions--
       ``(i) that there is inadequate time to effect a safe 
     transfer to another hospital before delivery; or
       ``(ii) that transfer may pose a threat to the health or 
     safety of the woman or the unborn child.
       ``(3)(A) The term `to stabilize' means, with respect to an 
     emergency medical condition described in paragraph (2)(A), to 
     provide such medical treatment of the condition as may be 
     necessary to assure, within reasonable medical probability, 
     that no material deterioration of the condition is likely to 
     result from or occur during the transfer of the individual 
     from a facility, or, with respect to an emergency medical 
     condition described in paragraph (2)(B), to deliver 
     (including the placenta).
       ``(B) The term `stabilized' means, with respect to an 
     emergency medical condition described in paragraph (2)(A), 
     that no material deterioration of the condition is likely, 
     within reasonable medical probability, to result from or 
     occur during the transfer of the individual from a facility, 
     or, with respect to an emergency medical condition described 
     in paragraph (2)(B), that the woman has delivered (including 
     the placenta).
       ``(4) The term `transfer' means the movement (including the 
     discharge) of an individual outside the facilities of a 
     hospital of the Department at the direction of any person 
     employed by (or affiliated or associated, directly or 
     indirectly, with) the hospital, but does not include such a 
     movement of an individual who--
       ``(A) has been declared dead; or
       ``(B) leaves the facility without the permission of any 
     such person.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 1784 the following new 
     item:

``Sec. 1784A. Examination and treatment for emergency medical 
              conditions and women in labor.''.

              Subtitle C--Improvement of Medical Workforce

     SEC. 121. INCLUSION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN 
                   EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HEALTH 
                   PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--In carrying out the education and training 
     program required under section 7302(a)(1) of title 38, United 
     States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include 
     education and training of marriage and family therapists and 
     licensed professional mental health counselors.
       (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect on 
     the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 122. EXPANSION OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSED MENTAL 
                   HEALTH COUNSELORS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS TO INCLUDE DOCTORAL DEGREES.

       Section 7402(b)(11)(A) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting ``or doctoral degree'' after ``master's 
     degree''.

     SEC. 123. REPORT ON MEDICAL WORKFORCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the medical workforce of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) With respect to licensed professional mental health 
     counselors and marriage and family therapists of the 
     Department--
       (A) how many such counselors and therapists are currently 
     enrolled in the mental health professionals trainee program 
     of the Department;
       (B) how many such counselors and therapists are expected to 
     enroll in the mental health professionals trainee program of 
     the Department during the 180-day period beginning on the 
     date of the submittal of the report;
       (C) a description of the eligibility criteria for such 
     counselors and therapists as compared to other behavioral 
     health professions in the Department;
       (D) a description of the objectives, goals, and timing of 
     the Department with respect to increasing the representation 
     of such counselors and therapists in the behavioral health 
     workforce of the Department; and
       (E) a description of the actions taken by the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management, to create an occupational series for such 
     counselors and therapists and a timeline for the creation of 
     such an occupational series.
       (2) A breakdown of spending by the Department in connection 
     with the education debt reduction program of the Department 
     under subchapter VII of chapter 76 of title 38, United States 
     Code, including--
       (A) the amount spent by the Department in debt reduction 
     payments during the three-year period preceding the submittal 
     of the report disaggregated by the medical profession of the 
     individual receiving the payments;
       (B) a description of how the Department prioritizes such 
     spending by medical profession, including an assessment of 
     whether such priority reflects the five occupations 
     identified in the most recent determination by the Inspector 
     General of the Department of Veterans Affairs as having the 
     largest staffing shortages in the Veterans Health 
     Administration; and
       (C) a description of the actions taken by the Secretary to 
     increase the effectiveness of such spending for purposes of 
     recruitment of health care providers to the Department, 
     including efforts to more consistently include eligibility 
     for the education debt reduction program in vacancy 
     announcements of positions for health care providers at the 
     Department.
       (3) A description of any impediments to the delivery by the 
     Department of telemedicine services to veterans and any 
     actions taken by the Department to address such impediments, 
     including with respect to--
       (A) restrictions under Federal or State laws;
       (B) licensing or credentialing issues for health care 
     providers, including non-Department health care providers, 
     practicing telemedicine with a veteran located in a different 
     State;
       (C) the effect of limited broadband access or limited 
     information technology capabilities on the delivery of health 
     care;
       (D) the distance a veteran is required to travel to access 
     a facility or clinic with telemedicine capabilities;
       (E) the effect on the provision of telemedicine services to 
     veterans of policies of and limited liability protection for 
     certain entities; and

[[Page 18085]]

       (F) issues relating to reimbursement and travel limitations 
     for veterans that affect the participation of non-Department 
     health care providers in the telemedicine program.
       (4) An update on the efforts of the Secretary to offer 
     training opportunities in telemedicine to medical residents 
     in medical facilities of the Department that use 
     telemedicine, consistent with medical residency program 
     requirements established by the Accreditation Council for 
     Graduate Medical Education, as required in section 108(b) of 
     the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune 
     Families Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-154; 38 U.S.C. 7406 
     note).
       (5) An assessment of the development and implementation by 
     the Secretary of succession planning policies to address the 
     prevalence of vacancies in positions in the Veterans Health 
     Administration of more than 180 days, including the 
     development of an enterprise position management system to 
     more effectively identify, track, and resolve such vacancies.
       (6) A description of the actions taken by the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management, to address any impediments to the timely 
     appointment and determination of qualifications for Directors 
     of Veterans Integrated Service Networks and Medical Directors 
     of the Department.

           TITLE II--COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS MATTERS

                 Subtitle A--Benefits Claims Submission

     SEC. 201. PARTICIPATION OF VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN 
                   TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary 
     of Labor, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, should establish a process by 
     which a representative of a veterans service organization may 
     be present at any portion of the program carried out under 
     section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, relating to the 
     submittal of claims to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 
     compensation under chapter 11 or 13 of title 38, United 
     States Code.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to Congress a report on participation of veterans 
     service organizations in the program carried out under 
     section 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) An assessment of the compliance of facilities of the 
     Department of Defense with the directives included in the 
     memorandum of the Secretary of Defense entitled 
     ``Installation Access and Support Services for Nonprofit Non-
     Federal Entities'' and dated December 23, 2014.
       (B) The number of military bases that have complied with 
     such directives.
       (C) How many veterans service organizations have been 
     present at a portion of a program as described in subsection 
     (a).
       (c) Veterans Service Organization Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``veterans service organization'' means any 
     organization recognized by the Secretary for the 
     representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38.

     SEC. 202. REQUIREMENT THAT SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   PUBLISH THE AVERAGE TIME REQUIRED TO ADJUDICATE 
                   TIMELY AND UNTIMELY APPEALS.

       (a) Publication Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--On an ongoing basis, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall make available to the public the 
     following:
       (A) The average length of time to adjudicate a timely 
     appeal.
       (B) The average length of time to adjudicate an untimely 
     appeal.
       (2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act and shall apply until the date that is three years after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 39 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on whether publication pursuant to 
     subsection (a)(1) has had an effect on the number of timely 
     appeals filed.
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) The number of appeals and timely appeals that were 
     filed during the one-year period ending on the effective date 
     specified in subsection (a)(2).
       (B) The number of appeals and timely appeals that were 
     filed during the one-year period ending on the date that is 
     two years after the effective date specified in subsection 
     (a)(2).
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appeal.--The term ``appeal'' means a notice of 
     disagreement filed pursuant to section 7105(a) of title 38, 
     United States Code, in response to notice of the result of an 
     initial review or determination regarding a claim for a 
     benefit under a law administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs.
       (2) Timely.--The term ``timely'' with respect to an appeal 
     means that the notice of disagreement was filed not more than 
     180 days after the date of mailing of the notice of the 
     result of the initial review or determination described in 
     paragraph (1).
       (3) Untimely.--The term ``untimely'' with respect to an 
     appeal means the notice of disagreement was filed more than 
     180 days after the date of mailing of the notice of the 
     result of the initial review or determination described in 
     paragraph (1).

     SEC. 203. DETERMINATION OF MANNER OF APPEARANCE FOR HEARINGS 
                   BEFORE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS.

       (a) In General.--Section 7107 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (e);
       (2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (f) as subsections 
     (f) and (g), respectively;
       (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
     subsections (d) and (e):
       ``(d)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a hearing before the 
     Board shall be conducted, as the Board considers 
     appropriate--
       ``(A) in person; or
       ``(B) through picture and voice transmission, by electronic 
     or other means, in such manner that the appellant is not 
     present in the same location as the member or members of the 
     Board during the hearing.
       ``(2) Upon request by an appellant, a hearing before the 
     Board shall be conducted, as the appellant considers 
     appropriate--
       ``(A) in person; or
       ``(B) through picture and voice transmission as described 
     in paragraph (1)(B).
       ``(e)(1) In a case in which a hearing before the Board is 
     to be conducted through picture and voice transmission as 
     described in subsection (d)(1)(B), the Secretary shall 
     provide suitable facilities and equipment to the Board or 
     other components of the Department to enable an appellant 
     located at an appropriate facility within the area served by 
     a regional office to participate as so described.
       ``(2) Any hearing conducted through picture and voice 
     transmission as described in subsection (d)(1)(B) shall be 
     conducted in the same manner as, and shall be considered the 
     equivalent of, a personal hearing.''; and
       (4) in subsection (f)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (2), 
     by striking ``An appellant may request'' and all that follows 
     through ``office of the Department'' and inserting ``In a 
     case in which a hearing before the Board is to be conducted 
     in person, the hearing shall be held at the principal 
     location of the Board or at a facility of the Department 
     located within the area served by a regional office of the 
     Department''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (a)(1) of such 
     section is amended by striking ``in subsection (f)'' and 
     inserting ``in subsection (g)''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to cases received by the Board of 
     Veterans' Appeals pursuant to notices of disagreement 
     submitted on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

 Subtitle B--Practices of Regional Offices Relating to Benefits Claims

     SEC. 211. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW OF CLAIMS PROCESSING 
                   PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL OFFICES OF VETERANS 
                   BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Review Required.--Not later than 15 months after the 
     effective date specified in subsection (e), the Comptroller 
     General of the United States shall complete a review of the 
     regional offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration to 
     help the Veterans Benefits Administration achieve more 
     consistent performance in the processing of claims for 
     disability compensation.
       (b) Elements.--The review required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) An identification of the following:
       (A) The factors, including management practices, that 
     distinguish higher performing regional offices from other 
     regional offices with respect to claims for disability 
     compensation.
       (B) The best practices employed by higher performing 
     regional offices that distinguish the performance of such 
     offices from other regional offices.
       (C) Such other management practices or tools as the 
     Comptroller General determines could be used to improve the 
     performance of regional offices.
       (2) An assessment of the effectiveness of communication 
     with respect to the processing of claims for disability 
     compensation between the regional offices and veterans 
     service organizations and caseworkers employed by Members of 
     Congress.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 15 months after the effective 
     date specified in subsection (e), the Comptroller General 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the results of the review 
     completed under subsection (a).
       (d) Veterans Service Organization Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``veterans service organization'' means any 
     organization recognized by the Secretary for the 
     representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, 
     United States Code.
       (e) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is 270 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

[[Page 18086]]



     SEC. 212. INCLUSION IN ANNUAL BUDGET SUBMISSION OF 
                   INFORMATION ON CAPACITY OF VETERANS BENEFITS 
                   ADMINISTRATION TO PROCESS BENEFITS CLAIMS.

       (a) In General.--Along with the supporting information 
     included in the budget submitted to Congress by the President 
     pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, 
     the President shall include information on the capacity of 
     the Veterans Benefits Administration to process claims for 
     benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, including information described in 
     subsection (b), during the fiscal year covered by the budget 
     with which the information is submitted.
       (b) Information Described.--The information described in 
     this subsection is the following:
       (1) An estimate of the average number of claims for 
     benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary, 
     excluding such claims completed during mandatory overtime, 
     that a single full-time equivalent employee of the 
     Administration can process in a year, based on the following:
       (A) A time and motion study that the Secretary shall 
     conduct on the processing of such claims.
       (B) Such other information relating to such claims as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate.
       (2) A description of the actions the Secretary will take to 
     improve the processing of such claims.
       (3) An assessment of the actions identified by the 
     Secretary under paragraph (2) in the previous year and an 
     identification of the effects of those actions.
       (c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect 
     to any budget submitted as described in subsection (a) with 
     respect to any fiscal year after fiscal year 2017.

     SEC. 213. REPORT ON STAFFING LEVELS AT REGIONAL OFFICES OF 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AFTER TRANSITION 
                   TO NATIONAL WORK QUEUE.

       Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
     the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the criteria and procedures that 
     the Secretary will use to determine appropriate staffing 
     levels at the regional offices of the Department once the 
     Department has transitioned to using the National Work Queue 
     for the distribution of the claims processing workload.

     SEC. 214. ANNUAL REPORT ON PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING VETERANS 
                   BENEFITS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--Not later than each of one year, two 
     years, and three years after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
     Congress a report on the progress of the Secretary in 
     implementing the Veterans Benefits Management System.
       (b) Contents.--Each report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) An assessment of the current functionality of the 
     Veterans Benefits Management System.
       (2) Recommendations submitted to the Secretary by employees 
     of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are involved in 
     processing claims for benefits under the laws administered by 
     the Secretary, including veterans service representatives, 
     rating veterans service representatives, and decision review 
     officers, for such legislative or administrative action as 
     the employees consider appropriate to improve the processing 
     of such claims.
       (3) Recommendations submitted to the Secretary by veterans 
     service organizations who use the Veterans Benefits 
     Management System for such legislative or administrative 
     action as the veterans service organizations consider 
     appropriate to improve such system.
       (c) Veterans Service Organization Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``veterans service organization'' means any 
     organization recognized by the Secretary for the 
     representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, 
     United States Code.

     SEC. 215. REPORT ON PLANS OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
                   REDUCE INVENTORY OF NON-RATING WORKLOAD.

       Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
     the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report that details the plans of the 
     Secretary to reduce the inventory of work items listed in the 
     Monday Morning Workload Report under End Products 130, 137, 
     173, 290, 400, 600, 607, 690, 930, and 960.

     SEC. 216. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INCREASED TRANSPARENCY 
                   RELATING TO CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS AND APPEALS OF 
                   DECISIONS RELATING TO BENEFITS IN MONDAY 
                   MORNING WORKLOAD REPORT.

       It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs should include in each Monday Morning Workload Report 
     published by the Secretary the following:
       (1) With respect to each regional office of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs, the following:
       (A) The number of fully developed claims for benefits under 
     the laws administered by the Secretary that have been 
     received.
       (B) The number of claims described in subparagraph (A) that 
     are pending a decision.
       (C) The number of claims described in subparagraph (A) that 
     have been pending a decision for more than 125 days.
       (2) Enhanced information on appeals of decisions relating 
     to claims for benefits under the laws administered by the 
     Secretary that are pending, including information contained 
     in the reports of the Department entitled ``Appeals Pending'' 
     and ``Appeals Workload By Station''.

                   Subtitle C--Other Benefits Matters

     SEC. 221. MODIFICATION OF PILOT PROGRAM FOR USE OF CONTRACT 
                   PHYSICIANS FOR DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS.

       Section 504 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 
     1996 (Public Law 104-275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
     (d) and (e), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
     subsection (c):
       ``(c) Licensure of Contract Physicians.--
       ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any law regarding the 
     licensure of physicians, a physician described in paragraph 
     (2) may conduct an examination pursuant to a contract entered 
     into under subsection (a) at any location in any State, the 
     District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or 
     possession of the United States, so long as the examination 
     is within the scope of the authorized duties under such 
     contract.
       ``(2) Physician described.--A physician described in this 
     paragraph is a physician who--
       ``(A) has a current license to practice the health care 
     profession of the physician; and
       ``(B) is performing authorized duties for the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs pursuant to a contract entered into under 
     subsection (a).''.

     SEC. 222. DEVELOPMENT OF PROCEDURES TO INCREASE COOPERATION 
                   WITH NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall jointly develop and 
     implement procedures, including requirements relating to 
     timeliness, to improve the timely provision to the Secretary 
     of such information in the possession of the Chief as the 
     Secretary requires to process claims submitted to the 
     Secretary for benefits under the laws administered by the 
     Secretary.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the 
     implementation of the procedures under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary and the Chief shall jointly submit to Congress a 
     report describing--
       (1) the requests for information relating to records of 
     members of the National Guard made by the Secretary to the 
     Chief pursuant to such procedures; and
       (2) the timeliness of the responses of the Chief to such 
     requests.

     SEC. 223. REVIEW OF DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN SERVICE IN 
                   PHILIPPINES DURING WORLD WAR II.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense and such military 
     historians as the Secretary of Defense recommends, shall 
     review the process used to determine whether a covered 
     individual served in support of the Armed Forces of the 
     United States during World War II in accordance with section 
     1002(d) of title X of Division A of the American Recovery and 
     Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5; 38 U.S.C. 107 
     note) for purposes of determining whether such covered 
     individual is eligible for payments described in such 
     section.
       (b) Covered Individuals.--In this section, a covered 
     individual is any individual who timely submitted a claim for 
     benefits under subsection (c) of section 1002 of title X of 
     Division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 
     2009 (Public Law 111-5; 38 U.S.C. 107 note) based on service 
     as described in subsection (d) of that section.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report detailing any findings, actions 
     taken, or recommendations for legislative action with respect 
     to the review conducted under subsection (a).
       (d) Prohibition on Benefits for Disqualifying Conduct Under 
     New Process Pursuant to Review.--If pursuant to the review 
     conducted under subsection (a) the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs determines to establish a new process for the making 
     of payments as described in that subsection, the process 
     shall include mechanisms to ensure that individuals are not 
     treated as covered individuals for purposes of such payments 
     if such individuals engaged in any disqualifying conduct 
     during service described in that subsection, including 
     collaboration with the enemy or criminal conduct.

     SEC. 224. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SUBMITTAL OF INFORMATION 
                   RELATING TO CLAIMS FOR DISABILITIES INCURRED OR 
                   AGGRAVATED BY MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.

       (a) In General.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs should submit to Congress 
     information on

[[Page 18087]]

     the covered claims submitted to the Secretary during each 
     fiscal year, including the information specified in 
     subsection (b).
       (b) Elements.--The information specified in this subsection 
     with respect to each fiscal year is the following:
       (1) The number of covered claims submitted to or considered 
     by the Secretary during such fiscal year.
       (2) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1), the number 
     and percentage of such claims--
       (A) submitted by each gender;
       (B) that were approved, including the number and percentage 
     of such approved claims submitted by each gender; and
       (C) that were denied, including the number and percentage 
     of such denied claims submitted by each gender.
       (3) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) that were 
     approved, the number and percentage, listed by each gender, 
     of claims assigned to each rating percentage of disability.
       (4) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) that were 
     denied--
       (A) the three most common reasons given by the Secretary 
     under section 5104(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, for 
     such denials; and
       (B) the number of denials that were based on the failure of 
     a veteran to report for a medical examination.
       (5) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) that were 
     resubmitted to the Secretary after denial in a previous 
     adjudication--
       (A) the number of such claims submitted to or considered by 
     the Secretary during such fiscal year;
       (B) the number and percentage of such claims--
       (i) submitted by each gender;
       (ii) that were approved, including the number and 
     percentage of such approved claims submitted by each gender; 
     and
       (iii) that were denied, including the number and percentage 
     of such denied claims submitted by each gender;
       (C) the number and percentage, listed by each gender, of 
     claims assigned to each rating percentage of disability; and
       (D) of such claims that were again denied--
       (i) the three most common reasons given by the Secretary 
     under section 5104(b)(1) of such title for such denials; and
       (ii) the number of denials that were based on the failure 
     of a veteran to report for a medical examination.
       (6) The number of covered claims that, as of the end of 
     such fiscal year, are pending and, separately, the number of 
     such claims on appeal.
       (7) The average number of days that covered claims take to 
     complete beginning on the date on which the claim is 
     submitted.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered claims.--The term ``covered claims'' means 
     claims for disability compensation submitted to the Secretary 
     based on post-traumatic stress disorder alleged to have been 
     incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma.
       (2) Military sexual trauma.--The term ``military sexual 
     trauma'' shall have the meaning specified by the Secretary 
     for purposes of this section and shall include ``sexual 
     harassment'' (as so specified).

                      TITLE III--EDUCATION MATTERS

     SEC. 301. RETENTION OF ENTITLEMENT TO EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
                   DURING CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PERIODS OF ACTIVE 
                   DUTY.

       (a) Educational Assistance Allowance.--Section 
     16131(c)(3)(B)(i) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``or 12304'' and inserting ``12304, 12304a, or 
     12304b''.
       (b) Expiration Date.--Section 16133(b)(4) of such title is 
     amended by striking ``or 12304'' and inserting ``12304, 
     12304a, or 12304b''.

     SEC. 302. REPORTS ON PROGRESS OF STUDENTS RECEIVING POST-9/11 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 33 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection 3325(c)--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
     paragraph (3):
       ``(3) the information received by the Secretary under 
     section 3326 of this title; and''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 3326. Report on student progress

       ``As a condition on approval under chapter 36 of this title 
     of a course offered by an educational institution (as defined 
     in section 3452 of this title), each year, each educational 
     institution (as so defined) that received a payment in that 
     year on behalf of an individual entitled to educational 
     assistance under this chapter shall submit to the Secretary 
     such information regarding the academic progress of the 
     individual as the Secretary may require.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``3326. Report on student progress.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 303. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE REPORT ON LEVEL OF EDUCATION 
                   ATTAINED BY THOSE WHO TRANSFER ENTITLEMENT TO 
                   POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Section 3325(b)(1) of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(D) indicating the highest level of education attained by 
     each individual who transfers a portion of the individual's 
     entitlement to educational assistance under section 3319 of 
     this title; and''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 304. REPORTS ON EDUCATIONAL LEVELS ATTAINED BY CERTAIN 
                   MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AT TIME OF 
                   SEPARATION FROM THE ARMED FORCES.

       (a) Annual Reports Required.--Each Secretary concerned 
     shall submit to Congress each year a report on the 
     educational levels attained by members of the Armed Forces 
     described in subsection (b) under the jurisdiction of such 
     Secretary who separated from the Armed Forces during the 
     preceding year.
       (b) Covered Members.--The members of the Armed Forces 
     described in this subsection are members of the Armed Forces 
     who transferred unused education benefits to family members 
     pursuant to section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, 
     while serving as members of the Armed Forces.
       (c) Secretary Concerned Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``Secretary concerned'' has the meaning given that term in 
     section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

              TITLE IV--EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSITION MATTERS

     SEC. 401. REQUIRED COORDINATION BETWEEN DIRECTORS FOR 
                   VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING WITH STATE 
                   DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Section 4103 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(c) Coordination With State Departments of Labor and 
     Veterans Affairs.--Each Director for Veterans' Employment and 
     Training for a State shall coordinate the Director's 
     activities under this chapter with the State department of 
     labor and the State department of veterans affairs.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 402. REPORT ON JOB FAIRS ATTENDED BY ONE-STOP CAREER 
                   CENTER EMPLOYEES AT WHICH SUCH EMPLOYEES 
                   ENCOUNTER VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Section 136(d)(1) of the Workforce 
     Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2871(d)(1)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The report 
     also shall include information, for the year preceding the 
     year the report is submitted, on the number of job fairs 
     attended by One-Stop Career Center employees at which the 
     employees had contact with a veteran, and the number of 
     veterans contacted at each such job fair.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 403. REVIEW OF CHALLENGES FACED BY EMPLOYERS SEEKING TO 
                   HIRE VETERANS AND SHARING OF INFORMATION AMONG 
                   FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT SERVE VETERANS.

       (a) Review.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs, shall conduct a review of--
       (A) the challenges faced by employers seeking to hire 
     veterans; and
       (B) information sharing among Federal departments and 
     agencies that serve veterans and members of the Armed Forces 
     who are separating from service.
       (2) Matters reviewed.--In conducting the review required by 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall examine the 
     following:
       (A) The barriers employers face in gaining information 
     identifying veterans who are seeking jobs.
       (B) The extent and quality of information sharing among 
     Federal departments and agencies that serve veterans and 
     members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service, 
     including how the departments and agencies may more easily 
     connect employers with such veterans and members.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the 
     effective date specified in subsection (c), the Secretary of 
     Labor shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
     a report on the review conducted under subsection (a).
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:

[[Page 18088]]

       (A) Recommendations for addressing the barriers described 
     in subsection (a)(2)(A).
       (B) Recommendations for improving information sharing 
     described in subsection (a)(2)(B).
       (3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 404. REVIEW OF TRANSITION GPS PROGRAM CORE CURRICULUM.

       (a) Review.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 
     Labor, shall conduct a review of the Department of Defense 
     Transition GPS Program Core Curriculum in effect on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Matters reviewed.--The review shall examine the 
     following:
       (A) The Department of Defense Transition GPS Program Core 
     Curriculum in effect on the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
       (B) The roles and responsibilities of each Federal 
     department participating in the Transition GPS Program and 
     whether the various roles and responsibilities of the Federal 
     departments are adequately aligned with one another.
       (C) The allotment of time spent on issues under the 
     jurisdiction of each Federal department participating in the 
     Transition GPS Program and whether the allotment is adequate 
     to provide members of the Armed Forces with all the 
     information the members need regarding important benefits 
     that can assist members in transitioning out of military 
     service.
       (D) Whether any of the information in the three optional 
     tracks in the Transition GPS Program Core Curriculum should 
     be addressed more appropriately in mandatory tracks rather 
     than optional tracks.
       (E) The benefits of and obstacles to establishing--
       (i) a standard implementation plan of long-term outcome 
     measures for the Transition GPS Program; and
       (ii) a comprehensive system of metrics for such measures.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Secretary of Labor, shall submit to the appropriate 
     committees of Congress a report on the review conducted under 
     subsection (a).
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) Recommendations for improving the Department of Defense 
     Transition GPS Program Core Curriculum in order to more 
     accurately address the needs of members of the Armed Forces 
     transitioning out of military service.
       (B) Recommendations for improving the roles and 
     responsibilities described in subsection (a)(2)(B).
       (C) Recommendations for improving the allotment of time 
     described in subsection (a)(2)(C).
       (D) Such recommendations as the Secretary of Defense may 
     have regarding the optional and mandatory tracks in the 
     Transition GPS Program Core Curriculum.
       (E) Such recommendations as the Secretary of Defense may 
     have with respect to the outcome measures and metrics 
     described in subsection (a)(2)(E).
       (F) Identification of such other areas of concern as the 
     Secretary of Defense may have with respect to the Transition 
     GPS Program and such recommendations for legislative or 
     administrative action as the Secretary may have to address 
     such concerns.
       (3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.

     SEC. 405. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT FOR PROVISION OF 
                   PRESEPARATION COUNSELING.

       (a) Clarification of Requirement for 180 Continuous Days of 
     Active Duty Service.--Subparagraph (A) of section 1142(a)(4) 
     of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
     ``continuous'' before ``180 days''.
       (b) Exclusion of Training From Periods of Active Duty.--
     Such section is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `active 
     duty' does not include full-time training duty, annual 
     training duty, and attendance, while in the active military 
     service, at a school designated as a service school by law or 
     by the Secretary concerned.''.

                TITLE V--VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

     SEC. 501. MODIFICATION OF TREATMENT UNDER CONTRACTING GOALS 
                   AND PREFERENCES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OWNED BY VETERANS 
                   OF SMALL BUSINESSES AFTER DEATH OF DISABLED 
                   VETERAN OWNERS.

       (a) In General.--Section 8127(h) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``rated as'' and all that 
     follows through ``disability.'' and inserting a period; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (C) to read 
     as follows:
       ``(C) The date that--
       ``(i) in the case of a surviving spouse of a veteran with a 
     service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling 
     or who dies as a result of a service-connected disability, is 
     10 years after the date of the veteran's death; or
       ``(ii) in the case of a surviving spouse of a veteran with 
     a service-connected disability rated as less than 100 percent 
     disabling who does not die as a result of a service-connected 
     disability, is three years after the date of the veteran's 
     death.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to 
     applications received pursuant to section 8127(f)(2) of title 
     38, United States Code, that are verified on or after such 
     date.

     SEC. 502. TREATMENT OF BUSINESSES AFTER DEATHS OF 
                   SERVICEMEMBER-OWNERS FOR PURPOSES OF DEPARTMENT 
                   OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONTRACTING GOALS AND 
                   PREFERENCES.

       (a) In General.--Section 8127 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (i) through (l) as 
     subsections (j) through (m), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new 
     subsection (i):
       ``(i) Treatment of Businesses After Death of Servicemember-
     owner.--(1) If a member of the Armed Forces owns at least 51 
     percent of a small business concern and such member is killed 
     in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air 
     service, the surviving spouse or dependent child of such 
     member who acquires such ownership rights in such small 
     business concern shall, for the period described in paragraph 
     (2), be treated as if the surviving spouse or dependent child 
     were a veteran with a service-connected disability for 
     purposes of determining the status of the small business 
     concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by 
     veterans for purposes of contracting goals and preferences 
     under this section.
       ``(2) The period referred to in paragraph (1) is the period 
     beginning on the date on which the member of the Armed Forces 
     dies and ending on the date as follows:
       ``(A) In the case of a surviving spouse, the earliest of 
     the following dates:
       ``(i) The date on which the surviving spouse remarries.
       ``(ii) The date on which the surviving spouse relinquishes 
     an ownership interest in the small business concern and no 
     longer owns at least 51 percent of such small business 
     concern.
       ``(iii) The date that is ten years after the date of the 
     member's death.
       ``(B) In the case of a dependent child, the earliest of the 
     following dates:
       ``(i) The date on which the surviving dependent child 
     relinquishes an ownership interest in the small business 
     concern and no longer owns at least 51 percent of such small 
     business concern.
       ``(ii) The date that is ten years after the date of the 
     member's death.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (i) of section 8127 of such 
     title, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the 
     date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with 
     respect to the deaths of members of the Armed Forces 
     occurring on or after such date.

                        TITLE VI--BURIAL MATTERS

     SEC. 601. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS STUDY ON MATTERS 
                   RELATING TO BURIAL OF UNCLAIMED REMAINS OF 
                   VETERANS IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES.

       (a) Study and Report Required.--Not later than one year 
     after the effective date specified in subsection (d), the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
       (1) complete a study on matters relating to the interring 
     of unclaimed remains of veterans in national cemeteries under 
     the control of the National Cemetery Administration; and
       (2) submit to Congress a report on the findings of the 
     Secretary with respect to the study required under paragraph 
     (1).
       (b) Matters Studied.--The matters studied under subsection 
     (a)(1) shall include the following:
       (1) Determining the scope of issues relating to unclaimed 
     remains of veterans, including an estimate of the number of 
     unclaimed remains of veterans.
       (2) Assessing the effectiveness of the procedures of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs for working with persons or 
     entities having custody of unclaimed remains to facilitate 
     interment of unclaimed remains of veterans in national 
     cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery 
     Administration.
       (3) Assessing State and local laws that affect the ability 
     of the Secretary to inter unclaimed remains of veterans in 
     national

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     cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery 
     Administration.
       (4) Developing recommendations for such legislative or 
     administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (c) Methodology.--
       (1) Number of unclaimed remains.--In estimating the number 
     of unclaimed remains of veterans under subsection (b)(1), the 
     Secretary may review such subset of applicable entities as 
     the Secretary considers appropriate, including a subset of 
     funeral homes and coroner offices that possess unclaimed 
     veterans remains.
       (2) Assessment of state and local laws.--In assessing State 
     and local laws under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary may 
     assess such sample of applicable State and local laws as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate in lieu of reviewing all 
     applicable State and local laws.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 701. HONORING AS VETERANS CERTAIN PERSONS WHO PERFORMED 
                   SERVICE IN THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED 
                   FORCES.

       Any person who is entitled under chapter 1223 of title 10, 
     United States Code, to retired pay for nonregular service or, 
     but for age, would be entitled under such chapter to retired 
     pay for nonregular service shall be honored as a veteran but 
     shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of this honor.

     SEC. 702. REPORT ON LAOTIAN MILITARY SUPPORT OF ARMED FORCES 
                   OF THE UNITED STATES DURING VIETNAM WAR.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the 
     effective date specified in subsection (c), the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Defense and such agencies and individuals as the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs considers appropriate, shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report on--
       (1) the extent to which Laotian military forces provided 
     combat support to the Armed Forces of the United States 
     between February 28, 1961, and May 15, 1975;
       (2) whether the current classification by the Civilian/
     Military Service Review Board of the Department of Defense of 
     service by individuals of Hmong ethnicity is appropriate; and
       (3) such recommendations as the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs may have for legislative action.
       (b) Appropriate Committees of Congress.--In this section, 
     the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 703. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS.

       (a) In General.--During the 10-year period beginning on 
     September 26, 2015, the second sentence of subsection (c) of 
     section 3684 of title 38, United States Code, shall be 
     applied--
       (1) by substituting ``$8'' for ``$12''; and
       (2) by substituting ``$12'' for ``$15''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 406 of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (Public Law 
     113-175; 38 U.S.C. 3684 note), as amended by section 410 of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act 
     of 2015 (Public Law 114-58), is hereby repealed.

  The title amendment was agreed to, as follows:

       Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to amend title 38, 
     United States Code, to improve the furnishing of health care 
     to veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs, to improve 
     the processing by the Department of claims for disability 
     compensation, and for other purposes.''.

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