    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-154
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to
    the specially adapted housing program and educational assistance
    programs of the Department 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially
    Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019''.
    SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ASSIST BLIND
    VETERANS WHO HAVE NOT LOST USE OF A LEG IN
    ACQUIRING SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING.

    Section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
    (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
    (A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``permanent
    and total''; and
    (B) in subparagraph (B),
    (i) in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), and (v), by
    inserting ``permanent and total'' before
    ``disability''; and
    (ii) in clause (ii)--
    (I) by inserting ``permanent''
    before ``disability'';
    (II) by striking ``due to--'' and
    inserting ``due to blindness in both
    eyes, having central visual acuity of
    20/200 or less in the better eye with
    the use of a standard correcting lens.
    For the purposes of this clause, an eye
    with a limitation in the fields of
    vision such that the widest diameter of
    the visual field subtends an angle no
    greater than 20 degrees shall be
    considered as having a central visual
    acuity of 20/200 or less.''; and
    (III) by striking subclauses (I) and
    (II); and
    (2) in subsection (b)(2)--
    (A) by striking subparagraph (A); and
    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as
    subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively.
    SEC. 3. INCREASE IN AMOUNTS OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING
    ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
    AFFAIRS.

    (a) Increase of Number of Grants Per Veteran.--Section 2102(d)(3) of
    such title is amended--

    [[Page 691]]

    (1) by striking ``No veteran'' and inserting ``Subject to
    subsection (f), no veteran''; and
    (2) by striking ``three'' and inserting ``six''.

    (b) Increase in Number of Applications Authorized To Be Approved.--
    Section 2101(a)(4) of such title is amended by striking ``30
    applications'' and inserting ``120 applications''.
    (c) Increase in Maximum Amount of Assistance for Adaptation to
    Veteran's Residence.--Section 2102(b)(2) of such title is amended by
    striking ``$12,000'' and inserting ``$19,733''.
    (d) Increase in Aggregate Amount of Assistance for Acquisition of
    Housing With Special Features.--Section 2102(d)(1) of such title is
    amended by striking ``$63,780'' and inserting ``$98,492''.
    (e) Increase in Aggregate Amount of Assistance for Adaptations to
    Veterans' Residences.--Section 2102(d)(2) of such title is amended by
    striking ``$12,756'' and inserting ``$19,733''.
    (f) <>  Effective Date and Application.--
    The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1,
    2020.
    SEC. 4. PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED
    HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.

    Section 2102 of such title, as amended by section 3, is further
    amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f)(1) <>  Beginning October 1, 2030,
    notwithstanding the aggregate amounts specified in subsection (d), a
    covered veteran may apply for and receive an additional amount of
    assistance under subsection (a) or (b) of section 2101 of this title in
    an amount that does not exceed half of the amount specified in
    subsection (d).

    ``(2) <>  In this subsection, a covered veteran
    is a veteran who--
    ``(A) is described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) of section
    2101 of this title;
    ``(B) as of the date of the veteran's application for
    assistance under paragraph (1), most recently received
    assistance under this chapter more than 10 years before such
    date; and
    ``(C) lives in a home that the Secretary determines does not
    have adaptations that are reasonably necessary because of the
    veteran's disability.''.
    SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREPARATORY COURSES AS PROGRAMS OF
    EDUCATION FOR PURPOSES OF DEPARTMENT OF
    VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
    PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, is
    amended by inserting after section 3315A the following new section:
    ``Sec. 3315B. <>  Preparatory courses for
    licensure, certification, or national tests

    ``(a) In General.--An individual entitled to educational assistance
    under this chapter shall also be entitled to payment for a covered
    preparatory course.
    ``(b) Amount.--The amount of educational assistance payable under
    this chapter for a covered preparatory course is the lesser of--
    ``(1) the fee charged for the covered preparatory course; or

    [[Page 692]]

    ``(2) the amount of entitlement available to the individual
    under this chapter at the time of payment for the covered
    preparatory course under this section.

    ``(c) <>  Charge Against Entitlement.--The
    number of months of entitlement charged an individual under this chapter
    for a covered preparatory course shall be pro-rated based on the actual
    amount of the fee charged for the covered preparatory course relative to
    the rate for 1 month payable--
    ``(1) for the academic year beginning on August 1, 2020,
    $2,042; or
    ``(2) for an academic year beginning on any subsequent
    August 1, the amount for the previous academic year beginning on
    August 1 under this subsection, as increased by the percentage
    increase equal to the most recent percentage increase determined
    under section 3015(h).

    ``(d) Covered Preparatory Course Defined.--In this section, the term
    `covered preparatory course' means a course--
    ``(1) for a licensing or certification test that is required
    or used to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a
    predetermined and identified vocation or profession; and
    ``(2) that has been approved by the State approving agency
    concerned.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
    such chapter <>  is amended by inserting after
    the item relating to section 3315A the following new item:

    ``3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or national
    tests.''.

    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3532(g) of title 38, United
    States Code, is amended--
    (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or a covered
    preparatory course (as that term is defined in section 3315B(a)
    of this title)'' after ``or national test providing an
    opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher learning
    described in section 3501(a)(5) of this title''; and
    (2) in paragraphs (2) and (3), by inserting ``or covered
    preparatory course'' after ``test'' each place it appears.

    (d) <>  Effective Date.--The amendment
    made by subsection (a) shall take effect on August 1, 2021.
    SEC. 6. IMPROVEMENT TO WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Payment of Allowance.--Subsection (a) of section 3485 of title
    38, United States Code, is amended--
    (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Individuals'' and
    inserting ``In accordance with paragraph (4), individuals'';
    (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as
    paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively; and
    (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new
    paragraph:

    ``(4)(A) With respect to covered work-study activities, the
    Secretary shall carry out this section by providing to participating
    educational institutions an annual amount for the institution to use in
    paying work-study allowance under paragraph (1) to individuals enrolled
    at the institution.
    ``(B) <>  With respect to a
    participating educational institution that participated in the work-
    study program under this section during the academic year beginning
    August 1, 2018, the Secretary shall

    [[Page 693]]

    determine the annual amount to provide to the educational institution
    under subparagraph (A) as follows:
    ``(i) <>  For the academic year
    beginning August 1, 2020, the amount shall be the total amount,
    determined in consultation with the educational institution,
    that the Secretary paid under this section for covered work-
    study activities to individuals enrolled at such educational
    institution during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018.
    ``(ii) Except as provided by clauses (ii) or (iii) of
    subparagraph (D), for each academic year beginning on or after
    August 1, 2021, the amount shall be the total amount the
    educational institution paid under this section for work-study
    allowance for covered work-study activities to individuals
    enrolled at such educational institution during the previous
    academic year in which individuals participated in the work-
    study program.

    ``(C) <>  With respect to a
    participating educational institution that did not participate in the
    work-study program under this section during the academic year beginning
    August 1, 2018, the Secretary shall determine the annual amount to
    provide to the educational institution under subparagraph (A) as
    follows:
    ``(i) <>  For the first academic year
    in which the educational institution participates in the work-
    study program beginning on or after August 1, 2020, the amount
    shall be an amount, determined in consultation with the
    educational institution, that the Secretary determines
    appropriate based on amounts provided to similar educational
    institutions pursuant to subparagraph (B).
    ``(ii) Except as provided by clauses (ii) or (iii) of
    subparagraph (D), for each academic year occurring after the
    academic year specified in clause (i), the amount shall be the
    total amount the educational institution paid under this section
    for work-study allowance for covered work-study activities to
    individuals enrolled at such educational institution during the
    previous academic year in which individuals enrolled at such
    educational institution participated in the work-study program.

    ``(D)(i) <>  Except as provided in clause
    (ii), if the Secretary provides an annual amount to a participating
    educational institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) that is more than
    the total amount the educational institution pays to individuals under
    paragraph (1) for covered work-study activities, the educational
    institution shall return to the Secretary the unpaid amount and the
    Secretary shall transfer such amount into the general fund of the
    Treasury.

    ``(ii) <>  If the annual amount provided to a
    participating educational institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) is
    more, but less than 25 percent more, than the total amount the
    educational institution pays to individuals under paragraph (1) for
    covered work-study activities, and the educational institution plans to
    participate in the work-study program under this section during the
    subsequent academic year, the educational institution may retain the
    amount of the overpayment if the educational institution notifies the
    Secretary of the amount of the overpayment and the intention of the
    educational institution to retain such amount. Any amount retained by an
    educational institution under this clause may only be used by the
    educational institution to provide work-study allowance to individuals
    enrolled at the educational institution.

    [[Page 694]]

    ``(iii) At any time a participating educational institution may
    request the Secretary to increase the annual amount that the Secretary
    provides the educational institution under subparagraph (B) or
    (C). <>  The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such
    request by not later than 30 days after the date of the request.

    ``(iv) <>  Whenever the Secretary finds that a
    participating educational institution paid an amount of work-study
    allowance under this paragraph to an individual for a purpose other than
    covered work-study activities, such payment shall constitute a liability
    of the educational institution to the United States.

    ``(E)(i) Pursuant to section 3690(c), section 3693, and other
    provisions of chapter 36 of this title, the Secretary shall ensure that
    participating educational institutions carry out the work-study
    allowance program in compliance with this section.
    ``(ii) <>  The Secretary may prohibit an
    educational institution from being a participating educational
    institution under this paragraph if the Secretary determines that the
    educational institution is not in compliance with this section.

    ``(F) <>  In this paragraph:
    ``(i) The term `covered work-study activities' means
    qualifying work-study activities described in subparagraphs (A),
    (B), (H), (I), or (J) of paragraph (5) for which an individual
    is paid a work-study allowance.
    ``(ii) The term `participating educational institution'
    means an educational institution that--
    ``(I)(aa) during the five-academic-year period
    occurring before an academic year during which the
    Secretary carries out this paragraph, the educational
    institution had on average more than 10 individuals per
    academic year participating in a covered work-study
    activity under this section; or
    ``(bb) the educational institution is not described
    by item (aa) but informs the Secretary that the
    institution expects to have more than 10 individuals in
    the following academic year participating in a covered
    work-study activity under this section; and
    ``(II) voluntarily chooses to be a participating
    educational institution under this paragraph.''.

    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (e)(1) of such section is
    amended by striking ``subsection (a)(4)'' and inserting ``subsection
    (a)(5)''.
    (c) <>  Application.--The amendments made
    by this section shall apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or
    term, as applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2021.
    SEC. 7. ADJUSTMENT OF LOAN FEES.

    Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
    striking the loan fee table and inserting the following:

    [[Page 695]]

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Active duty
    ``Type of loan                         veteran             Reservist          Other  obligor
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (A)(i) Initial loan described in section 3710(a)   2.15                 2.40                 NA
    to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down,
    or any other initial loan described in section
    3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down
    (closed on or after October 1, 2004, and before
    January 1, 2020)
    (A)(ii) Initial loan described in section 3710(a)  2.30                 2.30                 NA
    to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down,
    or any other initial loan described in section
    3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down
    (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before
    April 7, 2023)
    (A)(iii) Initial loan described in section         2.15                 2.15                 NA
    3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
    0-down, or any other initial loan described in
    section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-
    down (closed on or after April 7, 2023, and
    before October 1, 2029)
    (A)(iv) Initial loan described in section 3710(a)  1.40                 1.40                 NA
    to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down,
    or any other initial loan described in section
    3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down
    (closed on or after October 1, 2029)
    (B)(i) Subsequent loan described in section        3.30                 3.30                 NA
    3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
    0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
    in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October
    1, 2004, and before January 1, 2020)
    (B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in section       3.60                 3.60                 NA
    3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
    0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
    in section 3710(a) (closed on or after January
    1, 2020, and before April 7, 2023)
    (B)(iii) Subsequent loan described in section      3.30                 3.30                 NA
    3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
    0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
    in section 3710(a) (closed on or after April 7,
    2023, and before October 1, 2029)
    (B)(iv) Subsequent loan described in section       1.25                 1.25                 NA
    3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
    0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
    in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October
    1, 2029)

    [[Page 696]]

    (C)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to        1.50                 1.75                 NA
    purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
    (closed before January 1, 2020)
    (C)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       1.65                 1.65                 NA
    purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
    (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before
    April 7, 2023)
    (C)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to      1.50                 1.50                 NA
    purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
    (closed on or after April 7, 2023, and before
    October 1, 2029)
    (C)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       0.75                 0.75                 NA
    purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
    (closed on or after October 1, 2029)
    (D)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to        1.25                 1.50                 NA
    purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
    (closed before January 1, 2020)
    (D)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       1.40                 1.40                 NA
    purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
    (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before
    April 7, 2023)
    (D)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to      1.25                 1.25                 NA
    purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
    (closed on or after April 7, 2023, and before
    October 1, 2029)
    (D)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       0.50                 0.50                 NA
    purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
    (closed on or after October 1, 2029)
    (E) Interest rate reduction refinancing loan       0.50                 0.50                 NA
    (F) Direct loan under section 3711                 1.00                 1.00                 NA
    (G) Manufactured home loan under section 3712      1.00                 1.00                 NA
    (other than an interest rate reduction
    refinancing loan)
    (H) Loan to Native American veteran under section  1.25                 1.25                 NA
    3762 (other than an interest rate reduction
    refinancing loan)
    (I) Loan assumption under section 3714             0.50                 0.50                 0.50
    (J) Loan under section 3733(a)                     2.25                 2.25                 2.25''.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SEC. 8. DETERMINATION 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

    [[Page 697]]

    Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee,
    provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on
    passage.

    Approved August 8, 2020.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 3504:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HOUSE REPORTS: No. 116-164 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
    Vol. 165 (2019):
    July 23, considered and passed
    House.
    Vol. 166 (2020):
    Mar. 25, considered and passed
    Senate, amended.
    July 20, House concurred in Senate
    amendment.