Veteran Engagement Teams Act

Summary: Veteran Engagement Teams Act or the VET Act (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), beginning not later than October 1, 2016, to 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.   Amounts shall be paid to a VA employee for event work only from amounts otherwise available for the employee's salary. No additional appropriations are authorized for such payments.  The VA shall: (1) collect and analyze event-satisfaction information from attending veterans, and (2) report annually to Congress on event implementation.  The VA may not permanently transfer any Veterans Health Administration physician to staff an event.  (Sec. 3) The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to reduce the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses that may be paid by the VA in FY2017.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Engagement Teams Act'' or 
``VET Act''.

SEC. 2. 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 3-
        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 2 regional offices in each 
                of the 5 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 3 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).

SEC. 3. MODIFICATION TO LIMITATION ON AWARDS AND BONUSES.

    Section 705 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act 
of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 703 note) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 705. LIMITATION ON AWARDS AND BONUSES PAID TO EMPLOYEES OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    ``The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the aggregate 
amount of awards and bonuses paid by the Secretary in a fiscal year 
under chapter 45 or 53 of title 5, United States Code, or any other 
awards or bonuses authorized under such title or title 38, United 
States Code, does not exceed the following amounts:
            ``(1) With respect to fiscal year 2017, $250,000,000.
            ``(2) With respect to each of fiscal years 2018 through 
        2024, $360,000,000.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 21, 2016.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.