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[114th Congress Public Law 228]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 130 STAT. 935]]

Public Law 114-228
114th 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. <<NOTE: Sept. 29, 2016 -  [H.R. 5985]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Department of 
Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2016.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>>  Short Title.--This Act may be cited 
as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 
2016''.

    (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 authority for pilot program on counseling in 
           retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from 
           service.
Sec. 108. Extension of deadline for report on pilot program on use of 
           community-based organizations and local and State government 
           entities to ensure that veterans receive care and benefits 
           for which they are eligible.

         TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

Sec. 201. Extension of authority for the Veterans' Advisory Committee on 
           Education.
Sec. 202. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real 
           property at time of foreclosure.
Sec. 203. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans.
Sec. 204. 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.
Sec. 304. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for 
           homeless veterans.

[[Page 130 STAT. 936]]

Sec. 305. Extension and modification of authority to provide financial 
           assistance for supportive services for very low-income 
           veteran families in permanent housing.
Sec. 306. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans 
           with special needs.
Sec. 307. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless 
           Veterans.
Sec. 308. 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. Modification to authorization of appropriations for 
           comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.
Sec. 408. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility 
           for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans 
           with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating.
Sec. 409. Extension of authority for specially adapted housing assistive 
           technology grant program.
Sec. 410. Extension of authority to guarantee payment of principal and 
           interest on certificates or other securities.
Sec. 411. 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. 412. Extension of authority for performance of medical disabilities 
           examinations by contract physicians.
Sec. 413. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers.
Sec. 414. Extension of requirement for annual report on Department of 
           Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program 
           Office.
Sec. 415. Extension of authority to approve courses of education in 
           cases of withdrawal of recognition of accrediting agency by 
           Secretary of Education.

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 <<NOTE: 38 USC 1710.>>  1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking 
``September 30, 2016'' and inserting ``September 30, 2017''.

[[Page 130 STAT. 937]]

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

    Section 1710A(d) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1710A.>>  is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2016'' and inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
                        ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR 
                        CAREGIVERS.

    Section 1720G(e) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) $734,628,000 for fiscal year 2017.''.
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, 2016'' and inserting ``October 1, 2017''.
SEC. 105. 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 by striking 
``December 31, 2016'' and inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (h) of such section 
is amended by striking ``and 2016'' and inserting ``2016, and 2017''.
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 ``2016'' and inserting ``2017''.
SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON COUNSELING 
                        IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VETERANS 
                        NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE.

    (a) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1712A note.>>  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) is amended 
by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and inserting ``December 31, 2017''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1712A note.>>  Authorization of Appropriations.--
Subsection (f) of such section is amended by striking ``and 2016'' and 
inserting ``2016, and 2017''.

[[Page 130 STAT. 938]]

SEC. 108. EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR REPORT ON PILOT PROGRAM ON USE 
                        OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL 
                        AND STATE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO ENSURE 
                        THAT VETERANS RECEIVE CARE AND BENEFITS 
                        FOR WHICH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE.

    Section 506(g)(1) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 
Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C. 523 note) is amended 
by striking ``180 days after the completion of the pilot program'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2017''.

         TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE VETERANS' ADVISORY 
                        COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.

    Section 3692(c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3692.>>  is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2016'' and inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING NET VALUE OF REAL 
                        PROPERTY AT TIME OF FORECLOSURE.

    Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2016'' and 
inserting ``October 1, 2017''.
SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS.

    Section 3733(a)(7) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``September 30, 2016'' and inserting ``September 30, 2017''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``September 30, 2016,'' 
        and inserting ``September 30, 2017,''.
SEC. 204. 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, 2016'' and inserting ``December 31, 2017''.

    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 ``2016'' and inserting 
``2017''.
SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS AND 
                        HOMELESS VETERANS WITH CHILDREN 
                        REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.

    Section 2021A(f)(1) is amended by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
``2017''.

[[Page 130 STAT. 939]]

SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR REFERRAL AND COUNSELING 
                        SERVICES FOR VETERANS AT RISK OF 
                        HOMELESSNESS TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN 
                        INSTITUTIONS.

    Section 2023(d) <<NOTE: 38 USC 2023.>>  is amended by striking 
``September 30, 2016'' and inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR 
                        HOMELESS VETERANS.

    Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2016'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
SEC. 305. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE 
                        FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE 
                        SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN 
                        FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING.

    Subparagraph (E) of section 2044(e)(1) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(E) $320,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 
        2017.''.
SEC. 306. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS 
                        VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

    Section 2061(d)(1) is amended by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
``2017''.
SEC. 307. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 
                        HOMELESS VETERANS.

    Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
SEC. 308. 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, 2016'' and inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
    (b) Additional Services at Certain Locations.--Section 2033(d) is 
amended by striking ``September 30, 2016'' and inserting ``September 30, 
2017''.

  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, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
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, 2016'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2017''.

[[Page 130 STAT. 940]]

SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR MONTHLY ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCES 
                        UNDER THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL VETERANS 
                        SPORTS PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

    Section 322(d)(4) <<NOTE: 38 USC 322.>>  is amended by striking 
``2016'' and inserting ``2017''.
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, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
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 ``2016'' and inserting 
        ``2017''; and
            (2) in subsection (l), by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
        ``2017''.
SEC. 406. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 
                        MINORITY VETERANS.

    Section 544(e) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
SEC. 407. MODIFICATION TO AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
                        COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR 
                        HOMELESS VETERANS.

    Section 2013(7) is amended by striking ``$250,000,000'' and 
inserting ``$257,700,000''.
SEC. 408. 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, 2016'' 
        and inserting ``September 30, 2017''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
        ``2017''.
SEC. 409. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
                        ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 2108(g) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2016'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
SEC. 410. 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, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.

[[Page 130 STAT. 941]]

SEC. 411. 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, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
SEC. 412. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL 
                        DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT 
                        PHYSICIANS.

    Subsection (c) of section 704 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 
(38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.
SEC. 413. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS.

    Section 406 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring 
Authorities Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-175; 38 U.S.C. 3684 note) is 
amended by striking ``two-year'' and inserting ``three-year''.
SEC. 414. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL REPORT ON DEPARTMENT 
                        OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                        INTERAGENCY PROGRAM OFFICE.

    Section 1635(h)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by 
striking ``2016'' and inserting ``2017''.
SEC. 415. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO APPROVE COURSES OF EDUCATION 
                        IN CASES OF WITHDRAWAL OF RECOGNITION OF 
                        ACCREDITING AGENCY BY SECRETARY OF 
                        EDUCATION.

    Section 3679(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Any course'' and inserting ``(1) Except as 
        provided by paragraph (2), any course''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

    ``(2) <<NOTE: Consultation. Time period. Determination.>>  In the 
case of a course of education that would be subject to disapproval under 
paragraph (1) solely for the reason that the Secretary of Education 
withdraws the recognition of the accrediting agency that accredited the 
course, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Education, and notwithstanding the withdrawal, may continue 
to treat the course as an approved course of education under this 
chapter for a period not to exceed 18 months from the date of the 
withdrawal of recognition of the accrediting agency, unless the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the appropriate State approving agency 
determines that there is evidence to support the disapproval of the 
course under this chapter. <<NOTE: Notice.>>  The Secretary shall 
provide to any veteran enrolled in

[[Page 130 STAT. 942]]

 such a course of education notice of the status of the course of 
education.''.

    Approved September 29, 2016.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 5985:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016):
            Sept. 13, considered and passed House.
            Sept. 19, considered and passed Senate.

                                  <all>
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