```

[112th Congress Public Law 154]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]

[[Page 126 STAT. 1165]]

Public Law 112-154
112th Congress

                                 An Act

 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care and 
 medical services to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North 
 Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, to improve 
the provision of housing assistance to veterans and their families, and 
       for other purposes. <<NOTE: Aug. 6, 2012 -  [H.R. 1627]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Honoring 
America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>>  Short Title.--This Act may be cited 
as the ``Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune 
Families Act of 2012''.

    (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--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Hospital care and medical services for veterans stationed at 
           Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Sec. 103. Authority to waive collection of copayments for telehealth and 
           telemedicine visits of veterans.
Sec. 104. Temporary expansion of payments and allowances for beneficiary 
           travel in connection with veterans receiving care from Vet 
           Centers.
Sec. 105. Contracts and agreements for nursing home care.
Sec. 106. Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault 
           incidents and other safety incidents.
Sec. 107. Rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain 
           injury.
Sec. 108. Teleconsultation and telemedicine.
Sec. 109. Use of service dogs on property of the Department of Veterans 
           Affairs.
Sec. 110. Recognition of rural health resource centers in Office of 
           Rural Health.
Sec. 111. Improvements for recovery and collection of amounts for 
           Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections Fund.
Sec. 112. Extension of authority for copayments.
Sec. 113. Extension of authority for recovery of cost of certain care 
           and services.

                        TITLE II--HOUSING MATTERS

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Temporary expansion of eligibility for specially adapted 
           housing assistance for certain veterans with disabilities 
           causing difficulty with ambulating.
Sec. 203. Expansion of eligibility for specially adapted housing 
           assistance for veterans with vision impairment.
Sec. 204. Revised limitations on assistance furnished for acquisition 
           and adaptation of housing for disabled veterans.
Sec. 205. Improvements to assistance for disabled veterans residing in 
           housing owned by a family member.
Sec. 206. Department of Veterans Affairs housing loan guarantees for 
           surviving spouses of certain totally disabled veterans.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1166]]

Sec. 207. Occupancy of property by dependent child of veteran for 
           purposes of meeting occupancy requirement for Department of 
           Veterans Affairs housing loans.
Sec. 208. Making permanent project for guaranteeing of adjustable rate 
           mortgages.
Sec. 209. Making permanent project for insuring hybrid adjustable rate 
           mortgages.
Sec. 210. Waiver of loan fee for individuals with disability ratings 
           issued during pre-discharge programs.
Sec. 211. Modification of authorities for enhanced-use leases of real 
           property.

                       TITLE III--HOMELESS MATTERS

Sec. 301. Enhancement of comprehensive service programs.
Sec. 302. Modification of authority for provision of treatment and 
           rehabilitation to certain veterans to include provision of 
           treatment and rehabilitation to homeless veterans who are not 
           seriously mentally ill.
Sec. 303. Modification of grant program for homeless veterans with 
           special needs.
Sec. 304. Collaboration in provision of case management services to 
           homeless veterans in supported housing program.
Sec. 305. Extensions of previously fully funded authorities affecting 
           homeless veterans.

                       TITLE IV--EDUCATION MATTERS

Sec. 401. Aggregate amount of educational assistance available to 
           individuals who receive both survivors' and dependents' 
           educational assistance and other veterans and related 
           educational assistance.
Sec. 402. Annual reports on Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program and 
           Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program.

                        TITLE V--BENEFITS MATTERS

Sec. 501. Automatic waiver of agency of original jurisdiction review of 
           new evidence.
Sec. 502. Authority for certain persons to sign claims filed with 
           Secretary of Veterans Affairs on behalf of claimants.
Sec. 503. Improvement of process for filing jointly for social security 
           and dependency and indemnity compensation.
Sec. 504. Authorization of use of electronic communication to provide 
           notice to claimants for benefits under laws administered by 
           the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 505. Duty to assist claimants in obtaining private records.
Sec. 506. Authority for retroactive effective date for awards of 
           disability compensation in connection with applications that 
           are fully-developed at submittal.
Sec. 507. Modification of month of death benefit for surviving spouses 
           of veterans who die while entitled to compensation or 
           pension.
Sec. 508. Increase in rate of pension for disabled veterans married to 
           one another and both of whom require regular aid and 
           attendance.
Sec. 509. Exclusion of certain reimbursements of expenses from 
           determination of annual income with respect to pensions for 
           veterans and surviving spouses and children of veterans.

            TITLE VI--MEMORIAL, BURIAL, AND CEMETERY MATTERS

Sec. 601. Prohibition on disruptions of funerals of members or former 
           members of the Armed Forces.
Sec. 602. Codification of prohibition against reservation of gravesites 
           at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sec. 603. Expansion of eligibility for presidential memorial 
           certificates to persons who died in the active military, 
           naval, or air service.
Sec. 604. Requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington 
           National Cemetery.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 701. Assistance to veterans affected by natural disasters.
Sec. 702. Extension of certain expiring provisions of law.
Sec. 703. Requirement for plan for regular assessment of employees of 
           Veterans Benefits Administration who handle processing of 
           claims for compensation and pension.
Sec. 704. Modification of provision relating to reimbursement rate for 
           ambulance services.
Sec. 705. Change in collection and verification of veteran income.
Sec. 706. Department of Veterans Affairs enforcement penalties for 
           misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business 
           concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small 
           business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled 
           veterans.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1167]]

Sec. 707. Quarterly reports to Congress on conferences sponsored by the 
           Department.
Sec. 708. Publication of data on employment of certain veterans by 
           Federal contractors.
Sec. 709. VetStar Award Program.
Sec. 710. Extended period of protections for members of uniformed 
           services relating to mortgages, mortgage foreclosure, and 
           eviction.

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 Senate Budget Committee, provided that 
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

TITLE <<NOTE: Janey Ensminger Act.>>  I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS
SEC. <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>>  101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Janey Ensminger Act''.
SEC. 102. <<NOTE: 38 USC 1710.>>  HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL 
                        SERVICES FOR VETERANS STATIONED AT CAMP 
                        LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA.

    (a) Hospital Care and Medical Services for Veterans.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 1710(e) is amended 
        by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

    ``(F) <<NOTE: Time period.>>  Subject to paragraph (2), a veteran 
who served on active duty in the Armed Forces at Camp Lejeune, North 
Carolina, for not fewer than 30 days during the period beginning on 
January 1, 1957, and ending on December 31, 1987, is eligible for 
hospital care and medical services under subsection (a)(2)(F) for any of 
the following illnesses or conditions, notwithstanding that there is 
insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such illnesses or 
conditions are attributable to such service:
            ``(i) Esophageal cancer.
            ``(ii) Lung cancer.
            ``(iii) Breast cancer.
            ``(iv) Bladder cancer.
            ``(v) Kidney cancer.
            ``(vi) Leukemia.
            ``(vii) Multiple myeloma.
            ``(viii) Myleodysplasic syndromes.
            ``(ix) Renal toxicity.
            ``(x) Hepatic steatosis.
            ``(xi) Female infertility.
            ``(xii) Miscarriage.
            ``(xiii) Scleroderma.
            ``(xiv) Neurobehavioral effects.
            ``(xv) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.''.
            (2) Limitation.--Paragraph (2)(B) of such section is amended 
        by striking ``or (E)'' and inserting ``(E), or (F)''.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1168]]

    (b) Family Members.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1787. <<NOTE: 38 USC 1787.>> Health care of family members 
                  of veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune, North 
                  Carolina

    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), a family member of a 
veteran described in subparagraph (F) of section 1710(e)(1) of this 
title who resided at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for not fewer than 30 
days during the period described in such subparagraph or who was in 
utero during such period while the mother of such family member resided 
at such location shall be eligible for hospital care and medical 
services furnished by the Secretary for any of the illnesses or 
conditions described in such subparagraph, notwithstanding that there is 
insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such illnesses or 
conditions are attributable to such residence.
    ``(b) Limitations.--(1) The Secretary may only furnish hospital care 
and medical services under subsection (a) to the extent and in the 
amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts for such purpose.
    ``(2) Hospital care and medical services may not be furnished under 
subsection (a) for an illness or condition of a family member that is 
found, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Under Secretary for 
Health, to have resulted from a cause other than the residence of the 
family member described in that subsection.
    ``(3) The Secretary may provide reimbursement for hospital care or 
medical services provided to a family member under this section only 
after the family member or the provider of such care or services has 
exhausted without success all claims and remedies reasonably available 
to the family member or provider against a third party (as defined in 
section 1725(f) of this title) for payment of such care or services, 
including with respect to health-plan contracts (as defined in such 
section).''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 1701.>>  is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1786 the 
        following new item:

``1787. Health care of family members of veterans stationed at Camp 
           Lejeune, North Carolina.''.

    (c) Annual Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than December 31 of each of 2013, 
        2014, and 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
        to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a 
        report on the care and services provided under sections 
        1710(e)(1)(F) and 1787 of title 38, United States Code (as added 
        by subsections (a) and (b)(1), respectively).
            (2) Elements.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall set 
        forth the following:
                    (A) <<NOTE: Time period.>>  The number of veterans 
                and family members provided hospital care and medical 
                services under the provisions of law specified in 
                paragraph (1) during the period beginning on October 1, 
                2012, and ending on the date of such report.
                    (B) The illnesses, conditions, and disabilities for 
                which care and services have been provided such veterans 
                and

[[Page 126 STAT. 1169]]

                family members under such provisions of law during that 
                period.
                    (C) The number of veterans and family members who 
                applied for care and services under such provisions of 
                law during that period but were denied, including 
                information on the reasons for such denials.
                    (D) The number of veterans and family members who 
                applied for care and services under such provisions of 
                law and are awaiting a decision from the Secretary on 
                eligibility for such care and services as of the date of 
                such report.

    (d) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1710 note.>>  Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The provisions of this section and the 
        amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of 
        the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Applicability.--Subparagraph (F) of section 1710(e)(1) 
        of such title, as added by subsection (a), and section 1787 of 
        title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (b)(1), 
        shall apply with respect to hospital care and medical services 
        provided on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 103. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR 
                        TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDICINE VISITS OF 
                        VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 17 is amended by 
inserting after section 1722A the following new section:
``Sec. 1722B. <<NOTE: 38 USC 1722B.>> Copayments: waiver of 
                    collection of copayments for telehealth and 
                    telemedicine visits of veterans

    ``The Secretary may waive the imposition or collection of copayments 
for telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans under the laws 
administered by the Secretary.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 1701.>>  is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 1722A the following new item:

``1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for telehealth 
           and telemedicine visits of veterans.''.

SEC. 104. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF PAYMENTS AND ALLOWANCES FOR 
                        BENEFICIARY TRAVEL IN CONNECTION WITH 
                        VETERANS RECEIVING CARE FROM VET CENTERS.

    (a) <<NOTE: Effective date. Assessment. Urban and rural areas.>>  In 
General.--Beginning one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence a three-year 
initiative to assess the feasibility and advisability of paying under 
section 111(a) of title 38, United States Code, the actual necessary 
expenses of travel or allowances for travel from a residence located in 
an area that is designated by the Secretary as highly rural to the 
nearest Vet Center and from such Vet Center to such residence.

    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the completion of the initiative, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect 
        to the initiative required by subsection (a).
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A description of the individuals who benefitted 
                from payment under the initiative.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1170]]

                    (B) A description of any impediments to the 
                Secretary in paying expenses or allowances under the 
                initiative.
                    (C) A description of any impediments encountered by 
                individuals in receiving such payments.
                    (D) An assessment of the feasibility and 
                advisability of paying such expenses or allowances.
                    (E) An assessment of any fraudulent receipt of 
                payment under the initiative and the recommendations of 
                the Secretary for legislative or administrative action 
                to reduce such fraud.
                    (F) Such recommendations for legislative or 
                administrative action as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate with respect to the payment of expenses or 
                allowances as described in subsection (a).

    (c) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term ``Vet Center'' 
means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health 
services for veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States 
Code.
SEC. 105. CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS FOR NURSING HOME CARE.

    (a) Contracts.--Section 1745(a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``The Secretary shall pay 
        each State home for nursing home care at the rate determined 
        under paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``The Secretary shall enter 
        into a contract (or agreement under section 1720(c)(1) of this 
        title) with each State home for payment by the Secretary for 
        nursing home care provided in the home''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following 
        new paragraph (2):

    ``(2) Payment under each contract (or agreement) between the 
Secretary and a State home under paragraph (1) shall be based on a 
methodology, developed by the Secretary in consultation with the State 
home, to adequately reimburse the State home for the care provided by 
the State home under the contract (or agreement).''.
    (b) Agreements.--Section 1720(c)(1)(A) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
            ``(iii) a provider of services eligible to enter into a 
        contract pursuant to section 1745(a) of this title that is not 
        otherwise described in clause (i) or (ii).''.

    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1720 note.>>  Effective Date.--
            (1) <<NOTE: Applicability.>>  In general.--The amendments 
        made by this section shall apply to care provided on or after 
        the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act.
            (2) Maintenance of prior methodology of reimbursement for 
        certain state homes.--In the case of a State home that provided 
        nursing home care on the day before the date of the enactment of 
        this Act for which the State home was eligible for pay under 
        section 1745(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, at the 
        request of any State home, the Secretary shall offer to enter 
        into a contract (or agreement described in such section) with 
        such State home under such section, as amended by subsection 
        (a), for payment for nursing home care provided by such State 
        home under such section that

[[Page 126 STAT. 1171]]

        reflects the overall methodology of reimbursement for such care 
        that was in effect for such State home on the day before the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 106. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON REPORTING AND TRACKING SEXUAL 
                        ASSAULT INCIDENTS AND OTHER SAFETY 
                        INCIDENTS.

    (a) Policy.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
``Sec. 1709. <<NOTE: 38 USC 1709.>> Comprehensive policy on 
                  reporting and tracking sexual assault incidents 
                  and other safety incidents

    ``(a) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  Policy Required.--(1) Not later than 
September 30, 2012, the Secretary shall develop and implement a 
centralized and comprehensive policy on the reporting and tracking of 
sexual assault incidents and other safety incidents that occur at each 
medical facility of the Department, including--
            ``(A) suspected, alleged, attempted, or confirmed cases of 
        sexual assault, regardless of whether such assaults lead to 
        prosecution or conviction;
            ``(B) criminal and purposefully unsafe acts;
            ``(C) alcohol or substance abuse related acts (including by 
        employees of the Department); and
            ``(D) any kind of event involving alleged or suspected abuse 
        of a patient.

    ``(2) In developing and implementing a policy under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall consider the effects of such policy on--
            ``(A) the use by veterans of mental health care and 
        substance abuse treatments; and
            ``(B) the ability of the Department to refer veterans to 
        such care or treatment.

    ``(b) <<NOTE: Guidelines.>>  Scope.--The policy required by 
subsection (a) shall cover each of the following:
            ``(1) For purposes of reporting and tracking sexual assault 
        incidents and other safety incidents, definitions of the terms--
                    ``(A) `safety incident';
                    ``(B) `sexual assault'; and
                    ``(C) `sexual assault incident'.
            ``(2)(A) The development and use of specific risk-assessment 
        tools to examine any risks related to sexual assault that a 
        veteran may pose while being treated at a medical facility of 
        the Department, including clear and consistent guidance on the 
        collection of information related to--
                    ``(i) the legal history of the veteran; and
                    ``(ii) the medical record of the veteran.
            ``(B) In developing and using tools under subparagraph (A), 
        the Secretary shall consider the effects of using such tools on 
        the use by veterans of health care furnished by the Department.
            ``(3) The mandatory training of employees of the Department 
        on security issues, including awareness, preparedness, 
        precautions, and police assistance.
            ``(4) The mandatory implementation, use, and regular testing 
        of appropriate physical security precautions and equipment, 
        including surveillance camera systems, computer-based panic 
        alarm systems, stationary panic alarms, and electronic portable 
        personal panic alarms.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1172]]

            ``(5) Clear, consistent, and comprehensive criteria and 
        guidance with respect to an employee of the Department 
        communicating and reporting sexual assault incidents and other 
        safety incidents to--
                    ``(A) supervisory personnel of the employee at--
                          ``(i) a medical facility of the Department;
                          ``(ii) an office of a Veterans Integrated 
                      Service Network; and
                          ``(iii) the central office of the Veterans 
                      Health Administration; and
                    ``(B) a law enforcement official of the Department.
            ``(6) Clear and consistent criteria and guidelines with 
        respect to an employee of the Department referring and reporting 
        to the Office of Inspector General of the Department sexual 
        assault incidents and other safety incidents that meet the 
        regulatory criminal threshold prescribed under sections 901 and 
        902 of this title.
            ``(7) An accountable oversight system within the Veterans 
        Health Administration that includes--
                    ``(A) systematic information sharing of reported 
                sexual assault incidents and other safety incidents 
                among officials of the Administration who have 
                programmatic responsibility; and
                    ``(B) a centralized reporting, tracking, and 
                monitoring system for such incidents.
            ``(8) Consistent procedures and systems for law enforcement 
        officials of the Department with respect to investigating, 
        tracking, and closing reported sexual assault incidents and 
        other safety incidents.
            ``(9) Clear and consistent guidance for the clinical 
        management of the treatment of sexual assaults that are reported 
        more than 72 hours after the assault.

    ``(c) Updates to Policy.--The Secretary shall review and revise the 
policy required by subsection (a) on a periodic basis as the Secretary 
considers appropriate and in accordance with best practices.
    ``(d) Annual Report.--(1) Not later than 60 days after the date on 
which the Secretary develops the policy required by subsection (a) and 
not later than October 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
on the implementation of the policy.
    ``(2) The report required by paragraph (1) shall include--
            ``(A) the number and type of sexual assault incidents and 
        other safety incidents reported by each medical facility of the 
        Department;
            ``(B) a detailed description of the implementation of the 
        policy required by subsection (a), including any revisions made 
        to such policy from the previous year; and
            ``(C) the effectiveness of such policy on improving the 
        safety and security of the medical facilities of the Department, 
        including the performance measures used to evaluate such 
        effectiveness.''.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1173]]

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 1701.>>  is amended by adding after 
the item relating to section 1708 the following new item:

``1709. Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault 
           incidents and other safety incidents.''.

    (c) Interim Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the 
development of the policy required by section 1709 of title 38, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a).
SEC. 107. REHABILITATIVE SERVICES FOR VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC 
                        BRAIN INJURY.

    (a) Rehabilitation Plans and Services.--Section 1710C is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting before the semicolon 
        the following: ``with the goal of maximizing the individual's 
        independence'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) by inserting ``(and sustaining improvement 
                      in)'' after ``improving'';
                          (ii) by inserting ``behavioral,'' after 
                      ``cognitive,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``rehabilitative 
                services and'' before ``rehabilitative components''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                          (i) by striking ``treatments'' the first place 
                      it appears and inserting ``services''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``treatments and'' the second 
                      place it appears; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

    ``(h) Rehabilitative Services Defined.--For purposes of this 
section, and sections 1710D and 1710E of this title, the term 
`rehabilitative services' includes--
            ``(1) rehabilitative services, as defined in section 1701 of 
        this title;
            ``(2) treatment and services (which may be of ongoing 
        duration) to sustain, and prevent loss of, functional gains that 
        have been achieved; and
            ``(3) any other rehabilitative services or supports that may 
        contribute to maximizing an individual's independence.''.

    (b) Rehabilitation Services in Comprehensive Program for Long-term 
Rehabilitation.--Section 1710D(a) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and rehabilitative services (as defined 
        in section 1710C of this title)'' after ``long-term care''; and
            (2) by striking ``treatment''.

    (c) Rehabilitation Services in Authority for Cooperative Agreements 
for Use of Non-Department Facilities for Rehabilitation.--Section 
1710E(a) is amended by inserting ``, including rehabilitative services 
(as defined in section 1710C of this title),'' after ``medical 
services''.
    (d) Technical Amendment.--Section 1710C(c)(2)(S) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``opthamologist'' and inserting 
``ophthalmologist''.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1174]]

SEC. 108. TELECONSULTATION AND TELEMEDICINE.

    (a) Teleconsultation.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17, as amended by 
        section 106(a), is further amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:
``Sec. 1709A <<NOTE: 38 USC 1709A.>> . Teleconsultation

    ``(a) Teleconsultation.--(1) The Secretary shall carry out an 
initiative of teleconsultation for the provision of remote mental health 
and traumatic brain injury assessments in facilities of the Department 
that are not otherwise able to provide such assessments without 
contracting with third-party providers or reimbursing providers through 
a fee basis system.
    ``(2) <<NOTE: Standards.>>  The Secretary shall, in consultation 
with appropriate professional societies, promulgate technical and 
clinical care standards for the use of teleconsultation services within 
facilities of the Department.

    ``(3) In carrying out an initiative under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall ensure that facilities of the Department are able to 
provide a mental health or traumatic brain injury assessment to a 
veteran through contracting with a third-party provider or reimbursing a 
provider through a fee basis system when--
            ``(A) such facilities are not able to provide such 
        assessment to the veteran without--
                    ``(i) such contracting or reimbursement; or
                    ``(ii) teleconsultation; and
            ``(B) providing such assessment with such contracting or 
        reimbursement is more clinically appropriate for the veteran 
        than providing such assessment with teleconsultation.

    ``(b) Teleconsultation Defined.--In this section, the term 
`teleconsultation' means the use by a health care specialist of 
telecommunications to assist another health care provider in rendering a 
diagnosis or treatment.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item 
        relating to section 1709, as added by section <<NOTE: 38 USC 
        prec. 1701.>> 106(b), the following new item:

``1709A. Teleconsultation.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 7406 note.>>  Training in Telemedicine.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to 
        the extent feasible, offer medical residents opportunities in 
        training in telemedicine for medical residency programs. The 
        Secretary shall consult with the Accreditation Council for 
        Graduate Medical Education and with universities with which 
        facilities of the Department have a major affiliation to 
        determine the feasibility and advisability of making telehealth 
        a mandatory component of medical residency programs.
            (2) Telemedicine defined.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``telemedicine'' means the use by a health care provider of 
        telecommunications to assist in the diagnosis or treatment of a 
        patient's medical condition.
SEC. 109. <<NOTE: 38 USC 901.>> USE OF SERVICE DOGS ON PROPERTY OF 
                        THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    Section 901 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:

[[Page 126 STAT. 1175]]

    ``(f)(1) The Secretary may not prohibit the use of a covered service 
dog in any facility or on any property of the Department or in any 
facility or on any property that receives funding from the Secretary.
    ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered service dog is a 
service dog that has been trained by an entity that is accredited by an 
appropriate accrediting body that evaluates and accredits organizations 
which train guide or service dogs.''.
SEC. 110. RECOGNITION OF RURAL HEALTH RESOURCE CENTERS IN OFFICE 
                        OF RURAL HEALTH.

    Section 7308 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(d) Rural Health Resource Centers.--(1) There are, in the Office, 
veterans rural health resource centers that serve as satellite offices 
for the Office.
    ``(2) The veterans rural health resource centers have purposes as 
follows:
            ``(A) To improve the understanding of the Office of the 
        challenges faced by veterans living in rural areas.
            ``(B) To identify disparities in the availability of health 
        care to veterans living in rural areas.
            ``(C) To formulate practices or programs to enhance the 
        delivery of health care to veterans living in rural areas.
            ``(D) To develop special practices and products for the 
        benefit of veterans living in rural areas and for implementation 
        of such practices and products in the Department systemwide.''.
SEC. 111. <<NOTE: 38 USC 1729A note.>> IMPROVEMENTS FOR RECOVERY 
                        AND COLLECTION OF AMOUNTS FOR DEPARTMENT 
                        OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CARE 
                        COLLECTIONS FUND.

    (a) <<NOTE: Deadlines.>>  Development and Implementation of Plan for 
Recovery and Collection.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall develop and implement a plan to ensure the recovery and 
        collection of amounts under the provisions of law described in 
        section 1729A(b) of title 38, United States Code, for deposit in 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections 
        Fund.
            (2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) An effective process to identify billable fee 
                claims.
                    (B) Effective and practicable policies and 
                procedures that ensure recovery and collection of 
                amounts described in section 1729A(b) of such title.
                    (C) The training of employees of the Department, on 
                or before September 30, 2013, who are responsible for 
                the recovery or collection of such amounts to enable 
                such employees to comply with the process required by 
                subparagraph (A) and the policies and procedures 
                required by subparagraph (B).
                    (D) Fee revenue goals for the Department.
                    (E) An effective monitoring system to ensure 
                achievement of goals described in subparagraph (D) and 
                compliance with the policies and procedures described in 
                subparagraph (B).

[[Page 126 STAT. 1176]]

    (b) Monitoring of Third-party Collections.--The Secretary shall 
monitor the recovery and collection of amounts from third parties (as 
defined in section 1729(i) of such title) for deposit in such fund.
SEC. 112. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COPAYMENTS.

    Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2012'' 
and inserting ``September 30, 2013''.
SEC. 113. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY OF COST OF CERTAIN 
                        CARE AND SERVICES.

    Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2012'' and 
inserting ``October 1, 2013''.

   TITLE II <<NOTE: Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act.>> --HOUSING 
MATTERS
SEC. 201. <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>>  SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing 
Act''.
SEC. 202. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED 
                        HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS 
                        WITH DISABILITIES CAUSING DIFFICULTY WITH 
                        AMBULATING.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 2101(a) is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(2)(A) <<NOTE: Criteria.>>  A veteran is described in this 
paragraph if the veteran--
            ``(i) is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this 
        title for a permanent and total service-connected disability 
        that meets any of the criteria described in subparagraph (B); or
            ``(ii) served in the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 
        2001, and is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this 
        title for a permanent service-connected disability that meets 
        the criterion described in subparagraph (C).

    ``(B) The criteria described in this subparagraph are as follows:
            ``(i) The disability is due to the loss, or loss of use, of 
        both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without 
        the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.
            ``(ii) The disability is due to--
                    ``(I) blindness in both eyes, having only light 
                perception, plus (ii) loss or loss of use of one lower 
                extremity.
            ``(iii) The disability is due to the loss or loss of use of 
        one lower extremity together with--
                    ``(I) residuals of organic disease or injury; or
                    ``(II) the loss or loss of use of one upper 
                extremity,
        which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to 
        preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, 
        or a wheelchair.
            ``(iv) The disability is due to the loss, or loss of use, of 
        both upper extremities such as to preclude use of the arms at or 
        above the elbows.
            ``(v) <<NOTE: Regulations.>>  The disability is due to a 
        severe burn injury (as determined pursuant to regulations 
        prescribed by the Secretary).

    ``(C) The criterion described in this subparagraph is that the 
disability--
            ``(i) was incurred on or after September 11, 2001; and

[[Page 126 STAT. 1177]]

            ``(ii) is due to the loss or loss of use of one or more 
        lower extremities which so affects the functions of balance or 
        propulsion as to preclude ambulating without the aid of braces, 
        crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 2101 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendment made 
by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2012.

    (c) Sunset.--Subsection (a) of section 2101 is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``to paragraph (3)'' and 
        inserting ``to paragraphs (3) and (4)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

    ``(4) <<NOTE: Applicability.>>  The Secretary's authority to furnish 
assistance under paragraph (1) to a disabled veteran described in 
paragraph (2)(A)(ii) shall apply only with respect to applications for 
such assistance approved by the Secretary on or before September 30, 
2013.''.
SEC. 203. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
                        ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS WITH VISION 
                        IMPAIRMENT.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 2101(b) is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(2) A veteran is described in this paragraph if the veteran is 
entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this title for a service-
connected disability that meets any of the following criteria:
            ``(A) The disability is 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 subparagraph, 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.
            ``(B) A permanent and total disability that includes the 
        anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands.
            ``(C) A permanent and total disability that is due to a 
        severe burn injury (as so determined).''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 2101 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendment made 
by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2012.
SEC. 204. REVISED LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE FURNISHED FOR 
                        ACQUISITION AND ADAPTATION OF HOUSING FOR 
                        DISABLED VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (d) of section 2102 is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(d)(1) The aggregate amount of assistance available to an 
individual under section 2101(a) of this title shall be limited to 
$63,780.
    ``(2) The aggregate amount of assistance available to an individual 
under section 2101(b) of this title shall be limited to $12,756.
    ``(3) No veteran may receive more than three grants of assistance 
under this chapter.''.
    (b) <<NOTE: Applicability. 38 USC 2102 note.>>  Effective Date.--The 
amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply 
with respect to assistance provided under sections 2101(a), 2101(b), and 
2102A of title 38, United States Code, after such date.

    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 2102 note.>>  Maintenance of Higher Rates.--The 
amendment made by subsection (a) shall not be construed to decrease the 
aggregate amount of assistance available to an individual under the 
sections

[[Page 126 STAT. 1178]]

described in subsection (b), as most recently increased by the Secretary 
pursuant to section 2102(e) of such title.
SEC. 205. IMPROVEMENTS TO ASSISTANCE FOR DISABLED VETERANS 
                        RESIDING IN HOUSING OWNED BY A FAMILY 
                        MEMBER.

    (a) Increased Assistance.--Subsection (b) of section 2102A is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$14,000'' and inserting 
        ``$28,000''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting 
        ``$5,000''.

    (b) Indexing of Levels of Assistance.--Such subsection is further 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs 
        (A) and (B), respectively;
            (2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated 
        by paragraph (1), by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph (2):

    ``(2) <<NOTE: Effective date.>>  Effective on October 1 of each year 
(beginning in 2012), the Secretary shall use the same percentage 
calculated pursuant to section 2102(e) of this title to increase the 
amounts described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.''.

    (c) Extension of Authority for Assistance.--Subsection (e) of such 
section is amended by striking ``December 31, 2012'' and inserting 
``December 31, 2022''.
    (d) <<NOTE: Applicability. 38 USC 2102A note.>>  Effective Date.--
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to assistance 
furnished in accordance with section 2102A of title 38, United States 
Code, on or after that date.
SEC. 206. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEES 
                        FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES OF CERTAIN TOTALLY 
                        DISABLED VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 3701(b) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(6) <<NOTE: Definition.>>  The term `veteran' also 
        includes, for purposes of home loans, the surviving spouse of a 
        veteran who died and who was in receipt of or entitled to 
        receive (or but for the receipt of retired or retirement pay was 
        entitled to receive) compensation at the time of death for a 
        service-connected disability rated totally disabling if--
                    ``(A) the disability was continuously rated totally 
                disabling for a period of 10 or more years immediately 
                preceding death;
                    ``(B) the disability was continuously rated totally 
                disabling for a period of not less than five years from 
                the date of such veteran's discharge or other release 
                from active duty; or
                    ``(C) the veteran was a former prisoner of war who 
                died after September 30, 1999, and the disability was 
                continuously rated totally disabling for a period of not 
                less than one year immediately preceding death.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: Applicability. 38 USC 3701 note.>>  Effective Date.--The 
amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a loan 
guaranteed after the date of the enactment of this Act.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1179]]

    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3701 note.>>  Clarification With Respect to 
Certain Fees.--Fees shall be collected under section 3729 of title 38, 
United States Code, from a person described in paragraph (6) of section 
3701(b) of such title, as added by subsection (a) of this section, in 
the same manner as such fees are collected from a person described in 
paragraph (2) of section 3701(b) of such title.
SEC. 207. OCCUPANCY OF PROPERTY BY DEPENDENT CHILD OF VETERAN FOR 
                        PURPOSES OF MEETING OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT 
                        FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING 
                        LOANS.

    Paragraph (2) of section 3704(c) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(2) In any case in which a veteran is in active-duty status as a 
member of the Armed Forces and is unable to occupy a property because of 
such status, the occupancy requirements of this chapter shall be 
considered to be satisfied if--
            ``(A) the spouse of the veteran occupies or intends to 
        occupy the property as a home and the spouse makes the 
        certification required by paragraph (1) of this subsection; or
            ``(B) a dependent child of the veteran occupies or will 
        occupy the property as a home and the veteran's attorney-in-fact 
        or legal guardian of the dependent child makes the certification 
        required by paragraph (1) of this subsection.''.
SEC. 208. MAKING PERMANENT PROJECT FOR GUARANTEEING OF ADJUSTABLE 
                        RATE MORTGAGES.

    Section 3707(a) is amended by striking ``demonstration project under 
this section during fiscal years 1993 through 2012'' and inserting 
``project under this section''.
SEC. 209. MAKING PERMANENT PROJECT FOR INSURING HYBRID ADJUSTABLE 
                        RATE MORTGAGES.

    Section 3707A(a) is amended by striking ``demonstration project 
under this section during fiscal years 2004 through 2012'' and inserting 
``project under this section''.
SEC. 210. WAIVER OF LOAN FEE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY 
                        RATINGS ISSUED DURING PRE-DISCHARGE 
                        PROGRAMS.

    Paragraph <<NOTE: Effective date.>>  (2) of section 3729(c) is 
amended to read as follows:

    ``(2)(A) A veteran described in subparagraph (B) shall be treated as 
receiving compensation for purposes of this subsection as of the date of 
the rating described in such subparagraph without regard to whether an 
effective date of the award of compensation is established as of that 
date.
    ``(B) A veteran described in this subparagraph is a veteran who is 
rated eligible to receive compensation--
            ``(i) as the result of a pre-discharge disability 
        examination and rating; or
            ``(ii) based on a pre-discharge review of existing medical 
        evidence (including service medical and treatment records) that 
        results in the issuance of a memorandum rating.''.
SEC. 211. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES FOR ENHANCED-USE LEASES OF 
                        REAL PROPERTY.

    (a) Supportive Housing Defined.--Section 8161 is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph:

[[Page 126 STAT. 1180]]

            ``(3) <<NOTE: Definition.>>  The term `supportive housing' 
        means housing that engages tenants in on-site and community-
        based support services for veterans or their families that are 
        at risk of homelessness or are homeless. Such term may include 
        the following:
                    ``(A) Transitional housing.
                    ``(B) Single-room occupancy.
                    ``(C) Permanent housing.
                    ``(D) Congregate living housing.
                    ``(E) Independent living housing.
                    ``(F) Assisted living housing.
                    ``(G) Other modalities of housing.''.

    (b) Modification of Limitations on Enhanced Use Leases.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (2) of section 8162(a) is amended 
        to read as follows:

    ``(2) The Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use lease only for 
the provision of supportive housing and the lease is not inconsistent 
with and will not adversely affect the mission of the Department.''.
            (2) <<NOTE: 38 USC 8162 note.>>  Effective date.--
                    (A) <<NOTE: Applicability.>>  In general.--Paragraph 
                (2) of section 8162(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
                as amended by paragraph (1), shall take effect on 
                January 1, 2012, and shall apply with respect to 
                enhanced-use leases entered into on or after such date.
                    (B) Previous leases.--Any enhanced-use lease that 
                the Secretary has entered into prior to the date 
                described in subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the 
                provisions of subchapter V of chapter 81 of such title, 
                as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment 
                of this Act.

    (c) Consideration for and Terms of Enhanced-use Leases.--
            (1) In general.--Section 8162(b) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(A) If the 
                Secretary'' and all that follows through ``under 
                subparagraph (A).'' and inserting the following: ``If 
                the Secretary has determined that a property should be 
                leased to another party through an enhanced-use lease, 
                the Secretary shall, at the Secretary's discretion, 
                select the party with whom the lease will be entered 
                into using such selection procedures as the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.'';
                    (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:

    ``(3)(A) For any enhanced-use lease entered into by the Secretary, 
the lease consideration provided to the Secretary shall consist solely 
of cash at fair value as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall receive no other type of consideration for 
an enhanced-use lease besides cash.
    ``(C) The Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use lease without 
receiving consideration.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``Secretary to'' 
                and all that follows through ``use minor'' and inserting 
                ``Secretary to use minor''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:

    ``(5) The terms of an enhanced-use lease may not provide for any 
acquisition, contract, demonstration, exchange, grant, incentive, 
procurement, sale, other transaction authority, service agreement, use 
agreement, lease, or lease-back by the Secretary or Federal Government.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1181]]

    ``(6) The Secretary may not enter into an enhanced-use lease without 
certification in advance in writing by the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget that such lease complies with the requirements of 
this subchapter.''.
            (2) <<NOTE: Applicability. 38 USC 8162 note.>>  Effective 
        date.--Paragraph (3) of section 8162(b), as amended by paragraph 
        (1)(B) of this subsection, shall take effect on January 1, 2012, 
        and shall apply with respect to enhanced-use leases entered into 
        on or after such date.

    (d) Prohibited Enhanced-use Leases.--Section 8162(c) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1) Subject to paragraph 
        (2), the'' and inserting ``The''.

    (e) Disposition of Leased Property.--Subsection (b) of section 8164 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) A disposition under this section may be made in return for 
cash at fair value as the Secretary determines is in the best interest 
of the United States and upon such other terms and conditions as the 
Secretary considers appropriate.''.
    (f) Use of Amounts Received for Disposition of Leased Property.--
Section 8165(a)(2) is amended by striking ``in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund established under section 8118 of 
this title'' and inserting ``into the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Construction, Major Projects account or Construction, Minor Projects 
account, as the Secretary considers appropriate''.
    (g) Construction Standards.--Section 8166 is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 8166. Construction standards

    ``The construction, alteration, repair, remodeling, or improvement 
of a property that is the subject of an enhanced-use lease shall be 
carried out so as to comply with all applicable provisions of Federal, 
State, and local law relating to land use, building standards, permits, 
and inspections.''.
    (h) Exemption From State and Local Taxes.--Section 8167 is amended 
to read as follows:
``Sec. 8167. Exemption from State and local taxes

    ``(a) Improvements and Operations Not Exempted.--The improvements 
and operations on land leased by a person with an enhanced-use lease 
from the Secretary shall be subject to all applicable provisions of 
Federal, State, or local law relating to taxation, fees, and 
assessments.
    ``(b) Underlying Fee Title Interest Exempted.--The underlying fee 
title interest of the United States in any land subject to an enhanced-
use lease shall not be subject, directly or indirectly, to any provision 
of State or local law relating to taxation, fees, or assessments.''.
    (i) Annual Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter V of chapter 81 is amended by 
        inserting after section 8167 the following new section:
``Sec. 8168. <<NOTE: 38 USC 8168.>>  Annual reports

    ``(a) Report on Administration of Leases.--Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of the Honoring America's Veterans and 
Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 and

[[Page 126 STAT. 1182]]

not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report identifying the actions taken by the 
Secretary to implement and administer enhanced-use leases.
    ``(b) Report on Lease Consideration.--Each year, as part of the 
annual budget submission of the President to Congress under section 
1105(a) of title 31, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a detailed 
report of the consideration received by the Secretary for each enhanced-
use lease under this subchapter, along with an overview of how the 
Secretary is utilizing such consideration to support veterans.''.
            (2) <<NOTE: 38 USC 8168 note.>>  Elements of initial 
        report.--The first report submitted by the Secretary under 
        section 8168(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
        paragraph (1), shall include a summary of those measures the 
        Secretary is taking to address the following recommendations 
        from the February 9, 2012, audit report of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General on enhanced-use 
        leases under subchapter V of chapter 81 of title 38, United 
        States Code:
                    (A) Improve standards to ensure complete lease 
                agreements are negotiated in line with strategic goals 
                of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
                    (B) Institute improved policies and procedures to 
                govern activities such as monitoring enhanced-use lease 
                projects and calculating, classifying, and reporting on 
                enhanced-use lease benefits and expenses.
                    (C) Recalculate and update enhanced-use lease 
                expenses and benefits reported in the most recent 
                Enhanced-Use Lease Consideration Report of the 
                Department.
                    (D) Establish improved oversight mechanisms to 
                ensure major enhanced-use lease project decisions are 
                documented and maintained in accordance with policy.
                    (E) Establish improved criteria to measure 
                timeliness and performance in enhanced-use lease project 
                development and execution.
                    (F) Establish improved criteria and guidelines for 
                assessing projects to determine whether they are or 
                remain viable candidates for enhanced-use leases.
            (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 81 <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 8101.>>  is amended 
        by inserting after the item relating to section 8167 the 
        following new item:

``8168. Annual reports.''.

    (j) Expiration of Authority.--Section 8169 is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2023''.
    (k) <<NOTE: 38 USC 8161 note.>>  Effective Date.--Except as 
otherwise provided in this section, the amendments made by this section 
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

                       TITLE III--HOMELESS MATTERS

SEC. 301. ENHANCEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Enhancement of Grants.--Section 2011 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``expansion, 
        remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings, or acquisition 
        of facilities,'' and inserting ``new construction of facilities, 
        expansion,

[[Page 126 STAT. 1183]]

        remodeling, or alteration of existing facilities, or acquisition 
        of facilities,''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``A grant'' 
                and inserting ``(1) A grant'';
                    (B) in the second sentence of paragraph (1), as 
                designated by subparagraph (A), by striking ``The 
                amount'' and inserting the following:

    ``(2) The amount''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:

    ``(3)(A) The Secretary may not deny an application from an entity 
that seeks a grant under this section to carry out a project described 
in subsection (b)(1)(A) solely on the basis that the entity proposes to 
use funding from other private or public sources, if the entity 
demonstrates that a private nonprofit organization will provide 
oversight and site control for the project.
    ``(B) <<NOTE: Definition.>>  In this paragraph, the term `private 
nonprofit organization' means the following:
            ``(i) An incorporated private institution, organization, or 
        foundation--
                    ``(I) that has received, or has temporary clearance 
                to receive, tax-exempt status under paragraph (2), (3), 
                or (19) of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code 
                of 1986;
                    ``(II) for which no part of the net earnings of the 
                institution, organization, or foundation inures to the 
                benefit of any member, founder, or contributor of the 
                institution, organization, or foundation; and
                    ``(III) that the Secretary determines is financially 
                responsible.
            ``(ii) A for-profit limited partnership or limited liability 
        company, the sole general partner or manager of which is an 
        organization that is described by subclauses (I) through (III) 
        of clause (i).
            ``(iii) A corporation wholly owned and controlled by an 
        organization that is described by subclauses (I) through (III) 
        of clause (i).''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 2011 note.>>  Grant and Per Diem Payments.--
            (1) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  Study and development of fiscal 
        controls and payment method.--Not later than one year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs shall--
                    (A) complete a study of all matters relating to the 
                method used by the Secretary to make per diem payments 
                under section 2012(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
                including changes anticipated by the Secretary in the 
                cost of furnishing services to homeless veterans and 
                accounting for costs of providing such services in 
                various geographic areas;
                    (B) develop more effective and efficient procedures 
                for fiscal control and fund accounting by recipients of 
                grants under sections 2011, 2012, and 2061 of such 
                title; and
                    (C) develop a more effective and efficient method 
                for adequately reimbursing recipients of grants under 
                section 2011 of such title for services furnished to 
                homeless veterans.
            (2) Consideration.--In developing the method required by 
        paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary may consider payments and

[[Page 126 STAT. 1184]]

        grants received by recipients of grants described in such 
        paragraph from other departments and agencies of Federal and 
        local governments and from private entities.
            (3) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
        report on--
                    (A) the findings of the Secretary with respect to 
                the study required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1);
                    (B) the methods developed under subparagraphs (B) 
                and (C) of such paragraph; and
                    (C) any recommendations of the Secretary for 
                revising the method described in subparagraph (A) of 
                such paragraph and any legislative action the Secretary 
                considers necessary to implement such method.
SEC. 302. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROVISION OF TREATMENT AND 
                        REHABILITATION TO CERTAIN VETERANS TO 
                        INCLUDE PROVISION OF TREATMENT AND 
                        REHABILITATION TO HOMELESS VETERANS WHO 
                        ARE NOT SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL.

    Section 2031(a) is amended in the matter before paragraph (1) by 
striking ``, including'' and inserting ``and to''.
SEC. 303. MODIFICATION OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH 
                        SPECIAL NEEDS.

    (a) Inclusion of Entities Eligible for Comprehensive Service Program 
Grants and Per Diem Payments for Services to Homeless Veterans.--
Subsection (a) of section 2061 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``to grant and per diem providers'' and 
        inserting ``to entities eligible for grants and per diem 
        payments under sections 2011 and 2012 of this title''; and
            (2) by striking ``by those facilities and providers'' and 
        inserting ``by those facilities and entities''.

    (b) Inclusion of Male Homeless Veterans With Minor Dependents.--
Subsection (b) of such section is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, including women who 
        have care of minor dependents'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'';
            (3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) individuals who have care of minor dependents.''.

    (c) Authorization of Provision of Services to Dependents.--Such 
section is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
        subsection (c):

    ``(c) Provision of Services to Dependents.--A recipient of a grant 
under subsection (a) may use amounts under the grant to provide services 
directly to a dependent of a homeless veteran with special needs who is 
under the care of such homeless veteran while such homeless veteran 
receives services from the grant recipient under this section.''.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1185]]

SEC. 304. <<NOTE: 38 USC 2041 note.>>  COLLABORATION IN PROVISION 
                        OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO HOMELESS 
                        VETERANS IN SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM.

    (a) <<NOTE: Contracts.>>  In General.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall consider entering into contracts or agreements, under 
sections 513 and 8153 of title 38, United States Code, with eligible 
entities to collaborate with the Secretary in the provision of case 
management services to covered veterans as part of the supported housing 
program carried out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) to ensure that the homeless 
veterans facing the most significant difficulties in obtaining suitable 
housing receive the assistance they require to obtain such housing.

    (b) Covered Veterans.--For purposes of this section, a covered 
veteran is any veteran who, at the time of receipt of a housing voucher 
under such section 8(o)(19)--
            (1) requires the assistance of a case manager in obtaining 
        suitable housing with such voucher; and
            (2) is having difficulty obtaining the amount of such 
        assistance the veteran requires, including because--
                    (A) the veteran resides in an area that has a 
                shortage of low-income housing and because of such 
                shortage the veteran requires more assistance from a 
                case manager than the Secretary otherwise provides;
                    (B) the location in which the veteran resides is 
                located at such distance from facilities of the 
                Department of Veterans Affairs as makes the provision of 
                case management services by the Secretary to such 
                veteran impractical; or
                    (C) the veteran resides in an area where veterans 
                who receive case management services from the Secretary 
                under such section have a significantly lower average 
                rate of successfully obtaining suitable housing than the 
                average rate of successfully obtaining suitable housing 
                for all veterans receiving such services.

    (c) Eligible Entities.--For purposes of this section, an eligible 
entity is any State or local government agency, tribal organization (as 
such term is defined in section 4 of the Indian Self Determination and 
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)), or nonprofit organization 
that--
            (1) under a contract or agreement described in subsection 
        (a), agrees--
                    (A) to ensure access to case management services by 
                covered veterans on an as-needed basis;
                    (B) to maintain referral networks for covered 
                veterans for purposes of assisting covered veterans in 
                demonstrating eligibility for assistance and additional 
                services under entitlement and assistance programs 
                available for covered veterans, and to otherwise aid 
                covered veterans in obtaining such assistance and 
                services;
                    (C) <<NOTE: Confidentiality. Records.>>  to ensure 
                the confidentiality of records maintained by the entity 
                on covered veterans receiving services through the 
                supported housing program described in subsection (a);
                    (D) <<NOTE: Procedures.>>  to establish such 
                procedures for fiscal control and fund accounting as the 
                Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate to 
                ensure proper disbursement and

[[Page 126 STAT. 1186]]

                accounting of funds under a contract or agreement 
                entered into by the entity as described in subsection 
                (a);
                    (E) <<NOTE: Deadline. Reports.>>  to submit to the 
                Secretary each year, in such form and such manner as the 
                Secretary may require, a report on the collaboration 
                undertaken by the entity under a contract or agreement 
                described in such subsection during the most recent 
                fiscal year, including a description of, for the year 
                covered by the report--
                          (i) the services and assistance provided to 
                      covered veterans as part of such collaboration;
                          (ii) the process by which covered veterans 
                      were referred to the entity for such services and 
                      assistance;
                          (iii) the specific goals jointly set by the 
                      entity and the Secretary for the provision of such 
                      services and assistance and whether the entity 
                      achieved such goals; and
                          (iv) the average length of time taken by a 
                      covered veteran who received such services and 
                      assistance to successfully obtain suitable housing 
                      and the average retention rate of such a veteran 
                      in such housing; and
                    (F) to meet such other requirements as the Secretary 
                considers appropriate for purposes of providing 
                assistance to covered veterans in obtaining suitable 
                housing; and
            (2) has demonstrated experience in--
                    (A) identifying and serving homeless veterans, 
                especially those who have the greatest difficulty 
                obtaining suitable housing;
                    (B) working collaboratively with the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs or the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development;
                    (C) conducting outreach to, and maintaining 
                relationships with, landlords to encourage and 
                facilitate participation by landlords in supported 
                housing programs similar to the supported housing 
                program described in subsection (a);
                    (D) mediating disputes between landlords and 
                veterans receiving assistance under such supported 
                housing program; and
                    (E) carrying out such other activities as the 
                Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate.

    (d) Consultation.--In considering entering into contracts or 
agreements as described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall consult with--
            (1) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and
            (2) third parties that provide services as part of the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development continuum of care.

    (e) Technical Assistance for Collaborating Entities.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may provide training and 
        technical assistance to entities with whom the Secretary 
        collaborates in the provision of case management services to 
        veterans as part of the supported housing program described in 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Grants.--The Secretary may provide training and 
        technical assistance under paragraph (1) through the award of 
        grants or contracts to appropriate public and nonprofit private 
        entities.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1187]]

            (3) Funding.--From amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
        available to the Secretary in the Medical Services account in a 
        year, $500,000 shall be available to the Secretary in that year 
        to carry out this subsection.

    (f) Annual Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 545 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once each 
        year thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
        to Congress a report on the collaboration between the Secretary 
        and eligible entities in the provision of case management 
        services as described in subsection (a) during the most recently 
        completed fiscal year.
            (2) Elements.--Each report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include, for the period covered by the report, the following:
                    (A) A discussion of each case in which a contract or 
                agreement described in subsection (a) was considered by 
                the Secretary, including a description of whether or not 
                and why the Secretary chose or did not choose to enter 
                into such contract or agreement.
                    (B) The number and types of eligible entities with 
                whom the Secretary has entered into a contract or 
                agreement as described in subsection (a).
                    (C) A description of the geographic regions in which 
                such entities provide case management services as 
                described in such subsection.
                    (D) A description of the number and types of covered 
                veterans who received case management services from such 
                entities under such contracts or agreements.
                    (E) An assessment of the performance of each 
                eligible entity with whom the Secretary entered into a 
                contract or agreement as described in subsection (a).
                    (F) An assessment of the benefits to covered 
                veterans of such contracts and agreements.
                    (G) A discussion of the benefits of increasing the 
                ratio of case managers to recipients of vouchers under 
                the supported housing program described in such 
                subsection to veterans who reside in rural areas.
                    (H) Such recommendations for legislative or 
                administrative action as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate for the improvement of collaboration in the 
                provision of case management services under such 
                supported housing program.
SEC. 305. EXTENSIONS OF PREVIOUSLY FULLY FUNDED AUTHORITIES 
                        AFFECTING HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) Comprehensive Service Programs.--Section 2013 is amended by 
striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
            ``(5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
            ``(6) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each subsequent 
        fiscal year.''.

    (b) Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs.--Section 2021(e)(1)(F) 
is amended by striking ``2012'' and inserting ``2013''.
    (c) Financial Assistance for Supportive Services for Very Low-income 
Veteran Families in Permanent Housing.--Section 2044(e)(1) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

[[Page 126 STAT. 1188]]

            ``(E) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.''.

    (d) Grant Program for Homeless Veterans With Special Needs.--Section 
2061(c)(1) is amended by striking ``through 2012'' and inserting 
``through 2013''.

                       TITLE IV--EDUCATION MATTERS

SEC. 401. AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO 
                        INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE BOTH SURVIVORS' 
                        AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND 
                        OTHER VETERANS AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL 
                        ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Aggregate Amount Available.--Section 3695 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ``35,''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

    ``(c) The aggregate period for which any person may receive 
assistance under chapter 35 of this title, on the one hand, and any of 
the provisions of law referred to in subsection (a), on the other hand, 
may not exceed 81 months (or the part-time equivalent thereof).''.
    (b) <<NOTE: Effective date. 38 USC 3695 note.>>  Applicability.--The 
amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2013, 
and shall not operate to revive any entitlement to assistance under 
chapter 35 of title 38, United States Code, or the provisions of law 
referred to in section 3695(a) of such title, as in effect on the day 
before such date, that was terminated by reason of the operation of 
section 3695(a) of such title, as so in effect, before such date.

    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3695 note.>>  Revival of Entitlement Reduced by 
Prior Utilization of Chapter 35 Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of an 
        individual whose period of entitlement to assistance under a 
        provision of law referred to in section 3695(a) of title 38, 
        United States Code (other than chapter 35 of such title), as in 
        effect on September 30, 2013, was reduced under such section 
        3695(a), as so in effect, by reason of the utilization of 
        entitlement to assistance under chapter 35 of such title before 
        October 1, 2013, the period of entitlement to assistance of such 
        individual under such provision shall be determined without 
        regard to any entitlement so utilized by the individual under 
        chapter 35 of such title.
            (2) Limitation.--The maximum period of entitlement to 
        assistance of an individual under paragraph (1) may not exceed 
        81 months.
SEC. 402. ANNUAL REPORTS ON POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
                        PROGRAM AND SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' 
                        EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Reports Required.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter III of chapter 33 is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3325. <<NOTE: 38 USC 3325.>>  Reporting requirement

    ``(a) In General.--For each academic year--
            ``(1) the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a 
        report on the operation of the program provided for in this 
        chapter; and

[[Page 126 STAT. 1189]]

            ``(2) the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
        operation of the program provided for in this chapter and the 
        program provided for under chapter 35 of this title.

    ``(b) Contents of Secretary of Defense Reports.--The Secretary of 
Defense shall include in each report submitted under this section--
            ``(1) information--
                    ``(A) indicating the extent to which the benefit 
                levels provided under this chapter are adequate to 
                achieve the purposes of inducing individuals to enter 
                and remain in the Armed Forces and of providing an 
                adequate level of financial assistance to help meet the 
                cost of pursuing a program of education;
                    ``(B) indicating whether it is necessary for the 
                purposes of maintaining adequate levels of well-
                qualified active-duty personnel in the Armed Forces to 
                continue to offer the opportunity for educational 
                assistance under this chapter to individuals who have 
                not yet entered active-duty service; and
                    ``(C) describing the efforts under section 3323(b) 
                of this title to inform members of the Armed Forces of 
                the active duty service requirements for entitlement to 
                educational assistance under this chapter and the 
                results from such efforts; and
            ``(2) such recommendations for administrative and 
        legislative changes regarding the provision of educational 
        assistance to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and 
        their dependents, as the Secretary of Defense considers 
        appropriate.

    ``(c) Contents of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Reports.--The 
Secretary shall include in each report submitted under this section--
            ``(1) information concerning the level of utilization of 
        educational assistance and of expenditures under this chapter 
        and under chapter 35 of this title;
            ``(2) appropriate student outcome measures, such as the 
        number of credit hours, certificates, degrees, and other 
        qualifications earned by beneficiaries under this chapter and 
        chapter 35 of this title during the academic year covered by the 
        report; and
            ``(3) such recommendations for administrative and 
        legislative changes regarding the provision of educational 
        assistance to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and 
        their dependents, as the Secretary considers appropriate.

    ``(d) Termination.--No report shall be required under this section 
after January 1, 2021.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 3301.>>  is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3324 the 
        following new item:

``3325. Reporting requirement.''.

            (3) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3325 note.>>  Deadline for submittal of 
        first report.--The first reports required under section 3325 of 
        title 38, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall 
        be submitted by not later than November 1, 2013.

    (b) Repeal of Report on All Volunteer-Force Educational Assistance 
Program.--

[[Page 126 STAT. 1190]]

            (1) In general.--Chapter 30 is amended by striking section 
        3036.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 3001.>>  is 
        amended by striking the item relating to section 3036.

                        TITLE V--BENEFITS MATTERS

SEC. 501. AUTOMATIC WAIVER OF AGENCY OF ORIGINAL JURISDICTION 
                        REVIEW OF NEW EVIDENCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 7105 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(e)(1) If, either at the time or after the agency of original 
jurisdiction receives a substantive appeal, the claimant or the 
claimant's representative, if any, submits evidence to either the agency 
of original jurisdiction or the Board of Veterans' Appeals for 
consideration in connection with the issue or issues with which 
disagreement has been expressed, such evidence shall be subject to 
initial review by the Board unless the claimant or the claimant's 
representative, as the case may be, requests in writing that the agency 
of original jurisdiction initially review such evidence.
    ``(2) A request for review of evidence under paragraph (1) shall 
accompany the submittal of the evidence.''.
    (b) <<NOTE: Applicability. 38 USC 7105 note.>>  Effective Date.--
Subsection (e) of such section, as added by subsection (a), shall take 
effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, and shall apply with respect to claims for which a substantive 
appeal is filed on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 502. AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS TO SIGN CLAIMS FILED WITH 
                        SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF 
                        CLAIMANTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5101 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``A specific'' and inserting ``(1) A 
                specific''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:

    ``(2) If an individual has not attained the age of 18 years, is 
mentally incompetent, or is physically unable to sign a form, a form 
filed under paragraph (1) for the individual may be signed by a court-
appointed representative, a person who is responsible for the care of 
the individual, including a spouse or other relative, or an attorney in 
fact or agent authorized to act on behalf of the individual under a 
durable power of attorney. If the individual is in the care of an 
institution, the manager or principal officer of the institution may 
sign the form.'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) by inserting ``, signs a form on behalf of 
                      an individual to apply for,'' after ``who applies 
                      for'';
                          (ii) by inserting ``, or TIN in the case that 
                      the person is not an individual,'' after ``of such 
                      person''; and
                          (iii) by striking ``dependent'' and inserting 
                      ``claimant, dependent,''; and

[[Page 126 STAT. 1191]]

                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or TIN'' after 
                ``social security number'' each place it appears; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

    ``(d) In this section:
            ``(1) <<NOTE: Definitions.>>  The term `mentally 
        incompetent' with respect to an individual means that the 
        individual lacks the mental capacity--
                    ``(A) to provide substantially accurate information 
                needed to complete a form; or
                    ``(B) to certify that the statements made on a form 
                are true and complete.
            ``(2) The term `TIN' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 7701(a)(41) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 5101 note.>>  Applicability.--The amendments made 
by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to claims filed on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 503. IMPROVEMENT OF PROCESS FOR FILING JOINTLY FOR SOCIAL 
                        SECURITY AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 
                        COMPENSATION.

    Section 5105 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``shall'' the first place it appears 
                and inserting ``may''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Each such form'' and inserting 
                ``Such forms''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``on such a form'' and 
        inserting ``on any document indicating an intent to apply for 
        survivor benefits''.
SEC. 504. AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION TO 
                        PROVIDE NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS FOR BENEFITS 
                        UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY 
                        OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5103 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``Upon receipt of a complete or 
                substantially complete application, the'' and inserting 
                ``The'';
                    (B) by striking ``notify'' and inserting ``provide 
                to''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``by the most effective means 
                available, including electronic communication or 
                notification in writing, notice'' before ``of any 
                information''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraphs:

    ``(4) Nothing in this section shall require the Secretary to provide 
notice for a subsequent claim that is filed while a previous claim is 
pending if the notice previously provided for such pending claim--
            ``(A) provides sufficient notice of the information and 
        evidence necessary to substantiate such subsequent claim; and
            ``(B) was sent within one year of the date on which the 
        subsequent claim was filed.

    ``(5)(A) This section shall not apply to any claim or issue where 
the Secretary may award the maximum benefit in accordance with this 
title based on the evidence of record.
    ``(B) <<NOTE: Definition.>>  For purposes of this paragraph, the 
term `maximum benefit' means the highest evaluation assignable in 
accordance with the evidence of record, as long as such evidence is 
adequate for rating

[[Page 126 STAT. 1192]]

purposes and sufficient to grant the earliest possible effective date in 
accordance with section 5110 of this title.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 5103 note.>>  Construction.--Nothing in the 
amendments made by subsection (a) shall be construed as eliminating any 
requirement with respect to the contents of a notice under section 5103 
of title 38, United States Code, that is required under regulations 
prescribed pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of such section as of the date 
of the enactment of this Act.

    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 5103 note.>>  Effective Date.--
            (1) <<NOTE: Applicability.>>  In general.--The amendments 
        made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 180 
        days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply 
        with respect to notification obligations of the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs on or after such date.
            (2) Construction regarding applicability.--Nothing in this 
        section or the amendments made by this section shall be 
        construed to require the Secretary to carry out notification 
        procedures in accordance with requirements of section 5103 of 
        title 38, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the 
        effective date established in paragraph (1) on or after such 
        effective date.
SEC. 505. DUTY TO ASSIST CLAIMANTS IN OBTAINING PRIVATE RECORDS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 5103A is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(b) Assistance in Obtaining Private Records.--(1) As part of the 
assistance provided under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make 
reasonable efforts to obtain relevant private records that the claimant 
adequately identifies to the Secretary.
    ``(2)(A) <<NOTE: Notification.>>  Whenever the Secretary, after 
making such reasonable efforts, is unable to obtain all of the relevant 
records sought, the Secretary shall notify the claimant that the 
Secretary is unable to obtain records with respect to the claim. Such a 
notification shall--
            ``(i) identify the records the Secretary is unable to 
        obtain;
            ``(ii) briefly explain the efforts that the Secretary made 
        to obtain such records; and
            ``(iii) explain that the Secretary will decide the claim 
        based on the evidence of record but that this section does not 
        prohibit the submission of records at a later date if such 
        submission is otherwise allowed.

    ``(B) The Secretary shall make not less than two requests to a 
custodian of a private record in order for an effort to obtain relevant 
private records to be treated as reasonable under this section, unless 
it is made evident by the first request that a second request would be 
futile in obtaining such records.
    ``(3)(A) This section shall not apply if the evidence of record 
allows for the Secretary to award the maximum benefit in accordance with 
this title based on the evidence of record.
    ``(B) <<NOTE: Definition.>>  For purposes of this paragraph, the 
term `maximum benefit' means the highest evaluation assignable in 
accordance with the evidence of record, as long as such evidence is 
adequate for rating purposes and sufficient to grant the earliest 
possible effective date in accordance with section 5110 of this title.

    ``(4) <<NOTE: Regulations.>>  Under regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary, the Secretary--

[[Page 126 STAT. 1193]]

            ``(A) shall encourage claimants to submit relevant private 
        medical records of the claimant to the Secretary if such 
        submission does not burden the claimant; and
            ``(B) in obtaining relevant private records under paragraph 
        (1), may require the claimant to authorize the Secretary to 
        obtain such records if such authorization is required to comply 
        with Federal, State, or local law.''.

    (b) Public Records.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(c) Obtaining Records for Compensation Claims.--(1) In the case of 
a claim for disability compensation, the assistance provided by the 
Secretary under this section shall include obtaining the following 
records if relevant to the claim:
            ``(A) The claimant's service medical records and, if the 
        claimant has furnished the Secretary information sufficient to 
        locate such records, other relevant records pertaining to the 
        claimant's active military, naval, or air service that are held 
        or maintained by a governmental entity.
            ``(B) Records of relevant medical treatment or examination 
        of the claimant at Department health-care facilities or at the 
        expense of the Department, if the claimant furnishes information 
        sufficient to locate those records.
            ``(C) Any other relevant records held by any Federal 
        department or agency that the claimant adequately identifies and 
        authorizes the Secretary to obtain.

    ``(2) Whenever the Secretary attempts to obtain records from a 
Federal department or agency under this subsection, the efforts to 
obtain those records shall continue until the records are obtained 
unless it is reasonably certain that such records do not exist or that 
further efforts to obtain those records would be futile.''.
    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 5103A note.>>  Effective Date.--
            (1) <<NOTE: Applicability.>>  In general.--The amendments 
        made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect on the date 
        that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
        shall apply with respect to assistance obligations of the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs on or after such date.
            (2) Construction.--Nothing in this section or the amendments 
        made by this section shall be construed to require the Secretary 
        to carry out assistance in accordance with requirements of 
        section 5103A of title 38, United States Code, as in effect on 
        the day before the effective date established in paragraph (1) 
        on or after such effective date.
SEC. 506. <<NOTE: 38 USC 5110.>> AUTHORITY FOR RETROACTIVE 
                        EFFECTIVE DATE FOR AWARDS OF DISABILITY 
                        COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH 
                        APPLICATIONS THAT ARE FULLY-DEVELOPED AT 
                        SUBMITTAL.

    Section 5110(b) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
        (3) and (4), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
        paragraph (2):

    ``(2)(A) <<NOTE: Effective dates.>>  The effective date of an award 
of disability compensation to a veteran who submits an application 
therefor that sets forth an original claim that is fully-developed (as 
determined by the Secretary) as of the date of submittal shall be fixed 
in accordance

[[Page 126 STAT. 1194]]

with the facts found, but shall not be earlier than the date that is one 
year before the date of receipt of the application.

    ``(B) <<NOTE: Definition.>>  For purposes of this paragraph, an 
original claim is an initial claim filed by a veteran for disability 
compensation.

    ``(C) This paragraph shall take effect on the date that is one year 
after the date of the enactment of the Honoring America's Veterans and 
Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 and shall not apply with 
respect to claims filed after the date that is three years after the 
date of the enactment of such Act.''.
SEC. 507. MODIFICATION OF MONTH OF DEATH BENEFIT FOR SURVIVING 
                        SPOUSES OF VETERANS WHO DIE WHILE ENTITLED 
                        TO COMPENSATION OR PENSION.

    (a) Surviving Spouse Benefit for Month of Veteran's Death.--
Subsections (a) and (b) of section 5310 are amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--(1) A surviving spouse of a veteran is entitled 
to a benefit for the month of the veteran's death if--
            ``(A) at the time of the veteran's death, the veteran was 
        receiving compensation or pension under chapter 11 or 15 of this 
        title; or
            ``(B) the veteran is determined for purposes of section 5121 
        or 5121A of this title as having been entitled to receive 
        compensation or pension under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for 
        the month of the veteran's death.

    ``(2) The amount of the benefit under paragraph (1) is the amount 
that the veteran would have received under chapter 11 or 15 of this 
title, as the case may be, for the month of the veteran's death had the 
veteran not died.
    ``(b) Claims Pending Adjudication.--If a claim for entitlement to 
compensation or additional compensation under chapter 11 of this title 
or pension or additional pension under chapter 15 of this title is 
pending at the time of a veteran's death and the check or other payment 
issued to the veteran's surviving spouse under subsection (a) is less 
than the amount of the benefit the veteran would have been entitled to 
for the month of death pursuant to the adjudication of the pending 
claim, an amount equal to the difference between the amount to which the 
veteran would have been entitled to receive under chapter 11 or 15 of 
this title for the month of the veteran's death had the veteran not died 
and the amount of the check or other payment issued to the surviving 
spouse shall be treated in the same manner as an accrued benefit under 
section 5121 of this title.''.
    (b) Month of Death Benefit Exempt From Delayed Commencement of 
Payment.--Section 5111(c)(1) is amended by striking ``apply to'' and all 
that follows through ``death occurred'' and inserting the following: 
``not apply to payments made pursuant to section 5310 of this title''.
    (c) <<NOTE: Applicability. 38 USC 5111 note.>>  Effective Date.--The 
amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to deaths that occur 
on or after that date.
SEC. 508. INCREASE IN RATE OF PENSION FOR DISABLED VETERANS 
                        MARRIED TO ONE ANOTHER AND BOTH OF WHOM 
                        REQUIRE REGULAR AID AND ATTENDANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 1521(f)(2) is amended by striking 
``$30,480'' and inserting ``$32,433''.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1195]]

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1521 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendment made 
by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
SEC. 509. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN REIMBURSEMENTS OF EXPENSES FROM 
                        DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL INCOME WITH 
                        RESPECT TO PENSIONS FOR VETERANS AND 
                        SURVIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF 
                        VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (5) of section 1503(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
            ``(5) payments regarding reimbursements of any kind 
        (including insurance settlement payments) for expenses related 
        to the repayment, replacement, or repair of equipment, vehicles, 
        items, money, or property resulting from--
                    ``(A) any accident (as defined by the Secretary), 
                but the amount excluded under this subclause shall not 
                exceed the greater of the fair market value or 
                reasonable replacement value of the equipment or vehicle 
                involved at the time immediately preceding the accident;
                    ``(B) any theft or loss (as defined by the 
                Secretary), but the amount excluded under this subclause 
                shall not exceed the greater of the fair market value or 
                reasonable replacement value of the item or the amount 
                of the money (including legal tender of the United 
                States or of a foreign country) involved at the time 
                immediately preceding the theft or loss; or
                    ``(C) any casualty loss (as defined by the 
                Secretary), but the amount excluded under this subclause 
                shall not exceed the greater of the fair market value or 
                reasonable replacement value of the property involved at 
                the time immediately preceding the casualty loss;''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1503 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendment made 
by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

            TITLE VI--MEMORIAL, BURIAL, AND CEMETERY MATTERS

SEC. 601. PROHIBITION ON DISRUPTIONS OF FUNERALS OF MEMBERS OR 
                        FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) <<NOTE: 18 USC 1388 note.>>  Purpose and Authority.--
            (1) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide 
        necessary and proper support for the recruitment and retention 
        of the Armed Forces and militia employed in the service of the 
        United States by protecting the dignity of the service of the 
        members of such Forces and militia, and by protecting the 
        privacy of their immediate family members and other attendees 
        during funeral services for such members.
            (2) Constitutional authority.--Congress finds that this 
        section is a necessary and proper exercise of its powers under 
        the Constitution, article I, section 8, paragraphs 1, 12, 13, 
        14, 16, and 18, to provide for the common defense, raise and 
        support armies, provide and maintain a navy, make rules for the 
        government and regulation of the land and naval forces, and 
        provide for organizing and governing such part of the militia as 
        may be employed in the service of the United States.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1196]]

    (b) Amendment to Title 18.--Section 1388 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 1388. Prohibition on disruptions of funerals of members or 
                  former members of the Armed Forces

    ``(a) Prohibition.--For any funeral of a member or former member of 
the Armed Forces that is not located at a cemetery under the control of 
the National Cemetery Administration or part of Arlington National 
Cemetery, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in an activity 
during the period beginning 120 minutes before and ending 120 minutes 
after such funeral, any part of which activity--
            ``(1)(A) takes place within the boundaries of the location 
        of such funeral or takes place within 300 feet of the point of 
        the intersection between--
                    ``(i) the boundary of the location of such funeral; 
                and
                    ``(ii) a road, pathway, or other route of ingress to 
                or egress from the location of such funeral; and
            ``(B) includes any individual willfully making or assisting 
        in the making of any noise or diversion--
                    ``(i) that is not part of such funeral and that 
                disturbs or tends to disturb the peace or good order of 
                such funeral; and
                    ``(ii) with the intent of disturbing the peace or 
                good order of such funeral;
            ``(2)(A) is within 500 feet of the boundary of the location 
        of such funeral; and
            ``(B) includes any individual--
                    ``(i) willfully and without proper authorization 
                impeding or tending to impede the access to or egress 
                from such location; and
                    ``(ii) with the intent to impede the access to or 
                egress from such location; or
            ``(3) is on or near the boundary of the residence, home, or 
        domicile of any surviving member of the deceased person's 
        immediate family and includes any individual willfully making or 
        assisting in the making of any noise or diversion--
                    ``(A) that disturbs or tends to disturb the peace of 
                the persons located at such location; and
                    ``(B) with the intent of disturbing such peace.

    ``(b) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be 
fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.
    ``(c) Civil Remedies.--
            ``(1) District courts.--The district courts of the United 
        States shall have jurisdiction--
                    ``(A) to prevent and restrain violations of this 
                section; and
                    ``(B) for the adjudication of any claims for relief 
                under this section.
            ``(2) Attorney general.--The Attorney General may institute 
        proceedings under this section.
            ``(3) Claims.--Any person, including a surviving member of 
        the deceased person's immediate family, who suffers injury as a 
        result of conduct that violates this section may--

[[Page 126 STAT. 1197]]

                    ``(A) sue therefor in any appropriate United States 
                district court or in any court of competent 
                jurisdiction; and
                    ``(B) recover damages as provided in subsection (d) 
                and the cost of the suit, including reasonable 
                attorneys' fees.
            ``(4) Estoppel.--A final judgment or decree rendered in 
        favor of the United States in any criminal proceeding brought by 
        the United States under this section shall estop the defendant 
        from denying the essential allegations of the criminal offense 
        in any subsequent civil proceeding brought by a person or by the 
        United States.

    ``(d) Actual and Statutory Damages.--
            ``(1) In general.--In addition to any penalty imposed under 
        subsection (b), a violator of this section is liable in an 
        action under subsection (c) for actual or statutory damages as 
        provided in this subsection.
            ``(2) Actions by private persons.--A person bringing an 
        action under subsection (c)(3) may elect, at any time before 
        final judgment is rendered, to recover the actual damages 
        suffered by him or her as a result of the violation or, instead 
        of actual damages, an award of statutory damages for each 
        violation involved in the action.
            ``(3) Actions by attorney general.--In any action under 
        subsection (c)(2), the Attorney General is entitled to recover 
        an award of statutory damages for each violation involved in the 
        action notwithstanding any recovery under subsection (c)(3).
            ``(4) Statutory damages.--A court may award, as the court 
        considers just, statutory damages in a sum of not less than 
        $25,000 or more than $50,000 per violation.

    ``(e) Rebuttable Presumption.--It shall be a rebuttable presumption 
that the violation was committed willfully for purposes of determining 
relief under this section if the violator, or a person acting in concert 
with the violator, did not have reasonable grounds to believe, either 
from the attention or publicity sought by the violator or other 
circumstance, that the conduct of such violator or person would not 
disturb or tend to disturb the peace or good order of such funeral, 
impede or tend to impede the access to or egress from such funeral, or 
disturb or tend to disturb the peace of any surviving member of the 
deceased person's immediate family who may be found on or near the 
residence, home, or domicile of the deceased person's immediate family 
on the date of the service or ceremony.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `Armed Forces' has the meaning given the term 
        in section 101 of title 10 and includes members and former 
        members of the National Guard who were employed in the service 
        of the United States; and
            ``(2) the term `immediate family' means, with respect to a 
        person, the immediate family members of such person, as such 
        term is defined in section 115 of this title.''.

    (c) Amendment to Title 38.--
            (1) In general.--Section 2413 is amended to read as follows:

[[Page 126 STAT. 1198]]

``Sec. 2413. Prohibition on certain demonstrations and disruptions 
                  at cemeteries under control of the National 
                  Cemetery Administration and at Arlington 
                  National Cemetery

    ``(a) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person--
            ``(1) to carry out a demonstration on the property of a 
        cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery 
        Administration or on the property of Arlington National Cemetery 
        unless the demonstration has been approved by the cemetery 
        superintendent or the director of the property on which the 
        cemetery is located; or
            ``(2) with respect to such a cemetery, to engage in a 
        demonstration during the period beginning 120 minutes before and 
        ending 120 minutes after a funeral, memorial service, or 
        ceremony is held, any part of which demonstration--
                    ``(A)(i) takes place within the boundaries of such 
                cemetery or takes place within 300 feet of the point of 
                the intersection between--
                          ``(I) the boundary of such cemetery; and
                          ``(II) a road, pathway, or other route of 
                      ingress to or egress from such cemetery; and
                    ``(ii) includes any individual willfully making or 
                assisting in the making of any noise or diversion--
                          ``(I) that is not part of such funeral, 
                      memorial service, or ceremony and that disturbs or 
                      tends to disturb the peace or good order of such 
                      funeral, memorial service, or ceremony; and
                          ``(II) with the intent of disturbing the peace 
                      or good order of such funeral, memorial service, 
                      or ceremony; or
                    ``(B)(i) is within 500 feet of the boundary of such 
                cemetery; and
                    ``(ii) includes any individual--
                          ``(I) willfully and without proper 
                      authorization impeding or tending to impede the 
                      access to or egress from such cemetery; and
                          ``(II) with the intent to impede the access to 
                      or egress from such cemetery.

    ``(b) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be 
fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
    ``(c) Civil Remedies.--(1) The district courts of the United States 
shall have jurisdiction--
            ``(A) to prevent and restrain violations of this section; 
        and
            ``(B) for the adjudication of any claims for relief under 
        this section.

    ``(2) The Attorney General of the United States may institute 
proceedings under this section.
    ``(3) Any person, including a surviving member of the deceased 
person's immediate family, who suffers injury as a result of conduct 
that violates this section may--
            ``(A) sue therefor in any appropriate United States district 
        court or in any court of competent jurisdiction; and
            ``(B) recover damages as provided in subsection (d) and the 
        cost of the suit, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

    ``(4) A final judgment or decree rendered in favor of the United 
States in any criminal proceeding brought by the United States

[[Page 126 STAT. 1199]]

under this section shall estop the defendant from denying the essential 
allegations of the criminal offense in any subsequent civil proceeding 
brought by a person or by the United States.
    ``(d) Actual and Statutory Damages.--(1) In addition to any penalty 
imposed under subsection (b), a violator of this section is liable in an 
action under subsection (c) for actual or statutory damages as provided 
in this subsection.
    ``(2) A person bringing an action under subsection (c)(3) may elect, 
at any time before final judgment is rendered, to recover the actual 
damages suffered by him or her as a result of the violation or, instead 
of actual damages, an award of statutory damages for each violation 
involved in the action.
    ``(3) In any action brought under subsection (c)(2), the Attorney 
General is entitled to recover an award of statutory damages for each 
violation involved in the action notwithstanding any recovery under 
subsection (c)(3).
    ``(4) A court may award, as the court considers just, statutory 
damages in a sum of not less than $25,000 or more than $50,000 per 
violation.
    ``(e) Rebuttable Presumption.--It shall be a rebuttable presumption 
that the violation of subsection (a) was committed willfully for 
purposes of determining relief under this section if the violator, or a 
person acting in concert with the violator, did not have reasonable 
grounds to believe, either from the attention or publicity sought by the 
violator or other circumstance, that the conduct of such violator or 
person would not--
            ``(1) disturb or tend to disturb the peace or good order of 
        such funeral, memorial service, or ceremony; or
            ``(2) impede or tend to impede the access to or egress from 
        such funeral, memorial service, or ceremony.

    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `demonstration' includes--
                    ``(A) any picketing or similar conduct;
                    ``(B) any oration, speech, use of sound 
                amplification equipment or device, or similar conduct 
                that is not part of a funeral, memorial service, or 
                ceremony;
                    ``(C) the display of any placard, banner, flag, or 
                similar device, unless such a display is part of a 
                funeral, memorial service, or ceremony; and
                    ``(D) the distribution of any handbill, pamphlet, 
                leaflet, or other written or printed matter other than a 
                program distributed as part of a funeral, memorial 
                service, or ceremony; and
            ``(2) the term `immediate family' means, with respect to a 
        person, the immediate family members of such person, as such 
        term is defined in section 115 of title 18.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 2400.>>  24 is amended 
        by striking the item relating to section 2413 and inserting the 
        following new item:

``2413. Prohibition on certain demonstrations and disruptions at 
           cemeteries under control of the National Cemetery 
           Administration and at Arlington National Cemetery.''.

SEC. 602. CODIFICATION OF PROHIBITION AGAINST RESERVATION OF 
                        GRAVESITES AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 24 is amended by inserting after section 
2410 the following new section:

[[Page 126 STAT. 1200]]

``Sec. 2410A. <<NOTE: 38 USC 2410A.>>  Arlington National 
                    Cemetery: other administrative matters

    ``(a) One Gravesite.--(1) Not more than one gravesite may be 
provided at Arlington National Cemetery to a veteran or member of the 
Armed Forces who is eligible for interment or inurnment at such 
cemetery.
    ``(2) <<NOTE: Waiver authority.>>  The Secretary of the Army may 
waive the prohibition in paragraph (1) as the Secretary of the Army 
considers appropriate.

    ``(b) Prohibition Against Reservation of Gravesites.--(1) A 
gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery may not be reserved for an 
individual before the death of such individual.
    ``(2)(A) <<NOTE: Waiver authority.>>  The President may waive the 
prohibition in paragraph (1) as the President considers appropriate.

    ``(B) <<NOTE: President. Notification.>>  Upon waiving the 
prohibition in paragraph (1), the President shall submit notice of such 
waiver to--
            ``(i) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee 
        on Armed Services of the Senate; and
            ``(ii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee 
        on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 2400.>>  is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 2410 the following new item:

``2410A. Arlington National Cemetery: other administrative matters.''.

    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 2410A note.>>  Applicability.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        section 2410A of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
        subsection (a), shall apply with respect to all interments at 
        Arlington National Cemetery after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act.
            (2) Exception.--Subsection (b) of such section, as so added, 
        shall not apply with respect to the interment of an individual 
        for whom a request for a reserved gravesite was approved by the 
        Secretary of the Army before January 1, 1962.

    (d) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall 
        submit to Congress a report on reservations made for interment 
        at Arlington National Cemetery.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) The number of requests for reservation of a 
                gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery that were 
                submitted to the Secretary of the Army before January 1, 
                1962.
                    (B) The number of gravesites at such cemetery that, 
                on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, 
                were reserved in response to such requests.
                    (C) The number of such gravesites that, on the day 
                before the date of the enactment of this Act, were 
                unoccupied.
                    (D) A list of all reservations for gravesites at 
                such cemetery that were extended by individuals 
                responsible for management of such cemetery in response 
                to requests for such reservations made on or after 
                January 1, 1962.
                    (E) A description of the measures that the Secretary 
                is taking to improve the accountability and transparency

[[Page 126 STAT. 1201]]

                of the management of gravesite reservations at Arlington 
                National Cemetery.
                    (F) Such recommendations as the Secretary may have 
                for legislative action as the Secretary considers 
                necessary to improve such accountability and 
                transparency.
SEC. 603. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL 
                        CERTIFICATES TO PERSONS WHO DIED IN THE 
                        ACTIVE MILITARY, NAVAL, OR AIR SERVICE.

    Section 112(a) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and persons who died in the active 
        military, naval, or air service,'' after ``under honorable 
        conditions,''; and
            (2) by striking ``veteran's'' and inserting ``deceased 
        individual's''.
SEC. 604. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF MONUMENTS IN ARLINGTON 
                        NATIONAL CEMETERY.

    Section 2409(b) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Under'' and inserting ``(1) Under'';
            (2) by inserting after ``Secretary of the Army'' the 
        following: ``and subject to paragraph (2)''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

    ``(2)(A) Except for a monument containing or marking interred 
remains, no monument (or similar structure, as determined by the 
Secretary of the Army in regulations) may be placed in Arlington 
National Cemetery except pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
    ``(B) A monument may be placed in Arlington National Cemetery if the 
monument commemorates--
            ``(i) the service in the Armed Forces of the individual, or 
        group of individuals, whose memory is to be honored by the 
        monument; or
            ``(ii) a particular military event.

    ``(C) <<NOTE: Time period.>>  No monument may be placed in Arlington 
National Cemetery until the end of the 25-year period beginning--
            ``(i) in the case of the commemoration of service under 
        subparagraph (B)(i), on the last day of the period of service so 
        commemorated; and
            ``(ii) in the case of the commemoration of a particular 
        military event under subparagraph (B)(ii), on the last day of 
        the period of the event.

    ``(D) A monument may be placed only in those sections of Arlington 
National Cemetery designated by the Secretary of the Army for such 
placement and only on land the Secretary determines is not suitable for 
burial.
    ``(E) A monument may only be placed in Arlington National Cemetery 
if an appropriate nongovernmental entity has agreed to act as a 
sponsoring organization to coordinate the placement of the monument 
and--
            ``(i) the construction and placement of the monument are 
        paid for only using funds from private sources;
            ``(ii) <<NOTE: Consultation.>>  the Secretary of the Army 
        consults with the Commission of Fine Arts and the Advisory 
        Committee on Arlington National Cemetery before approving the 
        design of the monument; and
            ``(iii) <<NOTE: Study.>>  the sponsoring organization 
        provides for an independent study on the availability and 
        suitability of alternative

[[Page 126 STAT. 1202]]

        locations for the proposed monument outside of Arlington 
        National Cemetery.

    ``(3)(A) <<NOTE: Waiver authority.>>  The Secretary of the Army may 
waive the requirement under paragraph (2)(C) in a case in which the 
monument would commemorate a group of individuals who the Secretary 
determines--
            ``(i) <<NOTE: Time period.>>  has made valuable 
        contributions to the Armed Forces that have been ongoing and 
        perpetual for longer than 25 years and are expected to continue 
        on indefinitely; and
            ``(ii) has provided service that is of such a character that 
        the failure to place a monument to the group in Arlington 
        National Cemetery would present a manifest injustice.

    ``(B) <<NOTE: Notification.>>  If the Secretary waives such 
requirement under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall--
            ``(i) <<NOTE: Web posting.>>  make available on an Internet 
        website notification of the waiver and the rationale for the 
        waiver; and
            ``(ii) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
        Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the 
        House of Representatives written notice of the waiver and the 
        rationale for the waiver.

    ``(4) <<NOTE: Notification.>>  The Secretary of the Army shall 
provide notice to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives of 
any monument proposed to be placed in Arlington National 
Cemetery. <<NOTE: Time period. Effective date.>> During the 60-day 
period beginning on the date on which such notice is received, Congress 
may pass a joint resolution of disapproval of the placement of the 
monument. <<NOTE: Placement date.>>  The proposed monument may not be 
placed in Arlington National Cemetery until the later of--
            ``(A) if Congress does not pass a joint resolution of 
        disapproval of the placement of the monument, the date that is 
        60 days after the date on which notice is received under this 
        paragraph; or
            ``(B) if Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval 
        of the placement of the monument, and the President signs a veto 
        of such resolution, the earlier of--
                    ``(i) the date on which either House of Congress 
                votes and fails to override the veto of the President; 
                or
                    ``(ii) the date that is 30 session days after the 
                date on which Congress received the veto and objections 
                of the President.''.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 701. ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.

    (a) Additional Grants for Disabled Veterans for Specially Adapted 
Housing.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 21 is amended by adding at the end 
        the following new section:

[[Page 126 STAT. 1203]]

``Sec. 2109. <<NOTE: 38 USC 2109.>>  Specially adapted housing 
                  destroyed or damaged by natural disasters

    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2102 
and 2102A of this title, the Secretary may provide assistance to a 
veteran whose home was previously adapted with assistance of a grant 
under this chapter in the event the adapted home which was being used 
and occupied by the veteran was destroyed or substantially damaged in a 
natural or other disaster, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--Subject to subsection (c), assistance provided 
under subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) be available to acquire a suitable housing unit with 
        special fixtures or moveable facilities made necessary by the 
        veteran's disability, and necessary land therefor;
            ``(2) be available to a veteran to the same extent as if the 
        veteran had not previously received assistance under this 
        chapter; and
            ``(3) not be deducted from the maximum uses or from the 
        maximum amount of assistance available under this chapter.

    ``(c) Limitations.--The amount of the assistance provided under 
subsection (a) may not exceed the lesser of--
            ``(1) the reasonable cost, as determined by the Secretary, 
        of repairing or replacing the damaged or destroyed home in 
        excess of the available insurance coverage on such home; or
            ``(2) the maximum amount of assistance to which the veteran 
        would have been entitled under sections 2101(a), 2101(b), and 
        2102A of this title had the veteran not obtained previous 
        assistance under this chapter.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 2101.>>  is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2108 the 
        following new item:

``2109. Specially adapted housing destroyed or damaged by natural 
           disasters.''.

    (b) Extension of Subsistence Allowance for Veterans Completing 
Vocational Rehabilitation Program.--Section 3108(a)(2) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``In''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

    ``(B) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran 
described in subparagraph (A) has been displaced as the result of a 
natural or other disaster while being paid a subsistence allowance under 
that subparagraph, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may 
extend the payment of a subsistence allowance under such subparagraph 
for up to an additional two months while the veteran is satisfactorily 
following a program of employment services described in such 
subparagraph.''.
    (c) Waiver of Limitation on Program of Independent Living Services 
and Assistance.--Section 3120(e) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``Programs''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

    ``(2) The limitation in paragraph (1) shall not apply in any case in 
which the Secretary determines that a veteran described in subsection 
(b) has been displaced as the result of, or has otherwise been adversely 
affected in the areas covered by, a natural or other disaster, as 
determined by the Secretary.''.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1204]]

    (d) Covenants and Liens Created by Public Entities in Response to 
Disaster-Relief Assistance.--Paragraph (3) of section 3703(d) is amended 
to read as follows:
    ``(3)(A) <<NOTE: Determinations.>>  Any real estate housing loan 
(other than for repairs, alterations, or improvements) shall be secured 
by a first lien on the realty. In determining whether a loan is so 
secured, the Secretary may either disregard or allow for subordination 
to a superior lien created by a duly recorded covenant running with the 
realty in favor of either of the following:
            ``(i) <<NOTE: President.>>  A public entity that has 
        provided or will provide assistance in response to a major 
        disaster as determined by the President under the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        5121 et seq.).
            ``(ii) A private entity to secure an obligation to such 
        entity for the homeowner's share of the costs of the management, 
        operation, or maintenance of property, services, or programs 
        within and for the benefit of the development or community in 
        which the veteran's realty is located, if the Secretary 
        determines that the interests of the veteran borrower and of the 
        Government will not be prejudiced by the operation of such 
        covenant.

    ``(B) <<NOTE: Effective date.>>  With respect to any superior lien 
described in subparagraph (A) created after June 6, 1969, the 
Secretary's determination under clause (ii) of such subparagraph shall 
have been made prior to the recordation of the covenant.''.

    (e) Automobiles and Other Conveyances for Certain Disabled Veterans 
and Members of the Armed Forces.--Section 3903(a) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``No'' and inserting ``(1) Except as 
        provided in paragraph (2), no''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

    ``(2) The Secretary may provide or assist in providing an eligible 
person with a second automobile or other conveyance under this chapter 
if--
            ``(A) the Secretary receives satisfactory evidence that the 
        automobile or other conveyance previously purchased with 
        assistance under this chapter was destroyed--
                    ``(i) as a result of a natural or other disaster, as 
                determined by the Secretary; and
                    ``(ii) through no fault of the eligible person; and
            ``(B) the eligible person does not otherwise receive from a 
        property insurer compensation for the loss.''.

    (f) <<NOTE: 38 USC 2109 note.>>  Annual Report.--
            (1) In general.--Each year, the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the assistance 
        provided or action taken by the Secretary in the last fiscal 
        year pursuant to the authorities added by the amendments made by 
        this section.
            (2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following for the fiscal year covered by the 
        report:
                    (A) A description of each natural disaster for which 
                assistance was provided or action was taken as described 
                in paragraph (1).
                    (B) The number of cases or individuals, as the case 
                may be, in which or to whom the Secretary provided 
                assistance or took action as described in paragraph (1).

[[Page 126 STAT. 1205]]

                    (C) For each such case or individual, a description 
                of the type or amount of assistance or action taken, as 
                the case may be.

    (g) <<NOTE: 38 USC 2109 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by this section shall take effect on the date that is one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 702. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF LAW.

    (a) Pool of Mortgage Loans.--Section 3720(h)(2) is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
    (b) Loan Fees.--Section 3729(b)(2) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
                    (B) in clause (iv), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017'';
            (3) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
            (4) in subparagraph (D)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''.

    (c) Temporary Adjustment of Maximum Home Loan Guaranty Amount.--
Section 501 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 (Public 
Law 110-389; 122 Stat. 4175; 38 U.S.C. 3703 note) is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2014''.
SEC. 703. REQUIREMENT FOR PLAN FOR REGULAR ASSESSMENT OF EMPLOYEES 
                        OF VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION WHO 
                        HANDLE PROCESSING OF CLAIMS FOR 
                        COMPENSATION AND PENSION.

    Not <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan that describes 
how the Secretary will--
            (1) regularly assess the skills and competencies of 
        appropriate employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits 
        Administration who are responsible for processing claims for 
        compensation and pension benefits administered by the Secretary;
            (2) provide training to those employees whose skills and 
        competencies are assessed as unsatisfactory by the regular 
        assessment described in paragraph (1), to remediate deficiencies 
        in such skills and competencies;
            (3) reassess the skills and competencies of employees who 
        receive training as described in paragraph (2); and

[[Page 126 STAT. 1206]]

            (4) take appropriate personnel action if, following training 
        and reassessment as described in paragraphs (2) and (3), 
        respectively, skills and competencies remain unsatisfactory.
SEC. 704. MODIFICATION OF PROVISION RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENT RATE 
                        FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES.

    Section 111(b)(3)(C) is amended by striking ``under subparagraph 
(B)'' and inserting ``to or from a Department facility''.
SEC. 705. CHANGE IN COLLECTION AND VERIFICATION OF VETERAN INCOME.

    Section 1722(f)(1) is amended by striking ``the previous year'' and 
inserting ``the most recent year for which information is available''.
SEC. 706. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ENFORCEMENT PENALTIES FOR 
                        MISREPRESENTATION OF A BUSINESS CONCERN AS 
                        A SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN OWNED AND 
                        CONTROLLED BY VETERANS OR AS A SMALL 
                        BUSINESS CONCERN OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY 
                        SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS.

    Subsection (g) of section 8127 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Any business'' and inserting ``(1) Any 
        business'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), as so designated--
                    (A) by inserting ``willfully and intentionally'' 
                before ``misrepresented''; and
                    (B) by striking ``a reasonable period of time, as 
                determined by the Secretary'' and inserting ``a period 
                of not less than five years''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

    ``(2) <<NOTE: Debarment. Deadlines.>>  In the case of a debarment 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall commence debarment action 
against the business concern by not later than 30 days after determining 
that the concern willfully and intentionally misrepresented the status 
of the concern as described in paragraph (1) and shall complete 
debarment actions against such concern by not later than 90 days after 
such determination.

    ``(3) <<NOTE: Time period.>>  The debarment of a business concern 
under paragraph (1) includes the debarment of all principals in the 
business concern for a period of not less than five years.''.
SEC. 707. QUARTERLY REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON CONFERENCES SPONSORED 
                        BY THE DEPARTMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 5 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section:
``Sec. 517. <<NOTE: 38 USC 517.>>  Quarterly reports to Congress 
                on conferences sponsored by the Department

    ``(a) Quarterly Reports Required.--Not later than 30 days after the 
end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on covered conferences.
    ``(b) Matters Included.--Each report under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            ``(1) An accounting of the final costs to the Department of 
        each covered conference occurring during the fiscal quarter

[[Page 126 STAT. 1207]]

        preceding the date on which the report is submitted, including 
        the costs related to--
                    ``(A) transportation and parking;
                    ``(B) per diem payments;
                    ``(C) lodging;
                    ``(D) rental of halls, auditoriums, or other spaces;
                    ``(E) rental of equipment;
                    ``(F) refreshments;
                    ``(G) entertainment;
                    ``(H) contractors; and
                    ``(I) brochures or other printed media.
            ``(2) The total estimated costs to the Department for 
        covered conferences occurring during the fiscal quarter in which 
        the report is submitted.

    ``(c) Covered Conference Defined.--In this section, the term 
`covered conference' means a conference, meeting, or other similar forum 
that is sponsored or co-sponsored by the Department and is--
            ``(1) attended by 50 or more individuals, including one or 
        more employees of the Department; or
            ``(2) estimated to cost the Department at least $20,000.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 501.>>  amended by adding after the 
item relating to section 516 the following:

``517. Quarterly reports to Congress on conferences sponsored by the 
           Department.''.

    (c) <<NOTE: Applicability. 38 USC 517 note.>>  Effective Date.--
Section 517 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), 
shall take effect on October 1, 2012, and shall apply with respect to 
the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 and each quarter thereafter.
SEC. 708. PUBLICATION OF DATA ON EMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN VETERANS BY 
                        FEDERAL CONTRACTORS.

    Section 4212(d) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
    ``(3) <<NOTE: Web site. Public information.>>  The Secretary of 
Labor shall establish and maintain an Internet website on which the 
Secretary of Labor shall publicly disclose the information reported to 
the Secretary of Labor by contractors under paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 709. VETSTAR AWARD PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 532 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Secretary may'' and inserting `` (a) 
        Advertising in National Media.--The Secretary may''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

    ``(b) VetStar Award Program.--(1) The Secretary shall establish an 
award program, to be known as the `VetStar Award Program', to recognize 
annually businesses for their contributions to veterans' employment.
    ``(2) <<NOTE: Process.>>  The Secretary shall establish a process 
for the administration of the award program, including criteria for--
            ``(A) categories and sectors of businesses eligible for 
        recognition each year; and
            ``(B) objective measures to be used in selecting businesses 
        to receive the award.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendments.--

[[Page 126 STAT. 1208]]

            (1) Section heading.--The heading of such section is amended 
        by adding at the end the following: ``; VetStar Award Program''.
            (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 5 <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 501.>>  is amended 
        by striking the item relating to section 532 and inserting the 
        following new item:

``532. Authority to advertise in national media; VetStar Award 
           Program.''.

SEC. 710. EXTENDED PERIOD OF PROTECTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF UNIFORMED 
                        SERVICES RELATING TO MORTGAGES, MORTGAGE 
                        FORECLOSURE, AND EVICTION.

    (a) Stay of Proceedings and Period of Adjustment of Obligations 
Relating to Real or Personal Property.--Section 303(b) of the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533(b)) is amended by 
striking ``within 9 months'' and inserting ``within one year''.
    (b) Period of Relief From Sale, Foreclosure, or Seizure.--Section 
303(c) of such Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533(c)) is amended by striking 
``within 9 months'' and inserting ``within one year''.
    (c) <<NOTE: 50 USC app. 533 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect on the date that is 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

    (d) <<NOTE: 50 USC app. 533 note.>>  Extension of Sunset.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and 
        (b) shall expire on December 31, 2014.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (c) of section 2203 of 
        the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
        289; 50 U.S.C. App. 533 note) is amended to read as follows:

    ``(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.''.
            (3) <<NOTE: 50 USC app. 533 note.>>  Revival.--Effective 
        January 1, 2015, the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of 
        section 303 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 
        App. 533), as in effect on July 29, 2008, are hereby revived.

    (e) <<NOTE: Time periods.>>  Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 540 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall submit to Congress a report on the protections 
        provided under section 303 of such Act (50 U.S.C. App 533) 
        during the five-year period ending on the date of the enactment 
        of this Act.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include, for the period described in such paragraph, the 
        following:
                    (A) An assessment of the effects of such section on 
                the long-term financial well-being of servicemembers and 
                their families.
                    (B) The number of servicemembers who faced 
                foreclosure during a 90-day period, 270-day period, or 
                365-day period beginning on the date on which the 
                servicemembers completed a period of military service.
                    (C) The number of servicemembers who applied for a 
                stay or adjustment under subsection (b) of such section.
                    (D) A description and assessment of the effect of 
                applying for a stay or adjustment under such subsection

[[Page 126 STAT. 1209]]

                on the financial well-being of the servicemembers who 
                applied for such a stay or adjustment.
                    (E) An assessment of the Secretary of Defense's 
                partnerships with public and private sector entities and 
                recommendations on how the Secretary should modify such 
                partnerships to improve financial education and 
                counseling for servicemembers in order to assist them in 
                achieving long-term financial stability.
            (3) Period of military service and servicemember defined.--
        In this subsection, the terms ``period of military service'' and 
        ``servicemember'' have the meanings given such terms in section 
        101 of such Act (50 U.S.C. App. 511).

    Approved August 6, 2012.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1627:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 112-84, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
                                                        Vol. 157 (2011):
                                    May 23, considered and passed House.
                                                        Vol. 158 (2012):
                                    July 18, considered and passed 
                                        Senate, amended.
                                    July 31, House concurred in Senate 
                                        amendments.

                                  <all>
```