Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2016

Summary: Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2016, the amounts for the payment of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date (rounded to the next lower dollar amount if the amount is not a whole dollar amount).  The VA may adjust administratively the rates of disability compensation payable to persons receiving benefits pursuant to public laws administered by the VA on December 31, 1958 (that are still in effect) who have not received service-connected disability or death compensation.   The VA shall publish such increased amounts in the Federal Register. (Sec. 3) The VA may pay the cost of transporting a deceased veteran:   who died as the result of a service-connected disability, or who died while in receipt of disability compensation, to a national cemetery or a state- or tribal-owned veterans' cemetery in which the deceased veteran is eligible to be buried, or  who has no next of kin or other person claiming the body to a national cemetery in which the deceased veteran is eligible to be buried.   Such payment shall not exceed the cost of transportation to the national cemetery nearest to the veteran's last place of residence in which burial space is available. (Sec. 4) The VA shall furnish at a private cemetery, upon request, a headstone, marker, or medallion that signifies the status of an eligible veteran who served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917, as a Medal of Honor recipient.  If the VA furnished a headstone, marker, or medallion for a deceased veteran that does not signify his or her status as a Medal of Honor recipient, the VA shall, upon request, replace that headstone, marker, or medallion with one that signifies such status.  (Sec. 5) The bill authorizes award of the Presidential Memorial Certificate to certain deceased members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and certain deceased members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. (Sec. 6) The Department of the Army shall reserve 100 in-ground burial plots at Arlington National Cemetery for interment of deceased Medal of Honor recipients. Such requirement shall terminate when the Army submits a report on the cemetery's interment and inurnment capacity that includes: (1) the estimated date of achieving maximum capacity; and (2) recommendations to ensure that such capacity is not reached until well into the future, including actions to redefine interment eligibility and considerations for cemetery expansion. (Sec. 7) The VA, beginning not later than October 1, 2016, shall carry out a three-year pilot program under which the VA shall carry out Veteran Engagement Team events to assist veterans in completing VA disability and pension claims.  Such events shall be carried out:   during the first year, at least once a month within the jurisdiction of each of 10 VA regional offices, including at least 2 regional offices in each of the 5 districts of the Veterans Benefits Administration;  during each of the second and third years, at least once a month within the jurisdiction of each of 15 VA regional offices, including at least 3 regional offices in each district;  at different locations within each regional office's jurisdiction and at least 50 miles from any regional office;  during the sponsoring regional office's normal business hours; and   with a sufficient number of physicians (to be available for opinions only), veteran service and rating representatives, and other appropriate claims personnel to initiate, update, and finalize the completion and adjudication of claims.    The VA shall: (1) collect and analyze event-satisfaction information from attending veterans, and (2) report annuallys on event implementation.  The VA may not permanently transfer any Veterans Health Administration physician to staff an event.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
Living Adjustment Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND 
              INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

    (a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2016, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance with subsection (c), 
the dollar amounts in effect on November 30, 2016, for the payment of 
disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation under 
the provisions specified in subsection (b).
    (b) Amounts To Be Increased.--The dollar amounts to be increased 
pursuant to subsection (a) are the following:
            (1) Wartime disability compensation.--Each of the dollar 
        amounts under section 1114 of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) Additional compensation for dependents.--Each of the 
        dollar amounts under section 1115(1) of such title.
            (3) Clothing allowance.--The dollar amount under section 
        1162 of such title.
            (4) Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving 
        spouse.--Each of the dollar amounts under subsections (a) 
        through (d) of section 1311 of such title.
            (5) Dependency and indemnity compensation to children.--
        Each of the dollar amounts under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of 
        such title.
    (c) Determination of Increase.--
            (1) Percentage.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each 
        dollar amount described in subsection (b) shall be increased by 
        the same percentage as the percentage by which benefit amounts 
        payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        401 et seq.) are increased effective December 1, 2016, as a 
        result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 415(i)).
            (2) Rounding.--Each dollar amount increased under paragraph 
        (1), if not a whole dollar amount, shall be rounded to the next 
        lower whole dollar amount.
    (d) Special Rule.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may adjust 
administratively, consistent with the increases made under subsection 
(a), the rates of disability compensation payable to persons under 
section 10 of Public Law 85-857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received 
compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code.
    (e) Publication of Adjusted Rates.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in 
subsection (b), as increased under this section, not later than the 
date on which the matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be 
published by reason of a determination made under section 215(i) of 
such Act during fiscal year 2017.

SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION OF DECEASED VETERANS TO VETERANS' CEMETERIES.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 2308 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--(1) The Secretary may pay, in addition to any 
amount paid pursuant to section 2302 or 2307 of this title, the cost of 
transportation of the deceased veteran described in paragraph (1) or 
(2) of subsection (b) for burial in a national cemetery or a covered 
veterans' cemetery. Such payment shall not exceed the cost of 
transportation to the national cemetery nearest the veteran's last 
place of residence in which burial space is available.
    ``(2) The Secretary may pay, in addition to any amount paid 
pursuant to section 2302 or 2307 of this title, the cost of 
transportation of the deceased veteran described in subsection (b)(3) 
for burial in a national cemetery. Such payment shall not exceed the 
cost of transportation to the national cemetery nearest the veteran's 
last place of residence in which burial space is available.''.
    (b) Covered Veterans' Cemetery Defined.--Section 2308 of such title 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Covered Veterans' Cemetery Defined.--In this section, the 
term `covered veterans' cemetery' means, with respect to a deceased 
veteran described in subsection (b), a veterans' cemetery owned by a 
State or a tribal organization (as defined in section 3765(4) of this 
title) in which the deceased veteran is eligible to be buried.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2308 of such title is amended in 
the section heading by adding at the end the following: ``or a 
veterans' cemetery''.
    (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by striking the item relating to section 2308 
and inserting the following new item:

``2308. Transportation of deceased veterans to a national cemetery or a 
                            veterans' cemetery.''.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEADSTONES, MARKERS, AND 
              MEDALLIONS FOR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.

    Section 2306(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(5)(A) In carrying out this subsection with respect to a deceased 
individual described in subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall furnish, 
upon request, a headstone or marker under paragraph (1) or a medallion 
under paragraph (4) that signifies the deceased's status as a Medal of 
Honor recipient.
    ``(B) If the Secretary furnished a headstone, marker, or medallion 
under paragraph (1) or (4) for a deceased individual described in 
subparagraph (C) that does not signify the deceased's status as a Medal 
of Honor recipient, the Secretary shall, upon request, replace such 
headstone, marker, or medallion with a headstone, marker, or medallion, 
as the case may be, that so signifies the deceased's status as a Medal 
of Honor recipient.
    ``(C) A deceased individual described in this subparagraph is a 
deceased individual who--
            ``(i) served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917;
            ``(ii) is eligible for a headstone or marker furnished 
        under paragraph (1) or a medallion furnished under paragraph 
        (4) (or would be so eligible for such headstone, marker, or 
        medallion but for the date of the death of the individual); and
            ``(iii) was awarded the Medal of Honor (including 
        posthumously).''.

SEC. 5. EXPANSION OF PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 112(a) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after ``conditions,'' the following: ``persons 
eligible for burial in a national cemetery by reason of paragraph (2), 
(3), or (7) of section 2402(a) of this title,''.
    (b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply 
with respect to the death of a person eligible for burial in a national 
cemetery by reason of paragraph (2), (3), or (7) of section 2402(a) of 
title 38, United States Code, occurring before, on, or after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. BURIAL PLOTS AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY FOR INDIVIDUALS 
              AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

    (a) Reservation.--Of the number of in-ground burial plots available 
at Arlington National Cemetery as of the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of the Army shall reserve 100 such plots to inter 
deceased individuals who have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
    (b) Termination.--The requirement under subsection (a) shall 
terminate on the date on which the Secretary of the Army to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs and the Committees on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the interment 
and inurnment capacity of Arlington National Cemetery that includes--
            (1) the estimated date that the Secretary determines the 
        cemetery will reach maximum interment and inurnment capacity; 
        and
            (2) in light of the unique and iconic meaning of the 
        cemetery to the United States, recommendations for legislative 
        actions and nonlegislative options that the Secretary 
        determines necessary to ensure that the maximum interment and 
        inurnment capacity of the cemetery is not reached until well 
        into the future, including such actions and options with 
        respect to--
                    (A) redefining eligibility criteria for interment 
                and inurnment in the cemetery; and
                    (B) considerations for additional expansion 
                opportunities beyond the current boundaries of the 
                cemetery.

SEC. 7. PILOT PROGRAM ON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VETERAN 
              ENGAGEMENT TEAM EVENTS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Pilot program.--Beginning not later than October 1, 
        2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a 
        three-year pilot program under which the Secretary shall carry 
        out events, to be known as ``Veteran Engagement Team events''. 
        The Secretary shall ensure that such events are carried out--
                    (A) during the first year during which the 
                Secretary carries out the pilot program, at least once 
                a month in a location within the jurisdiction of each 
                of 10 regional offices of the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs, including at least two regional offices in 
                each of the five districts of the Veterans Benefits 
                Administration under the organization of such 
                Administration in effect as of the date of the 
                enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) during each of the second and third years 
                during which the Secretary carries out the pilot 
                program, at least once a month in a location within the 
                jurisdiction of each of 15 regional offices of the 
                Department, including at least three regional offices 
                in each such district.
            (2) Veteran engagement team events.--During each Veteran 
        Engagement Team event, the Secretary shall provide assistance 
        to veterans in completing and adjudicating claims for 
        disability compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United 
        States Code, and for pension under chapter 15 of such title. 
        The Secretary shall ensure that--
                    (A) all Veteran Engagement Team events occur during 
                the normal business hours of the sponsoring regional 
                office;
                    (B) the events are carried out at different 
                locations within the jurisdiction of each regional 
                office and at least 50 miles from any regional office;
                    (C) a sufficient number of physicians (to be 
                available for opinions only), veteran service 
                representatives and rating veteran service 
                representatives, and other personnel are available at 
                the events to initiate, update, and finalize the 
                completion and adjudication of claims;
                    (D) veterans service organizations have access to 
                the events for purposes of providing assistance to 
                veterans; and
                    (E) a veteran who is unable to complete and 
                adjudicate a claim at an event is informed of what 
                additional information or actions are needed to 
                finalize the claim.
    (b) Location.--In selecting locations for Veteran Engagement Team 
events under this section, the Secretary shall--
            (1) coordinate with veteran service organizations and State 
        and local veterans agencies; and
            (2) seek to select locations that are community-based and 
        easily accessible.
    (c) Transfer of Personnel.--
            (1) Physicians.--The Secretary may not permanently transfer 
        any physician employed by the Veterans Health Administration 
        for the purpose of staffing a Veteran Engagement Team event.
            (2) Payment of salaries.--Any amount payable to an employee 
        of the Department for work performed at a Veteran Engagement 
        Team event is payable only from amounts otherwise available for 
        the payment of the salary of the employee. No additional 
        amounts are authorized to be appropriated under this section 
        for the payment of salaries for Department employee.
    (d) Other Authorities.--In carrying out the pilot program under 
this section, the Secretary may--
            (1) coordinate with States, local governments, nonprofit 
        organizations, and private sector entities to use facilities to 
        host Veteran Engagement Team events for no or minimal costs; 
        and
            (2) accept, on a without compensation basis, services 
        provided by non-Department physicians in rendering medical 
        opinions relating to claims for compensation and pension.
    (e) Customer Satisfaction Surveys.--In carrying out the pilot 
program under this section, the Secretary shall collect and analyze 
information about the customer satisfaction of veterans who have 
received assistance at an Veteran Engagement Team event.
    (f) Reports.--Not later than April 30, 2017, and annually 
thereafter beginning on October 1, 2017, for the duration of the 
program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
implementation and effectiveness of the events. Such report shall 
include--
            (1) the number and types of claims completed and 
        adjudicated at the events;
            (2) the number and types of claims for which assistance was 
        sought at the events that were not completed or adjudicated at 
        the events and the reasons such claims were not completed or 
        adjudicated; and
            (3) an analysis of the customer satisfaction of veterans 
        who have received assistance at an event based on the 
        information collected under subsection (e).