[House Report 110-266]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-266

======================================================================



 
               VETERANS' BENEFITS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2007

                                _______
                                

 July 27, 2007.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Filner, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1315]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to whom was referred the 
bill (H.R. 1315) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide specially adaptive housing assistance to certain 
disabled members of the Armed Forces residing temporarily in 
housing owned by a family member, having considered the same, 
report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the 
bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     5
Background and Discussion........................................     6
Legislative History..............................................     9
Section-by-Section...............................................    10
Explanation of Amendment.........................................    11
Committee Consideration..........................................    12
Rollcall Votes...................................................    12
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch.....................    12
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the 
  Committee......................................................    12
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............    12
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................    12
Federal Advisory Committee Act...................................    13
Unfunded Mandate Statement.......................................    13
Earmark Identification...........................................    13
Committee Estimate...............................................    13
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate...    13
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............    16
  The amendments are as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. PROVISION OF SPECIALLY ADAPTIVE HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO DISABLED 
                    MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES RESIDING TEMPORARILY IN 
                    HOUSING OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER.

  Section 2102A of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
          (1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
        (e) and (f), respectively; and
          (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsection (d):
  ``(d) Assistance for Members of the Armed Forces.--The Secretary may 
provide assistance under subsection (a) to a member of the Armed Forces 
serving on active duty who is suffering from a disability described in 
subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) of section 2101 of this title if such 
disability is the result of an injury incurred or disease contracted in 
or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air 
service. Such assistance shall be provided to the same extent as 
assistance is provided under subsection (a) to veterans eligible for 
assistance under that subsection and subject to the limitation under 
subsection (c).''.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE PROTECTION UNDER 
                    SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT.

  (a) Extension to 6 Months.--Subsection (c) of section 303 of the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533(c)) is amended by 
striking ``90 days'' and inserting ``180 days''.
  (b) Extension of Period of Interest Rate Limitation.--Such section is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(e) Applicability of Interest Rate Limitation.--Section 207 shall 
apply with respect to an obligation described in subsection (a) during 
the 180-day period beginning on the last day of the period of the 
servicemember's military service in the same manner that section 
applies with respect to such an obligation during the period of the 
servicemember's military service.''.
  (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall apply with respect to any person performing a period of military 
service (as such term is defined in section 101(2) of such Act (50 
U.S.C. App. 511(2))) that begins on or after the date that is 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SECTION 4. VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY PROFESSIONALS 
                    EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

  (a) Establishment of Program.--Chapter 76 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:

   ``SUBCHAPTER VIII--VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY 
                   PROFESSIONALS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

``Sec. 7691. Authority for program

  ``As part of the Educational Assistance Program and subject to the 
availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary shall 
carry out a scholarship program under this subchapter. The program 
shall be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Visual Impairment 
and Orientation and Mobility Professionals Scholarship Program 
(hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the `Program'). The 
purpose of the Program is to increase the supply of qualified blind 
rehabilitation specialists for the Department and the Nation.

``Sec. 7692. Eligibility; agreement

  ``(a) Eligibility.--To be eligible to participate in the Program, an 
individual must be accepted for enrollment or enrolled (as described in 
section 7602 of this title) as a full-time or part-time student in a 
field of education or training described in subsection (b).
  ``(b) Qualifying Fields of Education or Training.--A field of 
education or training described in this subsection is education or 
training leading to--
          ``(1) a degree or certificate in visual impairment or 
        orientation and mobility, or a dual degree or certification in 
        both such areas; and
          ``(2) appointment or retention in a position under section 
        7401 of this title.
  ``(c) Agreement.--(1) An agreement between the Secretary and a 
participant in the Program shall (in addition to the requirements set 
forth in section 7604 of this title) include the following:
          ``(A) The Secretary's agreement to provide the participant 
        with a scholarship under the Program for a specified number 
        (from one to three) of school years during which the 
        participant pursues a course of education or training described 
        in subsection (b) that meets the requirements set forth in 
        section 7602(a) of this title.
          ``(B) The participant's agreement to serve as a full-time 
        employee in the Veterans Health Administration for a period of 
        three years (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the 
        `period of obligated service') during the six-year period 
        beginning on the date the participant completes the education 
        or training and receives a degree or certificate described in 
        subsection (b)(1).
          ``(C) The participant's agreement to serve under subparagraph 
        (B) in a Department facility selected by the Secretary.
  ``(2) In a case in which an extension is granted under section 
7673(c)(2) of this title, the number of years for which a scholarship 
may be provided under the Program shall be the number of school years 
provided for as a result of the extension.
  ``(3) In the case of a participant who is a part-time student, the 
period of obligated service shall be reduced in accordance with the 
proportion that the number of credit hours carried by such participant 
in any such school year bears to the number of credit hours required to 
be carried by a full-time student in the course of training being 
pursued by the participant, but in no event to less than one year.

``Sec. 7693. Scholarship

  ``(a) Scholarship.--A scholarship provided to a participant in the 
Program for a school year shall consist of payment of the tuition (or 
such portion of the tuition as may be provided under subsection (b)) of 
the participant for that school year and payment of other reasonable 
educational expenses (including fees, books, and laboratory expenses) 
for that school year.
  ``(b) Amounts.--The total amount of the scholarship payable under 
subsection (a)--
          ``(1) in the case of a participant in the Program who is a 
        full-time student, may not exceed $15,000 for the equivalent of 
        one year of full-time coursework; and
          ``(2) in the case of a participant in the Program who is a 
        part-time student, shall bear the same ratio to the amount that 
        would be paid under paragraph (1) if the participant were a 
        full-time student in the course of education or training being 
        pursued by the participant as the coursework carried by the 
        participant to full-time coursework in that course of education 
        or training.
  ``(c) Limitations on Period of Payment.--(1) The maximum number of 
school years for which a scholarship may be paid under subsection (a) 
to a participant in the Program shall be six school years.
  ``(2) A participant in the Program may not receive a scholarship 
under subsection (a) for more than the equivalent of three years of 
full-time coursework.
  ``(d) Payment of Educational Expenses by Educational Institutions.--
The Secretary may arrange with an educational institution in which a 
participant in the Program is enrolled for the payment of the 
educational expenses described in subsection (a). Such payments may be 
made without regard to subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 
31.
  ``(e) Full-Time Coursework.--For purposes of this section, full-time 
coursework shall consist of the following:
          ``(1) In the case of undergraduate coursework, 30 semester 
        hours per undergraduate school year.
          ``(2) In the case of graduate coursework, 18 semester hours 
        per graduate school year.

``Sec. 7694. Obligated service

  ``(a) In General.--Each participant in the Program shall provide 
service as a full-time employee of the Department for the period of 
obligated service provided in the agreement of the participant entered 
into under section 7604 of this title. Such service shall be provided 
in the full-time clinical practice of such participant's profession or 
in another health-care position in an assignment or location determined 
by the Secretary.
  ``(b) Determination of Service Commencement Date.--(1) Not later than 
60 days before a participant's service commencement date, the Secretary 
shall notify the participant of that service commencement date. That 
date is the date for the beginning of the participant's period of 
obligated service.
  ``(2) As soon as possible after a participant's service commencement 
date, the Secretary shall--
          ``(A) in the case of a participant who is not a full-time 
        employee in the Veterans Health Administration, appoint the 
        participant as such an employee; and
          ``(B) in the case of a participant who is an employee in the 
        Veterans Health Administration but is not serving in a position 
        for which the participant's course of education or training 
        prepared the participant, assign the participant to such a 
        position.
  ``(3)(A) In the case of a participant receiving a degree from a 
school of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, optometry, or podiatry, the 
participant's service commencement date is the date upon which the 
participant becomes licensed to practice medicine, osteopathy, 
dentistry, optometry, or podiatry, as the case may be, in a State.
  ``(B) In the case of a participant receiving a degree from a school 
of nursing, the participant's service commencement date is the later 
of--
          ``(i) the participant's course completion date; or
          ``(ii) the date upon which the participant becomes licensed 
        as a registered nurse in a State.
  ``(C) In the case of a participant not covered by subparagraph (A) or 
(B), the participant's service commencement date is the later of--
          ``(i) the participant's course completion date; or
          ``(ii) the date the participant meets any applicable 
        licensure or certification requirements.
  ``(4) The Secretary shall by regulation prescribe the service 
commencement date for participants who were part-time students. Such 
regulations shall prescribe terms as similar as practicable to the 
terms set forth in paragraph (3). (c)
  ``(c) Commencement of Obligated Service.--(1) Except as provided in 
paragraph (2), a participant in the Program shall be considered to have 
begun serving the participant's period of obligated service--
          ``(A) on the date, after the participant's course completion 
        date, on which the participant (in accordance with subsection 
        (b)) is appointed as a full-time employee in the Veterans 
        Health Administration; or
          ``(B) if the participant is a full-time employee in the 
        Veterans Health Administration on such course completion date, 
        on the date thereafter on which the participant is assigned to 
        a position for which the participant's course of training 
        prepared the participant.
  ``(2) A participant in the Program who on the participant's course 
completion date is a full-time employee in the Veterans Health 
Administration serving in a capacity for which the participant's course 
of training prepared the participant shall be considered to have begun 
serving the participant's period of obligated service on such course 
completion date.
  ``(d) Course Completion Date Defined.--In this section, the term 
`course completion date' means the date on which a participant in the 
Program completes the participant's course of education or training 
under the Program.

``Sec. 7695. Repayment for failure to satisfy requirements of agreement

  ``(a) In General.--An individual who receives educational assistance 
under this subchapter shall repay to the Secretary an amount equal to 
the unearned portion of such assistance if the individual fails to 
satisfy the requirements of the agreement entered into under section 
7604 of this title, except in circumstances authorized by the 
Secretary.
  ``(b) Amount of Repayment.--The Secretary shall establish, by 
regulations, procedures for determining the amount of the repayment 
required under this subsection and the circumstances under which an 
exception to the required repayment may be granted.
  ``(c) Waiver or Suspension of Compliance.--The Secretary shall 
prescribe regulations providing for the waiver or suspension of any 
obligation of an individual for service or payment under this 
subchapter (or an agreement under this subchapter) whenever 
noncompliance by the individual is due to circumstances beyond the 
control of the individual or whenever the Secretary determines that the 
waiver or suspension of compliance is in the best interest of the 
United States.
  ``(d) Obligation as Debt to United States.--An obligation to repay 
the Secretary under this section is, for all purposes, a debt owed the 
United States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 does not 
discharge a person from such debt if the discharge order is entered 
less than five years after the date of the termination of the agreement 
or contract on which the debt is based.''.
  (b) Clerical Amendment.--The tables of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the items relating to 
subchapter VII the following new items:

   ``subchapter viii--visual impairment and orientation and mobility 
                   professionals scholarship program

``7691. Authority for program.
``7692. Eligibility; agreement.
``7693. Scholarship.
``7694. Obligated service.
``7695. Repayment for failure to satisfy requirements of agreement.''.

  (c) Conforming Amendments.--Such chapter is further amended--
          (1) in section 7601(a)--
                  (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the end;
                  (B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(6) the Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility 
        Professionals Scholarship Program provided for in subchapter 
        VIII of this chapter.'';
          (2) in section 7602--
                  (A) in subsection (a)(1)--
                          (i) by striking ``or VI'' and inserting ``VI, 
                        or VIII''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``or for which a scholarship 
                        may be awarded under subchapter VI of this 
                        chapter'' and inserting ``for which a 
                        scholarship may be awarded under subchapter VI 
                        of this chapter, or for which a scholarship may 
                        be awarded under subchapter VIII of this 
                        chapter''; and
                  (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``or VI'' and 
                inserting ``VI, or VIII'';
          (3) in section 7603(a)(1), by striking ``or VI'' and 
        inserting ``VI, or VIII''; and
          (4) in section 7604, by striking ``or VI'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``VI, or VIII''.
  (d) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
implement subchapter VIII of chapter 76 of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by section 1, not later than six months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. VETERANS' REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS REPORT IMPROVEMENT.

  (a) Additional Report Requirements.--Section 4332 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--
          (1) by striking ``The Secretary shall'' and inserting ``(a) 
        Report Required.--The Secretary shall'';
          (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as paragraphs 
        (5) through (7), respectively, and inserting after paragraph 
        (3) the following new paragraph (4):
          ``(4) The number of cases reviewed by the Secretary of 
        Defense under the National Committee for Employer Support of 
        the Guard and Reserve of the Department of Defense during the 
        fiscal year for which the report is made.''.
          (3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking ``or 
        (3)'' and inserting ``(3), or (4)'';
          (4) by redesignating paragraph (7), as so redesignated, as 
        paragraph (8), and inserting after paragraph (6) the following 
        new paragraph (7):
          ``(7) An indication of which of the cases reported on 
        pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) are disability-
        related.''.
          (5) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
  ``(b) Uniform Categorization of Data.--The Secretary shall coordinate 
with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the 
Attorney General, and the Special Counsel to ensure that the 
information required to be submitted as part of the report under 
subsection (a) is categorized in a uniform way.
  ``(c) Provision of Information.--The Secretary shall provide the 
information contained in the report required under subsection (a) to 
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the 
Attorney General, and the Special Counsel.''.
  (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
with respect to a report submitted after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 6. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS 
                    EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, AND EMPLOYER OUTREACH.

  Section 4110(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``15'' and inserting ``16''.

  Amend the title so as to read:

    A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make 
certain improvements in the benefits provided to veterans under 
laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for 
other purposes.

                          Purpose and Summary

    H.R. 1315, as amended, would provide injured servicemembers 
the resources need to help them achieve a level of independent 
living they may not otherwise enjoy by making them eligible, 
prior to discharge, for Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants 
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This 
legislation would better protect our nation's veterans from 
financial burdens incurred while on active duty by extending 
the length of the post-deployment mortgage foreclosure 
protections in the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act; expand 
scholarship education programs in order to address more 
effectively the rehabilitative needs of visually-impaired 
veterans; and, bolster reemployment rights for returning 
veterans by requiring Federal agencies to adopt common 
terminology.
    H.R. 1315 would:
    1. Provide SAH assistance to disabled servicemembers not 
yet discharged from active duty.
    2. Extend from 90 days to 180 days the period following 
release from active duty during which a member of the Armed 
Forces shall be protected from mortgage foreclosure.
    3. Direct the Secretary of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking 
a degree or certificate in blind rehabilitation under chapter 
76 of title 38, United Sates Code.
    4. Require the Secretary of the Department of Labor and the 
Secretary of the Department of Defense to coordinate their 
sharing of, and reporting on, the complaint data filed by 
National Guard and Reservists. Require the agencies to use 
uniform categories in tracking and reporting the data, and 
report on hiring difficulties resulting from service-connected 
disabilities.
    5. Provide a technical change to match the maximum number 
of members from 15 to 16 adding a representative from the 
National Governor's Association to the Advisory Committee on 
Veterans Employment, Training and Employer Outreach within the 
U.S. Department of Labor.

                       Background and Discussion

    Under Public Law 109-233, section 101, a partial adapted 
housing grant was made available to veterans who are, or will 
be, temporarily residing in a home owned by a family member. 
Current law authorizes the VA to provide SAH assistance to 
veterans temporarily residing in a home owned by a family 
member of up to $14,000 for a 2101(a) grant or $2,000 for a 
2101(b) grant. This assistance does not include active duty 
personnel and no temporary assistance can be provided after 
June 15, 2011.
    Severely wounded servicemembers often require lengthy 
periods of convalescence. Many of these servicemembers remain 
on active duty status during that extended period. Current law 
does not provide the SAH benefit prior to discharge so these 
severely injured active duty servicemembers do not qualify for 
these housing grants.
    It was the intention of Congress to allow servicemembers in 
transition, prior to discharge, to take advantage of this 
benefit.
    On March 5, 2007, Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin 
of South Dakota, the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Economic 
Opportunity, introduced H.R. 1315, a bill to allow assistance 
up to $14,000 which may be used to adapt the family member's 
home to meet the needs of an injured servicemember not yet 
enrolled in the VA at that time.

                     MORTGAGE FORCLOSURE PROTECTION

    Recognizing the increased need to improve the existing 
Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, Congress 
passed Public Law 108-189, the ``Servicemembers Civil Relief 
Act'' (SCRA). Among the protections afforded, SCRA updated 
existing law to protect veterans and servicemembers with 
honorable service from foreclosure on mortgaged properties and 
provided a cap of six percent on interest rates for those on 
active duty in the event their military service impedes their 
ability to meet financial obligations incurred before their 
entry into active military service.
    The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been especially hard 
on those who have served, with more than one million troops 
having served in support of Iraq or Afghanistan. Due to the 
operational tempo and intense levels of combat that our troops 
face in these conflicts, more and more returning servicemembers 
are experiencing signs of serious combat stress and mental 
health conditions, which add extra hardships to a 
servicemember's attempt to readjust back to civilian life after 
active duty service in theater.
    The Department of Defense's Task Force on Mental Health 
reported in early June 2007, that 38 percent of Soldiers and 31 
percent of Marines report psychological symptoms. Among members 
of the National Guard, the figure rises to 49 percent. In the 
interim, servicemembers that return home who are unable to 
fully mesh back into normal life may lose their job, their 
home, and may suffer periods of homelessness.
    Some servicemembers, especially those in the Guard and 
Reserves, face significantly reduced income when deployed. 
Although SCRA protects servicemembers during, and immediately 
following, active-duty service, many servicemembers and their 
families incur significant debt that is difficult to pay off. 
Combined with common problems in readjusting to civilian life, 
and mental and physical challenges that many veterans face, 
these economic challenges can lead to late or missed mortgage 
payments, eventually triggering foreclosure.
    On March 28, 2007, Representative Albert Wynn of Maryland 
introduced H.R. 1750 which would extend the protections to 
mortgaged property owned by a servicemember or qualified 
Reserve or Guard member to one year following active duty, 
extending the current protection of 90 days.
    H.R. 1315, as amended, includes provisions from H.R. 1750. 
This legislation provides for 180 days of protection and 
maintains requirements for honorable service under existing 
law, and requirements that the mortgage has been entered into 
prior to the period of military service, and would not grant 
absolute protection. Furthermore, it would require a court 
hearing (as under existing law) prior to mortgage foreclosures. 
This court hearing would determine if the servicemember or 
veteran's inability to pay promptly was materially affected by 
military service, and allow the court to stay foreclosure, 
adjust the amount of the financial obligation to protect all 
parties, or to allow the foreclosure of the veteran-owned 
property.

                      VISION EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

    Today there are approximately 160,000 legally blind 
veterans in the United States. About 35,000 of these veterans 
are currently enrolled to receive services from the VA.
    The most prevalent causes of legal blindness and low vision 
are age-related, and hence, it is estimated over one million 
low-vision veterans in the United States, and incidences of 
blindness among the total veteran population of 26 million, are 
expected to increase by nearly 40 percent over the next few 
years.
    Public Law 104-262, the ``Veterans Health Care Eligibility 
Reform Act 1996,'' requires the VA to maintain its capacity to 
provide specialized rehabilitative services to disabled 
veterans. The VA cannot meet its statutory requirements when 
there are not enough specialists to meet the needs of these 
veterans.
    Public Law 109-461, the ``Veterans Benefits, Health Care, 
and Information Technology Act of 2006,'' included a provision 
to increase the number of Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient 
Specialists serving our nation's veterans. However, there are 
currently not enough counselors certified in blind 
rehabilitation to provide for the growing number of blind or 
low-vision veterans.
    On February 28, 2007, Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee of 
Texas introduced H.R. 1240, to direct the VA to establish a 
scholarship program for students seeking a degree or 
certificate in blind rehabilitation (Vision Impairment and/or 
Orientation and Mobility). The availability of these 
scholarship opportunities would provide an incentive to 
students considering entry into this field.
    In exchange for the scholarship award, students would be 
required to work for three years in a VA healthcare facility, 
and mandates that the Secretary shall provide financial 
assistance to students enrolled in a program of study leading 
to a degree or certificate in a U.S. state or territory, 
provided they agree with applicable requirements.

                          REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

    The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights 
Act (USERRA), chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, is 
meant to ensure that all servicemembers return to the seniority 
and benefits of the civilian jobs they put on hold to serve in 
the Armed Forces.
    After several constituents informed Representative David 
Reichert of Washington of the difficulties they faced in 
returning to work, he commissioned a Government Accountability 
Office (GAO) study in the Fiscal Year 2006 National Defense 
Authorization Act (Public Law 109-163) to examine how the 
thousands of Guardsmen and Reservists called up to serve in 
Iraq and Afghanistan were transitioning back into the civilian 
workforce. In conducting the study, the GAO reviewed volumes of 
employer data, assessed current agency policies, interviewed 
department officials, and met with groups of officers, enlisted 
personnel, and veterans. GAO concluded that a lack of 
coordination and common terminology in the reporting of 
reemployment difficulties was hampering seamless transition 
from active duty back to civilian work.
    The study revealed that the Department of Labor (DOL) and 
Department of Defense (DOD), which are responsible for tracking 
the hiring complaints filed by our reserve forces, currently do 
not coordinate the sharing of this complaint data. This lack of 
coordination compromises the agencies' ability to swiftly and 
effectively respond to possible violations of USERRA. Between 
FY 2004 and FY 2006, the departments addressed nearly 16,000 
formal and informal complaints filed by all servicemembers, but 
the lack of information sharing between the departments led to 
a very small percentage of these complaints being reported to 
Congress. This lack of information sharing and coordination 
prevents Congress from receiving a complete and accurate 
picture of the hiring difficulties faced by Guard and 
Reservists.
    On March 21, 2007, Representative Reichert and 
Representative Tim Walz of Minnesota introduced H.R. 1632, the 
``Improving Veterans'' Reemployment Act of 2007.'' The bill 
would require DOL and DOD to coordinate their sharing of, and 
reporting on, the complaint data filed by Guard and Reservists 
facing difficulties being rehired; require them to use uniform 
categories in tracking and reporting the data; and require the 
departments to specifically report on hiring difficulties 
resulting from service-connected disabilities. These provisions 
would enable Congress to better identify trends in the 
reemployment difficulties reserve forces face and the 
corrective actions needed to ease their transition back into 
the civilian workforce.

                          Legislative History

    On June 7, 2007, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing on Specially Adaptive Housing Programs for 
Veterans.
    On June 21, 2007, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a legislative hearing on a number of bills introduced 
during the 110th Congress, including H.R. 1750, introduced by 
Representative Wynn of Maryland; H.R. 1240, introduced by 
Representative Jackson-Lee of Texas; H.R. 1632, introduced by 
Representative Reichert of Washington; and, H.R. 1315, 
introduced by Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota.
    On June 29, 2007, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
marked up H.R. 1315, H.R. 1750, H.R. 1240, and H.R. 1632. 
Representative John Hall of New York offered an amendment to 
H.R. 1750 to amend the effective date of the legislation from 
February 1, 2003, to the date that is 90 days after the date of 
enactment. Representative Hall offered an Amendment in the 
Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 1240 which would authorize the 
scholarship program under the Health Professionals Educational 
Assistance Program, chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code, 
ratherthan creating a new chapter 80 in title 38, United States 
Code. Representative Hall also offered a technical amendment to H.R. 
1632 to increase the maximum number of members on the existing Advisory 
Committee on Veterans Employment, Training and Employer Outreach within 
the Department of Labor by one representative. The Subcommittee agreed 
to all amendments by voice vote and ordered H.R. 1315; H.R. 1750, as 
amended; H.R. 1240, as amended; and, H.R. 1632, as amended, reported 
favorably to the full Committee.
    On July 17, 2007, the full Committee met in open markup 
session and approved a number of bills including H.R. 1315, as 
amended. The amendment to H.R. 1315 was in the nature of a 
substitute and included provisions from the bills reported 
favorably by the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunities; H.R. 
1750, H.R. 1240, and H.R. 1632.
    Representative John Boozman of Arkansas offered an 
amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute for 
H.R. 1315 that was not agreed to by voice vote. The full 
Committee, by voice vote, ordered H.R. 1315, as amended, 
reported favorably to the House of Representatives.

                           Section-by-Section


Section 1. Short title

    This section would provide the short title of H.R. 1315 as 
the ``Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2007.''

Section 2. Provision of specially adaptive housing assistance to 
        disabled members of the Armed Forces residing temporarily in 
        housing owned by a family member

    This section would amend section 2102A of title 38, United 
States Code, to provide assistance under subsection (a) to a 
member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who is 
suffering from a disability described in subsection (a)(2) or 
(b)(2) of section 2101 of title 38, United States Code.

Section 3. Extension of period of mortgage foreclosure protection under 
        Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

    Subsection (a) amends subsection (c) of section 303 of the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C., App. 533(c)) to 
extend from 90 days to 180 days the period following release 
from active duty during which a member of the Armed Forces 
shall be protected from mortgage foreclosure.
    Subsection (b) adds new subsection (e) to section 303 of 
the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C., App. 533(c)) to 
mandate that the interest rate limitation in section 207 (of 
the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) shall apply during the 180 
day period beginning on the last day of the period of the 
servicemember's military service in the same manner that 
section applies with respect to such an obligation during the 
period of the servicemember's military service.
    Subsection (c) provides that the amendments made by 
subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to a period of military 
service that begins on or after the date that is 90 days after 
the date of enactment.

Section 4. Visual impairment and orientation and mobility professionals 
        education assistance program

    Subsection (a) amends chapter 76, of title 38, United 
States Code, by establishing a new Subchapter VIII--Visual 
Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professional 
Scholarship Program.
    New section 7692 would direct the Secretary to establish 
the program for full or part-time students seeking a degree or 
certificate in blind rehabilitation (Vision Impairment and/or 
Orientation and Mobility). The participants in this program 
would be required to work for three years in a VA healthcare 
facility.
    New section 7693 would authorize a scholarship award for 
any full-time student per academic year not to exceed up to 
$15,000. The maximum award for any part-time student would be 
determined in proportion to the amount that would be provided 
if the student were full-time. For any student, the total 
amount of assistance would not exceed $45,000. This section 
provides that the maximum duration for financial assistance 
under this program would be six years. Finally, this section 
defines full-time coursework for an undergraduate as 30 
semester hours per undergraduate school year and 18 semester 
hours per graduate school year in the case of graduate 
coursework.
    New section 7694 would require participants in the program 
to provide service as a full-time employee of the VA for a 
period of obligated service in the clinical practice of the 
participant's profession or in another health-care position in 
an assignment or location to be determined by the Secretary. 
This section would require, no later than 60 days before the 
participant's commencement date, that the Secretary notify the 
participant of that service commencement date. In the case in 
which the participant is receiving a degree from a school of 
medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, optometry, or podiatry, the 
participant's service commencement date would be the date upon 
which the participant becomes licensed in a state. In the case 
in which a participant receiving a degree from a school of 
nursing, the start date would be whichever comes later: the 
participant's course completion date; or, the date in which the 
participant becomes licensed as a registered nurse in the 
state.
    New section 7695 would require the applicant to repay the 
amount equal to the unearned portion of assistance if the 
applicant fails to satisfy the requirements of the agreement 
except in circumstances authorized by the Secretary. This 
section would require the Secretary to establish procedures for 
determining the amount of the repayment required, as well as 
the circumstances under which an exception to the required 
repayment may be granted. The Secretary would be required to 
prescribe regulations for the waiver or suspension of an 
applicant's obligation for service or payment whenever the 
applicant's noncompliance is due to circumstances beyond his or 
her control or it is in the best interest of the United States.

Section 5. Veterans' reemployment rights report improvement

    Subsection (a) would amend section 4332 of title 38, United 
States Code, to require DOL to provide to Congress an annual 
report on veterans' reemployment rights. This section would 
require DOL, DOD, VA, the Attorney General and the Special 
Counsel to coordinate uniformcategories in tracking and 
reporting data, and would require the departments to specifically 
report on hiring difficulties resulting from service-connected 
disabilities.
    Section (b) would apply amendments made by this section 
with respect to a report submitted after the date of enactment.

Section 6. Increase in number of members of Advisory Committee on 
        Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach

    This section would provide a technical amendment to section 
4110(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, to change the 
number of members from 15 to 16.

                        Explanation of Amendment

    The following amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a 
Substitute was not agreed to by the Committee:
    Representative John Boozman of Arkansas, Ranking Member of 
the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, offered an amendment 
to section 3, subsection (e) of the Amendment in the Nature of 
a Substitute to strike 180 days and insert 120 days.
    Based on supporting commentary from the Mortgage Bankers 
Association, Representative Boozman stated his support of the 
four bills included in the Amendment in the Nature of a 
Substitute to H.R. 1315, but noted that his concerns about the 
extension of the SCRA moratorium on mortgage foreclosures from 
the current 90 days to one-year as proposed in H.R. 1750 
(section 3 of the amendment in the nature of a substitute to 
H.R. 1315). Representative Boozman noted that Congress needed 
to hear from the financial services industry before proceeding 
with the 180 days. The Mortgage Bankers Association provided 
comments to the Committee that expressed concerns about the 
extension and the likelihood of foreclosure relative to the 
amount of arrearages accumulated by a borrower.
    Representative Boozman believes the amendment he offered 
would provide an appropriate extension of time that does not 
lead the servicemember to possible bankruptcy.

                        Committee Consideration

    On July 17, 2007, the Committee ordered H.R. 1315, as 
amended, reported favorably to the House of Representatives by 
voice vote.

                             Rollcall Votes

    The Committee held no rollcall votes on this bill. A motion 
to order H.R. 1315, as amended, reported favorably to the House 
of Representatives was agreed to by voice vote.

              Application of Law to the Legislative Branch

    Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104-1 requires a 
description of the application of this bill to the legislative 
branch where the bill relates to the terms and conditions of 
employment or access to public services and accommodations. 
This bill does not relate to employment or access to public 
services and accommodations.

  Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of 
this report.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    In accordance with clause (3)(c)(4) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee's 
performance goals and objectives are reflected in the 
descriptive portions of this report.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Under clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, the Committee must include a statement 
citing the specific powers granted to Congress to enact the law 
proposed by H.R. 1315. The Committee finds that Article 1, 
Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States grants 
Congress the power to enact this law.

                     Federal Advisory Committee Act

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish 
or authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within 
the definition of 5 U.S.C. App., section 5(b).

                       Unfunded Mandate Statement

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act (as amended by section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded 
Mandate Reform Act, P.L. 104-4) requires a statement whether 
the provisions of the reported bill include unfunded mandates. 
In compliance with this requirement the Committee has received 
a letter from the Congressional Budget Office that is included 
herein.

                         Earmark Identification

    H.R. 1315, as amended, does not contain any congressional 
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as 
defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives.

                           Committee Estimate

    Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs that would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 1315, as amended. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule 
provides that this requirement does not apply when the 
Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost 
estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act.

     Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, July 26, 2007.
Hon. Bob Filner,
Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1315, the 
Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mike Waters.
            Sincerely,
                                         Peter R. Orszag, Director.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 1315--Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2007

    Summary: H.R. 1315 would make several changes to programs 
for servicemembers and veterans, including expanding 
eligibility for certain housing grants, extending the period of 
protection against foreclosure and rising interest rates on 
mortgages, and establishing a new scholarship program. Enacting 
H.R. 1315 would increase direct spending by requiring lenders 
to reduce interest rates on mortgages for some military members 
by an additional 180 days. That provision would modify the cost 
of some existing loan guarantees and would increase direct 
spending by $8 million in 2008, CBO estimates. In addition, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 1315 would result in 
discretionary costs of $2 million over the 2008-2012 period, 
assuming the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting the 
bill would have no effect on federal revenues.
    H.R. 1315 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined 
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no 
costs on state, local, or tribal governments. H.R. 1315 
contains a private-sector mandate as defined in UMRA, but CBO 
estimates that the annual cost of the mandate would not exceed 
the threshold established in UMRA ($131 million in 2007, 
adjusted annually for inflation).
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 1315 is shown in the following table. 
The cost of this legislation falls primarily within budget 
function 370 (commerce and housing credit).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     2008    2009    2010    2011    2012    2013    2014    2015    2016    2017   2008-2012  2008-2017
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               CHANGES IN DIRECT SPENDINGa

Estimated Budget Authority........................       8       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *         8          9
Estimated Outlays.................................       8       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *         8         9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: * = less than $500,000.
aImplementing H.R. 1315 also would have discretionary costs of less than $500,000 a year and about $2 million over the 2008-2012 period, subject to the
  availability of appropriated funds.

    Basis of Estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 
1315 will be enacted near the beginning of fiscal year 2008. 
Most of the costs of H.R. 1315 would stem from a modification 
of existing loan guarantees. Such costs are estimated on a 
present value basis and recorded in the year in which the 
legislation is enacted. (If this bill is enacted prior to 
October 1, 2007, the costs would be recorded in the current 
year.)

Direct spending

    H.R. 1315 would increase direct spending primarily by 
lowering the interest rate on the government-guaranteed 
mortgages held by certain servicemembers. CBO estimates that 
under H.R. 1315, direct spending would increase by $8 million 
in 2008 and by $9 million over the 2008-2017 period.
    Reduced Interest Rates on Mortgages. Under the Soldiers' 
and Sailors' Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) (50 U.S.C. App. 501 et. 
seq.), a servicemember with a mortgage that existed prior to 
starting active duty is eligible to have the interest rate on 
the mortgage reduced to 6 percent while the member continues to 
serve on active duty. Any interest payments coming due during 
that time period in excess of 6 percent must be forgiven by the 
lender. Section 3 would extend this 6 percent cap on mortgage 
interest payments to 180 days after the member leaves active 
duty. CBO expects extending the lower interest rate to 180 days 
would primarily benefit reserve members, who are more likely to 
have mortgages that exist prior to active-duty service.
    Some military members have mortgages guaranteed by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Federal Housing 
Administration (FHA). Those mortgages are generally included in 
the Government National Mortgage Association's (GNMA's) 
Mortgaged-Backed Securities (MBS) program. In exchange for a 
fee charged to lenders or issuers of the securities, GNMA 
guarantees the timely payments of scheduled principal and 
interest due on the pooled mortgages that back those 
securities. Thus, GNMA is responsible for covering any loss of 
payments, including those stemming from a reduced interest 
rate.
    Based on information from GNMA and assuming enactment in 
early fiscal year 2008, CBO estimates that enacting section 3 
would increase direct spending by $8 million in 2008 by 
requiring GNMA to pay forgone interest on certain mortgages 
included in its MBS program to lenders and issuers. (Such 
forgone interest is the difference between the interest 
payments at 6 percent and the payments at a higher interest 
rate currently being paid by the borrower.) Because enacting 
this provision would change the cash flows associated with some 
underlying mortgages in GNMA's MBS program, paying the forgone 
interest expense on securities with those mortgages would be a 
modification of existing GNMA loan guarantees. Under credit 
reform procedures, the costs of such modifications are 
estimated on a present value basis and recorded in the year in 
which the legislation is enacted.
    Extension of Mortgage Foreclosure Protection. Section 3 
would also prevent an entity from foreclosing on a mortgage 
within 180 days after a servicemember leaves active duty. SSCRA 
currently prevents such a foreclosure within 90 days after a 
member leaves active duty. Federal agencies such as VA and FHA, 
which currently guarantee the mortgages of some servicemembers, 
are responsible for the payment of any interest that accrues 
between the period when the payments on the mortgage cease and 
the agency finally settles the loan with the originator. 
Therefore, delaying some foreclosures could result in 
additional costs to the federal government. Because of the low 
number of affected mortgages, CBO estimates such costs would be 
less than $500,000 in 2008 and $1 million over the 2008-2017 
period.
    Expansion of Specially Adaptive Housing Grants. VA 
currently administers a grant program to assist severely 
disabled veterans and servicemembers to modify housing to adapt 
it to their disabilities. While both servicemembers and 
veterans may receive those grants to adapt a permanent 
residence, only veterans are currently allowed to use this 
program to modify a residence owned by a family member where 
the veteran intends to reside temporarily. Section 2 would 
allow servicemembers that same assistance for such temporary 
housing.
    CBO estimates that most of the servicemembers who would be 
affected by this provision would have only a few months of 
active-duty time remaining before being separated or retired 
for disability. Thus, the effect of this section would be to 
accelerate by a few months the use of this benefit. Based on 
the small number of likely recipients and the fact that 
theprogram will expire in 2011, CBO estimates that this provision would 
have no significant impact on direct spending over the 2008-2017 
period.

Spending subject to appropriation

    Section 4 would require VA to establish a scholarship 
program to provide tuition and fee assistance to certain 
students in exchange for an agreement to work for three years 
at the department following the completion of the required 
course work. Eligible students would be those training to 
assist blind or visually impaired individuals in learning how 
to move about safely, manage a household, or gain vocational 
skills.
    According to the Association for Education and 
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, most schools 
that provide the necessary education and training to be a 
qualified vision rehabilitation and education professional are 
four-year public universities. H.R. 1315 would limit each 
recipient to no more than three years of tuition and fee 
assistance. VA reports that under H.R. 1315 it likely would 
grant about 20 individuals a three-year scholarship each year. 
Based on an average cost of about $6,000 for four-year public 
universities, and assuming a 6 percent increase in tuition and 
fees each year, CBO estimates that implementing this provision 
would cost less than $500,000 each year and about $2 million 
over the 2008-2012 period, assuming the availability of 
appropriated funds.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1315 
contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in UMRA and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
    Section 3 would extend the period after release of a 
servicemember from active duty during which the member is 
protected from mortgage foreclosure under the Servicemembers 
Civil Relief Act (SCRA) from 90 days to 180 days. Furthermore, 
it would extend the existing period of interest rate limitation 
under the SCRA by 180 days. This would constitute a mandate 
upon mortgage collectors, and the cost of the mandate would be 
the loss associated with delayed mortgage payments, delayed 
foreclosure, and interest rate limitations.
    Based on historical separation rates, foreclosure rates, 
and mortgage interest rates, CBO estimates that the annual cost 
of the mandate would not exceed the threshold for private-
sector mandates established in UMRA ($131 million in 2007, 
adjusted annually for inflation).
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Veterans' Readjustment 
Benefits--Mike Waters; Commerce and Housing Credit--Susanne S. 
Mehlman; Veterans' Housing--Sunita D'Monte; Military 
Personnel--Matthew Schmit; Medical Care--Michelle S. Patterson; 
Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Lisa Ramirez-
Branum; Impact on the Private Sector: Victoria Liu.
    Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


PART II--GENERAL BENEFITS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


CHAPTER 21--SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING FOR DISABLED VETERANS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


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

  (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (d) Assistance for Members of the Armed Forces.--The 
Secretary may provide assistance under subsection (a) to a 
member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who is 
suffering from a disability described in subsection (a)(2) or 
(b)(2) of section 2101 of this title if such disability is the 
result of an injury incurred or disease contracted in or 
aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or 
air service. Such assistance shall be provided to the same 
extent as assistance is provided under subsection (a) to 
veterans eligible for assistance under that subsection and 
subject to the limitation under subsection (c).
  [(d)] (e) Regulations.--Assistance under this section shall 
be provided in accordance with such regulations as the 
Secretary may prescribe.
  [(e)] (f) Termination.--No assistance may be provided under 
this section after the end of the five-year period that begins 
on the date of the enactment of the Veterans' Housing 
Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


PART III--READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


    CHAPTER 41--JOB COUNSELING, TRAINING, AND PLACEMENT SERVICE FOR 
VETERANS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


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

  (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (c)(1) The Secretary of Labor shall appoint at least 12, but 
no more than [15] 16, individuals to serve as members of the 
advisory committee as follows:
          (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


   CHAPTER 43--EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF THE 
UNIFORMED SERVICES

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SUBCHAPTER IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 4332. Reports

  [The Secretary shall] (a) Report Required.--The Secretary 
shall, after consultation with the Attorney General and the 
Special Counsel referred to in section 4324(a)(1) and no later 
than February 1, 2005, and annually thereafter, transmit to the 
Congress, a report containing the following matters for the 
fiscal year ending before such February 1:
          (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (4) The number of cases reviewed by the Secretary of 
        Defense under the National Committee for Employer 
        Support of the Guard and Reserve of the Department of 
        Defense during the fiscal year for which the report is 
        made.
          [(4)] (5) The nature and status of each case reported 
        on pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), [or (3)] (3), or 
        (4).
          [(5)] (6) An indication of whether there are any 
        apparent patterns of violation of the provisions of 
        this chapter, together with an explanation thereof.
          (7) An indication of which of the cases reported on 
        pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) are 
        disability-related.
          [(6)] (8) Recommendations for administrative or 
        legislative action that the Secretary, the Attorney 
        General, or the Special Counsel considers necessary for 
        the effective implementation of this chapter, including 
        any action that could be taken to encourage mediation, 
        before claims are filed under this chapter, between 
        employers and persons seeking employment or 
        reemployment.---
  (b) Uniform Categorization of Data.--The Secretary shall 
coordinate with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, the Attorney General, and the Special Counsel 
to ensure that the information required to be submitted as part 
of the report under subsection (a) is categorized in a uniform 
way.
  (c) Provision of Information.--The Secretary shall provide 
the information contained in the report required under 
subsection (a) to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, the Attorney General, and the Special 
Counsel.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


PART V--BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


    CHAPTER 76--HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

                          Subchapter I--General

  
7601.  Establishment of program; purpose.
     * * * * * * *

    Subchapter VIII--Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility 
                    Professionals Scholarship Program

7691.  Authority for program.
7692.  Eligibility; agreement.
7693.  Scholarship.
7694.  Obligated service.
7695.  Repayment for failure to satisfy requirements of agreement.

                         SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL

Sec. 7601. Establishment of program; purpose

  (a) There is hereby established a program to be known as the 
Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Educational 
Assistance Program (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as 
the ``Educational Assistance Program''). The program consists 
of--
          (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (4) the employee incentive scholarship program 
        provided for in subchapter VI of this chapter; [and]
          (5) the education debt reduction program provided for 
        in subchapter VII of this chapter[.]; and
          (6) the Visual Impairment and Orientation and 
        Mobility Professionals Scholarship Program provided for 
        in subchapter VIII of this chapter.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 7602. Eligibility

  (a)(1) To be eligible to participate in the Educational 
Assistance Program under subchapter II, III, [or VI] VI, or 
VIII of this chapter, an individual must be accepted for 
enrollment or be currently enrolled as a student at a 
qualifying educational institution in a course of education or 
training that is approved by the Secretary and that leads 
toward completion of a degree in a field of education or 
training for which a scholarship may be awarded under 
subchapter II of this chapter, for which tuition reimbursement 
may be provided under subchapter III of this chapter, [or for 
which a scholarship may be awarded under subchapter VI of this 
chapter] for which a scholarship may be awarded under 
subchapter VI of this chapter, or for which a scholarship may 
be awarded under subchapter VIII of this chapter, as the case 
may be.
  (b) An individual is not eligible to apply to participate in 
the Educational Assistance Program under subchapter II, III, 
[or VI] VI, or VIII of this chapter if the individual is 
obligated under any other Federal program to perform service 
after completion of the course of education or training of such 
individual referred to in subsection (a) of this section.

Sec. 7603. Application and acceptance

  (a)(1) To apply to participate in the Educational Assistance 
Program under subchapter II, III, V, [or VI] VI, or VIII of 
this chapter, an individual shall submit to the Secretary an 
application for such participation together with an agreement 
described in section 7604 of this title under which the 
participant agrees to serve a period of obligated service in 
the Veterans Health Administration as provided in the agreement 
in return for payment of educational assistance as provided in 
the agreement.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 7604. Terms of agreement

   An agreement between the Secretary and a participant in the 
Educational Assistance Program shall be in writing, shall be 
signed by the participant, and shall include the following 
provisions:
          (1) The Secretary's agreement--
                  (A) to provide the participant with 
                educational assistance as authorized in 
                subchapter II, III, V, [or VI] VI, or VIII of 
                this chapter and specified in the agreement; 
                and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (2) The participant's agreement--
                  (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                  (D) after completion of the course of 
                training, to serve as a full-time employee in 
                the Veterans Health Administration as specified 
                in the agreement in accordance with subchapter 
                II, III, V, [or VI] VI, or VIII of this 
                chapter.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (5) Such other terms as are required to be included 
        in the agreement under subchapter II, III, V, [or VI] 
        VI, or VIII of this chapter or as the Secretary may 
        require consistent with the provisions of this chapter.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


    SUBCHAPTER VIII--VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY 
                   PROFESSIONALS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Sec. 7691. Authority for program

  As part of the Educational Assistance Program and subject to 
the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the 
Secretary shall carry out a scholarship program under this 
subchapter. The program shall be known as the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility 
Professionals Scholarship Program (hereinafter in this 
subchapter referred to as the ``Program''). The purpose of the 
Program is to increase the supply of qualified blind 
rehabilitation specialists for the Department and the Nation.

Sec. 7692. Eligibility; agreement

  (a) Eligibility.--To be eligible to participate in the 
Program, an individual must be accepted for enrollment or 
enrolled (as described in section 7602 of this title) as a 
full-time or part-time student in a field of education or 
training described in subsection (b).
  (b) Qualifying Fields of Education or Training.--A field of 
education or training described in this subsection is education 
or training leading to--
          (1) a degree or certificate in visual impairment or 
        orientation and mobility, or a dual degree or 
        certification in both such areas; and
          (2) appointment or retention in a position under 
        section 7401 of this title.
  (c) Agreement.--(1) An agreement between the Secretary and a 
participant in the Program shall (in addition to the 
requirements set forth in section 7604 of this title) include 
the following:
          (A) The Secretary's agreement to provide the 
        participant with a scholarship under the Program for a 
        specified number (from one to three) of school years 
        during which the participant pursues a course of 
        education or training described in subsection (b) that 
        meets the requirements set forth in section 7602(a) of 
        this title.
          (B) The participant's agreement to serve as a full-
        time employee in the Veterans Health Administration for 
        a period of three years (hereinafter in this subchapter 
        referred to as the ``period of obligated service'') 
        during the six-year period beginning on the date the 
        participant completes the education or training and 
        receives a degree or certificate described in 
        subsection (b)(1).
          (C) The participant's agreement to serve under 
        subparagraph (B) in a Department facility selected by 
        the Secretary.
  (2) In a case in which an extension is granted under section 
7673(c)(2) of this title, the number of years for which a 
scholarship may be provided under the Program shall be the 
number of school years provided for as a result of the 
extension.
  (3) In the case of a participant who is a part-time student, 
the period of obligated service shall be reduced in accordance 
with the proportion that the number of credit hours carried by 
such participant in any such school year bears to the number of 
credit hours required to be carried by a full-time student in 
the course of training being pursued by the participant, but in 
no event to less than one year.

Sec. 7693. Scholarship

  (a) Scholarship.--A scholarship provided to a participant in 
the Program for a school year shall consist of payment of the 
tuition (or such portion of the tuition as may be provided 
under subsection (b)) of the participant for that school year 
and payment of other reasonable educational expenses (including 
fees, books, and laboratory expenses) for that school year.
  (b) Amounts.--The total amount of the scholarship payable 
under subsection (a)--
          (1) in the case of a participant in the Program who 
        is a full-time student, may not exceed $15,000 for the 
        equivalent of one year of full-time coursework; and
          (2) in the case of a participant in the Program who 
        is a part-time student, shall bear the same ratio to 
        the amount that would be paid under paragraph (1) if 
        the participant were a full-time student in the course 
        of education or training being pursued by the 
        participant as the coursework carried by the 
        participant to full-time coursework in that course of 
        education or training.
  (c) Limitations on Period of Payment.--(1) The maximum number 
of school years for which a scholarship may be paid under 
subsection (a) to a participant in the Program shall be six 
school years.
  (2) A participant in the Program may not receive a 
scholarship under subsection (a) for more than the equivalent 
of three years of full-time coursework.
  (d) Payment of Educational Expenses by Educational 
Institutions.--The Secretary may arrange with an educational 
institution in which a participant in the Program is enrolled 
for the payment of the educational expenses described in 
subsection (a). Such payments may be made without regard to 
subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 31.
  (e) Full-Time Coursework.--For purposes of this section, 
full-time coursework shall consist of the following:
          (1) In the case of undergraduate coursework, 30 
        semester hours per undergraduate school year.
          (2) In the case of graduate coursework, 18 semester 
        hours per graduate school year.

Sec. 7694. Obligated service

  (a) In General.--Each participant in the Program shall 
provide service as a full-time employee of the Department for 
the period of obligated service provided in the agreement of 
the participant entered into under section 7604 of this title. 
Such service shall be provided in the full-time clinical 
practice of such participant's profession or in another health-
care position in an assignment or location determined by the 
Secretary.
  (b) Determination of Service Commencement Date.--(1) Not 
later than 60 days before a participant's service commencement 
date, the Secretary shall notify the participant of that 
service commencement date. That date is the date for the 
beginning of the participant's period of obligated service.
  (2) As soon as possible after a participant's service 
commencement date, the Secretary shall--
          (A) in the case of a participant who is not a full-
        time employee in the Veterans Health Administration, 
        appoint the participant as such an employee; and
          (B) in the case of a participant who is an employee 
        in the Veterans Health Administration but is not 
        serving in a position for which the participant's 
        course of education or training prepared the 
        participant, assign the participant to such a position.
  (3)(A) In the case of a participant receiving a degree from a 
school of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, optometry, or 
podiatry, the participant's service commencement date is the 
date upon which the participant becomes licensed to practice 
medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, optometry, or podiatry, as the 
case may be, in a State.
  (B) In the case of a participant receiving a degree from a 
school of nursing, the participant's service commencement date 
is the later of--
          (i) the participant's course completion date; or
          (ii) the date upon which the participant becomes 
        licensed as a registered nurse in a State.
  (C) In the case of a participant not covered by subparagraph 
(A) or (B), the participant's service commencement date is the 
later of--
          (i) the participant's course completion date; or
          (ii) the date the participant meets any applicable 
        licensure or certification requirements.
  (4) The Secretary shall by regulation prescribe the service 
commencement date for participants who were part-time students. 
Such regulations shall prescribe terms as similar as 
practicable to the terms set forth in paragraph (3).
  (c) Commencement of Obligated Service.--(1) Except as 
provided in paragraph (2), a participant in the Program shall 
be considered to have begun serving the participant's period of 
obligated service--
          (A) on the date, after the participant's course 
        completion date, on which the participant (in 
        accordance with subsection (b)) is appointed as a full-
        time employee in the Veterans Health Administration; or
          (B) if the participant is a full-time employee in the 
        Veterans Health Administration on such course 
        completion date, on the date thereafter on which the 
        participant is assigned to a position for which the 
        participant's course of training prepared the 
        participant.
  (2) A participant in the Program who on the participant's 
course completion date is a full-time employee in the Veterans 
Health Administration serving in a capacity for which the 
participant's course of training prepared the participant shall 
be considered to have begun serving the participant's period of 
obligated service on such course completion date.
  (d) Course Completion Date Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``course completion date'' means the date on which a 
participant in the Program completes the participant's course 
of education or training under the Program.

Sec. 7695. Repayment for failure to satisfy requirements of agreement

  (a) In General.--An individual who receives educational 
assistance under this subchapter shall repay to the Secretary 
an amount equal to the unearned portion of such assistance if 
the individual fails to satisfy the requirements of the 
agreement entered into under section 7604 of this title, except 
in circumstances authorized by the Secretary.
  (b) Amount of Repayment.--The Secretary shall establish, by 
regulations, procedures for determining the amount of the 
repayment required under this subsection and the circumstances 
under which an exception to the required repayment may be 
granted.
  (c) Waiver or Suspension of Compliance.--The Secretary shall 
prescribe regulations providing for the waiver or suspension of 
any obligation of an individual for service or payment under 
this subchapter (or an agreement under this subchapter) 
whenever noncompliance by the individual is due to 
circumstances beyond the control of the individual or whenever 
the Secretary determines that the waiver or suspension of 
compliance is in the best interest of the United States.
  (d) Obligation as Debt to United States.--An obligation to 
repay the Secretary under this section is, for all purposes, a 
debt owed the United States. A discharge in bankruptcy under 
title 11 does not discharge a person from such debt if the 
discharge order is entered less than five years after the date 
of the termination of the agreement or contract on which the 
debt is based.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


           SECTION 303 OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT

SEC. 303. MORTGAGES AND TRUST DEEDS.

  (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (c) Sale or Foreclosure.--A sale, foreclosure, or seizure of 
property for a breach of an obligation described in subsection 
(a) shall not be valid if made during, or within [90 days] 180 
days after, the period of the servicemember's military service 
except--
          (1)  * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (e) Applicability of Interest Rate Limitation.--Section 207 
shall apply with respect to an obligation described in 
subsection (a) during the 180-day period beginning on the last 
day of the period of the servicemember's military service in 
the same manner that section applies with respect to such an 
obligation during the period of the servicemember's military 
service.

                                  
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