United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session

[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-62
115th Congress

An Act


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring
provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and
for other purposes. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Department of
Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 3. Scoring of budgetary effects.

TITLE I--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH CARE

Sec. 101. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for
hospital care and nursing home care.
Sec. 102. Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to
certain veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Sec. 103. Extension of authorization of appropriations for assistance
and support services for caregivers.
Sec. 104. Extension of authority for recovery from third parties of cost
of care and services furnished to veterans with health-plan
contracts for non-service-connected disability.
Sec. 105. Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for
child care for certain veterans receiving health care.
Sec. 106. Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service
organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans.
Sec. 107. Extension of pilot program on community-based brain injury
rehabilitative care services for veterans with traumatic
brain injury.
Sec. 108. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in
retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from
service.
Sec. 109. Extension of temporary expansion of payments and allowances
for beneficiary travel in connection with veterans receiving
care from Vet Centers.

TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

Sec. 201. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real
property at time of foreclosure.
Sec. 202. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans.
Sec. 203. Extension of authority to provide rehabilitation and
vocational benefits to members of the Armed Forces with
severe injuries or illnesses.

TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESS VETERANS

Sec. 301. Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration
programs.
Sec. 302. Extension of authority for homeless women veterans and
homeless veterans with children reintegration program.
Sec. 303. Extension of authority for referral and counseling services
for veterans at risk of homelessness transitioning from
certain institutions.

[[Page 1160]]

Sec. 304. Extension and modification of authority to provide financial
assistance for supportive services for very low-income
veteran families in permanent housing.
Sec. 305. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans
with special needs.
Sec. 306. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless
Veterans.
Sec. 307. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation
services for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans.

TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER
MATTERS

Sec. 401. Extension of authority for transportation of individuals to
and from Department facilities.
Sec. 402. Extension of authority for operation of the Department of
Veterans Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic of
the Philippines.
Sec. 403. Extension of authority for monthly assistance allowances under
the Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special
Events.
Sec. 404. Extension of requirement to provide reports to Congress
regarding equitable relief in the case of administrative
error.
Sec. 405. Extension of authorization of appropriations for adaptive
sports programs for disabled veterans and members of the
Armed Forces.
Sec. 406. Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority
Veterans.
Sec. 407. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility
for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans
with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating.
Sec. 408. Extension of authority for specially adapted housing assistive
technology grant program.
Sec. 409. Extension of authority to guarantee payment of principal and
interest on certificates or other securities.
Sec. 410. Extension of authority to enter into agreement with the
National Academy of Sciences regarding associations between
diseases and exposure to dioxin and other chemical compounds
in herbicides.
Sec. 411. Modifications of reductions of reporting fee multipliers.

TITLE V--TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS

Sec. 501. Technical corrections to Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational
Assistance Act of 2017.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to
be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with
the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

TITLE I--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH CARE

SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR
HOSPITAL CARE AND NURSING HOME CARE.

Section 1710(f)(2)(B) <>  is amended by striking
``September 30, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.

[[Page 1161]]

SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME CARE TO
CERTAIN VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED
DISABILITIES.

Section 1710A(d) <>  is amended by striking
``December 31, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR
ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR
CAREGIVERS.

Section 1720G(e) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'';
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) $839,828,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 and
2019.''.
SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY FROM THIRD PARTIES
OF COST OF CARE AND SERVICES FURNISHED TO
VETERANS WITH HEALTH-PLAN CONTRACTS FOR
NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY.

Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended, in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``October 1, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30,
2019''.
SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE
FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS
RECEIVING HEALTH CARE.

(a) Extension.--Subsection (e) of section 205 of the Caregivers and
Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 124
Stat. 1144; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (h) of such section
is amended by striking ``and 2017'' and inserting ``2017, 2018, and
2019''.
SEC. 106. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO VETERANS
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION
OF HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS.

Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health
Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 124 Stat. 1154; 38 U.S.C. 1710
note) is amended by striking ``2017'' and inserting ``2019''.
SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF PILOT PROGRAM ON COMMUNITY-BASED BRAIN
INJURY REHABILITATIVE CARE SERVICES FOR
VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

(a) Extension.--Subsection (g) of section 1705 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181; 38
U.S.C. 1710C note) is amended by striking ``October 6, 2017'' and
inserting ``January 6, 2018''.
(b) Final Report Submittal Date.--Subsection (e)(2)(A) of such
section is amended by striking ``60 days after the completion of the
pilot program'' and inserting ``December 6, 2017''.
(c) <>  Notification to
Participants in Program.--Not later than December 6, 2017, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall notify veterans participating in the pilot
program under such section regarding a plan for transition of care for
such veterans.

[[Page 1162]]

SEC. 108. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON COUNSELING
IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VETERANS
NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE.

(a) Extension.--Subsection (d) of section 203 of the Caregivers and
Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 124
Stat. 1143; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
(b) Report Submittal Date.--Subsection (e) of such section is
amended by striking ``180 days after the completion of the pilot
program'' and inserting ``March 31, 2018''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (f) of such section
is amended by striking ``and 2017'' and inserting ``2017, 2018, and
2019''.
SEC. 109. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF PAYMENTS AND
ALLOWANCES FOR BENEFICIARY TRAVEL IN
CONNECTION WITH VETERANS RECEIVING CARE
FROM VET CENTERS.

(a) Extension.--Subsection (a) of section 104 of the Honoring
America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012
(Public Law 112-154; 126 Stat. 1169) is amended by striking ``a three-
year initiative'' and inserting ``an initiative, to run through
September 30, 2018,''.
(b) Report Submittal Date.--Subsection (b)(1) of such section is
amended by striking ``180 days after the date of the completion of the
initiative'' and inserting ``March 31, 2018''.

TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING NET VALUE OF REAL
PROPERTY AT TIME OF FORECLOSURE.

Section 3732(c)(11) <>  is amended by striking
``October 1, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS.

Section 3733(a)(7) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``September 30, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2018''; and
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``September 30, 2017,''
and inserting ``September 30, 2018,''.
SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REHABILITATION AND
VOCATIONAL BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES WITH SEVERE INJURIES OR
ILLNESSES.

Section 1631(b)(2) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of Public
Law 110-181; 122 Stat. 458; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by striking
``December 31, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2018''.

[[Page 1163]]

TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESS VETERANS

SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS.

Section 2021(e)(1)(F) <>  is amended by striking
``2017'' and inserting ``2018''.
SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS AND
HOMELESS VETERANS WITH CHILDREN
REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.

Section 2021A(f)(1) is amended by striking ``2017'' and inserting
``2018''.
SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR REFERRAL AND COUNSELING
SERVICES FOR VETERANS AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN
INSTITUTIONS.

Section 2023(d) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2017'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
SEC. 304. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN
FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING.

Section 2044(e)(1) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(F) $320,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through
2019.''.
SEC. 305. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

Section 2061(d)(1) is amended by striking ``2017'' and inserting
``2019''.
SEC. 306. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESS VETERANS.

Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2017'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
SEC. 307. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION
SERVICES FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL AND
HOMELESS VETERANS.

(a) General Treatment.--Section 2031(b) is amended by striking
``September 30, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
(b) Additional Services at Certain Locations.--Section 2033(d) is
amended by striking ``September 30, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30,
2019''.

[[Page 1164]]

TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER
MATTERS

SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TRANSPORTATION OF INDIVIDUALS
TO AND FROM DEPARTMENT FACILITIES.

Section 111A(a)(2) <>  is amended by striking
``December 31, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2019''.
SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE IN
MANILA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.

Section 315(b) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2017'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR MONTHLY ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCES
UNDER THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL VETERANS
SPORTS PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

Section 322(d)(4) is amended by striking ``2017'' and inserting
``2019''.
SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE REPORTS TO CONGRESS
REGARDING EQUITABLE RELIEF IN THE CASE OF
ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR.

Section 503(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2017'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2018''.
SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR
ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR DISABLED
VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

Section 521A is amended--
(1) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``2017'' and inserting
``2019''; and
(2) in subsection (l), by striking ``2017'' and inserting
``2019''.
SEC. 406. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
MINORITY VETERANS.

Section 544(e) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2017'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
SEC. 407. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF
ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING
ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WITH
DISABILITIES CAUSING DIFFICULTY
AMBULATING.

Section 2101(a)(4) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``September 30, 2017''
and inserting ``September 30, 2018''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``2017'' and inserting
``2018''.
SEC. 408. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

Section 2108(g) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2017'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.

[[Page 1165]]

SEC. 409. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO GUARANTEE PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL
AND INTEREST ON CERTIFICATES OR OTHER
SECURITIES.

Section 3720(h)(2) <>  is amended by striking
``December 31, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
SEC. 410. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REGARDING
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DISEASES AND EXPOSURE
TO DIOXIN AND OTHER CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS IN
HERBICIDES.

Section 3(i) of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-4; 38
U.S.C. 1116 note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2017'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.
SEC. 411. MODIFICATIONS OF REDUCTIONS OF REPORTING FEE
MULTIPLIERS.

(a) Through July 31, 2018.--
(1) In general.--Section 412 of the Jeff Miller and Richard
Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of
2016 (Public Law 114-315; 38 U.S.C. 3684 note) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``September 25,
2017'' and inserting ``July 31, 2018''; and
(B) by striking subsection (b).
(2) Clerical amendment.--The heading for subsection (a) of
such section is amended by striking ``September 25, 2017'' and
inserting ``July 31, 2018''.

(b) <>  August 1, 2018, Through
July 31, 2020.--During the period beginning on August 1, 2018, and
ending on July 31, 2020, section 3684(c)(2) of title 38, United States
Code, as amended by section 304 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans
Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48) shall be applied
by substituting ``$15'' for ``$16''.

TITLE V--TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS

SEC. 501. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO HARRY W. COLMERY VETERANS
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2017.

(a) Use of State Approving Agencies for Oversight Activities.--
Section 3673(d) is amended by inserting ``compliance and'' before
``risk-based surveys''.
(b) Calculation of Monthly Housing Stipend Under Post-9/11
Educational Assistance Program Based on Location of Campus Where Classes
Are Attended.--
(1) In general.--Section 3313(g)(3)(A)(ii)(I)(aa) is amended
by striking ``the institution at which the individual is
enrolled'' and inserting ``the campus of the institution of
where the individual physically participates in a majority of
classes''.
(2) <>  Effective date.--The
amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to
enrollment for a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable,
commencing on or after August 1, 2018.
(3) Additional technical correction.--Subsection (b) of
section 107 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational
Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48) <>  is amended to read as follows:

[[Page 1166]]

``(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to enrollment for a quarter, semester, or term, as
applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2018.''.
(c) Determination of Monthly Housing Stipends During Active Duty
Service.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (j) of section 3313 <>  is amended to read as follows:

``(j) Determination of Monthly Housing Stipends During Active Duty
Service.--For any month during which an individual who is entitled to a
monthly housing stipend under this section is performing active duty
service, the Secretary shall determine the amount of such stipend
payable to such individual for such month on a pro rata basis for the
period of such month during which the individual is not performing
active duty service.''.
(2) <>
Applicability.--Such subsection, as amended by paragraph (1),
shall apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as
applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2018.

(d) Special Application of School Closure Rule to Recently Enrolled
Individuals.--Subparagraph (B) of section 109(c)(1) of the Harry W.
Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-
48) <>  is amended to read as follows:
``(B) Special application.--
``(i) <>  In general.--
With respect to courses and programs of education
discontinued as described in section 3699 of title
38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a)(1), during the period beginning January 1,
2015, and ending on the date of the enactment of
this Act, an individual described in clause (ii)
who does not transfer credits from such program of
education shall be deemed to be an individual who
did not receive such credits, as described in
subsection (b)(2) of such section, except that the
period for which such individual's entitlement is
not charged shall be the entire period of the
individual's enrollment in the program of
education. <>  In
carrying out this subparagraph, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the
Secretary of Education, shall establish procedures
to determine whether the individual transferred
credits to a comparable course or program of
education.

[[Page 1167]]

``(ii) <>  Individual
described.--An individual described in this clause
is an individual who is enrolled in a course or
program of education discontinued as described in
clause (i) during the period beginning on the date
that is 120 days before the date of such
discontinuance and ending on the date of such
discontinuance.''.

Approved September 29, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 3819:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
Sept. 25, considered and passed House.
Sept. 27, considered and passed Senate.