DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS see also Veterans

Amendments

Appropriations: making continuing (H.R. 933), S1598 [11MR], S1714, S1715 [12MR], S1724, S1769, S1774, S1795, S1796, S1797, S1798, S1817, S1818, S1819, S1820, S1821, S1822 [13MR], S1829, S1837, S1840, S1843, S1863, S1864, S1865, S1866, S1867, S1868, S1869, S1870, S1871 [14MR], S1909, S1910 [18MR], S1976, S1985, S1986 [20MR], H1725 [21MR], E351 [21MR]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), consideration (H. Res. 99), H995 [6MR]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2216), H3016, H3017 [3JN], H3057, H3058, H3061, H3063, H3064, H3065, H3067, H3072, H3073, H3074, H3075, H3077, H3078, H3079, H3080, H3097, H3098 [4JN]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2216), consideration (H. Res. 243), H3040 [4JN]

Employment: improve and increase the availability of on-job training and apprenticeship programs (H.R. 1412), S6685, S6686, S6687 [23SE], H5888 [27SE]

Homeless: expand the definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits (S. 287), S7799 [4NO], S7885, S7887 [6NO]

National cemeteries: provide authority to reconsider decisions to inter or honor the memory of a person in a national cemetery and disinter remains of Michael L. Anderson from Fort Custer National Cemetery (S. 1471), S8134, S8135 [18NO]

Veterans: making continuing appropriations for benefits (H.J. Res. 72), consideration (H. Res. 370), H6131 [2OC]

Articles and editorials

2013 Government Shutdown Could Hit Millions of Vets, VA Chief Says, H6475 [10OC]

Bills and resolutions

Animals: carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy (see H.R. 183), H51 [4JA]

——— establish a grant program to encourage use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans (see H.R. 2847), H5172 [30JY]

——— improve provision of guide dogs to veterans blinded by a service-connected injury (see H.R. 3647), H7507 [4DE]

Appropriations: make across-the-board rescissions in non-defense, non-homeland security, and non-veterans-affairs discretionary spending (see H.R. 56, 57, 58, 59), H29 [3JA]

——— making continuing (see H.R. 933), H948 [4MR]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), consideration (see H. Res. 99), H980 [5MR]

——— provide for advance appropriations for certain discretionary accounts (see S. 932), S3371 [13MY] (see H.R. 813), H627 [25FE]

Armed Forces: add a definition of spouse for purposes of military personnel policies and military and veterans benefits that recognize new State definitions of spouse (see S. 373), S773 [14FE] (see H.R. 683), H544 [14FE] (see H.R. 3569), H7310 [20NO]

——— expand use of telehealth under TRICARE program for active servicemembers, their dependents, retirees, and veterans (see H.R. 3507), H7151 [15NO]

Benefits: assess feasibility and advisability of using State and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to increase awareness of veterans’ benefits, services, and outreach activities (see S. 927), S3326 [9MY]

——— carry out a program of outreach for veterans (see S. 1558), S7007 [27SE]

——— clarify presumptions relating to exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam (see H.R. 543), H411 [6FE]

——— deem certain service in Reserve components as active service for purpose of certain administered laws (see S. 629), S2026 [20MR] (see H.R. 679), H501 [13FE]

——— improve assistance provided to women veterans, facilitate research on long-term reproductive health of veterans, and modify child care assistance for certain veterans (see S. 131), S284 [24JA] (see H.R. 958), H981 [5MR]

——— improve outreach programs (see H.R. 153), H50 [4JA]

——— repeal requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans’ dependency and indemnity compensation (see S. 734), S2683 [16AP] (see H.R. 32), H28 [3JA]

Board of Veterans’ Appeals: improve opportunity for veterans to use video conferencing for hearings (see H.R. 2119), H2911 [22MY]

Board of Veterans Appeals: treat certain misfiled documents as motions for reconsideration of decisions (see S. 939), S3429 [14MY]

Budget: clarify treatment of administrative expenses during sequestration (see H.R. 3181), H5832 [25SE]

——— submit to Congress a Future-Years Veterans Program and a quadrennial veterans review and establish a Chief Strategy Officer (see H.R. 2704), H4597 [17JY]

C.W. Bill Young Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL: designate (see S. 1576), S7574 [28OC] (see H.R. 3302), H6674 [22OC]

Camp Lejeune, NC: modify commencement date of the period of service for eligibility for hospital care and medical services in connection with exposure to contaminated water (see S. 529), S1710 [12MR]

Canada: establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at or underwent training at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown to track possible exposure to toxins (see S. 1892), S9105 [20DE] (see H.R. 1372), H1824 [21MR]

Cemeteries and funerals: increase burial and funeral expense benefits for certain veterans (see H.R. 1987), H2653 [15MY]

——— make memorial headstones and markers available for purchase for members of Reserve components who performed certain training (see H.R. 2310), H3287 [11JN]

Civil liberties: clarify conditions under which veterans, their spouses, and children may be adjudicated mentally incompetent relative to their ability to purchase firearms (see S. 572), S1853 [14MR] (see H.R. 577), H412 [6FE] (see H.R. 602), H431 [8FE]

——— prohibit the recording of a patient in a facility without the informed consent of the patient (see H.R. 1490), H1955 [11AP]

Claims: accept certain documents as proof of service in determining eligibility of an individual to receive amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund (see H.R. 481), H342 [4FE]

——— carry out a pilot program to establish claims adjudication centers of excellence (see H.R. 2088), H2910 [22MY]

——— establish a commission or task force to evaluate the backlog of disability claims (see H.R. 2189), H2954 [23MY]

——— establish a priority for processing claims for compensation for veterans who have attained a certain age, are terminally ill, or have a life-threatening illness (see H.R. 2382), H3652 [14JN]

——— establish a task force to assess retention and training of claims processors (see H.R. 2528), H4079 [26JN]

——— improve processing of claims for compensation (see S. 928), S3326 [9MY]

——— include an appeals form in any notice of decision issued for the denial of a benefit sought (see H.R. 1405), H1836 [25MR]

——— make interim payments of disability compensation benefits for certain claims for such compensation prior to the adjudication of such claims (see H.R. 2086), H2910 [22MY]

——— make publicly available certain information about pending and completed claims for compensation (see H.R. 1623), H2157 [18AP]

——— modify method of determining whether Filipino veterans are U.S. residents for purposes of eligibility for receipt of the full-dollar rate of compensation (see S. 1559), S7007 [27SE] (see H.R. 3207), H5921 [27SE]

——— pay provisional benefits for certain nonadjudicated claims (see H.R. 1739), H2350 [25AP]

——— provide certain employees of Members of Congress and certain State or local government employees with access to case-tracking information (see H.R. 733), H547 [14FE]

——— provide notice of average times for processing claims and percentage of claims approved (see S. 1148), S4405 [12JN] (see H.R. 1809), H2392 [26AP]

——— provide veterans, when they electronically file claims for benefits, with notice that relevant services may be available to them from veterans service organizations (see S. 1295), S5687 [15JY]

——— require prompt responses from covered Federal agencies to requests for information necessary to adjudicate claims for benefits (see S. 674), S2501 [9AP]

——— resolve backlog of disability claims (see H.R. 2138), H2952 [23MY]

——— submit quarterly reports on the timeliness of receipt of certain information from other departments or agencies (see H.R. 1759), H2351 [25AP]

——— submit to Congress an annual report on the automatic processing of claims for compensation (see H.R. 1805), H2392 [26AP]

Colleges and universities: make certain records available to educational institutions where veterans or persons receiving educational assistance are enrolled (see H.R. 2749), H4825 [19JY]

——— require college courses that are approved for purposes of educational assistance programs to charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate (see S. 944), S3429 [14MY]

——— support university law school programs designed to provide legal assistance to veterans (see S. 1042), S3843 [23MY] (see H.R. 3477), H7051 [13NO]

Contracts: give preference to veteran-owned local contractors (see H.R. 2358), H3590 [13JN]

Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA: designate (see S. 229), S519 [7FE] (see H.R. 454), H341 [4FE]

Crime: provide counseling and treatment for sexual trauma to Armed Forces members, screen veterans for domestic abuse, and report on military sexual trauma and domestic abuse (see S. 1581), S7574 [28OC]

Dept. of Agriculture: allow veterans to file for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits under the status of disabled while their Dept. of Veterans Affairs disability claims are pending (see H.R. 2038), H2717 [16MY]

Dept. of Defense: establish a task force on urotrauma (see H.R. 984), H1318 [6MR]

——— improve the Transition Assistance Program (see S. 889), S3159 [7MY]

——— improve treatment of Armed Forces members and veterans who are victims of military sexual assault (see H.R. 3775), H8117 [16DE]

——— provide service records of veterans to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs in an efficient electronic format (see H.R. 1729), H2349 [25AP]

——— report the long-term costs of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (see H.R. 1238), H1567 [18MR]

Dept. of HUD: establish position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs and submit a report on veterans’ homelessness (see H.R. 384), H280 [23JA]

Dept. of Justice: authorize veterans’ treatment courts and encourage services for veterans through drug courts (see H.R. 2187), H2954 [23MY]

——— provide the Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs authority to establish a prescription drug take-back program for Armed Forces members and veterans (see S. 1089), S3954 [4JN] (see H.R. 3714), H8107 [12DE]

Dept. of Labor: provide requirements for the Transition Assistance Program (see H.R. 631), H499 [13FE]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (see H.R. 2216), H3013 [3JN]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2216), consideration (see H. Res. 243), H3014 [3JN]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: accept voluntary service from veterans and veterans service organizations at national cemeteries (see H.R. 1957), H2574 [13MY]

——— ensure that vet centers have access to Defense Personnel Record Image Retrieval System and VA/Dept. of Defense Identity Repository (see H.R. 1132), H1395 [13MR]

——— establish a prize program to award a prize and contract for the development of a fully-integrated electronic health records program (see H.R. 2055), H2802 [20MY]

——— establish a specific timeline to achieve integrated electronic health records (see H.R. 2590), H4174 [28JN]

——— establish a specific timeline to achieve interoperable electronic health records (see S. 1296), S5687 [15JY]

——— improve health care by increasing access to complementary and alternative medicine and other approaches to wellness and preventive care (see H.R. 3516), H7152 [15NO]

——— improve oversight of educational assistance (see S. 1717), S8049 [14NO]

——— make eligibility criteria, disbursement policies, and tax treatment for certain caregiver compensation programs consistent (see H.R. 3443), H6954 [30OC]

Depts. of Veterans Affairs and HUD: establish a grant pilot program to provide housing for elderly homeless veterans (see H.R. 1714), H2298 [24AP]

Disabled: provide certain disabled veterans beneficiary travel program coverage for travel for certain special disabilities rehabilitation (see S. 633), S2146 [21MR] (see H.R. 1284), H1718 [20MR]

——— provide monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team and assistance to U.S. Paralympics, Inc. (see S. 695), S2564 [10AP] (see H.R. 1402), H1836 [25MR]

——— provide replacement automobiles for certain disabled veterans and Armed Forces members (see S. 1584), S7574 [28OC]

——— report on the provision of services to veterans with hearing loss and other auditory system injuries and measures that can be taken to address such injuries (see S. 1582), S7574 [28OC]

Diseases: ensure an up-to-date policy on reporting of cases of infectious diseases and require an independent assessment of Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical centers (see S. 1589), S7574 [28OC]

Dr. Cameron McKinley Dept. of Veterans Affairs Veterans Center, Prescott, AZ: designate (see H.R. 1216), H1547 [15MR]

Education: allow use of educational assistance funds to defray training costs associated with purchasing certain franchise enterprises (see S. 938), S3429 [14MY] (see H.R. 179), H51 [4JA]

——— eliminate time limitation for use of eligibility and entitlement to certain educational assistance (see H.R. 2169), H2953 [23MY]

——— improve enrollment of veterans in certain educational courses (see H.R. 3456), H6997 [12NO]

——— make permanent the authority to provide work-study allowance for certain activities by individuals receiving educational assistance (see H.R. 1453), H1858 [9AP]

——— permit the centralized reporting of veterans enrollment by certain groups, districts, and consortiums of educational institutions (see H.R. 331), H221 [22JA]

——— protect the phrases GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill from inappropriate or misleading marketing by entities targeting veterans (see S. 1211), S4793 [20JN]

——— repeal time limitations on eligibility for use of All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program benefits and improve veterans education outreach (see S. 863), S3091 [6MY]

Employment: extend eligibility period for veterans to enroll in certain vocational rehabilitation programs (see H.R. 844), H659 [26FE]

——— extend work-study program for individuals pursuing rehabilitation, education, or training and expand program to veterans’ outreach services provided by congressional offices (see S. 894), S3255 [8MY] (see H.R. 2151), H2953 [23MY]

——— improve and increase the availability of on-job training and apprenticeship programs (see S. 1216), S5149 [25JN] (see H.R. 1412), H1856 [9AP]

——— make grants to eligible nonprofit entities to establish clearinghouses for local information about employment opportunities and services for veterans (see H.R. 3442), H6954 [30OC]

Explosives: condemn bombings at the Boston Marathon, express condolences to victims and their families, and call for international reduction and support for victims of improvised explosive devices (see H. Res. 190), H2393 [26AP]

Families and domestic relations: amend the definition of spouse for purposes of veterans’ benefits to recognize new State definitions of spouse (see H.R. 2529), H4141 [27JN]

——— establish a national center for diagnosis, treatment, and research of health conditions of descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service (see S. 1602), S7615 [29OC]

——— furnish case management services and assisted living to children of Vietnam and certain Korean war veterans born with spina bifida or certain birth defects (see S. 832), S3029 [25AP]

——— improve benefits and assistance to surviving spouses of veterans (see S. 735), S2683 [16AP]

——— provide for payment of temporary compensation to a surviving spouse of a veteran upon the death of the veteran (see S. 1573), S7536 [16OC]

Federal aid programs: expand and enhance eligibility for health care and services (see S. 1604), S7615 [29OC]

——— make certain clarifications and improvements in academic and vocational counseling programs (see S. 1682), S7951 [12NO] (see H.R. 3399), H6952 [30OC]

Federal employees: prohibit receipt of bonuses by employees who violate Federal civil laws or regulations (see H.R. 3087), H5546 [12SE]

Foreign travel expenditures: submit to Congress semiannual reports on the cost of foreign travel made by employees (see H.R. 1804), H2392 [26AP]

Fort McClellan, AL: establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed there (see H.R. 411), H281 [23JA]

GAO: make permanent the requirement for annual reports on reviews of the accuracy of Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical budget submissions (see H.R. 806), H626 [25FE]

General William H. Gourley Federal Outpatient Clinic—A Joint VA-DOD Health Care Facility, Marina, CA: designate (see H.R. 272), H169 [15JA]

Government regulations: improve supervision of fiduciaries of veterans (see H.R. 894), H814 [28FE]

Health: award grants to establish, or expand upon, master’s degree or doctoral degree programs in orthotics and prosthetics (see S. 522), S1592 [11MR]

——— carry out a grant program and a pilot program designed to improve the delivery of health care to veterans residing in rural areas (see H.R. 1134), H1395 [13MR]

——— clarify that caregivers for veterans with serious illnesses are eligible for assistance and support services (see H.R. 3672), H7566 [5DE]

——— consider the veteran’s best interest when making determinations about contracted health care (see H.R. 2412), H3758 [18JN]

——— establish a standardized scheduling policy for veterans enrolled in the health care system (see H.R. 2661), H4482 [11JY]

——— establish pay-for-performance compensation mechanisms for contracts with community-based outpatient health clinics (see S. 1662), S7927 [7NO]

——— establish presumption of service connection for certain veterans with tinnitus or hearing loss (see H.R. 369), H279 [23JA]

——— establish standards for access to care for veterans seeking health care from departmental medical facilities (see H.R. 241), H84 [14JA]

——— expand eligibility for reimbursement for emergency medical treatment to certain veterans unable to receive care in the 24-month period preceding the furnishing of such treatment (see S. 1588), S7574 [28OC]

——— improve dental health care (see S. 1586), S7574 [28OC]

——— increase access to complementary and alternative medicine and other approaches to wellness and preventive care (see S. 852), S3029 [25AP]

——— prohibit medical exam requests of veterans who have submitted sufficient evidence provided by non-departmental medical professionals and improve efficiency of certain disability claims processing (see S. 935), S3371 [13MY] (see H.R. 1980), H2603 [14MY]

——— provide for certain requirements relative to immunization of veterans (see S. 1165), S4481 [13JN]

——— reauthorize certain programs related to traumatic brain injury and trauma research (see H.R. 1098), H1357 [12MR]

——— recognize tinnitus as a mandatory condition for research and treatment (see H.R. 1443), H1857 [9AP]

——— require entrance into contracts with community health care providers to improve access to health care for veterans in highly rural areas (see H.R. 635), H499 [13FE]

——— review the dialysis pilot program and submit a report to Congress before expanding such program (see S. 1547), S6886 [24SE]

Health care facilities: authorize certain major medical facility leases (see S. 412), S1011 [28FE] (see S. 1740), S8360 [20NO] (see H.R. 902), H814 [28FE] (see H.R. 2913), H5341 [1AU] (see H.R. 3521), H7187 [18NO]

——— conduct cost-benefit analyses for the provision of departmental medical care in certain geographic areas served by multiple departmental medical facilities (see H.R. 834), H659 [26FE]

——— cover costs associated with the care of veterans at medical foster homes (see S. 1578), S7574 [28OC]

——— designate certain medical facilities as health professional shortage areas (see S. 1061), S3844 [23MY] (see H.R. 3554), H7309 [20NO]

——— ensure South Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care Center in Harlingen, TX, includes a full-service inpatient health care facility (see S. 800), S2960 [24AP] (see H.R. 552), H411 [6FE]

——— ensure veterans have access to services in at least one departmental full-service hospital or comparable contract services in their State (see S. 49), S43 [22JA] (see H.R. 257), H168 [15JA]

——— enter into contracts and agreements for the transfer of certain veterans unable to live independently to non-departmental medical foster homes (see H.R. 2726), H4724 [18JY]

——— improve construction of major medical facilities (see H.R. 3593), H7353 [21NO]

——— report cases of certain infectious diseases at departmental medical facilities (see S. 875), S3158 [7MY] (see H.R. 2153), H2953 [23MY]

——— report cases of reportable infectious diseases at departmental medical facilities in accordance with State laws (see H.R. 1792), H2392 [26AP]

Health care professionals: clarify qualifications of hearing aid specialists (see H.R. 3508), H7152 [15NO]

——— establish a continuing medical education program for medical professionals to increase knowledge and recognition of conditions common to veterans and their families (see S. 1863), S9051 [19DE]

——— extend authority to enter into contracts with private physicians to conduct medical disability examinations (see H.R. 1521), H1990 [12AP] (see H.R. 2079), H2838 [21MY]

——— improve authority to enter into contracts with private physicians to conduct medical disability examinations (see S. 1751), S8361 [20NO] (see H.R. 2423), H3758 [18JN]

——— improve authority to hire psychiatrists (see H.R. 2540), H4142 [27JN]

——— require provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all departmental medical centers (see S. 422), S1012 [28FE] (see H.R. 921), H815 [28FE]

Health Professional Scholarship Program: extend authority to carry out (see H.R. 3053), H5399 [2AU]

Health Professionals Education Assistance Program: improve (see S. 845), S3029 [25AP]

Homeless: expand the definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits (see S. 287), S657 [12FE] (see H.R. 897), H814 [28FE]

——— extend programs assisting homeless veterans with special needs (see H.R. 2485), H4037 [25JN]

——— improve programs and services for homeless veterans (see S. 825), S3028 [25AP]

——— require recipients of grants and other assistance for provision of housing and other services to homeless veterans to comply with building and fire codes (see H.R. 2065), H2838 [21MY]

——— require recipients of per diem payments for provision of services for homeless veterans to comply with codes relevant to operations and level of care provided (see S. 1580), S7574 [28OC]

House Rules: require that general appropriations for military construction and veterans’ affairs be considered as stand-alone measures (see H. Res. 13), H33 [3JA]

Housing: improve and make permanent the loan guarantee for the purchase of residential cooperative housing units (see H.R. 2522), H4078 [26JN]

——— include contracts and grants for residential care for veterans in the exception to the requirement that the Federal Government recover a portion of the value of certain projects (see S. 1540), S6753 [24SE]

——— require all newly constructed, federally assisted single-family houses and town houses meet minimum standards of visitability for the disabled (see H.R. 2352), H3590 [13JN]

Independent Living Program: repeal limitation of number of veterans authorized to be enrolled (see H.R. 3330), H6768 [23OC]

Information technology: provide for advance appropriations for certain information technology accounts and include mental health professionals in training programs (see S. 1155), S4406 [12JN] (see H.R. 3499), H7110 [14NO]

Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights: educate staff and inform veterans (see H.R. 3408), H6952 [30OC]

Inspector General: improve accountability (see H.R. 2072), H2838 [21MY]

Insurance: increase maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program (see S. 325), S772 [14FE] (see H.R. 288), H170 [15JA]

Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, Junction City, KS: designate (see S. 1434), S6206 [1AU]

Lyle C. Pearson Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Mankato, MN: designate (see H.R. 3682), H7607 [9DE]

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship: clarify that children of certain veterans are eligible (see H.R. 1400), H1825 [21MR]

——— expand to include spouses of Armed Forces members who died in the line of duty (see S. 1039), S3843 [23MY] (see H.R. 3441), H6953 [30OC]

Medal for Distinguished Public Service: establish to honor veterans who make remarkable and distinguished contributions to their communities (see H.R. 154), H50 [4JA]

Medicare: provide payments to Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services provided to eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions (see H.R. 2953), H5343 [1AU]

Mental health: conduct an education program and peer support program for the education and training of family members and caregivers of veterans with mental health disorders (see S. 1583), S7574 [28OC]

——— improve disability compensation evaluation procedures for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma (see S. 294), S707 [13FE] (see H.R. 671), H501 [13FE]

——— improve treatment provided to veterans who served in classified missions (see H.R. 3387), H6951 [30OC]

——— provide eligibility for beneficiary travel for veterans seeking treatment or care for military sexual trauma in specialized outpatient or residential program facilities (see H.R. 2974), H5344 [1AU]

——— provide unlimited eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war (see H.R. 1725), H2349 [25AP]

——— provide veterans with counseling and treatment for sexual trauma that occurred during inactive duty training (see H.R. 2527), H4079 [26JN]

Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund: establish to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II (see H.R. 1936), H2568 [9MY]

Minorities: make grants with minority-serving institutions to establish verified delivery systems to address social and academic problems facing veterans enrolled at such institutions (see H.R. 1251), H1629 [19MR]

National cemeteries: inter individuals who supported the U.S. in Laos during the Vietnamese Conflict era (see S. 200), S438 [31JA] (see H.R. 3369), H6901 [29OC]

——— provide authority to reconsider decisions to inter or honor the memory of a person in a national cemetery and disinter remains of Michael L. Anderson from Fort Custer National Cemetery (see S. 1471), S6208 [1AU] (see H.R. 3106), H5587 [17SE]

National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month: designate (see S. Res. 169), S4406 [12JN]

National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 84), H659 [26FE]

National security: appropriate funds necessary to ensure that the Armed Forces and Federal civilian personnel critical to national security continue to receive pay during a Government shutdown (see H.R. 3214), H6011 [28SE]

Native Americans: make certain grants to assist nursing homes for veterans located on tribal lands (see H.R. 2941), H5343 [1AU]

Office of Rural Health: specify requirements for updating the strategic plan for improving access to, and quality of, health care services for veterans in rural areas (see S. 1411), S6126 [31JY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (see H.R. 3474), H7051 [13NO]

Pensions: consider resources of pension applicants recently disposed of by the applicants for less than fair market value when determining eligibility for such pensions (see S. 748), S2749 [17AP] (see H.R. 2341), H3356 [12JN]

——— exempt reimbursements of expenses for accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss from annual income determinations relative to veterans’ pensions (see H.R. 1438), H1857 [9AP]

PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom Dept. of Veterans Affairs Clinic, Colorado Springs, CO: designate (see S. 1606), S7615 [29OC] (see H.R. 3375), H6901 [29OC]

Philippines: deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for benefit purposes (see S. 690), S2501 [9AP] (see H.R. 1452), H1857 [9AP]

Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program: allow certain Armed Forces members to transfer entitlement to dependents (see H.R. 1988), H2653 [15MY]

——— carry out a pilot program to provide outreach and support services to veterans pursuing higher education (see H.R. 3056), H5399 [2AU]

——— clarify which children to whom entitlement to educational assistance may be transferred (see H.R. 3600), H7354 [21NO]

——— codify and improve the election requirements for receipt of educational assistance (see H.R. 2481), H4037 [25JN]

——— deduct amounts for repayment from the last months of educational assistance entitlement in cases of overpayments (see S. 930), S3371 [13MY]

——— expand authority of veterans to transfer entitlement to dependents (see H.R. 3514), H7152 [15NO]

——— expand eligibility of children of certain deceased veterans to assistance (see H.R. 2210), H2955 [23MY]

——— extend eligibility to certain individuals with service-connected disabilities who transfer to the Reserves before military discharge (see H.R. 604), H431 [8FE]

——— increase age limit for children using transferred benefits (see H.R. 3515), H7152 [15NO]

——— permit certain Armed Forces members discharged or released due to service-connected disability to transfer benefits (see H.R. 883), H813 [28FE]

——— provide additional assistance to veterans pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) (see S. 514), S1592 [11MR] (see H.R. 1816), H2393 [26AP]

——— provide equity for tuition and fees for individuals entitled to assistance who are pursuing education programs (see S. 262), S520 [7FE] (see H.R. 595), H431 [8FE]

Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee: reestablish (see H.R. 2942), H5343 [1AU]

Public buildings: provide veterans service organizations with the same access to departmental facilities during the Government shutdown as prior to the shutdown (see H.R. 3287), H6545 [11OC]

Regional offices: submit an annual report on performance (see H.R. 1824), H2400 [30AP]

Research: allow public access to departmental research (see S. 877), S3158 [7MY]

Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance program: update basis for establishing premium rates (see S. 1585), S7574 [28OC]

Small business: enhance treatment of certain small business concerns for purposes of contracting goals and preferences (see S. 430), S1012 [28FE] (see H.R. 3098), H5546 [12SE]

——— provide for a consolidated definition of a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans to improve the Federal contracting process for service-disabled veterans (see H.R. 2882), H5260 [31JY]

Taxation: allow credits for establishment of franchises with veterans (see H.R. 3725), H8107 [12DE]

——— allow credits for the purchase of franchises by veterans (see S. 1015), S3761 [22MY]

——— allow veterans a deduction for certain travel expenses to Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical centers for examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities (see S. 1255), S5498 [27JN]

Tuskegee, AL: convey a parcel of land to Tuskegee University (see H.R. 1612), H2124 [17AP]

Veteran identification cards: issue, upon request, to certain veterans (see S. 778), S2896 [23AP] (see H.R. 1598), H2123 [17AP]

Veterans: appropriate funds necessary for benefits and services in the event of a Government shutdown (see S. 1564), S7063 [30SE] (see H.R. 3225), H6102 [1OC]

——— authorize transport of individuals to and from health facilities in connection with rehabilitation, counseling, examination, treatment, and care (see S. 455), S1127 [5MR]

——— clarify that individuals who attended a military preparatory school but never joined the Armed Forces may not claim veteran status for purposes of contracting preferences and benefits (see S. 1736), S8186 [19NO] (see H.R. 3469), H7050 [13NO]

——— conduct study relative to claiming and interring of unclaimed remains of veterans (see S. 1755), S8457 [21NO]

——— develop guidelines for use of unofficial sources of information to determine eligibility for benefits and decorations when service records are incomplete due to damage while in Dept. of Defense possession (see H.R. 3397), H6952 [30OC]

——— ensure education and training received by Armed Forces members and veterans better assists them in obtaining civilian certifications and licenses (see S. 700), S2564 [10AP] (see H.R. 1796), H2392 [26AP]

——— ensure that veterans may attend pre-apprenticeship programs using certain educational assistance (see H.R. 3384), H6951 [30OC]

——— exclude certain pension payments from consideration as income relative to certain housing assistance (see S. 1707), S8049 [14NO] (see H.R. 825), H658 [26FE] (see H.R. 1742), H2350 [25AP]

——— expand eligibility for a medallion furnished to signify veteran status of a deceased individual (see H.R. 3671), H7566 [5DE]

——— expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay or combat-related compensation with service-connected disability benefits and eliminate phase-in period for such benefits (see S. 234), S519 [7FE] (see H.R. 303), H170 [15JA] (see H.R. 333), H221 [22JA]

——— extend homeless veterans reintegration programs (see H.R. 2150), H2953 [23MY]

——— extend work opportunity tax credit for hiring veterans, assist small businesses owned by veterans, and improve enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services (see H.R. 3453), H6997 [12NO]

——— extend work opportunity tax credit to certain veterans, improve coordination of job training services, and improve Federal contracting with small businesses owned by disabled veterans (see H.R. 2056), H2802 [20MY]

——— furnish headstones and markers for certain deceased veterans buried in veterans’ cemeteries of Indian tribes (see H.R. 2039), H2717 [16MY]

——— identify persons other than next of kin that are eligible to request headstones or markers for veterans’ graves (see H.R. 2018), H2716 [16MY]

——— implement mental health care and rehabilitation program for veterans with service-related post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, or related substance use disorder (see S. 819), S3028 [25AP]

——— improve coordination of Federal veteran job training services (see S. 140), S284 [24JA]

——— increase rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans (see S. 893), S3255 [8MY] (see H.R. 569, 570), H412 [6FE]

——— issue veterans health care stamp (see H.R. 3396), H6951 [30OC]

——— make permanent authority to transport individuals to and from health facilities in connection with rehabilitation, counseling, examination, treatment, and care (see H.R. 1702), H2297 [24AP]

——— making continuing appropriations for benefits (see H.J. Res. 72), H6102 [1OC]

——— making continuing appropriations for benefits (H.J. Res. 72), consideration (see H. Res. 370), H6173 [2OC]

——— reauthorize Veterans Retraining Assistance Program, assist small businesses owned by veterans, and improve enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services (see S. 6), S42 [22JA]

——— require college courses that are approved for purposes of Dept. of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs to charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate (see S. 257), S520 [7FE] (see H.R. 357), H278 [23JA]

——— require Federal agencies to hire veterans and require States to recognize military experience when issuing licenses and credentials to veterans (see S. 495), S1269 [7MR]

——— require States to ensure that training received by a veteran while on active duty is taken into consideration in granting certain State certifications or licenses (see S. 492), S1269 [7MR] (see H.R. 3007), H5397 [2AU] (see H.R. 3614), H7354 [21NO]

Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education: extend (see S. 1643), S7795 [4NO] (see H.R. 2011), H2716 [16MY]

Veterans Conservation Corps: establish (see S. 1262), S5499 [27JN] (see H.R. 3451), H6997 [12NO]

Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration: establish (see H.R. 2327), H3355 [12JN]

Veterans Health Administration: modify authorities relative to collective bargaining of employees (see S. 1556), S7007 [27SE]

——— reorganize the Veterans Integrated Service Networks (see S. 543), S1785 [13MR]

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program: extend (see H.R. 562), H412 [6FE]

——— improve by providing assistance for certain training programs that are considered less than full-time (see H.R. 1357), H1823 [21MR]

Vietnamese Conflict: provide assistance to individuals affected by exposure to Agent Orange (see H.R. 2519), H4078 [26JN]

World War II: designate one U.S. city each year as an ‘‘American World War II City’’ (see H.R. 864), H701 [27FE]

——— improve health care provided to World War II veterans at departmental facilities (see H.R. 2063), H2838 [21MY]

——— provide that service in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps constituted active military service for veteran classification (see H.R. 1835), H2436 [6MY]

Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program: extend to cover recipients of Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry scholarship (see S. 515), S1592 [11MR]

Cloture motions

Appropriations: making continuing (H.R. 933), S1782 [13MR], S1882 [18MR], S1987 [20MR]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), motion to proceed, S1703 [12MR]

Gibson, Sloan D.: nomination to be Deputy Sec. of Veterans Affairs, S8837 [16DE]

Explanations

Continuing Appropriations (H.R. 933), S1287–S1588 [11MR]

Letters

Daniel Somers suicide note to family: Daniel Somers, H5865 [26SE]

Exempt major rules pertaining to veterans from Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act requirement of congressional joint resolution of approval: Barry A. Jesinoski, DAV, H5331 [1AU]

Impact of Government shutdown on Dept. of Veterans Affairs: several veterans’ organizations, H6475 [10OC]

Protect benefits of disabled veterans by not enacting a chained consumer price index (CPI) to calculate cost-of-living adjustments for benefits: Barry A. Jesinoski, DAV, S2086 [21MR]

——— James E. Koutz, American Legion, S2085 [21MR]

——— several veterans organizations, S2085 [21MR]

Lists

Accounts identified for advance appropriations, H3040, H3043 [4JN]

Motions

Appropriations: making continuing (H.R. 933), S1683 [12MR], H1314 [6MR], H1790 [21MR]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2216), H3086 [4JN]

Gibson, Sloan D.: nomination to be Deputy Sec. of Veterans Affairs, S8837 [16DE]

Veterans: making continuing appropriations for benefits (H.J. Res. 72), H6207, H6208 [3OC]

Press releases

Detroit VAMC Sleep Clinic Honors Dr. Kapen: Alysse Mengason, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, E15 [4JA]

Government Shutdown Impact on Native Americans: Oglala Sioux Tribe, H6551 [12OC]

Remarks in House

Animals: establish a grant program to encourage use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans (H.R. 2847), H5099 [30JY]

Appropriations: legislative process, H3035, H3036 [4JN], H3101 [5JN]

——— making continuing, H5073, H5074 [25JY]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), H979 [5MR], H985, H986, H997–H1316, H1317 [6MR], H1543 [15MR], E263 [11MR], E287 [13MR]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), consideration (H. Res. 99), H987–H997 [6MR]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), motion to recommit, H1314 [6MR]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), Senate amendment, H1725–H1794 [21MR], E351 [21MR], E374 [25MR]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), Senate amendment—unanimous-consent agreement, H1716 [20MR]

——— provide for advance appropriations for certain discretionary accounts (H.R. 813), H6204, H6206 [3OC]

Armed Forces: ensure access to quality mental health care for active duty servicemembers, veterans, and family members, H3547 [13JN], E887 [17JN]

Benefits: clarify presumptions relating to exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam, H6792 [28OC]

——— deem certain service in Reserve components as active service for purpose of certain administered laws, H6803 [28OC]

——— eliminate backlog of benefit claims and delays in receipt of medical care, H2335 [25AP], H3053, H3054, H3086, H3087 [4JN], E816 [6JN]

——— extend veterans assistance programs, H7616, H7617 [10DE]

——— report to Congress a plan to eliminate backlog of benefit claims, H3023 [4JN]

——— resolve backlog of disability claims, H4180 [8JY]

C.W. Bill Young Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL: designate (H.R. 3302), H6660–H6664 [22OC], H6818 [28OC], E1565 [23OC]

Civil liberties: prohibit the recording of a patient in a facility without the informed consent of the patient (H.R. 1490), E423 [11AP]

Claims: accept certain documents as proof of service in determining eligibility of an individual to receive amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund (H.R. 481), H348 [5FE]

——— address backlog through increased staffing in certain regional offices, H3065, H3066 [4JN]

——— establish a commission or task force to evaluate the backlog of disability claims (H.R. 2189), H6782–H6794 [28OC], E1591, E1596, E1597 [29OC]

——— improve processing of claims, H6914 [30OC]

——— include an appeals form in any notice of decision issued for the denial of a benefit sought (H.R. 1405), H6800–H6804 [28OC]

——— make interim payments of disability compensation benefits for certain claims for such compensation prior to the adjudication of such claims, H6790, H6791 [28OC]

——— make interim payments of disability compensation benefits for certain claims for such compensation prior to the adjudication of such claims (H.R. 2086), H2851 [22MY]

——— make publicly available certain information about pending and completed claims for compensation, H6790, H6791, H6792 [28OC]

——— pay provisional benefits for certain nonadjudicated claims, H3056 [4JN]

——— pay provisional benefits for certain nonadjudicated claims (H.R. 1739), H2923, H2924 [23MY]

——— provide certain employees of Members of Congress and certain State or local government employees with access to case-tracking information, H6803 [28OC]

——— provide notice of average times for processing claims and percentage of claims approved, H6790, H6792 [28OC]

——— provide notice of average times for processing claims and percentage of claims approved (H.R. 1809), H2379 [26AP]

——— reduce salary of senior officials if disability compensation claims are not reduced by a certain amount, H3074, H3075 [4JN]

——— submit quarterly reports on the timeliness of receipt of certain information from other departments or agencies, H6791 [28OC]

——— submit to Congress an annual report on the automatic processing of claims for compensation, H6791, H6792 [28OC]

Colleges and universities: support university law school programs designed to provide legal assistance to veterans (H.R. 3477), E1643 [13NO]

Dept. of Agriculture: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program reform relative to veterans ability to qualify under certain asset and income requirements, H5706 [19SE]

Dept. of Defense: expand State licensure exception to allow certain health care professionals to work across State lines without having to obtain a new license, H2128 [18AP], H2557 [9MY]

——— provide service records of veterans to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs in an efficient electronic format (H.R. 1729), H2329 [25AP], E800 [5JN]

Dept. of HUD: establish position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs and submit a report on veterans’ homelessness (H.R. 384), H2629–H2631 [15MY], E675 [16MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: National Cemetery Administration funding, H145, H146 [15JA]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2216), H3022, H3023, H3044–H3088 [4JN], H3226 [6JN], H6128 [2OC], H6201, H6202, H6204–H6207 [3OC], E799, E801, E806 [5JN], E816 [6JN], E865 [14JN]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2216), consideration (H. Res. 243), H3032–H3042 [4JN], E839 [11JN]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2216), motion to recommit, H3086, H3087 [4JN]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2216), unanimous-consent agreement, H3069 [4JN]

——— prohibit funding for conferences costing above a certain limit, H3075 [4JN]

——— prohibit funding to enforce wage rate requirements for contracts under the Davis-Bacon Act, H3080–H3083 [4JN]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: clarify implementation of electronic health records, H3067 [4JN]

——— improve and enhance programs and activities on suicide prevention, H5865–H5871 [26SE]

——— prohibit funding to lease or purchase new light duty vehicles except in accordance with Presidential memorandum on Federal fleet performance, H3079 [4JN]

Disabled: provide monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team and assistance to U.S. Paralympics, Inc., H5890 [27SE]

——— provide monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team and assistance to U.S. Paralympics, Inc. (H.R. 1402), H7614–H7619 [10DE]

Drugs: prohibit funding to implement directive prohibiting access to clinical programs for veterans participating in State-approved marijuana programs, H3073 [4JN]

Education: eliminate time limitation for use of eligibility and entitlement to certain educational assistance (H.R. 2169), H3367 [13JN], H6838 [29OC]

——— permit the centralized reporting of veterans enrollment by certain groups, districts, and consortiums of educational institutions, H6798, H6799 [28OC]

Employment: improve and increase the availability of on-job training and apprenticeship programs (H.R. 1412), H2813–H2815 [21MY], E756 [23MY], E1399 [28SE]

——— improve and increase the availability of on-job training and apprenticeship programs (H.R. 1412), Senate amendments, H5888–H5890 [27SE]

Families and domestic relations: amend the definition of spouse for purposes of veterans’ benefits to recognize new State definitions of spouse (H.R. 2529), H4096 [27JN]

Federal agencies and departments: exempt major rules relative to veterans affairs from requirement of a congressional joint resolution of approval, H5331 [1AU]

Federal aid programs: make certain clarifications and improvements in academic and vocational counseling programs (H.R. 3399), H6915 [30OC]

Federal employees: prohibit funding for payment of employee performance awards, H3076, H3077 [4JN]

Fisher House Foundation, Inc.: tribute, E1503 [12OC]

General William H. Gourley Federal Outpatient Clinic—A Joint VA-DOD Health Care Facility, Marina, CA: designate (H.R. 272), H99 [15JA]

Government: impact of shutdown, H6475 [10OC]

Government regulations: improve supervision of fiduciaries of veterans, H6803 [28OC]

Health: establish standards for access to care for veterans seeking health care from departmental medical facilities (H.R. 241), H2070 [17AP]

——— improve access to alternative medicine, H3062, H3063 [4JN]

Health care facilities: authorize certain major medical facility leases (H.R. 3521), H7612–H7614 [10DE]

——— enter into contracts and agreements for the transfer of certain veterans unable to live independently to non-departmental medical foster homes (H.R. 2726), E1089 [18JY]

——— prohibit increased funding for any major medical facility currently under construction, H3078 [4JN]

Health care professionals: extend authority to enter into contracts with private physicians to conduct medical disability examinations, H6791 [28OC]

——— extend authority to enter into contracts with private physicians to conduct medical disability examinations (H.R. 1521), H2148 [18AP]

——— improve authority to enter into contracts with private physicians to conduct medical disability examinations, H6791 [28OC]

——— improve authority to hire psychiatrists (H.R. 2540), H5870 [26SE]

Home Based Primary Care Program: tribute to delivery of high quality healthcare at lower costs, E510 [23AP]

Homeless: expand the definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits (H.R. 897), E227 [28FE]

——— extend programs assisting homeless veterans with special needs (H.R. 2485), H5890 [27SE]

Housing: improve and make permanent the loan guarantee for the purchase of residential cooperative housing units (H.R. 2522), E973 [26JN]

Independent Living Program: repeal limitation of number of veterans authorized to be enrolled (H.R. 3330), H7081 [14NO]

Information technology: systems funding through reductions in conferences funding, H3079 [4JN]

Major General William H. Gourley VA-DOD Outpatient Clinic, Marina, CA: designate (H.R. 272), H7165–H7168 [18NO]

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship: clarify that children of certain veterans are eligible, H6798 [28OC]

——— clarify that children of certain veterans are eligible (H.R. 1400), E359 [21MR]

Mental health: improve disability compensation evaluation procedures for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma (H.R. 671), H3029–H3032 [4JN]

——— post-traumatic stress disorder and brain trauma treatment funding, H3063, H3064 [4JN]

——— provide unlimited eligibility for health care for mental illnesses for veterans of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war (H.R. 1725), H5870 [26SE]

——— provide veterans with counseling and treatment for sexual trauma that occurred during inactive duty training (H.R. 2527), H5869 [26SE]

Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund: establish to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II (H.R. 1936), H2849 [22MY], H6914 [30OC], E640 [9MY]

National Cemetery Administration: funding, H145, H146 [15JA]

National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day: observance, H4011 [25JN], H4046 [26JN]

National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month: observance, H4092 [27JN]

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: observance, E1403 [30SE]

Oscar G. Johnson Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility, Iron Mountain, MI: designate circle drive as Sergeant First Class James D. Priestap Drive, H2446 [7MY]

Pensions: consider resources of pension applicants recently disposed of by the applicants for less than fair market value when determining eligibility for such pensions, H6791 [28OC]

——— exempt reimbursements of expenses for accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss from annual income determinations relative to veterans’ pensions (H.R. 1438), E392 [9AP]

Phoenix, AZ: United Methodist Outreach Ministries recipient of Dept. of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant, E1079 [17JY]

Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program: codify and improve the election requirements for receipt of educational assistance (H.R. 2481), H6794–H6800 [28OC], H7557 [5DE]

——— expand authority of veterans to transfer entitlement to dependents (H.R. 3514), E1681 [15NO]

——— increase age limit for children using transferred benefits (H.R. 3515), E1681 [15NO]

——— provide equity for tuition and fees for individuals entitled to assistance who are pursuing education programs (H.R. 595), H2285 [24AP]

Regional offices: submit an annual report on performance, H6791 [28OC]

Republican Party: impact of Tea Party minority on party majority, H6059 [1OC]

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System: Robert W. Carey Performance Excellence Award recipient, E833 [11JN]

Syracuse, NY: anniversary of Syracuse VA Medical Center, E862 [14JN]

Veterans: exclude certain pension payments from consideration as income relative to certain housing assistance (H.R. 1742), H6780–H6782 [28OC], E1591 [29OC]

——— HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program funding, H5154, H5155, H5161–H5164 [30JY]

——— impact of Government shutdown, H6560, H6561 [12OC], H6600 [15OC]

——— making continuing appropriations for benefits (H.J. Res. 72), H6082–H6089, H6092 [1OC], H6106, H6108, H6120 [2OC], H6181, H6192, H6200–H6210, H6211 [3OC], H6239, H6241, H6279, H6280 [4OC], E1417, E1419 [2OC], E1456 [8OC]

——— making continuing appropriations for benefits (H.J. Res. 72), consideration (H. Res. 370), H6122–H6132 [2OC]

——— making continuing appropriations for benefits (H.J. Res. 72), motion to recommit, H6207, H6208 [3OC]

——— reduce unemployment, H2832 [21MY]

Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education: extend (H.R. 2011), H2667 [16MY], H6804–H6806 [28OC], E1597 [29OC]

Veterans Benefits Administration: veterans employment funding, H3064, H3065 [4JN]

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program: improve by providing assistance for certain training programs that are considered less than full-time (H.R. 1357), H5706 [19SE]

World War II: designate one U.S. city each year as an ‘‘American World War II City’’, H6791 [28OC]

Remarks in Senate

Appropriations: making continuing (H.R. 933), S1274 [7MR], S1275, S1287 [11MR], S1671, S1676–S1681 [12MR], S1719–S1775, S1777–S1782 [13MR], S1829–S1832, S1837–S1849, S1872 [14MR], S1873–S1885, S1887 [18MR], S1913, S1915–S1920, S1922, S1923, S1927–S1932, S1937–S1946 [19MR], S1967–S1990 [20MR], S3946, S3947 [4JN]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), motion to proceed, S1683–S1705 [12MR], S1717–S1719 [13MR]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), unanimous-consent agreement, S1945 [19MR], S2008 [20MR]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), unanimous-consent request, S1880 [18MR], S1972, S1973 [20MR]

Armed Forces: ensure access to quality mental health care for active duty servicemembers, veterans, and family members, S3321 [9MY]

Benefits: eliminate backlog of benefit claims and delays in receipt of medical care, S2838 [22AP]

——— improve assistance provided to women veterans, facilitate research on long-term reproductive health of veterans, and modify child care assistance for certain veterans (S. 131), S286 [24JA]

——— improve mental health care, reduce backlog of benefits claims, and provide education and employment opportunities for all veterans, S7910 [7NO]

——— protect benefits of disabled veterans by not enacting a chained consumer price index (CPI) to calculate cost-of-living adjustments for benefits, S2083 [21MR]

C.W. Bill Young Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL: designate (H.R. 3302), S7778 [31OC]

Canada: establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at or underwent training at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown to track possible exposure to toxins (S. 1892), S9108 [20DE]

Civil liberties: clarify conditions under which veterans, their spouses, and children may be adjudicated mentally incompetent relative to their ability to purchase firearms, S2719, S2742 [17AP]

Claims: improve processing of claims for compensation (S. 928), S3337 [9MY]

——— modify method of determining whether Filipino veterans are U.S. residents for purposes of eligibility for receipt of the full-dollar rate of compensation (S. 1559), S7008 [27SE]

Colleges and universities: require college courses that are approved for purposes of educational assistance programs to charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate (S. 944), S3432 [14MY]

——— require college courses that are approved for purposes of educational assistance programs to charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate (S. 944), unanimous-consent request, S8950, S8951 [18DE]

Dept. of Defense: improve the Transition Assistance Program (S. 889), S3167 [7MY]

Dept. of Justice: provide the Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs authority to establish a prescription drug take-back program for Armed Forces members and veterans, S8438 [21NO]

——— provide the Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs authority to establish a prescription drug take-back program for Armed Forces members and veterans (S. 1089), S3957 [4JN]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services, S1692 [12MR]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2216), S7668 [30OC]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: establish a specific timeline to achieve interoperable electronic health records (S. 1296), S5688 [15JY]

——— improve oversight of educational assistance (S. 1717), S8054 [14NO]

Disabled: provide monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team and assistance to U.S. Paralympics, Inc. (H.R. 1402), S8964 [18DE]

——— provide monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team and assistance to U.S. Paralympics, Inc. (S. 695), S2566 [10AP]

Employment: extend work-study program for individuals pursuing rehabilitation, education, or training and expand program to veterans’ outreach services provided by congressional offices (S. 894), S3259 [8MY]

——— improve and increase the availability of on-job training and apprenticeship programs (H.R. 1412), S6686 [23SE]

Families and domestic relations: improve benefits and assistance to surviving spouses of veterans (S. 735), S2686 [16AP]

Federal agencies and departments: curb waste, fraud, and abuse, S7382 [10OC]

Funding, S7295 [8OC]

Gibson, Sloan D.: nomination to be Deputy Sec. of Veterans Affairs, S8837 [16DE]

Government: impact of shutdown, S7314 [9OC]

Health: award grants to establish, or expand upon, master’s degree or doctoral degree programs in orthotics and prosthetics (S. 522), S1597 [11MR]

——— improve health care access, S7136 [2OC]

——— improve the delivery of health care to veterans residing in rural areas, S2123 [21MR]

——— increase access to complementary and alternative medicine and other approaches to wellness and preventive care (S. 852), S3042 [25AP]

Health care facilities: authorize certain major medical facility leases, S2288 [22MR]

——— authorize certain major medical facility leases (H.R. 3521), S8597 [10DE], S8804 [13DE]

Homeless: expand the definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits (S. 287), S7886, S7887 [6NO]

——— improve benefits for homeless veterans who are women or who have dependents, S2265 [22MR]

——— improve programs and services for homeless veterans (S. 825), S3036 [25AP]

Insurance: increase maximum age of children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program, S2289 [22MR]

National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month: designate (S. Res. 169), S4432 [12JN]

——— observance, S5487 [27JN]

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: observance, S6616 [19SE]

Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program: provide equity for tuition and fees for individuals entitled to assistance who are pursuing education programs (S. 262), S526 [7FE]

Republican Party: impact of Tea Party minority on party majority, S7098 [1OC]

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System: tribute to staff, S697 [13FE]

Veterans: ensure education and training received by Armed Forces members and veterans better assists them in obtaining civilian certifications and licenses, S7913 [7NO], S8305 [20NO]

——— ensure education and training received by Armed Forces members and veterans better assists them in obtaining civilian certifications and licenses (S. 700), S2567 [10AP]

——— impact of Government shutdown, S7173 [4OC], S7369 [10OC]

——— improve coordination of Federal veteran job training services (S. 140), S1882 [18MR]

——— improve mental health care, reduce backlog of benefits claims, and provide education and employment opportunities for all veterans, S7910 [7NO]

——— making continuing appropriations for benefits (H.J. Res. 72), S7117, S7133, S7141 [2OC], S7145, S7148, S7150, S7155 [3OC], S7186, S7199, S7214 [4OC], S7222, S7224, S7243 [5OC], S7263 [7OC], S7287 [8OC]

——— making continuing appropriations for benefits (H.J. Res. 72), unanimous-consent agreement, S7140 [2OC]

——— making continuing appropriations for benefits (H.J. Res. 72), unanimous-consent request, S7145, S7146, S7154, S7155 [3OC], S7181, S7182 [4OC], S7293, S7294 [8OC]

——— reduce unemployment by ensuring training and transition assistance and providing incentives to employers for hiring veterans, S277 [24JA], S924 [27FE]

Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education: extend (S. 1643), S7798 [4NO]

Reports

Consideration of H.J. Res. 70-73, National Parks and Museums, District of Columbia, NIH, and Veterans Continuing Appropriations, H.R. 3230, Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act, and House Rules Suspension (H. Res. 370): Committee on Rules (House), H6122 [2OC]

Reports filed

American Heroes COLA Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 570) (H. Rept. 113–62), H2773 [17MY]

Consideration of H.J. Res. 72, Veterans Benefits Continuing Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 370) (H. Rept. 113–241), H6173 [2OC]

Consideration of H.R. 933, Continuing Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 99) (H. Rept. 113–12), H980 [5MR]

Consideration of H.R. 2216, Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans’ Services: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 243) (H. Rept. 113–95), H3014 [3JN]

Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 2072) (H. Rept. 113–245), H6643 [16OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Certain Major Medical Facility Leases Authorization: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 3521) (H. Rept. 113–284), H7607 [9DE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Commission or Task Force Establishment To Evaluate the Backlog of Disability Claims: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 2189) (H. Rept. 113–236), H5921 [27SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation Evaluation Improvement for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Mental Health Conditions Related to Sexual Trauma: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 671) (H. Rept. 113–63), H2773 [17MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Expansion of Definition of Homeless Veteran for Purposes of Benefits: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate) (S. 287) (S. Rept. 113–110), S6683 [23SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Inclusion of Appeals Form in Any Notice of Decision Issued for the Denial of a Benefit Sought: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 1405) (H. Rept. 113–130), H4036 [25JN]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans’ Services: Committee on Appropriations (House) (H.R. 2216) (H. Rept. 113–90), H3013 [3JN]

——— Committee on Appropriations (Senate) (H.R. 2216) (S. Rept. 113–48), S5497 [27JN]

GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 357) (H. Rept. 113–94), H3014 [3JN]

Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 1412) (H. Rept. 113–64), H2773 [17MY]

Nomination of Constance B. Tobias To Be Board of Veterans’ Appeals Chairman: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate), S8565 [9DE]

Nomination of Linda A. Schwartz To Be Assistant Sec. of Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate), S8565 [9DE]

Nomination of Sloan D. Gibson To Be Deputy Sec. of Veterans Affairs: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate), S8565 [9DE]

Putting Veterans Funding First Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 813) (H. Rept. 113–212), H5587 [17SE]

Tinnitus Research and Treatment Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 1443) (H. Rept. 113–247), H6673 [22OC]

Veterans Accountability Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 1804) (H. Rept. 113–227), H5832 [25SE], H6343 [7OC]

Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education Improvement Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 2011) (H. Rept. 113–211), H5587 [17SE]

Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate) (S. 893) (S. Rept. 113–87), S6295 [9SE]

Veterans Economic Opportunity Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 2481) (H. Rept. 113–207), H5512 [11SE]

Veterans’ Educational Transition Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate) (S. 944) (S. Rept. 113–123), S8565 [9DE]

Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 602) (H. Rept. 113–159), H4825 [19JY]

Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate) (S. 572) (S. Rept. 113–86), S6295 [9SE]

Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate) (S. 131) (S. Rept. 113–106), S6517 [17SE]

Resolutions by organizations

Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act: Seymour, CT, Board of Selectmen, E1889 [16DE]

Rulings of the Chair

Veterans: making continuing appropriations for benefits (H.J. Res. 72), H6208 [3OC]

Tables

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2216), H3046–H3050 [4JN]

Texts of

H. Res. 99, consideration of H.R. 933, continuing appropriations, H987 [6MR]

H. Res. 370, consideration of H.J. Res. 70-73, national parks and museums, District of Columbia, NIH, and veterans continuing appropriations, H.R. 3230, Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act, and suspension of House Rules to consider legislation, H6123 [2OC]

H.J. Res. 72, veterans benefits continuing appropriations, H6082 [1OC], H6201 [3OC]

H.R. 272, Major General William H. Gourley VA-DOD Outpatient Clinic, Marina, CA, H7165 [18NO]

H.R. 384, Homes for Heroes Act, H2629 [15MY]

H.R. 570, American Heroes COLA Act, H2815 [21MY]

H.R. 671, Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ disability compensation evaluation procedures for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma improvement, H3029 [4JN]

H.R. 933, continuing appropriations, S2370–S2434 [22MR], H998–H1303 [6MR]

H.R. 1402, VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act, H7615 [10DE]

H.R. 1405, include an appeals form in any notice of decision issued for the denial of a Dept. of Veterans Affairs benefit sought, H6800–H6803 [28OC]

H.R. 1412, Dept. of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act, S6686 [23SE], H5888 [27SE]

H.R. 1412, Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act, H2813 [21MY]

H.R. 1742, Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act, H6780 [28OC]

H.R. 2011, Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education Improvement Act, H6804 [28OC]

H.R. 2189, establish a commission or task force to evaluate the Dept. of Veterans Affairs backlog of disability claims, H6782–H6790 [28OC]

H.R. 2481, Veterans Economic Opportunity Act, H6794–H6797 [28OC]

H.R. 3302, C.W. Bill Young Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL, H6660 [22OC]

H.R. 3521, Dept. of Veterans Affairs major medical facility leases authorization, H7612 [10DE]

S. 6, Putting Our Veterans Back to Work Act, S45–S47 [22JA]

S. 234, Retired Pay Restoration Act, S521 [7FE]

S. 262, Veterans Education Equity Act, S526 [7FE]

S. 287, Helping Homeless Veterans Act, S7886, S7888 [6NO]

S. 522, Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act, S1597 [11MR]

S. 690, Filipino Veterans Fairness Act, S2507 [9AP]

S. 695, Veterans Paralympic Act, S2566 [10AP]

S. 735, Survivor Benefits Improvement Act, S2686 [16AP]

S. 800, Treto Garza Far South Texas Veterans Inpatient Care Act, S2963 [24AP]

S. 825, Homeless Veterans Prevention Act, S3037 [25AP]

S. 852, Veterans’ Health Promotion Act, S3043–S3045 [25AP]

S. 889, Servicemembers’ Choice in Transition Act, S3167 [7MY]

S. 893, Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, S3259 [8MY], S7581 [28OC], H6971 [12NO]

S. 894, Dept. of Veterans Affairs work-study program extension for individuals pursuing rehabilitation, education, or training and expand program to veterans’ outreach services provided by congressional offices, S3259 [8MY]

S. 928, Claims Processing Improvement Act, S3338–S3341 [9MY]

S. 944, Veterans’ Educational Transition Act, S3432 [14MY]

S. 1471, Respect for National Cemeteries Act, S8136 [18NO], H7640 [11DE]

S. 1559, Benefits Fairness for Filipino Veterans Act, S7008 [27SE]

S. 1643, Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education Improvement Act, S7798 [4NO]

S. 1662, Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, S7929 [7NO]

S. 1736, Support Earned Recognition for Veterans (SERVe) Act, S8193 [19NO]

S. Res. 169, National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, S4410 [12JN]