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[106th Congress Public Law 419]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]

<DOC>
[DOCID: f:publ419.106]

[[Page 1821]]

        VETERANS BENEFITS AND HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2000

[[Page 114 STAT. 1822]]

Public Law 106-419
106th Congress

                                 An Act

 
      To amend title 38, United States <<NOTE: Nov. 1, 2000 -  [S. 
1402]>> Code, to increase the rates of educational assistance under the 
Montgomery GI Bill, to improve procedures for the adjustment of rates of 
 pay for nurses employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, to make 
other improvements in veterans educational assistance, health care, and 
               benefits programs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of <<NOTE: Veterans Benefits 
and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000.>> Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>>  Short Title.--This Act may be cited 
as the ``Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000''.

    (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.

               TITLE I--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS

          Subtitle A--Montgomery GI Bill Educational Assistance

Sec. 101. Increase in rates of basic educational assistance under 
           Montgomery GI Bill.
Sec. 102. Uniform requirement for high school diploma or equivalency 
           before application for Montgomery GI Bill benefits.
Sec. 103. Repeal of requirement for initial obligated period of active 
           duty as condition of eligibility for Montgomery GI Bill 
           benefits.
Sec. 104. Additional opportunity for certain VEAP participants to enroll 
           in basic educational assistance under Montgomery GI Bill.
Sec. 105. Increased active duty educational assistance benefit for 
           contributing members.

      Subtitle B--Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance

Sec. 111. Increase in rates of survivors' and dependents' educational 
           assistance.
Sec. 112. Election of certain recipients of commencement of period of 
           eligibility for survivors' and dependents' educational 
           assistance.
Sec. 113. Adjusted effective date for award of survivors' and 
           dependents' educational assistance.
Sec. 114. Availability under survivors' and dependents' educational 
           assistance of preparatory courses for college and graduate 
           school entrance exams.

               Subtitle C--General Educational Assistance

Sec. 121. Revision of educational assistance interval payment 
           requirements.
Sec. 122. Availability of education benefits for payment for licensing 
           or certification tests.
Sec. 123. Increase for fiscal years 2001 and 2002 in aggregate annual 
           amount available for State approving agencies for 
           administrative expenses.

                       TITLE II--HEALTH PROVISIONS

                      Subtitle A--Personnel Matters

Sec. 201. Annual national pay comparability adjustment for nurses 
           employed by Department of Veterans Affairs.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1823]]

Sec. 202. Special pay for dentists.
Sec. 203. Exemption for pharmacists from ceiling on special salary 
           rates.
Sec. 204. Temporary full-time appointments of certain medical personnel.
Sec. 205. Qualifications of social workers.
Sec. 206. Physician assistant adviser to Under Secretary for Health.
Sec. 207. Extension of voluntary separation incentive payments.

                   Subtitle B--Military Service Issues

Sec. 211. Findings and sense of Congress concerning use of military 
           histories of veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs 
           health care.
Sec. 212. Study of post-traumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans.

                   Subtitle C--Medical Administration

Sec. 221. Department of Veterans Affairs Fisher Houses.
Sec. 222. Exception to recapture rule.
Sec. 223. Sense of Congress concerning cooperation between the 
           Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense 
           in the procurement of medical items.
Sec. 224. Technical and conforming changes.

                 Subtitle D--Construction Authorization

Sec. 231. Authorization of major medical facility projects.
Sec. 232. Authorization of appropriations.

                    Subtitle E--Real Property Matters

Sec. 241. Change to enhanced use lease congressional notification 
           period.
Sec. 242. Release of reversionary interest of the United States in 
           certain real property previously conveyed to the State of 
           Tennessee.
Sec. 243. Demolition, environmental cleanup, and reversion of Department 
           of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Allen Park, Michigan.
Sec. 244. Conveyance of certain property at the Carl Vinson Department 
           of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dublin, Georgia.
Sec. 245. Land conveyance, Miles City Department of Veterans Affairs 
           Medical Center complex, Miles City, Montana.
Sec. 246. Conveyance of Fort Lyon Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
           Center, Colorado, to the State of Colorado.
Sec. 247. Effect of closure of Fort Lyon Department of Veterans Affairs 
           Medical Center on administration of health care for veterans.

 TITLE III--COMPENSATION, INSURANCE, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND MEMORIAL 
                           AFFAIRS PROVISIONS

                Subtitle A--Compensation Program Changes

Sec. 301. Strokes and heart attacks incurred or aggravated by members of 
           reserve components in the performance of duty while 
           performing inactive duty training to be considered to be 
           service-connected.
Sec. 302. Special monthly compensation for women veterans who lose a 
           breast as a result of a service-connected disability.
Sec. 303. Benefits for persons disabled by participation in compensated 
           work therapy program.
Sec. 304. Revision to limitation on payments of benefits to incompetent 
           institutionalized veterans.
Sec. 305. Review of dose reconstruction program of the Defense Threat 
           Reduction Agency.

                   Subtitle B--Life Insurance Matters

Sec. 311. Premiums for term Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance for 
           veterans older than age 70.
Sec. 312. Increase in automatic maximum coverage under Servicemembers' 
           Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance.
Sec. 313. Eligibility of certain members of the Individual Ready Reserve 
           for Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.

               Subtitle C--Housing and Employment Programs

Sec. 321. Elimination of reduction in assistance for specially adapted 
           housing for disabled veterans for veterans having joint 
           ownership of housing units.
Sec. 322. Veterans employment emphasis under Federal contracts for 
           recently separated veterans.
Sec. 323. Employers required to grant leave of absence for employees to 
           participate in honor guards for funerals of veterans.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1824]]

               Subtitle D--Cemeteries and Memorial Affairs

Sec. 331. Eligibility for interment of certain Filipino veterans of 
           World War II in national cemeteries.
Sec. 332. Payment rate of certain burial benefits for certain Filipino 
           veterans of World War II.
Sec. 333. Plot allowance for burial in State veterans cemeteries.

                         TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 401. Benefits for the children of women Vietnam veterans who suffer 
           from certain birth defects.
Sec. 402. Extension of certain expiring authorities.
Sec. 403. Preservation of certain reporting requirements.
Sec. 404. Technical amendments.

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.

               TITLE I--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS

          Subtitle A--Montgomery GI Bill Educational Assistance

SEC. 101. INCREASE IN RATES OF BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER 
                        MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

    (a) Active Duty Educational Assistance.--Section 3015 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``$528'' and inserting 
        ``$650''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``$429'' and inserting 
        ``$528''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3015 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by subsection (a) shall take effect on November 1, 2000, and shall 
apply with respect to educational assistance allowances paid under 
chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code, for months after October 
2000.
SEC. 102. UNIFORM REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR 
                        EQUIVALENCY BEFORE APPLICATION FOR 
                        MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS.

    (a) Active Duty Program.--(1) Section 3011 is amended--
            (A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (2) and 
        inserting the following new paragraph (2):
            ``(2) who completes the requirements of a secondary school 
        diploma (or equivalency certificate), or successfully completes 
        (or otherwise receives academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 
        semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard 
        college degree, before applying for benefits under this section; 
        and''; and
            (B) by striking subsection (e).

    (2) Section 3017(a)(1)(A)(ii) is amended by striking ``clause 
(2)(A)'' and inserting ``clause (2)''.
    (b) Selected Reserve Program.--Section 3012 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (2) and 
        inserting the following new paragraph (2):

[[Page 114 STAT. 1825]]

            ``(2) who completes the requirements of a secondary school 
        diploma (or equivalency certificate), or successfully completes 
        (or otherwise receives academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 
        semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard 
        college degree, before applying for benefits under this section; 
        and''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (f).

    (c) Withdrawal of Election Not To Enroll.--Paragraph (4) of section 
3018(b) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(4) before applying for benefits under this section--
                    ``(A) completes the requirements of a secondary 
                school diploma (or equivalency certificate); or
                    ``(B) successfully completes (or otherwise receives 
                academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours 
                in a program of education leading to a standard college 
                degree; and''.

    (d) Educational Assistance Program for Members of Selected 
Reserve.--Paragraph (2) of section 16132(a) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
            ``(2) before applying for benefits under this section, has 
        completed the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or an 
        equivalency certificate);''.

    (e) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3031 note.>>  Delimiting Period.--(1) In the case 
of an individual described in paragraph (2), with respect to the time 
limitation under section 3031 of title 38, United States Code, for use 
of eligibility and entitlement of basic educational assistance under 
chapter 30 of such title, the 10-year period applicable under such 
section shall begin on the later of--
            (A) the date of the enactment of this Act; or
            (B) the date of the individual's last discharge or release 
        from active duty.

    (2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an individual 
who--
            (A) before the date of the enactment of this Act, was not 
        eligible for such basic educational assistance by reason of the 
        requirement of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency 
        certificate) as a condition of eligibility for such assistance 
        as in effect on the date preceding the date of the enactment of 
        this Act; and
            (B) becomes entitled to basic educational assistance under 
        section 3011(a)(2), 3012(a)(2), or 3018(b)(4) of title 38, 
        United States Code, by reason of the amendments made by this 
        section.
SEC. 103. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR INITIAL OBLIGATED PERIOD OF 
                        ACTIVE DUTY AS CONDITION OF ELIGIBILITY 
                        FOR MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS.

    (a) Active Duty Program.--Section 3011 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)(A)--
                    (A) by striking clause (i) and inserting the 
                following new clause (i):
                          ``(i) who serves an obligated period of active 
                      duty of at least two years of continuous active 
                      duty in the Armed Forces; or''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii)(II), by striking ``in the case of 
                an individual who completed not less than 20 months'' 
                and all that follows through ``was at least three 
                years'' and inserting ``if, in the case of an individual 
                with an obligated

[[Page 114 STAT. 1826]]

                period of service of two years, the individual completes 
                not less than 20 months of continuous active duty under 
                that period of obligated service, or, in the case of an 
                individual with an obligated period of service of at 
                least three years, the individual completes not less 
                than 30 months of continuous active duty under that 
                period of obligated service'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``individual's initial 
        obligated period of active duty'' and inserting ``obligated 
        period of active duty on which an individual's entitlement to 
        assistance under this section is based'';
            (3) in subsection (h)(2)(A), by striking ``during an initial 
        period of active duty,'' and inserting ``during the obligated 
        period of active duty on which entitlement to assistance under 
        this section is based,''; and
            (4) in subsection (i), by striking ``initial''.

    (b) Selected Reserve Program.--Section 3012 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)(A)(i), by striking ``, as the 
        individual's'' and all that follows through ``Armed Forces'' and 
        inserting ``an obligated period of active duty of at least two 
        years of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces''; and
            (2) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``initial''.

    (c) Duration of Assistance.--Section 3013 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``individual's initial 
        obligated period of active duty'' and inserting ``obligated 
        period of active duty on which such entitlement is based''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``individual's initial 
        obligated period of active duty'' and inserting ``obligated 
        period of active duty on which such entitlement is based''.

    (d) Amount of Assistance.--Section 3015 is amended--
            (1) in the second sentence of subsection (a), by inserting 
        before ``a basic educational assistance allowance'' the 
        following: ``in the case of an individual entitled to an 
        educational assistance allowance under this chapter whose 
        obligated period of active duty on which such entitlement is 
        based is three years,'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``and whose initial 
        obligated period of active duty is two years,'' and inserting 
        ``whose obligated period of active duty on which such 
        entitlement is based is two years,''; and
            (3) in subsection (c)(2), by striking subparagraphs (A) and 
        (B) and inserting the following new subparagraphs (A) and (B):
            ``(A) whose obligated period of active duty on which such 
        entitlement is based is less than three years;
            ``(B) who, beginning on the date of the commencement of such 
        obligated period of active duty, serves a continuous period of 
        active duty of not less than three years; and''.

    (e) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3031 note.>>  Delimiting Period.--(1) In the case 
of an individual described in paragraph (2), with respect to the time 
limitation under section 3031 of title 38, United States Code, for use 
of eligibility and entitlement of basic educational assistance under 
chapter 30 of such title, the 10-year period applicable under such 
section shall begin on the later of--
            (A) the date of the enactment of this Act; or
            (B) the date of the individual's last discharge or release 
        from active duty.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1827]]

    (2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an individual 
who--
            (A) before the date of the enactment of this Act, was not 
        eligible for basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of 
        such title by reason of the requirement of an initial obligated 
        period of active duty as condition of eligibility for such 
        assistance as in effect on the date preceding the date of the 
        enactment of this Act; and
            (B) on or after such date becomes eligible for such 
        assistance by reason of the amendments made by this section.
SEC. 104. ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CERTAIN VEAP PARTICIPANTS TO 
                        ENROLL IN BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
                        UNDER MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

    (a) Special Enrollment Period.--Section 3018C is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e)(1) A qualified individual (described in paragraph (2)) may 
make an irrevocable election under this subsection, during the one-year 
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this subsection, to 
become entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter. Such 
an election shall be made in the same manner as elections made under 
subsection (a)(5).
    ``(2) A qualified individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an 
individual who meets each of the following requirements:
            ``(A) The individual was a participant in the educational 
        benefits program under chapter 32 of this title on or before 
        October 9, 1996.
            ``(B) The individual has continuously served on active duty 
        since October 9, 1996 (excluding the periods referred to in 
        section 3202(1)(C) of this title), through at least April, 1, 
        2000.
            ``(C) The individual meets the requirements of subsection 
        (a)(3).
            ``(D) The individual, when discharged or released from 
        active duty, is discharged or released therefrom with an 
        honorable discharge.

    ``(3)(A) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this paragraph, 
with respect to a qualified individual who makes an election under 
paragraph (1) to become entitled to basic education assistance under 
this chapter--
            ``(i) the basic pay of the qualified individual shall be 
        reduced (in a manner determined by the Secretary concerned) 
        until the total amount by which such basic pay is reduced is 
        $2,700; and
            ``(ii) to the extent that basic pay is not so reduced before 
        the qualified individual's discharge or release from active duty 
        as specified in subsection (a)(4), at the election of the 
        qualified individual--
                    ``(I) the Secretary concerned shall collect from the 
                qualified individual; or
                    ``(II) the Secretary concerned shall reduce the 
                retired or retainer pay of the qualified individual by,
        an amount equal to the difference between $2,700 and the total 
        amount of reductions under clause (i), which shall be paid into 
        the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.

    ``(B)(i) The Secretary concerned shall provide for an 18-month 
period, beginning on the date the qualified individual makes an

[[Page 114 STAT. 1828]]

election under paragraph (1), for the qualified individual to pay that 
Secretary the amount due under subparagraph (A).
    ``(ii) Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed as modifying the 
period of eligibility for and entitlement to basic education assistance 
under this chapter applicable under section 3031 of this title.
    ``(C) The provisions of subsection (c) shall apply to qualified 
individuals making elections under this subsection in the same manner as 
they applied to individuals making elections under subsection (a)(5).
    ``(4) With respect to qualified individuals referred to in paragraph 
(3)(A)(ii), no amount of educational assistance allowance under this 
chapter shall be paid to the qualified individual until the earlier of 
the date on which--
            ``(A) the Secretary concerned collects the applicable amount 
        under subclause (I) of such paragraph; or
            ``(B) the retired or retainer pay of the qualified 
        individual is first reduced under subclause (II) of such 
        paragraph.

    ``(5) The Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, 
shall provide for notice to participants in the educational benefits 
program under chapter 32 of this title of the opportunity under this 
subsection to elect to become entitled to basic educational assistance 
under this chapter.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3018C(b) is amended by striking 
``subsection (a)'' and inserting ``subsection (a) or (e)''.
    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3018c.>>  Coordination Provisions.--(1) If this 
Act is enacted before the provisions of the Floyd D. Spence National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 are enacted into law, 
section 1601 of that Act, including the amendments made by that section, 
shall not take effect. If this Act is enacted after the provisions of 
the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2001 are enacted into law, then as of the enactment of this Act, the 
amendments made by section 1601 of that Act shall be deemed for all 
purposes not to have taken effect and that section shall cease to be in 
effect.

    (2) <<NOTE: 38 USC 5107.>>  If the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 
2000 is enacted before the provisions of the Floyd D. Spence National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 are enacted into law, 
section 1611 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2001, including the amendments made by that section, 
shall not take effect. If the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 is 
enacted after the provisions of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 are enacted into law, then as of 
the enactment of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, the 
amendments made by section 1611 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 shall be deemed for all purposes 
not to have taken effect and that section shall cease to be in effect.
SEC. 105. INCREASED ACTIVE DUTY EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE BENEFIT FOR 
                        CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS.

    (a) Authority To Make Contributions for Increased Assistance 
Amount.--(1) Section 3011, as amended by section 102(a)(1)(B), is 
amended by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection 
(e):
    ``(e)(1) Any individual eligible for educational assistance under 
this section who does not make an election under subsection (c)(1) may 
contribute amounts for purposes of receiving an increased

[[Page 114 STAT. 1829]]

amount of basic educational assistance as provided for under section 
3015(g) of this title. Such contributions shall be in addition to any 
reductions in the basic pay of such individual under subsection (b).
    ``(2) An individual covered by paragraph (1) may make the 
contributions authorized by that paragraph at any time while on active 
duty.
    ``(3) The total amount of the contributions made by an individual 
under paragraph (1) may not exceed $600. Such contributions shall be 
made in multiples of $4.
    ``(4) Contributions under this subsection shall be made to the 
Secretary. The Secretary shall deposit any amounts received by the 
Secretary as contributions under this subsection into the Treasury as 
miscellaneous receipts.''.
    (2) Section 3012, as amended by section 102(b)(2), is amended by 
inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection (f):
    ``(f)(1) Any individual eligible for educational assistance under 
this section who does not make an election under subsection (d)(1) may 
contribute amounts for purposes of receiving an increased amount of 
basic educational assistance as provided for under section 3015(g) of 
this title. Such contributions shall be in addition to any reductions in 
the basic pay of such individual under subsection (c).
    ``(2) An individual covered by paragraph (1) may make the 
contributions authorized by that paragraph at any time while on active 
duty.
    ``(3) The total amount of the contributions made by an individual 
under paragraph (1) may not exceed $600. Such contributions shall be 
made in multiples of $4.
    ``(4) Contributions under this subsection shall be made to the 
Secretary. The Secretary shall deposit any amounts received by the 
Secretary as contributions under this subsection into the Treasury as 
miscellaneous receipts.''.
    (b) Increased Assistance Amount.--Section 3015 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``subsection (g)'' each place it appears in 
        subsections (a)(1) and (b)(1) and inserting ``subsection (h)'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new 
        subsection (g):

    ``(g) In the case of an individual who has made contributions 
authorized by section 3011(e) or 3012(f) of this title, the monthly 
amount of basic educational assistance allowance applicable to such 
individual under subsection (a), (b), or (c) shall be the monthly rate 
otherwise provided for under the applicable subsection increased by--
            ``(1) an amount equal to $1 for each $4 contributed by such 
        individual under section 3011(e) or 3012(f), as the case may be, 
        for an approved program of education pursued on a full-time 
        basis; or
            ``(2) an appropriately reduced amount based on the amount so 
        contributed, as determined under regulations which the Secretary 
        shall prescribe, for an approved program of education pursued on 
        less than a full-time basis.''.

    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3011 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by this section shall take effect on May 1, 2001.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1830]]

    (d) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3011 note.>>  Transitional Provision for 
Individuals Discharged Between Enactment and Effective Date.--(1) During 
the period beginning on May 1, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2001, an 
individual described in paragraph (2) may make contributions under 
section 3011(e) or 3012(f) of title 38, United States Code (as added by 
subsection (a)), whichever is applicable to that individual, without 
regard to paragraph (2) of that section and otherwise in the same manner 
as an individual eligible for educational assistance under chapter 30 of 
such title who is on active duty.

    (2) Paragraph (1) applies in the case of an individual who--
            (A) is discharged or released from active duty during the 
        period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
        ending on April 30, 2001; and
            (B) is eligible for educational assistance under chapter 30 
        of title 38, United States Code.

      Subtitle B--Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance

SEC. 111. INCREASE IN RATES OF SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' 
                        EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance.--Section 3532 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``$485'' and inserting ``$588'';
                    (B) by striking ``$365'' and inserting ``$441''; and
                    (C) by striking ``$242'' and inserting ``$294'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``$485'' and inserting 
        ``$588'';
            (3) in subsection (b), by striking ``$485'' and inserting 
        ``$588''; and
            (4) in subsection (c)(2)--
                    (A) by striking ``$392'' and inserting ``$475'';
                    (B) by striking ``$294'' and inserting ``$356''; and
                    (C) by striking ``$196'' and inserting ``$238''.

    (b) Correspondence Course.--Section 3534(b) is amended by striking 
``$485'' and inserting ``$588''.
    (c) Special Restorative Training.--Section 3542(a) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``$485'' and inserting ``$588'';
            (2) by striking ``$152'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``$184''; and
            (3) by striking ``$16.16'' and all that follows and 
        inserting ``such increased amount of allowance that is equal to 
        one-thirtieth of the full-time basic monthly rate of special 
        training allowance.''.

    (d) Apprenticeship Training.--Section 3687(b)(2) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``$353'' and inserting ``$428'';
            (2) by striking ``$264'' and inserting ``$320'';
            (3) by striking ``$175'' and inserting ``$212''; and
            (4) by striking ``$88'' and inserting ``$107''.

    (e) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3532 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by subsections (a) through (d) shall take effect on November 1, 
2000, and shall apply with respect to educational assistance allowances 
paid under

[[Page 114 STAT. 1831]]

chapter 35 of title 38, United States Code, for months after October 
2000.

    (f) Annual Adjustments to Amounts of Assistance.--
            (1) Chapter 35.--(A) Subchapter VI of chapter 35 is amended 
        by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3564. Annual adjustment of amounts of educational 
                  assistance

    ``With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a 
percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the rates payable 
under sections 3532, 3534(b), and 3542(a) of this title equal to the 
percentage by which--
            ``(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States 
        city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 
        preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the 
        increase is made, exceeds
            ``(2) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
        preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).''.
            (B) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 35 is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3563 the 
        following new item:

``3564. Annual adjustment of amounts of educational assistance.''.

            (2) Chapter 36.--Section 3687 is amended by adding at the 
        end the following new subsection:

    ``(d) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a 
percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the rates payable 
under subsection (b)(2) equal to the percentage by which--
            ``(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States 
        city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 
        preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the 
        increase is made, exceeds
            ``(2) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
        preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).''.
            (3) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3564 note.>>  Effective date.--Sections 
        3654 and 3687(d) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
        this subsection, shall take effect on October 1, 2001.
SEC. 112. ELECTION OF CERTAIN RECIPIENTS OF COMMENCEMENT OF PERIOD 
                        OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SURVIVORS' AND 
                        DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

    Section 3512(a)(3) is amended by striking ``8 years after,'' and all 
that follows through the end and inserting ``8 years after the date that 
is elected by that person to be the beginning date of entitlement under 
section 3511 of this title or subchapter V of this chapter if--
                    ``(A) the Secretary approves that beginning date;
                    ``(B) the eligible person makes that election after 
                the person's eighteenth birthday but before the person's 
                twenty-sixth birthday; and
                    ``(C) that beginning date--
                          ``(i) in the case of a person whose 
                      eligibility is based on a parent who has a 
                      service-connected total disability permanent in 
                      nature, is between the dates described in 
                      subsection (d); and
                          ``(ii) in the case of a person whose 
                      eligibility is based on the death of a parent, is 
                      between--
                                    ``(I) the date of the parent's 
                                death; and

[[Page 114 STAT. 1832]]

                                    ``(II) the date of the Secretary's 
                                decision that the death was service-
                                connected;''.
SEC. 113. ADJUSTED EFFECTIVE DATE FOR AWARD OF SURVIVORS' AND 
                        DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 5113 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);
            (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``subsection (b) of this 
        section'' and inserting ``subsections (b) and (c)''; and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
        subsection:

    ``(b)(1) When determining the effective date of an award under 
chapter 35 of this title for an individual described in paragraph (2) 
based on an original claim, the Secretary may consider the individual's 
application as having been filed on the eligibility date of the 
individual if that eligibility date is more than one year before the 
date of the initial rating decision.
    ``(2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an eligible 
person who--
            ``(A) submits to the Secretary an original application for 
        educational assistance under chapter 35 of this title within one 
        year of the date that the Secretary makes the rating decision;
            ``(B) claims such educational assistance for pursuit of an 
        approved program of education during a period preceding the one-
        year period ending on the date on which the application was 
        received by the Secretary; and
            ``(C) would have been entitled to such educational 
        assistance for such course pursuit if the individual had 
        submitted such an application on the individual's eligibility 
        date.

    ``(3) In this subsection:
            ``(A) The term `eligibility date' means the date on which an 
        individual becomes an eligible person.
            ``(B) The term `eligible person' has the meaning given that 
        term under section 3501(a)(1) of this title under subparagraph 
        (A)(i), (A)(ii), (B), or (D) of such section by reason of either 
        (i) the service-connected death or (ii) service-connected total 
        disability permanent in nature of the veteran from whom such 
        eligibility is derived.
            ``(C) The term `initial rating decision' means with respect 
        to an eligible person a decision made by the Secretary that 
        establishes (i) service connection for such veteran's death or 
        (ii) the existence of such veteran's service-connected total 
        disability permanent in nature, as the case may be.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 5113 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by subsection (a) shall apply to applications first made under 
section 3513 of title 38, United States Code, that--
            (1) are received on or after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act; or
            (2) on the date of the enactment of this Act, are pending 
        (A) with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (B) exhaustion of 
        available administrative and judicial remedies.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1833]]

SEC. 114. AVAILABILITY UNDER SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' 
                        EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE OF PREPARATORY 
                        COURSES FOR COLLEGE AND GRADUATE SCHOOL 
                        ENTRANCE EXAMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 3501(a)(5) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new sentence: ``Such term also includes any preparatory 
course described in section 3002(3)(B) of this title.''.
    (b) Scope of Availability.--Section 3512(a) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (5);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (6) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) if the person is pursuing a preparatory course 
        described in section 3002(3)(B) of this title, such period may 
        begin on the date that is the first day of such course pursuit, 
        notwithstanding that such date may be before the person's 
        eighteenth birthday, except that in no case may such person be 
        afforded educational assistance under this chapter for pursuit 
        of secondary schooling unless such course pursuit would 
        otherwise be authorized under this subsection.''.

               Subtitle C--General Educational Assistance

SEC. 121. REVISION OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE INTERVAL PAYMENT 
                        REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Subclause (C) of the third sentence of section 
3680(a) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(C) during periods between school terms where the 
        educational institution certifies the enrollment of the eligible 
        veteran or eligible person on an individual term basis if (i) 
        the period between those terms does not exceed eight weeks, and 
        (ii) both the terms preceding and following the period are not 
        shorter in length than the period.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3680 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendment made 
by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to payments of educational 
assistance under title 38, United States Code, for months beginning on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 122. AVAILABILITY OF EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR PAYMENT FOR 
                        LICENSING OR CERTIFICATION TESTS.

    (a) In General.--Sections 3452(b) and 3501(a)(5) (as amended by 
section 114(a)) are each amended by adding at the end the following new 
sentence: ``Such term also includes licensing or certification tests, 
the successful completion of which demonstrates an individual's 
possession of the knowledge or skill required to enter into, maintain, 
or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or 
profession, provided such tests and the licensing or credentialing 
organizations or entities that offer such tests are approved by the 
Secretary in accordance with section 3689 of this title.''.
    (b) Amount of Payment.--
            (1) Chapter 30.--Section 3032 is amended by adding at the 
        end the following new subsection:

    ``(f)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational 
assistance payable under this chapter for a licensing or certification

[[Page 114 STAT. 1834]]

test described in section 3452(b) of this title is the lesser of $2,000 
or the fee charged for the test.
    ``(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any 
individual for such licensing or certification test is equal to the 
number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount 
of educational assistance paid such individual for such test by the 
full-time monthly institutional rate of educational assistance which, 
except for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid under 
subsection (a)(1), (b)(1), (d), or (e)(1) of section 3015 of this title, 
as the case may be.
    ``(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this 
subsection for such a test exceed the amount of the individual's 
available entitlement under this chapter.''.
            (2) Chapter 32.--Section 3232 is amended by adding at the 
        end the following new subsection:

    ``(c)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational 
assistance payable under this chapter for a licensing or certification 
test described in section 3452(b) of this title is the lesser of $2,000 
or the fee charged for the test.
    ``(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any 
individual for such licensing or certification test is equal to the 
number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount 
paid to such individual for such test by the full-time monthly 
institutional rate of the educational assistance allowance which, except 
for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid under this 
chapter.
    ``(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this 
subsection for such a test exceed the amount of the individual's 
available entitlement under this chapter.''.
            (3) Chapter 34.--Section 3482 is amended by adding at the 
        end the following new subsection:

    ``(h)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational 
assistance payable under this chapter for a licensing or certification 
test described in section 3452(b) of this title is the lesser of $2,000 
or the fee charged for the test.
    ``(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any 
individual for such licensing or certification test is equal to the 
number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount 
paid to such individual for such test by the full-time monthly 
institutional rate of the educational assistance allowance which, except 
for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid under this 
chapter.
    ``(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this 
subsection for such a test exceed the amount of the individual's 
available entitlement under this chapter.''.
            (4) Chapter 35.--Section 3532 is amended by adding at the 
        end the following new subsection:

    ``(f)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational 
assistance payable under this chapter for a licensing or certification 
test described in section 3501(a)(5) of this title is the lesser of 
$2,000 or the fee charged for the test.
    ``(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any 
individual for such licensing or certification test is equal to the 
number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount 
paid to such individual for such test by the full-

[[Page 114 STAT. 1835]]

time monthly institutional rate of the educational assistance allowance 
which, except for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid 
under this chapter.
    ``(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this 
subsection for such a test exceed the amount of the individual's 
available entitlement under this chapter.''.
    (c) Requirements for Licensing and Credentialing Testing.--(1) 
Chapter 36 is amended by inserting after section 3688 the following new 
section:
``Sec. 3689. Approval requirements for licensing and certification 
                  testing

    ``(a) In General.--(1) No payment may be made for a licensing or 
certification test described in section 3452(b) or 3501(a)(5) of this 
title unless the Secretary determines that the requirements of this 
section have been met with respect to such test and the organization or 
entity offering the test. The requirements of approval for tests and 
organizations or entities offering tests shall be in accordance with the 
provisions of this chapter and chapters 30, 32, 34, and 35 of this title 
and with regulations prescribed by the Secretary to carry out this 
section.
    ``(2) To the extent that the Secretary determines practicable, State 
approving agencies may, in lieu of the Secretary, approve licensing and 
certification tests, and organizations and entities offering such tests, 
under this section.
    ``(b) Requirements for Tests.--(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a 
licensing or certification test is approved for purposes of this section 
only if--
            ``(A) the test is required under Federal, State, or local 
        law or regulation for an individual to enter into, maintain, or 
        advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation 
        or profession; or
            ``(B) the Secretary determines that the test is generally 
        accepted, in accordance with relevant government, business, or 
        industry standards, employment policies, or hiring practices, as 
        attesting to a level of knowledge or skill required to qualify 
        to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a 
        predetermined and identified vocation or profession.

    ``(2) A licensing or certification test offered by a State, or a 
political subdivision of a State, is deemed approved by the Secretary 
for purposes of this section.
    ``(c) Requirements for Organizations or Entities Offering Tests.--
(1) Each organization or entity that is not an entity of the United 
States, a State, or political subdivision of a State, that offers a 
licensing or certification test for which payment may be made under 
chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title and that meets the following 
requirements, shall be approved by the Secretary to offer such test:
            ``(A) The organization or entity certifies to the Secretary 
        that the licensing or certification test offered by the 
        organization or entity is generally accepted, in accordance with 
        relevant government, business, or industry standards, employment 
        policies, or hiring practices, as attesting to a level of 
        knowledge or skill required to qualify to enter into, maintain, 
        or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified 
        vocation or profession.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1836]]

            ``(B) The organization or entity is licensed, chartered, or 
        incorporated in a State and has offered the test for a minimum 
        of two years before the date on which the organization or entity 
        first submits to the Secretary an application for approval under 
        this section.
            ``(C) The organization or entity employs, or consults with, 
        individuals with expertise or substantial experience with 
        respect to all areas of knowledge or skill that are measured by 
        the test and that are required for the license or certificate 
        issued.
            ``(D) The organization or entity has no direct financial 
        interest in--
                    ``(i) the outcome of the test; or
                    ``(ii) organizations that provide the education or 
                training of candidates for licenses or certificates 
                required for vocations or professions.
            ``(E) The organization or entity maintains appropriate 
        records with respect to all candidates who take the test for a 
        period prescribed by the Secretary, but in no case for a period 
        of less than three years.
            ``(F)(i) The organization or entity promptly issues notice 
        of the results of the test to the candidate for the license or 
        certificate.
            ``(ii) The organization or entity has in place a process to 
        review complaints submitted against the organization or entity 
        with respect to the test or the process for obtaining a license 
        or certificate required for vocations or professions.
            ``(G) The organization or entity furnishes to the Secretary 
        such information with respect to the test as the Secretary 
        requires to determine whether payment may be made for the test 
        under chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, including 
        personal identifying information, fee payment, and test results. 
        Such information shall be furnished in the form prescribed by 
        the Secretary.
            ``(H) The organization or entity furnishes to the Secretary 
        the following information:
                    ``(i) A description of the licensing or 
                certification test offered by the organization or 
                entity, including the purpose of the test, the 
                vocational, professional, governmental, and other 
                entities that recognize the test, and the license or 
                certificate issued upon successful completion of the 
                test.
                    ``(ii) The requirements to take the test, including 
                the amount of the fee charged for the test and any 
                prerequisite education, training, skills, or other 
                certification.
                    ``(iii) The period for which the license or 
                certificate awarded upon successful completion of the 
                test is valid, and the requirements for maintaining or 
                renewing the license or certificate.
            ``(I) Upon request of the Secretary, the organization or 
        entity furnishes such information to the Secretary that the 
        Secretary determines necessary to perform an assessment of--
                    ``(i) the test conducted by the organization or 
                entity as compared to the level of knowledge or skills 
                that a license or certificate attests; and
                    ``(ii) the applicability of the test over such 
                periods of time as the Secretary determines appropriate.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1837]]

    ``(2) With respect to each organization or entity that is an entity 
of the United States, a State, or political subdivision of a State, that 
offers a licensing or certification test for which payment may be made 
under chapters 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, the following provisions 
of paragraph (1) shall apply to the entity: subparagraphs (E), (F), (G), 
and (H).
    ``(d) Administration.--Except as otherwise specifically provided in 
this section or chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, in implementing 
this section and making payment under any such chapter for a licensing 
or certification test, the test is deemed to be a `course' and the 
organization or entity that offers such test is deemed to be an 
`institution' or `educational institution', respectively, as those terms 
are applied under and for purposes of sections 3671, 3673, 3674, 3678, 
3679, 3681, 3682, 3683, 3685, 3690, and 3696 of this title.
    ``(e) Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee.--
(1) There is established within the Department a committee to be known 
as the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee 
(hereinafter in this section referred to as the `Committee').
    ``(2) The Committee shall advise the Secretary with respect to the 
requirements of organizations or entities offering licensing and 
certification tests to individuals for which payment for such tests may 
be made under chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, and such other 
related issues as the Committee determines to be appropriate.
    ``(3)(A) The Secretary shall appoint seven individuals with 
expertise in matters relating to licensing and certification tests to 
serve as members of the Committee.
    ``(B) The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Defense shall 
serve as ex officio members of the Committee.
    ``(C) A vacancy in the Committee shall be filled in the manner in 
which the original appointment was made.
    ``(4)(A) The Secretary shall appoint the chairman of the Committee.
    ``(B) The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairman.
    ``(5) The Committee shall terminate December 31, 2006.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 36 is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 3688 the following new 
item:

``3689. Approval requirements for licensing and certification 
           testing.''.

    (d) <<NOTE: 38 USC 3032 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by this section shall take effect on March 1, 2001, and shall apply 
with respect to licensing and certification tests approved by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs on or after such date.

    (e) Startup Funding.--From amounts appropriated to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2001 for readjustment benefits, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall use an amount not to exceed 
$3,000,000 to develop the systems and procedures required to make 
payments under chapters 30, 32, 34, and 35 of title 38, United States 
Code, for licensing and certification tests.
SEC. 123. INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEARS 2001 AND 2002 IN AGGREGATE 
                        ANNUAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR STATE 
                        APPROVING AGENCIES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE 
                        EXPENSES.

    Section 3674(a)(4) is amended--

[[Page 114 STAT. 1838]]

            (1) in the first sentence, by inserting ``or, for each of 
        fiscal years 2001 and 2002, $14,000,000'' after ``$13,000,000''; 
        and
            (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``$13,000,000'' both 
        places it appears and inserting ``the amount applicable to that 
        fiscal year under the preceding sentence''.

                       TITLE II--HEALTH PROVISIONS

                      Subtitle A--Personnel Matters

SEC. 201. ANNUAL NATIONAL PAY COMPARABILITY ADJUSTMENT FOR NURSES 
                        EMPLOYED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                        AFFAIRS.

    (a) Revised Pay Adjustment Procedures.--(1) Subsection (d) of 
section 7451 is amended--
            (A) in paragraph (1)--
                    (i) by striking ``The rates'' and inserting 
                ``Subject to subsection (e), the rates''; and
                    (ii) in subparagraph (A)--
                          (I) by striking ``section 5305'' and inserting 
                      ``section 5303''; and
                          (II) by inserting ``and to be by the same 
                      percentage'' after ``to have the same effective 
                      date'';
            (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Such'' in the second 
        sentence and inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (1)(A), 
        such'';
            (C) in paragraph (3)(B)--
                    (i) by inserting after the first sentence the 
                following new sentence: ``To the extent practicable, the 
                director shall use third-party industry wage surveys to 
                meet the requirements of the preceding sentence.'';
                    (ii) by inserting before the penultimate sentence 
                the following new sentence: ``To the extent practicable, 
                all surveys conducted pursuant to this subparagraph or 
                subparagraph (A) shall include the collection of salary 
                midpoints, actual salaries, lowest and highest salaries, 
                average salaries, bonuses, incentive pays, differential 
                pays, actual beginning rates of pay, and such other 
                information needed to meet the purpose of this 
                section.''; and
                    (iii) in the penultimate sentence, by inserting ``or 
                published'' after ``completed''; and
            (D) by striking clause (iii) of paragraph (3)(C).

    (2) Subsection (e) of such section is amended to read as follows:
    ``(e)(1) An adjustment in a rate of basic pay under subsection (d) 
may not reduce the rate of basic pay applicable to any grade of a 
covered position.
    ``(2) The director of a Department health-care facility, in 
determining whether to carry out a wage survey under subsection (d)(3) 
with respect to rates of basic pay for a grade of a covered position, 
may not consider as a factor in such determination the absence of a 
current recruitment or retention problem for personnel in that grade of 
that position. The director shall make such a determination based upon 
whether, in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary, there 
is a significant pay-related staffing problem at that facility in any 
grade for a position. If the director determines that there is such a 
problem, or that such a problem

[[Page 114 STAT. 1839]]

is likely to exist in the near future, the Director shall provide for a 
wage survey in accordance with subsection (d)(3).
    ``(3) The Under Secretary for Health may, to the extent necessary to 
carry out the purposes of subsection (d), modify any determination made 
by the director of a Department health-care facility with respect to 
adjusting the rates of basic pay applicable to covered positions. If the 
determination of the director would result in an adjustment in rates of 
basic pay applicable to covered positions, any action by the Under 
Secretary under the preceding sentence shall be made before the 
effective date of such pay adjustment. Upon such action by the Under 
Secretary, any adjustment shall take effect on the first day of the 
first pay period beginning after such action. The Secretary shall ensure 
that the Under Secretary establishes a mechanism for the timely exercise 
of the authority in this paragraph.
    ``(4) Each director of a Department health-care facility shall 
provide to the Secretary, not later than July 31 each year, a report on 
staffing for covered positions at that facility. The report shall 
include the following:
            ``(A) Information on turnover rates and vacancy rates for 
        each grade in a covered position, including a comparison of 
        those rates with the rates for the preceding three years.
            ``(B) The director's findings concerning the review and 
        evaluation of the facility's staffing situation, including 
        whether there is, or is likely to be, in accordance with 
        criteria established by the Secretary, a significant pay-related 
        staffing problem at that facility for any grade of a covered 
        position and, if so, whether a wage survey was conducted, or 
        will be conducted with respect to that grade.
            ``(C) In any case in which the director conducts such a wage 
        survey during the period covered by the report, information 
        describing the survey and any actions taken or not taken based 
        on the survey, and the reasons for taking (or not taking) such 
        actions.
            ``(D) In any case in which the director, after finding that 
        there is, or is likely to be, in accordance with criteria 
        established by the Secretary, a significant pay-related staffing 
        problem at that facility for any grade of a covered position, 
        determines not to conduct a wage survey with respect to that 
        position, a statement of the reasons why the director did not 
        conduct such a survey.

    ``(5) Not later than <<NOTE: Deadline.>> September 30 of each year, 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
Senate and House of Representatives a report on staffing for covered 
positions at Department health care facilities. Each such report shall 
include the following:
            ``(A) A summary and analysis of the information contained in 
        the most recent reports submitted by facility directors under 
        paragraph (4).
            ``(B) The information for each such facility specified in 
        paragraph (4).''.

    (3) Subsection (f) of such section is amended--
            (A) by striking ``February 1 of 1991, 1992, and 1993'' and 
        inserting ``March 1 of each year''; and
            (B) by striking ``subsection (d)(1)(A)'' and inserting 
        ``subsection (d)''.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1840]]

    (4) Such section is further amended by striking subsection (g) and 
redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g).
    (b) Required Consultations With Nurses.--(1) Subchapter II of 
chapter 73 is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``Sec. 7323. Required consultations with nurses

    ``The Under Secretary for Health shall ensure that--
            ``(1) the director of a geographic service area, in 
        formulating policy relating to the provision of patient care, 
        shall consult regularly with a senior nurse executive or senior 
        nurse executives; and
            ``(2) the director of a medical center shall include a 
        registered nurse as a member of any committee used at that 
        medical center to provide recommendations or decisions on 
        medical center operations or policy affecting clinical services, 
        clinical outcomes, budget, or resources.''.

    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7322 the 
following new item:

``7323. Required consultations with nurses.''.

SEC. 202. SPECIAL PAY FOR DENTISTS.

    (a) Full-Time Status Pay.--Paragraph (1) of section 7435(b) is 
amended by striking ``$3,500'' and inserting ``$9,000''.
    (b) Tenure Pay.--The table in paragraph (2)(A) of that section is 
amended to read as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Rate
              ``Length of Service              -------------------------
                                                  Minimum      Maximum
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 year but less than 2 years................       $1,000       $2,000
  2 years but less than 4 years...............        4,000        5,000
  4 years but less than 8 years...............        5,000        8,000
  8 years but less than 12 years..............        8,000       12,000
  12 years but less than 20 years.............       12,000       15,000
  20 years or more............................       15,000   18,000.''.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Scarce Specialty Pay.--Paragraph (3)(A) of that section is 
amended by striking ``$20,000'' and inserting ``$30,000''.
    (d) Responsibility Pay.--(1) The table in paragraph (4)(A) of that 
section is amended to read as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Rate
                  ``Position                   -------------------------
                                                  Minimum      Maximum
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Chief of Staff or in an Executive Grade.....      $14,500      $25,000
  Director Grade..............................            0       25,000
  Service Chief (or in a comparable position          4,500   15,000.''.
   as determined by the Secretary)............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) The table in paragraph (4)(B) of that section is amended to read 
as follows:

[[Page 114 STAT. 1841]]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         ``Position                              Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Deputy Service Director..................................      $20,000
  Service Director.........................................       25,000
  Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health..............       27,500
  Assistant Under Secretary for Health (or in a comparable    30,000.''.
   position as determined by the Secretary)................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Geographic Pay.--Paragraph (6) of that section is amended by 
striking ``$5,000'' and inserting ``$12,000''.
    (f) Special Pay for Post-Graduate Training.--Such section is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(8) For a dentist who has successfully completed a post-
        graduate year of hospital-based training in a program accredited 
        by the American Dental Association, an annual rate of $2,000 for 
        each of the first two years of service after successful 
        completion of that training.''.

    (g) Crediting of Increased Tenure Pay for Civil Service 
Retirement.--Section 7438(b) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
        paragraph (5):

    ``(5) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), a dentist employed as 
a dentist in the Veterans Health Administration on the date of the 
enactment of the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 
2000 shall be entitled to have special pay paid to the dentist under 
section 7435(b)(2)(A) of this title (referred to as `tenure pay') 
considered basic pay for the purposes of chapter 83 or 84, as 
appropriate, of title 5 only as follows:
            ``(A) In an amount equal to the amount that would have been 
        so considered under such section on the day before such date 
        based on the rates of special pay the dentist was entitled to 
        receive under that section on the day before such date.
            ``(B) With respect to any amount of special pay received 
        under that section in excess of the amount such dentist was 
        entitled to receive under such section on the day before such 
        date, in an amount equal to 25 percent of such excess amount for 
        each two years that the physician or dentist has completed as a 
        physician or dentist in the Veterans Health Administration after 
        such date.''.

    (h) <<NOTE: 38 USC 7435 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by this section shall apply with respect to agreements entered into 
by dentists under subchapter III of chapter 74 of title 38, United 
States Code, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

    (i) <<NOTE: 38 USC 7435 note.>>  Transition.--In the case of an 
agreement entered into by a dentist under subchapter III of chapter 74 
of title 38, United States Code, before the date of the enactment of 
this Act that expires after that date, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
and the dentist concerned may agree to terminate that agreement as of 
the date of the enactment of this Act in order to permit a new agreement 
in accordance with section 7435 of such title, as amended by this 
section, to take effect as of that date.
SEC. 203. EXEMPTION FOR PHARMACISTS FROM CEILING ON SPECIAL SALARY 
                        RATES.

    Section 7455(c)(1) is amended by inserting ``, pharmacists,'' after 
``anesthetists''.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1842]]

SEC. 204. TEMPORARY FULL-TIME APPOINTMENTS OF CERTAIN MEDICAL 
                        PERSONNEL.

    (a) Physician Assistants Awaiting Certification or Licensure.--
Paragraph (2) of section 7405(c) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(2) A temporary full-time appointment may not be made for a period 
in excess of two years in the case of a person who--
            ``(A) has successfully completed--
                    ``(i) a full course of nursing in a recognized 
                school of nursing, approved by the Secretary; or
                    ``(ii) a full course of training for any category of 
                personnel described in paragraph (3) of section 7401 of 
                this title, or as a physician assistant, in a recognized 
                education or training institution approved by the 
                Secretary; and
            ``(B) is pending registration or licensure in a State or 
        certification by a national board recognized by the 
        Secretary.''.

    (b) Medical Support Personnel.--That section is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
        paragraph (3):

    ``(3)(A) Temporary full-time appointments of persons in positions 
referred to in subsection (a)(1)(D) shall not exceed three years.
    ``(B) Temporary full-time appointments under this paragraph may be 
renewed for one or more additional periods not in excess of three years 
each.''.

SEC. 205. QUALIFICATIONS OF SOCIAL WORKERS.

    Section 7402(b)(9) is amended by striking ``a person must'' and all 
that follows and inserting ``a person must--
            ``(A) hold a master's degree in social work from a college 
        or university approved by the Secretary; and
            ``(B) be licensed or certified to independently practice 
        social work in a State, except that the Secretary may waive the 
        requirement of licensure or certification for an individual 
        social worker for a reasonable period of time recommended by the 
        Under Secretary for Health.''.
SEC. 206. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ADVISER TO UNDER SECRETARY FOR 
                        HEALTH.

    Section 7306(a) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new 
        paragraph (9):
            ``(9) The Advisor on Physician Assistants, who shall be a 
        physician assistant with appropriate experience and who shall 
        advise the Under Secretary for Health on all matters relating to 
        the utilization and employment of physician assistants in the 
        Administration.''.
SEC. 207. EXTENSION OF VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.

    The Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Reduction Assistance 
Act of 1999 (title XI of Public Law 106-117; 5 U.S.C. 5597 note) is 
amended as follows:
            (1) Section 1102(c) is amended to read as follows:

[[Page 114 STAT. 1843]]

    ``(c) Limitation.--The plan under subsection (a) shall be limited to 
a total of 7,734 positions within the Department, allocated among the 
elements of the Department as follows:
            ``(1) The Veterans Health Administration, 6,800 positions.
            ``(2) The Veterans Benefits Administration, 740 positions.
            ``(3) Department of Veterans Affairs Staff Offices, 156 
        positions.
            ``(4) The National Cemetery Administration, 38 positions.''.
            (2) Section 1105(a) is amended by striking ``26 percent'' 
        and inserting ``15 percent''.
            (3) Section 1109(a) is amended by striking ``December 31, 
        2000'' and inserting ``December 31, 2002''.

                   Subtitle B--Military Service Issues

SEC. 211. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING USE OF 
                        MILITARY HISTORIES OF VETERANS IN 
                        DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH 
                        CARE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Pertinent military experiences and exposures may affect 
        the health status of Department of Veterans Affairs patients who 
        are veterans.
            (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun to 
        implement a Veterans Health Initiative to develop systems to 
        ensure that both patient care and medical education in the 
        Veterans Health Administration are specific to the special needs 
        of veterans and should be encouraged to continue these efforts.
            (3) Protocols eliciting pertinent information relating to 
        the military history of veterans may be beneficial to 
        understanding certain conditions for which veterans may be at 
        risk and thereby facilitate the treatment of veterans for those 
        conditions.
            (4) The Department of Veterans Affairs is in the process of 
        developing a Computerized Patient Record System that offers the 
        potential to aid in the care and monitoring of such conditions.

    (b) Sense of Congress.--Congress--
            (1) urges the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assess the 
        feasibility and desirability of using a computer-based system to 
        conduct clinical evaluations relevant to military experiences 
        and exposures; and
            (2) recommends that the Secretary accelerate efforts within 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that relevant 
        military histories of veterans are included in Department 
        medical records.
SEC. 212. STUDY <<NOTE: 38 USC 1712A note.>> OF POST-TRAUMATIC 
                        STRESS DISORDER IN VIETNAM VETERANS.

    (a) Study on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.--Not later than 10 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall enter into a contract with an appropriate entity 
to carry out a study on post-traumatic stress disorder.
    (b) Follow-Up Study.--The contract under subsection (a) shall 
provide for a follow-up study to the study conducted in accordance with 
section 102 of the Veterans Health Care Amendments of

[[Page 114 STAT. 1844]]

1983 (Public Law 98-160). Such follow-up study shall use the data base 
and sample of the previous study.
    (c) Information To Be Included.--The study conducted pursuant to 
this section shall be designed to yield information on--
            (1) the long-term course of post-traumatic stress disorder;
            (2) any long-term medical consequences of post-traumatic 
        stress disorder;
            (3) whether particular subgroups of veterans are at greater 
        risk of chronic or more severe problems with such disorder; and
            (4) the services used by veterans who have post-traumatic 
        stress disorder and the effect of those services on the course 
        of the disorder.

    (d) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on 
the results of the study under this section. The report shall be 
submitted no later than October 1, 2004.

                   Subtitle C--Medical Administration

SEC. 221. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FISHER HOUSES.

    (a) Authority.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section:

``Sec. 1708. Temporary <<NOTE: 38 USC 1708.>> lodging

    ``(a) The Secretary may furnish persons described in subsection (b) 
with temporary lodging in a Fisher house or other appropriate facility 
in connection with the examination, treatment, or care of a veteran 
under this chapter or, as provided for under subsection (e)(5), in 
connection with benefits administered under this title.
    ``(b) Persons to whom the Secretary may provide lodging under 
subsection (a) are the following:
            ``(1) A veteran who must travel a significant distance to 
        receive care or services under this title.
            ``(2) A member of the family of a veteran and others who 
        accompany a veteran and provide the equivalent of familial 
        support for such veteran.

    ``(c) In this section, the term `Fisher house' means a housing 
facility that--
            ``(1) is located at, or in proximity to, a Department 
        medical facility;
            ``(2) is available for residential use on a temporary basis 
        by patients of that facility and others described in subsection 
        (b)(2); and
            ``(3) is constructed by, and donated to the Secretary by, 
        the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Armed Services Foundation.

    ``(d) The Secretary may establish charges for providing lodging 
under this section. The proceeds from such charges shall be credited to 
the medical care account and shall be available until expended for the 
purposes of providing such lodging.
    ``(e) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this 
section. Such regulations shall include provisions--
            ``(1) limiting the duration of lodging provided under this 
        section;

[[Page 114 STAT. 1845]]

            ``(2) establishing standards and criteria under which 
        charges are established for such lodging under subsection (d);
            ``(3) establishing criteria for persons considered to be 
        accompanying a veteran under subsection (b)(2);
            ``(4) establishing criteria for the use of the premises of 
        temporary lodging facilities under this section; and
            ``(5) establishing any other limitations, conditions, and 
        priorities that the Secretary considers appropriate with respect 
        to lodging under this section.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 1701.>>  by inserting after 
the item relating to section 1707 the following new item:

``1708. Temporary lodging.''.

SEC. 222. EXCEPTION TO RECAPTURE RULE.

    Section 8136 is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a)'' at the beginning of the text of the 
        section; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

    ``(b) The establishment and operation by the Secretary of an 
outpatient clinic in facilities described in subsection (a) shall not 
constitute grounds entitling the United States to any recovery under 
that subsection.''.
SEC. 223. SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE 
                        DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND THE 
                        DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN THE PROCUREMENT 
                        OF MEDICAL ITEMS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The procurement and distribution of medical items, 
        including prescription drugs, is a multibillion-dollar annual 
        business for both the Department of Defense and the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Those departments prescribe common high-use drugs to 
        many of their 12,000,000 patients who have similar medical 
        profiles.
            (3) The health care systems of those departments should have 
        management systems that can share and communicate clinical and 
        management information useful for both systems.
            (4) The institutional barriers separating the two 
        departments have begun to be overcome in the area of medical 
        supplies, in part as a response to recommendations by the 
        General Accounting Office and the Commission on Servicemembers 
        and Veterans Transition Assistance.
            (5) There is significant potential for improved savings and 
        services by improving cooperation between the two departments in 
        the procurement and management of prescription drugs, while 
        remaining mindful that the two departments have different 
        missions.

    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs should 
increase, to the maximum extent consistent with their respective 
missions, their level of cooperation in the procurement and management 
of prescription drugs.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1846]]

SEC. 224. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES.

    (a) Requirement To Provide Care.--Section 1710A(a) is amended by 
inserting ``(subject to section 1710(a)(4) of this title)'' after 
``Secretary'' the first place it appears.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1710(a)(4) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``the requirement in section 1710A(a) of 
        this title that the Secretary provide nursing home care,'' after 
        ``medical services,''; and
            (2) by striking the comma after ``extended care services''.

    (c) Outpatient Treatment.--Section 201 of the Veterans Millennium 
Health Care and Benefits Act (Public Law 106-117; 113 Stat. 1561) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1710 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by subsection (b) shall apply with respect to medical services 
furnished under section 1710(a) of title 38, United States Code, on or 
after the effective date of the regulations prescribed by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs to establish the amounts required to be established 
under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1710(g) of that title, as 
amended by subsection (b).''.

    (d) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1710 note.>>  Ratification.--Any action taken by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 1710(g) of title 38, 
United States Code, during the period beginning on November 30, 1999, 
and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act is hereby ratified.

                 Subtitle D--Construction Authorization

SEC. 231. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS.

    (a) Fiscal Year 2001 Projects.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
may carry out the following major medical facility projects, with each 
project to be carried out in an amount not to exceed the amount 
specified for that project:
            (1) Construction of a 120-bed gero-psychiatric facility at 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, 
        Menlo Park Division, California, $26,600,000.
            (2) Construction of a nursing home at the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Beckley, West Virginia, 
        $9,500,000.
            (3) Seismic corrections, clinical consolidation, and other 
        improvements at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
        Center, Long Beach, California, $51,700,000.
            (4) Construction of a utility plant and electrical vault at 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, 
        Florida, $23,600,000.

    (b) Additional Fiscal Year 2000 Project.--The Secretary is 
authorized to carry out a project for the renovation of psychiatric 
nursing units at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in an amount not to exceed $14,000,000.

SEC. 232. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Construction, Major Projects, 
account--

[[Page 114 STAT. 1847]]

            (1) for fiscal years 2001 and 2002, a total of $87,800,000 
        for the projects authorized in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of 
        section 231(a);
            (2) for fiscal year 2001, an additional amount of 
        $23,600,000 for the project authorized in paragraph (4) of that 
        section; and
            (3) for fiscal year 2002, an additional amount of 
        $14,500,000 for the project authorized in section 401(1) of the 
        Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act (Public Law 
        106-117; 113 Stat. 1572).

    (b) Limitation.--The projects authorized in section 231(a) may only 
be carried out using--
            (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2001 or fiscal year 
        2002 (or, in the case of the project authorized in section 
        231(a)(4), for fiscal year 2001) pursuant to the authorization 
        of appropriations in subsection (a);
            (2) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for 
        a fiscal year before fiscal year 2001 that remain available for 
        obligation; and
            (3) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for 
        fiscal year 2001 or fiscal year 2002 (or, in the case of the 
        project authorized in section 231(a)(4), for fiscal year 2001) 
        for a category of activity not specific to a project.

    (c) Revision to Prior Limitation.--Notwithstanding the limitation in 
section 403(b) of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act 
(Public Law 106-117; 113 Stat. 1573), the project referred to in 
subsection (a)(3) may be carried out using--
            (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2002 pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations in subsection (a)(3);
            (2) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for 
        fiscal year 2001 that remain available for obligation; and
            (3) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for 
        fiscal year 2001 or fiscal year 2002 for a category of activity 
        not specific to a project.

                    Subtitle E--Real Property Matters

SEC. 241. CHANGE TO ENHANCED USE LEASE CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION 
                        PERIOD.

    Paragraph (2) of section 8163(c) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(2) The Secretary may not enter into an enhanced use lease until 
the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the submission of 
notice under paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 242. RELEASE OF REVERSIONARY INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES IN 
                        CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY PREVIOUSLY CONVEYED 
                        TO THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.

    (a) Release of Interest.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
execute such legal instruments as necessary to release the reversionary 
interest of the United States described in subsection (b) in a certain 
parcel of real property conveyed to the State of Tennessee pursuant to 
the Act entitled ``An Act authorizing the transfer of certain property 
of the Veterans' Administration (in Johnson City, Tennessee) to the 
State of Tennessee'', approved June 6, 1953 (67 Stat. 54).

[[Page 114 STAT. 1848]]

    (b) Specified Reversionary Interest.--Subsection (a) applies to the 
reversionary interest of the United States required under section 2 of 
the Act referred to in subsection (a), requiring use of the property 
conveyed pursuant to that Act to be primarily for training of the 
National Guard and for other military purposes.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2 of such Act is repealed.
SEC. 243. DEMOLITION, ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP, AND REVERSION OF 
                        DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
                        CENTER, ALLEN PARK, MICHIGAN.

    (a) Authority.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter 
into a multiyear contract with the Ford Motor Land Development 
Corporation (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 
``Corporation'') to undertake project management responsibility to--
            (A) demolish the buildings and auxiliary structures 
        comprising the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 
        Allen Park, Michigan; and
            (B) remediate the site of all hazardous material and 
        environmental contaminants found on the site.

    (2) The contract under paragraph (1) may be entered into 
notwithstanding sections 303 and 304 of the Federal Property and 
Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 253, 254). The contract 
shall be for a period specified in the contract not to exceed seven 
years.
    (b) Contract Cost and Source of Funding.--(1) The Secretary may 
expend no more than $14,000,000 for the contract required by subsection 
(a). The contract shall provide that all costs for the demolition and 
site remediation under the contract in excess of $14,000,000 shall be 
borne by the Corporation.
    (2) Payments by the Secretary under the contract shall be made in 
annual increments of no more than $2,000,000, beginning with fiscal year 
2001, for the duration of the contract. Such payments shall be made from 
the nonrecurring maintenance portion of the annual Department of 
Veterans Affairs medical care appropriation.
    (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amount obligated 
upon the award of the contract may not exceed $2,000,000 and the amount 
obligated with respect to any succeeding fiscal year may not exceed 
$2,000,000. Any funds obligated for the contact shall be subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds.
    (c) Reversion of Property.--Upon completion of the demolition and 
remediation project under the contract to the satisfaction of the 
Secretary, the Secretary shall, on behalf of the United States, formally 
abandon the Allen Park property (title to which will then revert in 
accordance with the terms of the 1937 deed conveying such property to 
the United States).
    (d) Flagpole and Memorial.--The contract under subsection (a) shall 
require that the Corporation shall erect and maintain on the property 
abandoned by the United States under subsection (c) a flagpole and 
suitable memorial identifying the property as the location of the former 
Allen Park Medical Center. The Secretary and the Corporation shall 
jointly determine the placement of the memorial and flagpole and the 
form of, and appropriate inscription on, the memorial.
    (e) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may require such 
additional terms and conditions with regard to the

[[Page 114 STAT. 1849]]

contract with the Corporation under subsection (a) and with the 
reversion of the property under subsection (c) as the Secretary 
considers appropriate to protect the interest of the United States.
SEC. 244. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY AT THE CARL VINSON 
                        DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
                        CENTER, DUBLIN, GEORGIA.

    (a) Conveyance to State Board of Regents.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall convey, without consideration, to the Board of Regents of 
the State of Georgia all right, title, and interest of the United States 
in and to two tracts of real property, including any improvements 
thereon, at the Carl Vinson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Center, Dublin, Georgia, consisting of 39 acres, more or less, in 
Laurens County, Georgia.
    (b) Conveyance to Community Service Board of Middle Georgia.--The 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall convey, without consideration, to 
the Community Service Board of Middle Georgia all right, title, and 
interest of the United States in and to three tracts of real property, 
including any improvements thereon, at the Carl Vinson Department of 
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dublin, Georgia, consisting of 58 
acres, more or less, in Laurens County, Georgia.
    (c) Conditions on Conveyance.--The conveyance under subsection (a) 
shall be subject to the condition that the real property conveyed under 
that subsection be used in perpetuity solely for education purposes. The 
conveyance under subsection (b) shall be subject to the condition that 
the real property conveyed under that subsection be used in perpetuity 
solely for education and health care purposes.
    (d) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the real 
property to be conveyed under this section shall be determined by a 
survey or surveys satisfactory to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The 
cost of any such survey shall not be borne by the Secretary.
    (e) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs may require such additional terms and conditions in connection 
with the conveyances under this section as the Secretary considers 
appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
SEC. 245. LAND CONVEYANCE, MILES CITY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                        AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER COMPLEX, MILES 
                        CITY, MONTANA.

    (a) Conveyance Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
convey, without consideration, to Custer County, Montana (in this 
section referred to as the ``County''), all right, title, and interest 
of the United States in and to the parcels of real property consisting 
of the Miles City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center complex, 
which has served as a medical and support complex for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs in Miles City, Montana.
    (b) Timing of Conveyance.--The conveyance required by subsection (a) 
shall be made as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
    (c) Conditions of Conveyance.--The conveyance required by subsection 
(a) shall be subject to the condition that the County--
            (1) use the parcels conveyed, whether directly or through an 
        agreement with a public or private entity, for veterans

[[Page 114 STAT. 1850]]

        activities, community and economic development, or such other 
        public purposes as the County considers appropriate; or
            (2) convey the parcels to an appropriate public or private 
        entity for use for the purposes specified in paragraph (1).

    (d) Conveyance of Improvements.--(1) As part of the conveyance 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary may also convey to the County 
any improvements, equipment, fixtures, and other personal property 
located on the parcels conveyed under that subsection that are not 
required by the Secretary.
    (2) Any conveyance under this subsection shall be without 
consideration.
    (e) Use Pending Conveyance.--Until such time as the real property to 
be conveyed under subsection (a) is conveyed by deed under this section, 
the Secretary may continue to lease the real property, together with any 
improvements thereon, under the terms and conditions of the current 
lease of the real property.
    (f) Maintenance Pending Conveyance.--The Secretary shall be 
responsible for maintaining the real property to be conveyed under 
subsection (a), and any improvements, equipment, fixtures, and other 
personal property to be conveyed under subsection (d), in its condition 
as of the date of the enactment of this Act until such time as the real 
property, and such improvements, equipment, fixtures, and other personal 
property are conveyed by deed under this section.
    (g) Legal Description.--The exact acreage and legal description of 
the real property to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be 
determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.
    (h) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may require such 
additional terms and conditions in connection with the conveyance under 
this section as the Secretary determines appropriate to protect the 
interests of the United States.
SEC. 246. CONVEYANCE OF FORT LYON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                        MEDICAL CENTER, COLORADO, TO THE STATE OF 
                        COLORADO.

    (a) Conveyance Authorized.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
convey, without consideration, to the State of Colorado all right, 
title, and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real 
property, including improvements thereon, consisting of approximately 
512 acres and comprising the Fort Lyon Department of Veterans Affairs 
Medical Center. The purpose of the conveyance is to permit the State of 
Colorado to use the property for purposes of a correctional facility.
    (b) Public Access.--(1) The Secretary may not make the conveyance of 
real property authorized by subsection (a) unless the State of Colorado 
agrees to provide appropriate public access to Kit Carson Chapel 
(located on that real property) and the cemetery located adjacent to 
that real property.
    (2) The State of Colorado may satisfy the condition specified in 
paragraph (1) with respect to Kit Carson Chapel by relocating the chapel 
to Fort Lyon National Cemetery, Colorado, or another appropriate 
location approved by the Secretary.
    (c) Plan Regarding Conveyance.--(1) The Secretary may not make the 
conveyance authorized by subsection (a) before the date on which the 
Secretary implements a plan providing the following:
            (A) Notwithstanding sections 1720(a)(3) and 1741 of title 
        38, United States Code, that veterans who are receiving

[[Page 114 STAT. 1851]]

        inpatient or institutional long-term care at Fort Lyon 
        Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center as of the date of 
        the enactment of this Act are provided appropriate inpatient or 
        institutional long-term care under the same terms and conditions 
        as such veterans are receiving inpatient or institutional long-
        term care as of that date.
            (B) That the conveyance of the Fort Lyon Department of 
        Veterans Affairs Medical Center does not result in a reduction 
        of health care services available to veterans in the catchment 
        area of the Medical Center.
            (C) Improvements in veterans' overall access to health care 
        in the catchment area through, for example, the opening of 
        additional outpatient clinics.

    (2) The Secretary shall prepare the plan referred to in paragraph 
(1) in consultation with appropriate representatives of veterans service 
organizations and other appropriate organizations.
    (3) <<NOTE: Publication.>>  The Secretary shall publish a copy of 
the plan referred to in paragraph (1) before implementation of the plan.

    (d) Environmental Restoration.--The Secretary may not make the 
conveyance authorized by subsection (a) until the Secretary completes 
the evaluation and performance of any environmental restoration 
activities required by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), and by 
any other provision of law.
    (e) Personal Property.--As part of the conveyance authorized by 
subsection (a), the Secretary may convey, without consideration, to the 
State of Colorado any furniture, fixtures, equipment, and other personal 
property associated with the property conveyed under that subsection 
that the Secretary determines is not required for purposes of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities to be established 
by the Secretary in southern Colorado or for purposes of Fort Lyon 
National Cemetery.
    (f) Legal Description.--The exact acreage and legal description of 
the real property to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be 
determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary. Any costs 
associated with the survey shall be borne by the State of Colorado.
    (g) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may require such 
other terms and conditions in connection with the conveyances authorized 
by subsections (a) and (e) as the Secretary considers appropriate to 
protect the interests of the United States.
SEC. 247. EFFECT OF CLOSURE OF FORT LYON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                        AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER ON ADMINISTRATION 
                        OF HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Payment for Nursing Home Care.--Notwithstanding any limitation 
under section 1720 or 1741 of title 38, United States Code, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may pay the State of Colorado, or any 
private nursing home care facility, for costs incurred in providing 
nursing home care to any veteran who is relocated from the Fort Lyon 
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Colorado, to a facility 
of the State of Colorado or such private facility, as the case may be, 
as a result of the closure of the Fort Lyon Department of Veterans 
Affairs Medical Center.
    (b) Obligation To Provide Extended Care Services.--Nothing in 
section 246 or this section may be construed to alter or otherwise 
affect the obligation of the Secretary to meet the requirements of 
section 1710B(b) of title 38, United States Code,

[[Page 114 STAT. 1852]]

relating to staffing and levels of extended care services in fiscal 
years after fiscal year 1998.
    (c) Report on Veterans Health Care in Southern Colorado.--Not later 
than one year after the conveyance, if any, authorized by section 246, 
the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
acting through the Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network 
(VISN) 19, shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the status of the 
health care system for veterans under that Network in southern Colorado. 
The report shall describe any improvements to the system in southern 
Colorado that have been put into effect in the period beginning on the 
date of the conveyance and ending on the date of the report.

 TITLE III--COMPENSATION, INSURANCE, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND MEMORIAL 
                           AFFAIRS PROVISIONS

                Subtitle A--Compensation Program Changes

SEC. 301. STROKES AND HEART ATTACKS INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED BY 
                        MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS IN THE 
                        PERFORMANCE OF DUTY WHILE PERFORMING 
                        INACTIVE DUTY TRAINING TO BE CONSIDERED TO 
                        BE SERVICE-CONNECTED.

    (a) Scope of Term ``Active Military, Naval, or Air Service''.--
Section 101(24) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(24) The term `active military, naval, or air service' includes--
            ``(A) active duty;
            ``(B) any period of active duty for training during which 
        the individual concerned was disabled or died from a disease or 
        injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty; and
            ``(C) any period of inactive duty training during which the 
        individual concerned was disabled or died--
                    ``(i) from an injury incurred or aggravated in line 
                of duty; or
                    ``(ii) from an acute myocardial infarction, a 
                cardiac arrest, or a cerebrovascular accident occurring 
                during such training.''.

    (b) Travel to or From Training Duty.--Section 106(d) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(d)'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs 
        (A) and (B), respectively;
            (3) by inserting ``or covered disease'' after ``injury'' 
        each place it appears;
            (4) by designating the second sentence as paragraph (2);
            (5) by designating the third sentence as paragraph (3); and
            (6) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

    ``(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term `covered disease' 
means any of the following:
            ``(A) Acute myocardial infarction.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1853]]

            ``(B) A cardiac arrest.
            ``(C) A cerebrovascular accident.''.
SEC. 302. SPECIAL MONTHLY COMPENSATION FOR WOMEN VETERANS WHO LOSE 
                        A BREAST AS A RESULT OF A SERVICE-
                        CONNECTED DISABILITY.

    Section 1114(k) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or has suffered'' and inserting ``has 
        suffered''; and
            (2) by inserting after ``air and bone conduction,'' the 
        following: ``or, in the case of a woman veteran, has suffered 
        the anatomical loss of one or both breasts (including loss by 
        mastectomy),''.
SEC. 303. BENEFITS FOR PERSONS DISABLED BY PARTICIPATION IN 
                        COMPENSATED WORK THERAPY PROGRAM.

    Section 1151(a)(2) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``proximately caused''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: 
        ``, or (B) by participation in a program (known as a 
        `compensated work therapy program') under section 1718 of this 
        title''.
SEC. 304. REVISION TO LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS OF BENEFITS TO 
                        INCOMPETENT INSTITUTIONALIZED VETERANS.

    Section 5503(b)(1) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by striking ``$1,500'' and inserting ``the 
                amount equal to five times the section 1114(j) rate''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``$500'' and inserting ``one-half 
                that amount''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

    ``(D) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `section 1114(j) 
rate' means the monthly rate of compensation in effect under section 
1114(j) of this title for a veteran with a service-connected disability 
rated as total.''.
SEC. 305. REVIEW OF <<NOTE: 38 USC 1154 note.>> DOSE 
                        RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM OF THE DEFENSE 
                        THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY.

    (a) Review by National Academy of Sciences.--Not later than 30 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences to 
carry out periodic reviews of the program of the Defense Threat 
Reduction Agency of the Department of Defense known as the ``dose 
reconstruction program''.
    (b) Review Activities.--The periodic reviews of the dose 
reconstruction program under the contract under subsection (a) shall 
consist of the periodic selection of random samples of doses 
reconstructed by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in order to 
determine--
            (1) whether or not the reconstruction of the sampled doses 
        is accurate;
            (2) whether or not the reconstructed dosage number is 
        accurately reported;
            (3) whether or not the assumptions made regarding radiation 
        exposure based upon the sampled doses are credible; and

[[Page 114 STAT. 1854]]

            (4) whether or not the data from nuclear tests used by the 
        Defense Threat Reduction Agency as part of the reconstruction of 
        the sampled doses is accurate.

    (c) Duration of Review.--The periodic reviews under the contract 
under subsection (a) shall occur over a period of 24 months.
    (d) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  Report.--(1) Not later than 60 days after 
the conclusion of the period referred to in subsection (c), the National 
Academy of Sciences shall submit to Congress a report on its activities 
under the contract under this section.

    (2) The report shall include the following:
            (A) A detailed description of the activities of the National 
        Academy of Sciences under the contract.
            (B) Any recommendations that the National Academy of 
        Sciences considers appropriate regarding a permanent system of 
        review of the dose reconstruction program of the Defense Threat 
        Reduction Agency.

                   Subtitle B--Life Insurance Matters

SEC. 311. PREMIUMS FOR TERM SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS' INSURANCE 
                        FOR VETERANS OLDER THAN AGE 70.

    (a) Cap on Premiums.--Section 1922 is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection:
    ``(c) The premium rate of any term insurance issued under this 
section shall not exceed the renewal age 70 premium rate.''.
    (b) Report.--Not later than September 30, 2001, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report setting forth a plan 
to liquidate the unfunded liability under the life insurance program 
under section 1922 of title 38, United States Code, not later than 
October 1, 2011.
SEC. 312. INCREASE IN AUTOMATIC MAXIMUM COVERAGE UNDER 
                        SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE AND 
                        VETERANS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE.

    (a) Maximum Under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.--Section 
1967 is amended in subsections (a), (c), and (d) by striking 
``$200,000'' each place it appears and inserting ``$250,000''.
    (b) Maximum Under Veterans' Group Life Insurance.--Section 1977(a) 
is amended by striking ``$200,000'' each place it appears and inserting 
``$250,000''.
    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1967 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by this section shall take effect on the first day of the first 
month that begins more than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
SEC. 313. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE INDIVIDUAL READY 
                        RESERVE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE 
                        INSURANCE.

    (a) Eligibility.--Section 1965(5) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
        subparagraph (C):
                    ``(C) a person who volunteers for assignment to a 
                mobilization category in the Individual Ready Reserve, 
                as defined in section 12304(i)(1) of title 10; and''.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1855]]

    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Sections 1967(a), 1968(a), and 
1969(a)(2)(A) are amended by striking ``section 1965(5)(B) of this 
title'' each place it appears and inserting ``subparagraph (B) or (C) of 
section 1965(5) of this title''.

               Subtitle C--Housing and Employment Programs

SEC. 321. ELIMINATION OF REDUCTION IN ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALLY 
                        ADAPTED HOUSING FOR DISABLED VETERANS FOR 
                        VETERANS HAVING JOINT OWNERSHIP OF HOUSING 
                        UNITS.

    Section 2102 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(c) The amount of assistance afforded under subsection (a) for a 
veteran authorized assistance by section 2101(a) of this title shall not 
be reduced by reason that title to the housing unit, which is vested in 
the veteran, is also vested in any other person, if the veteran resides 
in the housing unit.''.
SEC. 322. VETERANS EMPLOYMENT EMPHASIS UNDER FEDERAL CONTRACTS FOR 
                        RECENTLY SEPARATED VETERANS.

    (a) Employment Emphasis.--Subsection (a) of section 4212 is amended 
in the first sentence by inserting ``recently separated veterans,'' 
after ``veterans of the Vietnam era,''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Subsection (d)(1) of that section is 
amended by inserting ``recently separated veterans,'' after ``veterans 
of the Vietnam era,'' each place it appears in subparagraphs (A) and 
(B).
    (c) Recently Separated Veteran Defined.--Section 4211 is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(6) The term `recently separated veteran' means any veteran during 
the one-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or 
release from active duty.''.
SEC. 323. EMPLOYERS REQUIRED TO GRANT LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR 
                        EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN HONOR GUARDS 
                        FOR FUNERALS OF VETERANS.

    (a) Definition of Service in the Uniformed Services.--Section 
4303(13) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after ``National Guard duty''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period at the end ``, and a 
        period for which a person is absent from employment for the 
        purpose of performing funeral honors duty as authorized by 
        section 12503 of title 10 or section 115 of title 32.''.

    (b) Required Leave of Absence.--Section 4316 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e)(1) An employer shall grant an employee who is a member of a 
reserve component an authorized leave of absence from a position of 
employment to allow that employee to perform funeral honors duty as 
authorized by section 12503 of title 10 or section 115 of title 32.
    ``(2) For purposes of section 4312(e)(1) of this title, an employee 
who takes an authorized leave of absence under paragraph (1) is deemed 
to have notified the employer of the employee's intent to return to such 
position of employment.''.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1856]]

    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 4303 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

               Subtitle D--Cemeteries and Memorial Affairs

SEC. 331. ELIGIBILITY FOR INTERMENT OF CERTAIN FILIPINO VETERANS 
                        OF WORLD WAR II IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES.

    (a) Eligibility of Certain Commonwealth Army Veterans.--Section 2402 
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(8) Any individual whose service is described in section 
        107(a) of this title if such individual at the time of death--
                    ``(A) was a citizen of the United States or an alien 
                lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United 
                States; and
                    ``(B) resided in the United States.''.

    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 107(a)(3) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(3) chapters 11, 13 (except section 1312(a)), 23, and 24 
        (to the extent provided for in section 2402(8)) of this 
        title.''.

    (c) <<NOTE: 38 USC 107 note.>>  Applicability.--The amendments made 
by this section shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 332. PAYMENT RATE OF CERTAIN BURIAL BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN 
                        FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II.

    (a) Payment Rate.--Section 107 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Payments'' and 
        inserting ``Subject to subsection (c), payments''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new section:

    ``(c)(1) In the case of an individual described in paragraph (2), 
the second sentence of subsection (a) shall not apply.
    ``(2) Paragraph (1) applies to any individual whose service is 
described in subsection (a) and who dies after the date of the enactment 
of this subsection if the individual, on the individual's date of 
death--
            ``(A) is a citizen of, or an alien lawfully admitted for 
        permanent residence in, the United States;
            ``(B) is residing in the United States; and
            ``(C) either--
                    ``(i) is receiving compensation under chapter 11 of 
                this title; or
                    ``(ii) if the individual's service had been deemed 
                to be active military, naval, or air service, would have 
                been paid pension under section 1521 of this title 
                without denial or discontinuance by reason of section 
                1522 of this title.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 107 note.>>  Applicability.--No benefits shall 
accrue to any person for any period before the date of the enactment of 
this Act by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a).
SEC. 333. PLOT ALLOWANCE FOR BURIAL IN STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 2303(b)(1)(A) is amended to read as 
follows: ``(A) is used solely for the interment of persons who

[[Page 114 STAT. 1857]]

are (i) eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and (ii) members of 
a reserve component of the Armed Forces not otherwise eligible for such 
burial or former members of such a reserve component not otherwise 
eligible for such burial who are discharged or released from service 
under conditions other than dishonorable, and''.
    (b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 2303 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendment made 
by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to the burial of persons 
dying on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

                         TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 401. BENEFITS FOR THE CHILDREN OF WOMEN VIETNAM VETERANS WHO 
                        SUFFER FROM CERTAIN BIRTH DEFECTS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 18 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subchapter:

 ``SUBCHAPTER II--CHILDREN OF WOMEN VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH CERTAIN 
                              BIRTH DEFECTS

``Sec. 1811. Definitions

    ``In this subchapter:
            ``(1) The term `eligible child' means an individual who--
                    ``(A) is the child (as defined in section 1821(1) of 
                this title) of a woman Vietnam veteran; and
                    ``(B) was born with one or more covered birth 
                defects.
            ``(2) The term `covered birth defect' means a birth defect 
        identified by the Secretary under section 1812 of this title.

``Sec. 1812. Covered birth defects

    ``(a) Identification.--The Secretary shall identify the birth 
defects of children of women Vietnam veterans that--
            ``(1) are associated with the service of those veterans in 
        the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era; and
            ``(2) result in permanent physical or mental disability.

    ``(b) Limitations.--(1) The birth defects identified under 
subsection (a) may not include birth defects resulting from the 
following:
            ``(A) A familial disorder.
            ``(B) A birth-related injury.
            ``(C) A fetal or neonatal infirmity with well-established 
        causes.

    ``(2) In any case where affirmative evidence establishes that a 
covered birth defect of a child of a woman Vietnam veteran results from 
a cause other than the active military, naval, or air service of that 
veteran in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era, no benefits 
or assistance may be provided the child under this subchapter.

``Sec. 1813. Health care

    ``(a) Needed Care.--The Secretary shall provide an eligible child 
such health care as the Secretary determines is needed by the child for 
that child's covered birth defects or any disability that is associated 
with those birth defects.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1858]]

    ``(b) Authority for Care To Be Provided Directly or by Contract.--
The Secretary may provide health care under this section directly or by 
contract or other arrangement with a health care provider.
    ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the definitions in 
section 1803(c) of this title shall apply with respect to the provision 
of health care under this section, except that for such purposes--
            ``(1) the reference to `specialized spina bifida clinic' in 
        paragraph (2) of that section shall be treated as a reference to 
        a specialized clinic treating the birth defect concerned under 
        this section; and
            ``(2) the reference to `vocational training under section 
        1804 of this title' in paragraph (8) of that section shall be 
        treated as a reference to vocational training under section 1814 
        of this title.

``Sec. 1814. Vocational training

    ``(a) Authority.--The Secretary may provide a program of vocational 
training to an eligible child if the Secretary determines that the 
achievement of a vocational goal by the child is reasonably feasible.
    ``(b) Applicable Provisions.--Subsections (b) through (e) of section 
1804 of this title shall apply with respect to any program of vocational 
training provided under subsection (a).

``Sec. 1815. Monetary allowance

    ``(a) Monetary Allowance.--The Secretary shall pay a monthly 
allowance to any eligible child for any disability resulting from the 
covered birth defects of that child.
    ``(b) Schedule for Rating Disabilities.--(1) The amount of the 
monthly allowance paid under this section shall be based on the degree 
of disability suffered by the child concerned, as determined in 
accordance with a schedule for rating disabilities resulting from 
covered birth defects that is prescribed by the Secretary.
    ``(2) In prescribing a schedule for rating disabilities for the 
purposes of this section, the Secretary shall establish four levels of 
disability upon which the amount of the allowance provided by this 
section shall be based. The levels of disability established may take 
into account functional limitations, including limitations on cognition, 
communication, motor abilities, activities of daily living, and 
employability.
    ``(c) Amount of Monthly Allowance.--The amount of the monthly 
allowance paid under this section shall be as follows:
            ``(1) In the case of a child suffering from the lowest level 
        of disability prescribed in the schedule for rating disabilities 
        under subsection (b), $100.
            ``(2) In the case of a child suffering from the lower 
        intermediate level of disability prescribed in the schedule for 
        rating disabilities under subsection (b), the greater of--
                    ``(A) $214; or
                    ``(B) the monthly amount payable under section 
                1805(b)(3) of this title for the lowest level of 
                disability prescribed for purposes of that section.
            ``(3) In the case of a child suffering from the higher 
        intermediate level of disability prescribed in the schedule for 
        rating disabilities under subsection (b), the greater of--

[[Page 114 STAT. 1859]]

                    ``(A) $743; or
                    ``(B) the monthly amount payable under section 
                1805(b)(3) of this title for the intermediate level of 
                disability prescribed for purposes of that section.
            ``(4) In the case of a child suffering from the highest 
        level of disability prescribed in the schedule for rating 
        disabilities under subsection (b), the greater of--
                    ``(A) $1,272; or
                    ``(B) the monthly amount payable under section 
                1805(b)(3) of this title for the highest level of 
                disability prescribed for purposes of that section.

    ``(d) Indexing to Social Security Benefit Increases.--Amounts under 
paragraphs (1), (2)(A), (3)(A), and (4)(A) of subsection (c) shall be 
subject to adjustment from time to time under section 5312 of this 
title.

``Sec. 1816. Regulations

    ``The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for purposes of the 
administration of this subchapter.''.
    (b) Consolidation of Provisions Applicable to Both Subchapters.--
Chapter 18 is further amended by adding after subchapter II, as added by 
subsection (a), the following new subchapter:

                  ``SUBCHAPTER III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

``Sec. 1821. Definitions

    ``In this chapter:
            ``(1) The term `child' means an individual, regardless of 
        age or marital status, who--
                    ``(A) is the natural child of a Vietnam veteran; and
                    ``(B) was conceived after the date on which that 
                veteran first entered the Republic of Vietnam during the 
                Vietnam era.
            ``(2) The term `Vietnam veteran' means an individual who 
        performed active military, naval, or air service in the Republic 
        of Vietnam during the Vietnam era, without regard to the 
        characterization of that individual's service.
            ``(3) The term `Vietnam era' with respect to--
                    ``(A) subchapter I of this chapter, means the period 
                beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; 
                and
                    ``(B) subchapter II of this chapter, means the 
                period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 
                7, 1975.
``Sec. 1822. Applicability of certain administrative provisions

    ``(a) Applicability of Certain Provisions Relating to 
Compensation.--The provisions of this title specified in subsection (b) 
apply with respect to benefits and assistance under this chapter in the 
same manner as those provisions apply to compensation paid under chapter 
11 of this title.
    ``(b) Specified Provisions.--The provisions of this title referred 
to in subsection (a) are the following:
            ``(1) Section 5101(c).
            ``(2) Subsections (a), (b)(2), (g), and (i) of section 5110.
            ``(3) Section 5111.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1860]]

            ``(4) Subsection (a) and paragraphs (1), (6), (9), and (10) 
        of subsection (b) of section 5112.
``Sec. 1823. Treatment of receipt of monetary allowance and other 
                  benefits

    ``(a) Coordination With Other Benefits Paid to the Recipient.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, receipt by an individual of 
a monetary allowance under this chapter shall not impair, infringe, or 
otherwise affect the right of the individual to receive any other 
benefit to which the individual is otherwise entitled under any law 
administered by the Secretary.
    ``(b) Coordination With Benefits Based on Relationship of 
Recipients.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, receipt by an 
individual of a monetary allowance under this chapter shall not impair, 
infringe, or otherwise affect the right of any other individual to 
receive any benefit to which such other individual is entitled under any 
law administered by the Secretary based on the relationship of such 
other individual to the individual who receives such monetary allowance.
    ``(c) Monetary Allowance Not To Be Considered as Income or Resources 
for Certain Purposes.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 
monetary allowance paid an individual under this chapter shall not be 
considered as income or resources in determining eligibility for, or the 
amount of benefits under, any Federal or federally assisted program.

``Sec. 1824. Nonduplication of benefits

    ``(a) Monetary Allowance.--In the case of an eligible child under 
subchapter II of this chapter whose only covered birth defect is spina 
bifida, a monetary allowance shall be paid under subchapter I of this 
chapter. In the case of an eligible child under subchapter II of this 
chapter who has spina bifida and one or more additional covered birth 
defects, a monetary allowance shall be paid under subchapter II of this 
chapter.
    ``(b) Vocational Rehabilitation.--An individual may only be provided 
one program of vocational training under this chapter.''.
    (c) Repeal of Recodified Provisions.--The following provisions are 
repealed:
            (1) Section 1801.
            (2) Subsections (c) and (d) of section 1805.
            (3) Section 1806.

    (d) Designation of Subchapter I.--Chapter 18 is further amended by 
inserting before section 1802 the following:

 ``SUBCHAPTER I--CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA''.

    (e) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 1802 is amended by striking 
``this chapter'' and inserting ``this subchapter''.
    (2) Section 1805(a) is amended by striking ``this chapter'' and 
inserting ``this section''.
    (f) Clerical Amendments.--(1) The chapter heading of chapter 18 is 
amended to read as follows:

[[Page 114 STAT. 1861]]

       ``CHAPTER 18--BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS''.

    (2) The tables of chapters before part I, and at the beginning of 
part II, are each amended by striking the item relating to chapter 18 
and inserting the following new item:

``18. Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans..................1802''.

    (3) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 18 is 
amended--
            (A) by inserting at the beginning the following:

 ``SUBCHAPTER I--CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA'';

            (B) by striking the items relating to sections 1801 and 
        1806; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:

 ``SUBCHAPTER II--CHILDREN OF WOMEN VIETNAM VETERANS BORN WITH CERTAIN 
                              BIRTH DEFECTS

``1811. Definitions.
``1812. Covered birth defects.
``1813. Health care.
``1814. Vocational training.
``1815. Monetary allowance.
``1816. Regulations.

                  ``SUBCHAPTER III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

``1821. Definitions.
``1822. Applicability of certain administrative provisions.
``1823. Treatment of receipt of monetary allowance and other benefits.
``1824. Nonduplication of benefits.''.

    (g) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1811 note.>>  Effective Date.--(1) Except as 
provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall 
take effect on the first day of the first month beginning more than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

    (2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall identify birth defects 
under section 1812 of title 38, United States Code (as added by 
subsection (a) of this section), and shall prescribe the regulations 
required by subchapter II of chapter 18 of that title (as so added), not 
later than the effective date specified in paragraph (1).

SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Enhanced Loan Asset Sale Authority.--Section 3720(h)(2) is 
amended by striking ``December 31, 2002'' and inserting ``December 31, 
2008''.
    (b) Home Loan Fees.--Section 3729 is amended by striking everything 
after the section heading and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Requirement of Fee.--(1) Except as provided in subsection (c), 
a fee shall be collected from each person obtaining a housing loan 
guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter, and each person 
assuming a loan to which section 3714 of this title applies. No such 
loan may be guaranteed, insured, made, or assumed until the fee payable 
under this section has been remitted to the Secretary.
    ``(2) The fee may be included in the loan and paid from the proceeds 
thereof.
    ``(b) Determination of Fee.--(1) The amount of the fee shall be 
determined from the loan fee table in paragraph (2). The fee

[[Page 114 STAT. 1862]]

is expressed as a percentage of the total amount of the loan guaranteed, 
insured, or made, or, in the case of a loan assumption, the unpaid 
principal balance of the loan on the date of the transfer of the 
property.
    ``(2) The loan fee table referred to in paragraph (1) is as follows:

                            ``LOAN FEE TABLE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Active duty                    Other
         Type of loan              veteran      Reservist      obligor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(i) Initial loan described          2.00          2.75            NA
 in section 3710(a) to
 purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 0-down, or any
 other initial loan described
 in section 3710(a) other than
 with 5-down or 10-down
 (closed before October 1,
 2008)........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(ii) Initial loan described         1.25          2.00            NA
 in section 3710(a) to
 purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 0-down, or any
 other initial loan described
 in section 3710(a) other than
 with 5-down or 10-down
 (closed on or after October
 1, 2008).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B)(i) Subsequent loan                 3.00          3.00            NA
 described in section 3710(a)
 to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 0-down, or any
 other subsequent loan
 described in section 3710(a)
 (closed before October 1,
 2008)........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B)(ii) Subsequent loan                1.25          2.00            NA
 described in section 3710(a)
 to purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 0-down, or any
 other subsequent loan
 described in section 3710(a)
 (closed on or after October
 1, 2008).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C)(i) Loan described in               1.50          2.25            NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase
 or construct a dwelling with
 5-down (closed before October
 1, 2008).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C)(ii) Loan described in              0.75          1.50            NA
 section 3710(a) to purchase
 or construct a dwelling with
 5-down (closed on or after
 October 1, 2008).............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D)(i) Initial loan described          1.25          2.00            NA
 in section 3710(a) to
 purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 10-down (closed
 before October 1, 2008)......
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D)(ii) Initial loan described         0.50          1.25            NA
 in section 3710(a) to
 purchase or construct a
 dwelling with 10-down (closed
 on or after October 1, 2008).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(E) Interest rate reduction            0.50          0.50            NA
 refinancing loan.............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(F) Direct loan under section          1.00          1.00            NA
 3711.........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(G) Manufactured home loan             1.00          1.00            NA
 under section 3712 (other
 than an interest rate
 reduction refinancing loan)..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(H) Loan to Native American            1.25          1.25            NA
 veteran under section 3762
 (other than an interest rate
 reduction refinancing loan)..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(I) Loan assumption under              0.50          0.50          0.50
 section 3714.................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(J) Loan under section 3733(a)         2.25          2.25       2.25''.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ``(3) Any reference to a section in the `Type of loan' column in the 
loan fee table in paragraph (2) refers to a section of this title.
    ``(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2):

[[Page 114 STAT. 1863]]

            ``(A) The term `active duty veteran' means any veteran 
        eligible for the benefits of this chapter other than a 
        Reservist.
            ``(B) The term `Reservist' means a veteran described in 
        section 3701(b)(5)(A) of this title.
            ``(C) The term `other obligor' means a person who is not a 
        veteran, as defined in section 101 of this title or other 
        provision of this chapter.
            ``(D) The term `initial loan' means a loan to a veteran 
        guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this 
        title if the veteran has never obtained a loan guaranteed under 
        section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this title.
            ``(E) The term `subsequent loan' means a loan to a veteran, 
        other than an interest rate reduction refinancing loan, 
        guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this 
        title if the veteran has previously obtained a loan guaranteed 
        under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this title.
            ``(F) The term `interest rate reduction refinancing loan' 
        means a loan described in section 3710(a)(8), 3710(a)(9)(B)(i), 
        3710(a)(11), 3712(a)(1)(F), or 3762(h) of this title.
            ``(G) The term `0-down' means a downpayment, if any, of less 
        than 5 percent of the total purchase price or construction cost 
        of the dwelling.
            ``(H) The term `5-down' means a downpayment of at least 5 
        percent or more, but less than 10 percent, of the total purchase 
        price or construction cost of the dwelling.
            ``(I) The term `10-down' means a downpayment of 10 percent 
        or more of the total purchase price or construction cost of the 
        dwelling.

    ``(c) Waiver of Fee.--A fee may not be collected under this section 
from a veteran who is receiving compensation (or who, but for the 
receipt of retirement pay, would be entitled to receive compensation) or 
from a surviving spouse of any veteran (including a person who died in 
the active military, naval, or air service) who died from a service-
connected disability.''.
    (c) Procedures Applicable to Liquidation Sales on Defaulted Home 
Loans Guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.--Section 
3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2002'' and inserting 
``October 1, 2008''.
    (d) Income Verification Authority.--Section 5317(g) is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2002'' and inserting ``September 30, 2008''.
    (e) Limitation on Pension for Certain Recipients of Medicaid-Covered 
Nursing Home Care.--Section 5503(f)(7) is amended by striking 
``September 30, 2002'' and inserting ``September 30, 2008''.
    (f) Annual Report of Committee on Mentally Ill Veterans.--Section 
7321(d)(2) is amended by striking ``three'' and inserting ``six''.
    (g) Authority To Establish Research and Education Corporations.--
Section 7368 is amended by striking ``December 31, 2000'' and inserting 
``December 31, 2003''.

SEC. 403. PRESERVATION OF CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) <<NOTE: 31 USC 1113 note.>>  Inapplicability of Prior Reports 
Termination Provision to Certain Reports of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.--Section 3003(a)(1) of the Federal Reports Elimination and 
Sunset Act of 1995 (31 U.S.C. 1113 note) does not apply to any report

[[Page 114 STAT. 1864]]

required to be submitted under any of the following: sections 503(c), 
529, 541(c), 542(c), 3036, and 7312(d) of title 38, United States Code.

    (b) Repeal of Reporting Requirements Terminated by Prior Law.--
Sections 8111A(f) and 8201(h) are repealed.
    (c) Sunset of Certain Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) Annual report on equitable relief cases.--Section 503(c) 
        is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``No 
        report shall be required under this subsection after December 
        31, 2004.''.
            (2) Biennial report of advisory committee on former 
        prisoners of war.--Section 541(c)(1) is amended by inserting 
        ``through 2003'' after ``each odd-numbered year''.
            (3) Biennial report of advisory committee on women 
        veterans.--Section 542(c)(1) is amended by inserting ``through 
        2004'' after ``each even-numbered year''.
            (4) Biennial reports on montgomery gi bill.--Subsection (d) 
        of section 3036 is amended to read as follows:

    ``(d) No report shall be required under this section after January 
1, 2005.''.
            (5) Annual report of special medical advisory group.--
        Section 7312(d) is amended by adding at the end the following 
        new sentence: ``No report shall be required under this 
        subsection after December 31, 2004.''.

    (d) Cost Information To Be Provided With Each Report Required by 
Congress.--(1)(A) Chapter 1 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``Sec. 116. Reports to Congress: cost information

    ``Whenever the Secretary submits to Congress, or any committee of 
Congress, a report that is required by law or by a joint explanatory 
statement of a committee of conference of the Congress, the Secretary 
shall include with the report--
            ``(1) a statement of the cost of preparing the report; and
            ``(2) a brief explanation of the methodology used in 
        preparing that cost statement.''.

    (B) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``116. Reports to Congress: cost information.''.

    (2) <<NOTE: 38 USC 116 note.>>  Section 116 of title 38, United 
States Code, as added by paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall apply 
with respect to any report submitted by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 404. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Title 38.--Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
            (1) Section 1116(a)(2)(F) is amended by inserting ``of 
        disability'' after ``to a degree''.
            (2) Section 1318(b)(3) is amended by striking ``not later 
        than'' and inserting ``not less than''.
            (3) Section 1712(a)(4)(A) is amended by striking 
        ``subsection (a) of this section (other than paragraphs (3)(B) 
        and (3)(C) of that subsection)'' and inserting ``this 
        subsection''.
            (4) Section 1720A(c)(1) is amended by striking ``for such 
        disability'' and all that follows through ``to such member'' and

[[Page 114 STAT. 1865]]

        inserting ``for such disability. Care and services provided to a 
        member so transferred''.
            (5) Section 2402(7) is amended by striking ``chapter 67 of 
        title 10'' and inserting ``chapter 1223 of title 10''.
            (6) Section 3012(g)(2) is amended by striking 
        ``subparagraphs'' both places it appears and inserting 
        ``subparagraph''.
            (7) Section 3684(c) is amended by striking ``calender'' and 
        inserting ``calendar''.
            (8) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 41 is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 4110A 
        the following new item:

``4110B. Coordination and nonduplication.''.

            (9) The text of section 4213 is amended to read as follows:

    ``(a) Amounts and periods of time specified in subsection (b) shall 
be disregarded in determining eligibility under any of the following:
            ``(1) Any public service employment program.
            ``(2) Any emergency employment program.
            ``(3) Any job training program assisted under the Economic 
        Opportunity Act of 1964.
            ``(4) Any employment or training program carried out under 
        title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 
        et seq.).
            ``(5) Any other employment or training (or related) program 
        financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.

    ``(b) Subsection (a) applies with respect to the following amounts 
and periods of time:
            ``(1) Any amount received as pay or allowances by any person 
        while serving on active duty.
            ``(2) Any period of time during which such person served on 
        active duty.
            ``(3) Any amount received under chapters 11, 13, 30, 31, 32, 
        and 36 of this title by an eligible veteran.
            ``(4) Any amount received by an eligible person under 
        chapters 13 and 35 of this title.
            ``(5) Any amount received by an eligible member under 
        chapter 106 of title 10.''.
            (10) Section 7603(a)(1) is amended by striking 
        ``subsection'' and inserting ``subchapter''.

    (b) Other Laws.--
            (1) <<NOTE: Effective date.>>  Effective November 30, 1999, 
        and as if included therein as originally enacted, section 
        208(c)(2) of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits 
        Act (Public Law 106-117; 113 Stat. 1568) <<NOTE: 38 USC 8163 and 
        note.>>  is amended by striking ``subsection (c)(1)'' and 
        inserting ``subsection (c)(3)''.

[[Page 114 STAT. 1866]]

            (2) <<NOTE: Effective date.>>  Effective November 21, 1997, 
        and as if included therein as originally enacted, section 402(e) 
        of the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-114; 111 
        Stat. 2294) <<NOTE: 38 USC 8153 and note.>>  is amended by 
        striking ``second sentence'' and inserting ``third sentence''.
  

    Approved November 1, 2000.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1402:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-114 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
                                                        Vol. 145 (1999):
                                    July 26, considered and passed 
                                        Senate.
                                                        Vol. 146 (2000):
                                    May 23, considered and passed House, 
                                        amended.
                                    Oct. 12, Senate concurred in House 
                                        amendments with amendments.
                                    Oct. 17, House concurred in Senate 
                                        amendments.
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 36 (2000):
            Nov. 1, Presidential statement.

                                  <all>
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