[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5404 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.5404
One Hundred Thirteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
the third day of January, two thousand and fourteen
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 2014''.
(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 requirement to provide nursing home care to
certain veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Sec. 102. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in
retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from
service in the Armed Forces.
Sec. 103. Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for
child care for certain veterans receiving health care.
Sec. 104. Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service
organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans.
Sec. 105. Extension of requirement for report on activities of
Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs
Interagency Program Office.
Sec. 106. Extension of authority for the performance of medical
disabilities examinations by contract physicians.
Sec. 107. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for
hospital care and nursing home care.
Sec. 108. 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.
TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS
Sec. 201. Extension of current funding level for comprehensive service
programs for homeless veterans.
Sec. 202. Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration
programs.
Sec. 203. Extension of authority to provide referral and counseling
services for certain veterans at risk of homelessness.
Sec. 204. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation
services for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans.
Sec. 205. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for
homeless veterans.
Sec. 206. Extension of authority to provide financial assistance for
supportive services for very low-income veteran families in
permanent housing.
Sec. 207. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans
with special needs.
Sec. 208. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless
Veterans.
TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS
Sec. 301. Extension of authority for the Veterans' Advisory Committee on
Education.
Sec. 302. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real
property at time of foreclosure.
Sec. 303. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans.
TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER MATTERS
Sec. 401. Extension of authority to transport certain individuals to and
from Department of Veterans Affairs 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 requirement to provide reports to Congress
regarding equitable relief in the case of administrative
error.
Sec. 404. Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority
Veterans.
Sec. 405. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility
for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans
with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating.
Sec. 406. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers.
Sec. 407. Extension of authority for agreement with National Academy of
Sciences.
Sec. 408. Health professionals education debt reduction.
Sec. 409. Amendments to Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act
of 2014.
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 REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME CARE TO
CERTAIN VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.
Section 1710A(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON COUNSELING IN
RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE
IN THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) Extension of Authority.--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 to read as
follows:
``(d) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program
under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2015.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (f) of such
section is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2010 and 2011'' and
inserting ``fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2015''.
SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE
FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS RECEIVING HEALTH CARE.
(a) Extension of Authority.--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 to read as
follows:
``(e) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program
under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2015.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (h) of such
section is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting ``2015''.
SEC. 104. 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 ``2014'' and inserting ``2015''.
SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTERAGENCY
PROGRAM OFFICE.
Section 1635(h)(1) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of Public
Law 110-181; 122 Stat. 460; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by striking
``2014'' and inserting ``2015''.
SEC. 106. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL
DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.
Section 704(c) of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (Public Law
108-183; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking ``December 31,
2014'' and inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
SEC. 107. 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, 2014''
and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
SEC. 108. 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 by striking ``October 1, 2014''
and inserting ``October 1, 2015''.
TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS
SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL FOR COMPREHENSIVE
SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.
Section 2013(7) is amended by striking ``$150,000,000'' and
inserting ``$250,000,000''.
SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS.
Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting
``2015''.
SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REFERRAL AND COUNSELING
SERVICES FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.
(a) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (d) of section 2023 is
amended by striking ``September 30, 2014'' and inserting ``September
30, 2015''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--Subsection (c)(3) of such section is
amended by striking ``enter into contracts'' and inserting ``make
grants''.
SEC. 204. 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
``December 31, 2014'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
(b) Additional Services at Certain Locations.--Section 2033(d) is
amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and inserting ``September 30,
2015''.
SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR
HOMELESS VETERANS.
Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
SEC. 206. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN
PERMANENT HOUSING.
Section 2044(e)(1)(E) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2013
and 2014'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2013 through 2015''.
SEC. 207. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
Section 2061(d)(1) is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting
``2015''.
SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESS VETERANS.
Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS
SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE VETERANS' ADVISORY
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.
Section 3692(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING NET VALUE OF REAL
PROPERTY AT TIME OF FORECLOSURE.
Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2014'' and
inserting ``October 1, 2015''.
SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS.
Section 3733(a)(7) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``September 30, 2014'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''; and
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``September 30, 2014,''
and inserting ``September 30, 2015,''.
TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSPORT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS
TO AND FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES.
Section 111A(a)(2) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
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 ``December 31, 2014'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
SEC. 403. 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, 2014'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY
VETERANS.
Section 544(e) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
SEC. 405. 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, 2014'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2015''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``fiscal year 2014'' and
inserting ``each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015''.
SEC. 406. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS.
During the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment
of this Act, the second sentence of section 3684(c) shall be applied--
(1) by substituting ``$9'' for ``$12''; and
(2) by substituting ``$13'' for ``$15''.
SEC. 407. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
Section 3(i) of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-4; 105
Stat. 13; 38 U.S.C. 1116 note) is amended by striking ``October 1,
2014'' and inserting ``December 31, 2015''.
SEC. 408. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION DEBT REDUCTION.
Section 7683 is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following new
subsection:
``(a) In General.--Education debt reduction payments under the
Education Debt Reduction Program shall consist of--
``(1) payments to individuals selected to participate in the
program of principal and interest on loans described in section
7682(a)(2) of this title; or
``(2) payments for the principal and interest on such loans of
such individuals to the holders of such loans.'';
(2) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking ``payments to''
both places it appears and inserting ``payments to or for''; and
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``made to'' and inserting
``made to or for''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``payable to that''
and inserting ``payable to or for that''.
SEC. 409. AMENDMENTS TO VETERANS ACCESS, CHOICE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ACT OF 2014.
(a) Expanded Availability of Hospital Care and Medical Services.--
Section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of
2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``provide the veteran
an appointment that exceeds the wait-time goals described in
such subsection or'' before ``place such''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``(or other digital
channel)'' after ``website'';
(2) in subsection (d)(1)(A), by adding at the end the following
new sentences: ``An agreement entered into pursuant to this
subparagraph may not be treated as a Federal contract for the
acquisition of goods or services and is not subject to any
provision of law governing Federal contracts for the acquisition of
goods or services. Before entering into an agreement pursuant to
this subparagraph, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable and consistent with the requirements of this section,
furnish such care and services to such veterans under this section
with such entities pursuant to sharing agreements, existing
contracts entered into by the Secretary, or other processes
available at medical facilities of the Department.'';
(3) in subsection (l)(1), by inserting ``a copy of'' before
``any medical record''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(t) Waiver of Certain Printing Requirements.--Section 501 of
title 44, United States Code, shall not apply in carrying out this
section.''.
(b) Collaboration Between VA and Indian Health Service.--Section
102 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014
(Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall establish'' and inserting the following: ``The
Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Indian Health
Service shall jointly establish and implement'';
(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) Entering into an agreement between the Department and the
Indian Health Service described in paragraph (2)(A) with respect to
the effect of such agreement on the priority access of any Indian
to health care services provided through the Indian Health Service,
the eligibility of any Indian to receive health services through
the Indian Health Service, and the quality of health care services
provided to any Indian through the Indian Health Service.''; and
(3) by striking subsection (d).
(c) Prompt Payment.--Section 105 of the Veterans Access, Choice,
and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701
note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``section 1315'' and
inserting ``part 1315'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``chapter 39'' and
inserting ``chapter 39 of title 31''; and
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ``required by subsection
(b)'' and inserting ``required by subsection (c)''.
(d) Improvement of Access to Mobile Vet Centers.--Section 204 of
the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law
113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and readjustment
counseling services'' after ``other health care''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and events''
after ``locations''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``and outreach
contacts'' after ``appointments''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting
``and readjustment counseling'' after ``telemedicine
services''; and
(ii) in clause (iii), by inserting ``and outreach
contacts'' after ``appointments'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and readjustment
counseling'' after ``health care services''; and
(C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``mobile vet centers
and''.
(e) Improved Transparency.--Section 206(b) of the Veterans Access,
Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C.
1701 note) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``comprehensive database''
and inserting ``comprehensive, machine-readable data set'';
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``notice in the database of
the reason'' and inserting ``notice of the reason''; and
(3) in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), by striking ``database''
each place it appears and inserting ``data''.
(f) Information on Credentials.--Section 207 of the Veterans
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38
U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by striking ``successor database'' each
place it appears and inserting ``successor data set''.
(g) Report on Staffing Shortages.--Section 301(b)(3) of the
Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law
113-146) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``Not later'' and all that
follows through ``2019'' and inserting the following: ``On October
1 of each year beginning in 2015 and ending in 2019''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ``at each'' and all that
follows through the period at the end and inserting the
following: ``or guidelines of the Department with respect to
determining the ratio of residents to staff supervising
residents.''; and
(B) by striking clause (v) and inserting the following new
clause:
``(v) Efforts of the Department, as of the date of the
submittal of the report, to recruit and retain medical
residents to work for the Veterans Health Administration as
full-time employees.''.
(h) Project ARCH.--Section 403(j) of the Veterans' Mental Health
and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-387; 38 U.S.C.
1703 note) is amended--
(1) by striking ``In carrying out'' and inserting
``Notwithstanding any provision of law relating to the use of
competitive procedures in entering into contracts, in carrying
out''; and
(2) by inserting ``under this section'' after ``make use of
contracts entered into''.
(i) Clarification of Approval of Courses of Education Provided by
Public Institutions of Higher Learning and In-State Tuition Rate for
Veterans.--Paragraph (1) of section 3679(c) is amended to read as
follows:
``(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and
subject to paragraphs (3) through (6), the Secretary shall disapprove a
course of education provided by a public institution of higher learning
if the institution charges tuition and fees for that course for covered
individuals who are pursuing the course with educational assistance
under chapter 30 or 33 of this title while living in the State in which
the institution is located at a rate that is higher than the rate the
institution charges for tuition and fees for that course for residents
of the State in which the institution is located, regardless of the
covered individual's State of residence.''.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.