In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

May 22, 2006.

Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 1235) entitled ‘‘An Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the availability of $400,000 in life insurance coverage to 

servicemembers and veterans, to make a stillborn child an insurable dependent for purposes of the Servicemembers’ Group 

Life Insurance program, to make technical corrections to the 

Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004, to make permanent a pilot program for direct housing loans for Native 

American veterans, and to require an annual plan on outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs’’, do 

pass with the following

AMENDMENTS:

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

2 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Vet3 erans’ Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act 

4 of 2006’’. 

5 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

6 this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
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TITLE I—HOUSING MATTERS 

Sec. 101. Adapted housing assistance for disabled veterans residing temporarily 

in housing owned by family member. 

Sec. 102. Adjustable rate mortgages. 

Sec. 103. Permanent authority to make direct housing loans to Native American 

veterans. 

Sec. 104. Extension of eligibility for direct loans for Native American veterans 

to a veteran who is the spouse of a Native American. 

Sec. 105. Technical corrections to Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. 

TITLE II—EMPLOYMENT MATTERS 

Sec. 201. Additional duty for the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training to raise awareness of skills of veterans 

and of the benefits of hiring veterans. 

Sec. 202. Modifications to the Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment and 

Training. 

Sec. 203. Reauthorization of appropriations for homeless veterans reintegration 

programs. 

TITLE III—LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE MATTERS 

Sec. 301. Duration of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance coverage for totally 

disabled veterans following separation from service. 

Sec. 302. Limitation on premium increases for reinstated health insurance of 

servicemembers released from active military service. 

Sec. 303. Preservation of employer-sponsored health plan coverage for certain reserve-component members who acquire TRICARE eligibility. 

TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 

Sec. 401. Inclusion of additional diseases and conditions in diseases and disabilities presumed to be associated with prisoner of war status. 

Sec. 402. Consolidation and revision of outreach authorities. 

Sec. 403. Extension of annual report requirement on equitable relief cases. 

TITLE V—TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS 

Sec. 501. Technical and clarifying amendments to new traumatic injury protection coverage under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance. 

Sec. 502. Terminology amendments to revise references to certain veterans in provisions relating to eligibility for compensation or dependency 

and indemnity compensation. 

Sec. 503. Technical and clerical amendments.
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1 TITLE I—HOUSING MATTERS 

2 SEC. 101. ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR DISABLED 

3 VETERANS RESIDING TEMPORARILY IN HOUS4 ING OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER. 

5 (a) ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.—Chapter 21 of title 

6 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after sec7 tion 2102 the following new section: 

8 ‘‘§ 2102A. Assistance for veterans residing temporarily 

9 in housing owned by a family member 

10 ‘‘(a) PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE.—In the case of a dis11 abled veteran who is described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) 

12 of section 2101 of this title and who is residing, but does 

13 not intend to permanently reside, in a residence owned by 

14 a member of such veteran’s family, the Secretary may assist 

15 the veteran in acquiring such adaptations to such residence 

16 as are determined by the Secretary to be reasonably nec17 essary because of the veteran’s disability. 

18 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE.—The assistance author19 ized under subsection (a) may not exceed—

20 ‘‘(1) $14,000, in the case of a veteran described 

21 in section 2101(a)(2) of this title; or 

22 ‘‘(2) $2,000, in the case of a veteran described in 

23 section 2101(b)(2) of this title. 
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1 ‘‘(c) LIMITATION.—The assistance authorized by sub2 section (a) shall be limited in the case of any veteran to 

3 one residence. 

4 ‘‘(d) REGULATIONS.—Assistance under this section 

5 shall be provided in accordance with such regulations as 

6 the Secretary may prescribe. 

7 ‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—No assistance may be provided 

8 under this section after the end of the five-year period that 

9 begins on the date of the enactment of the Veterans’ Housing 

10 Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006.’’. 

11 (b) LIMITATIONS ON ADAPTED HOUSING ASSIST12 ANCE.—Section 2102 of such title is amended—

13 (1) in the matter in subsection (a) preceding 

14 paragraph (1)—

15 (A) by striking ‘‘shall be limited in the case 

16 of any veteran to one housing unit, and nec17 essary land therefor, and’’; and 

18 (B) by striking ‘‘veteran but shall not ex19 ceed $50,000 in any one case—’’ and inserting 

20 ‘‘veteran—’’; and 

21 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub22 section: 

23 ‘‘(d)(1) The aggregate amount of assistance available 

24 to a veteran under sections 2101(a) and 2102A of this title 

25 shall be limited to $50,000. 
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1 ‘‘(2) The aggregate amount of assistance available to 

2 a veteran under sections 2101(b) and 2102A of this title 

3 shall be limited to $10,000. 

4 ‘‘(3) No veteran may receive more than three grants 

5 of assistance under this chapter.’’. 

6 (c) COORDINATION OF ADMINISTRATION OF BENE7 FITS.—Chapter 21 of such title is further amended by add8 ing at the end the following new section: 

9 ‘‘§ 2107. Coordination of administration of benefits 

10 ‘‘The Secretary shall provide for the coordination of 

11 the administration of programs to provide specially adapt12 ed housing that are administered by the Under Secretary 

13 for Health and such programs that are administered by the 

14 Under Secretary for Benefits under this chapter, chapter 

15 17, and chapter 31 of this title.’’. 

16 (d) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of sections at 

17 the beginning of such chapter is amended—

18 (1) by inserting after the item relating to section 

19 2102 the following new item:

‘‘2102A. Assistance for veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member.’’;

20 and 

21 (2) by adding at the end the following new item:

‘‘2107. Coordination of administration of benefits.’’.

22 (e) GAO REPORTS.—
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1 (1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than three 

2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

3 Comptroller General shall submit to Congress an in4 terim report on the implementation by the Secretary 

5 of Veterans Affairs of section 2102A of title 38, 

6 United States Code, as added by subsection (a). 

7 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than five years 

8 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp9 troller General shall submit to Congress a final report 

10 on the implementation of such section. 

11 (f) TEMPORARY INCREASE IN CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN

12 FEES.—For a subsequent loan described in subsection (a) 

13 of section 3710 of title 38, United States Code, to purchase 

14 or construct a dwelling with 0-down or any other subse15 quent loan described in that subsection, other than a loan 

16 with 5-down or 10-down, that is closed during fiscal year 

17 2007, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall apply section 

18 3729(b)(2) of such title by substituting ‘‘3.35’’ for ‘‘3.30’’. 

19 SEC. 102. ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES. 

20 Section 3707A(c)(4) of title 38, United States Code, 

21 is amended by striking ‘‘1 percentage point’’ and inserting 

22 ‘‘such percentage points as the Secretary may prescribe’’. 
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1 SEC. 103. PERMANENT AUTHORITY TO MAKE DIRECT HOUS2 ING LOANS TO NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS. 

3 (a) PERMANENT AUTHORITY.—Section 3761 of title 

4 38, United States Code, is amended—

5 (1) in subsection (a)—

6 (A) by striking ‘‘establish and implement a 

7 pilot program under which the Secretary may’’ 

8 in the first sentence; and 

9 (B) by striking ‘‘shall establish and imple10 ment the pilot program’’ in the third sentence 

11 and inserting ‘‘shall make such loans’’; 

12 (2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘In carrying 

13 out the pilot program under this subchapter, the’’ and 

14 inserting ‘‘The’’; and 

15 (3) by striking subsection (c). 

16 (b) REPORTS.—Section 3762(j) of such title is amend17 ed to read as follows: 

18 ‘‘(j) The Secretary shall include as part of the annual 

19 benefits report of the Veterans Benefits Administration in20 formation concerning the cost and number of loans provided 

21 under this subchapter for the fiscal year covered by the re22 port.’’. 

23 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

24 (1) SECTION 3762.—Section 3762 of such title is 

25 amended—
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1 (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘under 

2 this subchapter’’ after ‘‘to a Native American 

3 veteran’’; 

4 (B) in subsection (b)(1)(E), by striking ‘‘the 

5 pilot program established under this subchapter 

6 is implemented’’ and inserting ‘‘loans under this 

7 subchapter are made’’; 

8 (C) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking 

9 ‘‘carry out the pilot program under this sub10 chapter in a manner that demonstrates the ad11 visability of making direct housing loans’’ in the 

12 second sentence and inserting ‘‘make direct hous13 ing loans under this subchapter’’; 

14 (D) in subsection (i)—

15 (i) by striking ‘‘the pilot program pro16 vided for under this subchapter and’’ in 

17 paragraph (1); 

18 (ii) by striking ‘‘under the pilot pro19 gram and in assisting such organizations 

20 and veterans in participating in the pilot 

21 program’’ in paragraph (2)(A) and insert22 ing ‘‘under this subchapter and in assisting 

23 such organizations and veterans with re24 spect to such housing benefits’’; and 
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1 (iii) by striking ‘‘in participating in 

2 the pilot program’’ in paragraph (2)(E) 

3 and inserting ‘‘with respect to such bene4 fits’’. 

5 (2) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 8(b) of the 

6 Veterans Home Loan Program Amendments of 1992 

7 (Public Law 102–547; 38 U.S.C. 3761 note) is re8 pealed. 

9 (d) ESTABLISHMENT OF MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF

10 LOANS.—Section 3762(c)(1)(B) of title 38, United States 

11 Code, is amended—

12 (1) by striking ‘‘(B) The’’ and inserting ‘‘(B)(i) 

13 Subject to clause (ii), the’’; and 

14 (2) by adding at the end the following new 

15 clause: 

16 ‘‘(ii) The amount of a loan made by the Secretary 

17 under this subchapter may not exceed the maximum loan 

18 amount authorized for loans guaranteed under section 

19 3703(a)(1)(C) of this title.’’. 

20 (e) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Subsection (c)(1)(A) of 

21 section 3762 of such title is amended by inserting ‘‘veteran’’ 

22 after ‘‘Native American’’. 

23 (f) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—
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1 (1) SUBCHAPTER HEADING.—The heading for 

2 subchapter V of chapter 37 of such title is amended 

3 to read as follows: 

4 ‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—DIRECT HOUSING LOANS FOR 

5 NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS’’. 

6 (2) SECTION HEADING.—The heading for section 

7 3761 of such title is amended to read as follows: 

8 ‘‘§ 3761. Direct housing loans to Native American vet9 erans; program authority’’. 

10 (3) SECTION HEADING.—The heading for section 

11 3762 of such title is amended to read as follows: 

12 ‘‘§ 3762. Direct housing loans to Native American vet13 erans; program administration’’. 

14 (4) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 

15 at the beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amend16 ed by striking the items relating to subchapter V and 

17 sections 3761 and 3762 and inserting the following 

18 new items:

‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—DIRECT HOUSING LOANS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS

‘‘3761. Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program authority. 

‘‘3762. Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program administration.’’.
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1 SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DIRECT LOANS 

2 FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS TO A VET3 ERAN WHO IS THE SPOUSE OF A NATIVE 

4 AMERICAN. 

5 (a) EXTENSION.—Subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 

6 38, United States Code, is amended—

7 (1) by redesignating section 3764 as section 

8 3765; and 

9 (2) by inserting after section 3763 the following 

10 new section: 

11 ‘‘§ 3764. Qualified non-Native American veterans 

12 ‘‘(a) TREATMENT OF NON-NATIVE AMERICAN VET13 ERANS.—Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, 

14 for purposes of this subchapter—

15 ‘‘(1) a qualified non-Native American veteran is 

16 deemed to be a Native American veteran; and 

17 ‘‘(2) for purposes of applicability to a non-Na18 tive American veteran, any reference in this sub19 chapter to the jurisdiction of a tribal organization 

20 over a Native American veteran is deemed to be a ref21 erence to jurisdiction of a tribal organization over the 

22 Native American spouse of the qualified non-Native 

23 American veteran. 

24 ‘‘(b) USE OF LOAN.—In making direct loans under 

25 this subchapter to a qualified non-Native American veteran 

26 by reason of eligibility under subsection (a), the Secretary 
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1 shall ensure that the tribal organization permits, and the 

2 qualified non-Native American veteran actually holds, pos3 sesses, or purchases, using the proceeds of the loan, jointly 

4 with the Native American spouse of the qualified non-Na5 tive American veteran, a meaningful interest in the lot, 

6 dwelling, or both, that is located on trust land. 

7 ‘‘(c) RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY TRIBAL ORGANIZA8 TIONS.—Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed as pre9 cluding a tribal organization from imposing reasonable re10 strictions on the right of the qualified non-Native American 

11 veteran to convey, assign, or otherwise dispose of such inter12 est in the lot or dwelling, or both, if such restrictions are 

13 designed to ensure the continuation in trust status of the 

14 lot or dwelling, or both. Such requirements may include the 

15 termination of the interest of the qualified non-Native 

16 American veteran in the lot or dwelling, or both, upon the 

17 dissolution of the marriage of the qualified non-Native 

18 American veteran to the Native American spouse.’’. 

19 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 3765 of such 

20 title, as redesignated by subsection (a)(1), is amended by 

21 adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

22 ‘‘(5) The term ‘qualified non-Native American 

23 veteran’ means a veteran who—

24 ‘‘(A) is the spouse of a Native American, 

25 but 
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1 ‘‘(B) is not a Native American.’’. 

2 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

3 the beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended by 

4 striking the item relating to section 3764 and inserting the 

5 following new items:

‘‘3764. Qualified non-Native American veterans. 

‘‘3765. Definitions.’’.

6 SEC. 105. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO VETERANS BENE7 FITS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2004. 

8 (a) CORRECTIONS.—Section 2101 of title 38, United 

9 States Code, as amended by section 401 of the Veterans Ben10 efits Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–454; 118 

11 Stat. 3614), is amended—

12 (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 

13 (d); 

14 (2) by inserting after subsection (b) a new sub15 section (c) consisting of the text of subsection (c) of 

16 such section 2101 as in effect immediately before the 

17 enactment of such Act, modified—

18 (A) in paragraph (1)—

19 (i) in the first sentence, by striking 

20 ‘‘paragraph (1), (2), or (3)’’ and inserting 

21 ‘‘subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of 

22 paragraph (2)’’; and 
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1 (ii) in the second sentence, by striking 

2 ‘‘the second sentence’’ and inserting ‘‘para3 graph (3)’’; and 

4 (B) in paragraph (2)—

5 (i) in the first sentence, by striking 

6 ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph 

7 (2)’’; and 

8 (ii) in the second sentence, by striking 

9 ‘‘paragraph (2)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph 

10 (3)’’; and 

11 (3) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘subsection 

12 (c)’’ in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and 

13 inserting ‘‘subsection (d)’’. 

14 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub15 section (a) shall take effect as of December 10, 2004, as if 

16 enacted immediately after the enactment of the Veterans 

17 Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 on that date. 
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1 TITLE II—EMPLOYMENT 

2 MATTERS 

3 SEC. 201. ADDITIONAL DUTY FOR THE ASSISTANT SEC4 RETARY OF LABOR FOR VETERANS’ EMPLOY5 MENT AND TRAINING TO RAISE AWARENESS 

6 OF SKILLS OF VETERANS AND OF THE BENE7 FITS OF HIRING VETERANS. 

8 Subsection (b) of section 4102A of title 38, United 

9 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 

10 new paragraph: 

11 ‘‘(8) With advice and assistance from the Advi12 sory Committee on Veterans Employment and Train13 ing, and Employer Outreach established under section 

14 4110 of this title, furnish information to employers 

15 (through meetings in person with hiring executives of 

16 corporations and otherwise) with respect to the train17 ing and skills of veterans and disabled veterans, and 

18 the advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans 

19 with such training and skills, and to facilitate em20 ployment of veterans and disabled veterans through 

21 participation in labor exchanges (Internet-based and 

22 otherwise), and other means.’’. 

23 SEC. 202. MODIFICATIONS TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

24 ON VETERANS EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING. 

25 (a) COMMITTEE NAME.—
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1 (1) CHANGE OF NAME.—Subsection (a)(1) of sec2 tion 4110 of title 38, United States Code, is amended 

3 by striking ‘‘Advisory Committee on Veterans Em4 ployment and Training’’ and inserting ‘‘Advisory 

5 Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and 

6 Employer Outreach’’. 

7 (2) SECTION HEADING.—The heading of such sec8 tion is amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘§ 4110. Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, 

10 Training, and Employer Outreach’’. 

11 (3) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The item relating to 

12 section 4110 in the table of sections at the beginning 

13 of chapter 41 of such title is amended to read as fol14 lows:

‘‘4110. Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer 

Outreach.’’.

15 (4) REFERENCES.—Any reference to the Advi16 sory Committee established under section 4110 of such 

17 title in any law, regulation, map, document, record, 

18 or other paper of the United States shall be considered 

19 to be a reference to the Advisory Committee on Vet20 erans Employment, Training, and Employer Out21 reach. 

22 (b) EXPANSION OF DUTIES OF ADVISORY COM23 MITTEE.—Subsection (a)(2) of such section is amended—
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1 (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘and their 

2 integration into the workforce’’ after ‘‘veterans’’; 

3 (2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara4 graph (B); 

5 (3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub6 paragraph (E); and 

7 (4) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol8 lowing new subparagraphs: 

9 ‘‘(C) assist the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 

10 Veterans’ Employment and Training in carrying out 

11 outreach activities to employers with respect to the 

12 training and skills of veterans and the advantages af13 forded employers by hiring veterans; 

14 ‘‘(D) make recommendations to the Secretary, 

15 through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ 

16 Employment and Training, with respect to outreach 

17 activities and the employment and training of vet18 erans; and’’. 

19 (c) MODIFICATION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEM20 BERSHIP.—

21 (1) MEMBERSHIP.—Subsection (c)(1) of such sec22 tion is amended to read as follows: 

23 ‘‘(c)(1) The Secretary of Labor shall appoint at least 

24 12, but no more than 15, individuals to serve as members 

25 of the advisory committee as follows: 
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1 ‘‘(A) Six individuals, one each from among rep2 resentatives nominated by each of the following orga3 nizations: 

4 ‘‘(i) The National Society of Human Re5 source Managers. 

6 ‘‘(ii) The Business Roundtable. 

7 ‘‘(iii) The National Association of State 

8 Workforce Agencies. 

9 ‘‘(iv) The United States Chamber of Com10 merce. 

11 ‘‘(v) The National Federation of Inde12 pendent Business. 

13 ‘‘(vi) A nationally recognized labor union 

14 or organization. 

15 ‘‘(B) Not more than five individuals from among 

16 representatives nominated by veterans service organi17 zations that have a national employment program. 

18 ‘‘(C) Not more than five individuals who are rec19 ognized authorities in the fields of business, employ20 ment, training, rehabilitation, or labor and who are 

21 not employees of the Department of Labor.’’. 

22 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Subsection (d) 

23 of such section is amended—

24 (A) by striking paragraphs (3), (4), (8), 

25 (10), (11), and (12); and 
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1 (B) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), 

2 (7), and (9) as paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6), 

3 respectively. 

4 (d) REINSTATEMENT AND MODIFICATION OF REPORT5 ING REQUIREMENT.—Subsection (f)(1) of such section is 

6 amended—

7 (1) by striking the first sentence and inserting 

8 the following: ‘‘Not later than December 31 of each 

9 year, the advisory committee shall submit to the Sec10 retary and to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of 

11 the Senate and House of Representatives a report on 

12 the employment and training needs of veterans, with 

13 special emphasis on disabled veterans, for the pre14 vious fiscal year.’’; 

15 (2) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘and their 

16 integration into the workforce’’ after ‘‘veterans’’; 

17 (3) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara18 graph (B); 

19 (4) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) 

20 as subparagraphs (C) and (F), respectively; 

21 (5) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol22 lowing new subparagraph: 

23 ‘‘(B) an assessment of the outreach activities car24 ried out by the Secretary of Labor to employers with 

25 respect to the training and skills of veterans and the 
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1 advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans;’’; 

2 and 

3 (6) by inserting after subparagraph (C), as so 

4 redesignated, the following new subparagraphs: 

5 ‘‘(D) a description of the activities of the advi6 sory committee during that fiscal year; 

7 ‘‘(E) a description of activities that the advisory 

8 committee proposes to undertake in the succeeding fis9 cal year; and’’. 

10 SEC. 203. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 

11 HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PRO12 GRAMS. 

13 Subsection (e)(1) of section 2021 of title 38, United 

14 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 

15 new subparagraph: 

16 ‘‘(F) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 

17 through 2009.’’. 

18 TITLE III—LIFE AND HEALTH 

19 INSURANCE MATTERS 

20 SEC. 301. DURATION OF SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE IN21 SURANCE COVERAGE FOR TOTALLY DIS22 ABLED VETERANS FOLLOWING SEPARATION 

23 FROM SERVICE. 

24 (a) SEPARATION OR RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY.—
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1 (1) EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF COVERAGE.—

2 Paragraph (1)(A) of section 1968(a) of title 38, 

3 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘shall 

4 cease’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘shall cease 

5 on the earlier of the following dates (but in no event 

6 before the end of 120 days after such separation or re7 lease): 

8 ‘‘(i) The date on which the insured 

9 ceases to be totally disabled. 

10 ‘‘(ii) The date that is—

11 ‘‘(I) two years after the date of 

12 separation or release from such active 

13 duty or active duty for training, in the 

14 case of such a separation or release 

15 during the period beginning on the 

16 date that is one year before the date of 

17 the enactment of Veterans’ Housing 

18 Opportunity and Benefits Improve19 ment Act of 2006 and ending on Sep20 tember 30, 2011; and 

21 ‘‘(II) 18 months after the date of 

22 separation or release from such active 

23 duty or active duty for training, in the 

24 case of such a separation or release on 

25 or after October 1, 2011.’’. 
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1 (2) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Paragraph (1) 

2 of such section is further amended—

3 (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 

4 (A), by striking ‘‘shall cease—’’ and inserting 

5 ‘‘shall cease as follows:’’; and 

6 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘at’’ 

7 after ‘‘(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘At’’. 

8 (b) SEPARATION OR RELEASE FROM CERTAIN RE9 SERVE ASSIGNMENTS.—Paragraph (4) of such section is 

10 amended by striking ‘‘shall cease’’ the second place it ap11 pears and all that follows and inserting ‘‘shall cease on the 

12 earlier of the following dates (but in no event before the 

13 end of 120 days after separation or release from such as14 signment): 

15 ‘‘(A) The date on which the insured ceases 

16 to be totally disabled. 

17 ‘‘(B) The date that is—

18 ‘‘(i) two years after the date of separa19 tion or release from such assignment, in the 

20 case of such a separation or release during 

21 the period beginning on the date that is one 

22 year before the date of the enactment of Vet23 erans’ Housing Opportunity and Benefits 

24 Improvement Act of 2006 and ending on 

25 September 30, 2011; and 
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1 ‘‘(ii) 18 months after the date of sepa2 ration or release from such assignment, in 

3 the case of such a separation or release on 

4 or after October 1, 2011.’’. 

5 SEC. 302. LIMITATION ON PREMIUM INCREASES FOR REIN6 STATED HEALTH INSURANCE OF 

7 SERVICEMEMBERS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE 

8 MILITARY SERVICE. 

9 (a) PREMIUM PROTECTION.—Section 704 of the 

10 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 594) is 

11 amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

12 ‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON PREMIUM INCREASES.—

13 ‘‘(1) PREMIUM PROTECTION.—The amount of the 

14 premium for health insurance coverage that was ter15 minated by a servicemember and required to be rein16 stated under subsection (a) may not be increased, for 

17 the balance of the period for which coverage would 

18 have been continued had the coverage not been termi19 nated, to an amount greater than the amount charge20 able for such coverage before the termination. 

21 ‘‘(2) INCREASES OF GENERAL APPLICABILITY

22 NOT PRECLUDED.—Paragraph (1) does not prevent 

23 an increase in premium to the extent of any general 

24 increase in the premiums charged by the carrier of 

25 the health care insurance for the same health insur-
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1 ance coverage for persons similarly covered by such 

2 insurance during the period between the termination 

3 and the reinstatement.’’. 

4 (b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b)(3) of 

5 such section is amended by striking ‘‘if the’’ and inserting 

6 ‘‘in a case in which the’’. 

7 SEC. 303. PRESERVATION OF EMPLOYER-SPONSORED 

8 HEALTH PLAN COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN RE9 SERVE-COMPONENT MEMBERS WHO ACQUIRE 

10 TRICARE ELIGIBILITY. 

11 (a) CONTINUATION OF COVERAGE.—Subsection (a)(1) 

12 of section 4317 of title 38, United States Code, is amended 

13 by inserting after ‘‘by reason of service in the uniformed 

14 services,’’ the following: ‘‘or such person becomes eligible for 

15 medical and dental care under chapter 55 of title 10 by 

16 reason of subsection (d) of section 1074 of that title,’’. 

17 (b) REINSTATEMENT OF COVERAGE.—Subsection (b) of 

18 such section is amended—

19 (1) in paragraph (1)—

20 (A) by inserting after ‘‘by reason of service 

21 in the uniformed services,’’ the following: ‘‘or by 

22 reason of the person’s having become eligible for 

23 medical and dental care under chapter 55 of title 

24 10 by reason of subsection (d) of section 1074 of 

25 that title,’’; and 
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1 (B) by inserting ‘‘or eligibility’’ before the 

2 period at the end of the first sentence; and 

3 (2) by adding at the end the following new para4 graph: 

5 ‘‘(3) In the case of a person whose coverage under a 

6 health plan is terminated by reason of the person having 

7 become eligible for medical and dental care under chapter 

8 55 of title 10 by reason of subsection (d) of section 1074 

9 of that title but who subsequently does not commence a pe10 riod of active duty under the order to active duty that estab11 lished such eligibility because the order is canceled before 

12 such active duty commences, the provisions of paragraph 

13 (1) relating to any exclusion or waiting period in connec14 tion with the reinstatement of coverage under a health plan 

15 shall apply to such person’s continued employment, upon 

16 the termination of such eligibility for medical and dental 

17 care under chapter 55 of title 10 that is incident to the 

18 cancellation of such order, in the same manner as if the 

19 person had become reemployed upon such termination of 

20 eligibility.’’. 
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1 TITLE IV—OTHER MATTERS 

2 SEC. 401. INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL DISEASES AND CON3 DITIONS IN DISEASES AND DISABILITIES PRE4 SUMED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH PRISONER 

5 OF WAR STATUS. 

6 Section 1112(b)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is 

7 amended by adding at the end the following new subpara8 graphs: 

9 ‘‘(L) Atherosclerotic heart disease or hypertensive 

10 vascular disease (including hypertensive heart dis11 ease) and their complications (including myocardial 

12 infarction, congestive heart failure and arrhythmia). 

13 ‘‘(M) Stroke and its complications.’’. 

14 SEC. 402. CONSOLIDATION AND REVISION OF OUTREACH 

15 AUTHORITIES. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Part IV of title 38, United States 

17 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 

18 chapter: 

19 ‘‘CHAPTER 63—OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

‘‘ 6301. Purpose; definitions. 

‘‘ 6302. Biennial plan. 

‘‘ 6303. Outreach services. 

‘‘ 6304. Veterans assistance offices. 

‘‘ 6305. Outstationing of counseling and outreach personnel. 

‘‘ 6306. Use of other agencies. 

‘‘ 6307. Outreach for eligible dependents. 

‘‘ 6308. Biennial report to Congress.

20 ‘‘§ 6301. Purpose; definitions 

21 ‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The Congress declares that—
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1 ‘‘(1) the outreach services program authorized by 

2 this chapter is for the purpose of ensuring that all 

3 veterans (especially those who have been recently dis4 charged or released from active military, naval, or air 

5 service and those who are eligible for readjustment or 

6 other benefits and services under laws administered 

7 by the Department) are provided timely and appro8 priate assistance to aid and encourage them in apply9 ing for and obtaining such benefits and services in 

10 order that they may achieve a rapid social and eco11 nomic readjustment to civilian life and obtain a high12 er standard of living for themselves and their depend13 ents; and 

14 ‘‘(2) the outreach services program authorized by 

15 this chapter is for the purpose of charging the Depart16 ment with the affirmative duty of seeking out eligible 

17 veterans and eligible dependents and providing them 

18 with such services. 

19 ‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this chapter—

20 ‘‘(1) the term ‘other governmental programs’ in21 cludes all programs under State or local laws as well 

22 as all programs under Federal law other than those 

23 authorized by this title; and 

24 ‘‘(2) the term ‘eligible dependent’ means a 

25 spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent parent 
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1 of a person who served in the active military, naval, 

2 or air service. 

3 ‘‘§ 6302. Biennial plan 

4 ‘‘(a) BIENNIAL PLAN REQUIRED.—The Secretary 

5 shall, during the first nine months of every odd-numbered 

6 year, prepare a biennial plan for the outreach activities of 

7 the Department for the two-fiscal-year period beginning on 

8 October 1 of that year. 

9 ‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—Each biennial plan under sub10 section (a) shall include the following: 

11 ‘‘(1) Plans for efforts to identify eligible veterans 

12 and eligible dependents who are not enrolled or reg13 istered with the Department for benefits or services 

14 under the programs administered by the Secretary. 

15 ‘‘(2) Plans for informing eligible veterans and el16 igible dependents of modifications of the benefits and 

17 services under the programs administered by the Sec18 retary, including eligibility for medical and nursing 

19 care and services. 

20 ‘‘(c) COORDINATION IN DEVELOPMENT.—In developing 

21 the biennial plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 

22 consult with the following: 

23 ‘‘(1) Directors or other appropriate officials of 

24 organizations approved by the Secretary under sec25 tion 5902 of this title. 
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1 ‘‘(2) Directors or other appropriate officials of 

2 State and local education and training programs. 

3 ‘‘(3) Representatives of nongovernmental organi4 zations that carry out veterans outreach programs. 

5 ‘‘(4) Representatives of State and local veterans 

6 employment organizations. 

7 ‘‘(5) Other individuals and organizations that 

8 the Secretary considers appropriate. 

9 ‘‘§ 6303. Outreach services 

10 ‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES.—In car11 rying out the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary shall 

12 provide the outreach services specified in subsections (b) 

13 through (d). In areas where a significant number of eligible 

14 veterans and eligible dependents speak a language other 

15 than English as their principal language, such services 

16 shall, to the maximum feasible extent, be provided in the 

17 principal language of such persons. 

18 ‘‘(b) INDIVIDUAL NOTICE TO NEW VETERANS.—The 

19 Secretary shall by letter advise each veteran at the time of 

20 the veteran’s discharge or release from active military, 

21 naval, or air service (or as soon as possible after such dis22 charge or release) of all benefits and services under laws 

23 administered by the Department for which the veteran may 

24 be eligible. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary 

25 shall ensure, through the use of veteran-student services 
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1 under section 3485 of this title, that contact, in person or 

2 by telephone, is made with those veterans who, on the basis 

3 of their military service records, do not have a high school 

4 education or equivalent at the time of discharge or release. 

5 ‘‘(c) DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION.—(1) The Sec6 retary—

7 ‘‘(A) shall distribute full information to eligible 

8 veterans and eligible dependents regarding all benefits 

9 and services to which they may be entitled under laws 

10 administered by the Secretary; and 

11 ‘‘(B) may, to the extent feasible, distribute infor12 mation on other governmental programs (including 

13 manpower and training programs) which the Sec14 retary determines would be beneficial to veterans. 

15 ‘‘(2) Whenever a veteran or dependent first applies for 

16 any benefit under laws administered by the Secretary (in17 cluding a request for burial or related benefits or an appli18 cation for life insurance proceeds), the Secretary shall pro19 vide to the veteran or dependent information concerning 

20 benefits and health care services under programs adminis21 tered by the Secretary. Such information shall be provided 

22 not later than three months after the date of such applica23 tion. 

24 ‘‘(d) PROVISION OF AID AND ASSISTANCE.—The Sec25 retary shall provide, to the maximum extent possible, aid 
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1 and assistance (including personal interviews) to members 

2 of the Armed Forces, veterans, and eligible dependents with 

3 respect to subsections (b) and (c) and in the preparation 

4 and presentation of claims under laws administered by the 

5 Department. 

6 ‘‘(e) ASSIGNMENT OF EMPLOYEES.—In carrying out 

7 this section, the Secretary shall assign such employees as 

8 the Secretary considers appropriate to conduct outreach 

9 programs and provide outreach services for homeless vet10 erans. Such outreach services may include site visits 

11 through which homeless veterans can be identified and pro12 vided assistance in obtaining benefits and services that may 

13 be available to them. 

14 ‘‘§ 6304. Veterans assistance offices 

15 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish and 

16 maintain veterans assistance offices at such places through17 out the United States and its territories and possessions, 

18 and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as the Secretary 

19 determines to be necessary to carry out the purposes of this 

20 chapter. The Secretary may maintain such offices on such 

21 military installations located elsewhere as the Secretary, 

22 after consultation with the Secretary of Defense and taking 

23 into account recommendations, if any, of the Secretary of 

24 Labor, determines to be necessary to carry out such pur25 poses. 
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1 ‘‘(b) LOCATION OF OFFICES.—In establishing and 

2 maintaining such offices, the Secretary shall give due re3 gard to—

4 ‘‘(1) the geographical distribution of veterans re5 cently discharged or released from active military, 

6 naval, or air service; 

7 ‘‘(2) the special needs of educationally disadvan8 taged veterans (including their need for accessibility 

9 of outreach services); and 

10 ‘‘(3) the necessity of providing appropriate out11 reach services in less populated areas. 

12 ‘‘§ 6305. Outstationing of counseling and outreach 

13 personnel 

14 ‘‘The Secretary may station employees of the Depart15 ment at locations other than Department offices, including 

16 educational institutions, to provide—

17 ‘‘(1) counseling and other assistance regarding 

18 benefits under this title to veterans and other persons 

19 eligible for benefits under this title; and 

20 ‘‘(2) outreach services under this chapter. 

21 ‘‘§ 6306. Use of other agencies 

22 ‘‘(a) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall 

23 arrange with the Secretary of Labor for the State employ24 ment service to match the particular qualifications of an 

25 eligible veteran or eligible dependent with an appropriate 
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1 job or job training opportunity, including, where possible, 

2 arrangements for outstationing the State employment per3 sonnel who provide such assistance at appropriate facilities 

4 of the Department. 

5 ‘‘(b) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall, 

6 in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, actively seek 

7 to promote the development and establishment of employ8 ment opportunities, training opportunities, and other op9 portunities for veterans, with particular emphasis on the 

10 needs of veterans with service-connected disabilities and 

11 other eligible veterans, taking into account applicable rates 

12 of unemployment and the employment emphases set forth 

13 in chapter 42 of this title. 

14 ‘‘(c) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall 

15 cooperate with and use the services of any Federal depart16 ment or agency or any State or local governmental agency 

17 or recognized national or other organization. 

18 ‘‘(d) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall, 

19 where appropriate, make referrals to any Federal depart20 ment or agency or State or local governmental unit or rec21 ognized national or other organization. 

22 ‘‘(e) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary may 

23 furnish available space and office facilities for the use of 

24 authorized representatives of such governmental unit or 

25 other organization providing services. 
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1 ‘‘(f) In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall 

2 conduct and provide for studies, in consultation with ap3 propriate Federal departments and agencies, to determine 

4 the most effective program design to carry out the purposes 

5 of this chapter. 

6 ‘‘§ 6307. Outreach for eligible dependents 

7 ‘‘(a) NEEDS OF DEPENDENTS.—In carrying out this 

8 chapter, the Secretary shall ensure that the needs of eligible 

9 dependents are fully addressed. 

10 ‘‘(b) INFORMATION AS TO AVAILABILITY OF OUTREACH

11 SERVICES FOR DEPENDENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure 

12 that the availability of outreach services and assistance for 

13 eligible dependents under this chapter is made known 

14 through a variety of means, including the Internet, an15 nouncements in veterans publications, and announcements 

16 to the media. 

17 ‘‘§ 6308. Biennial report to Congress 

18 ‘‘(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall, not 

19 later than December 1 of every even-numbered year (begin20 ning in 2008), submit to Congress a report on the outreach 

21 activities carried out by the Department. 

22 ‘‘(b) CONTENT.—Each report under this section shall 

23 include the following: 
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1 ‘‘(1) A description of the implementation during 

2 the preceding fiscal year of the current biennial plan 

3 under section 6302 of this title. 

4 ‘‘(2) Recommendations for the improvement or 

5 more effective administration of the outreach activi6 ties of the Department.’’. 

7 (b) INCORPORATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO IM8 PROVE OUTREACH AND AWARENESS.—The Secretary of 

9 Veterans Affairs shall, to the extent appropriate, incor10 porate the recommendations for the improvement of vet11 erans outreach and awareness activities included in the re12 port submitted to Congress by the Secretary pursuant to 

13 section 805 of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 

14 2004 (Public Law 108–454). 

15 (c) REPEAL OF RECODIFIED PROVISIONS.—Sub16 chapter II of chapter 77 of title 38, United States Code, 

17 is repealed. 

18 (d) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—

19 (1) Subchapter III of chapter 77 of such title is 

20 redesignated as subchapter II. 

21 (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such 

22 chapter is amended by striking the items relating to 

23 the heading for subchapter II, sections 7721 through 

24 7727, and the heading for subchapter III and insert25 ing the following:
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‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—QUALITY ASSURANCE’’.

1 (3) The tables of chapters at the beginning of 

2 such title, and at the beginning of part IV of such 

3 title, are amended by inserting after the item relating 

4 to chapter 61 the following new item:

‘‘63. Outreach Activities .................................................................................. 6301’’.

5 (e) CROSS-REFERENCE AMENDMENTS.—

6 (1) Section 3485(a)(4)(A) of title 38, United 

7 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘subchapter II of 

8 chapter 77’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 63’’. 

9 (2) Section 4113(a)(2) of such title is amended 

10 by striking ‘‘section 7723(a)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 

11 6304(a)’’. 

12 (3) Section 4214(g) of such title is amended by 

13 striking ‘‘section 7722’’ and ‘‘section 7724’’ and in14 serting ‘‘section 6303’’ and ‘‘section 6305’’, respec15 tively. 

16 (4) Section 168(b)(2)(B) of the Workforce Invest17 ment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2913(b)(2)(B)) is 

18 amended by striking ‘‘subchapter II of chapter 77’’ 

19 and inserting ‘‘chapter 63’’. 

20 SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF ANNUAL REPORT REQUIREMENT 

21 ON EQUITABLE RELIEF CASES. 

22 Section 503(c) of title 38, United States Code, is 

23 amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2004’’ and inserting 

24 ‘‘December 31, 2009’’. 
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1 TITLE V—TECHNICAL 

2 AMENDMENTS 

3 SEC. 501. TECHNICAL AND CLARIFYING AMENDMENTS TO 

4 NEW TRAUMATIC INJURY PROTECTION COV5 ERAGE UNDER SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP 

6 LIFE INSURANCE. 

7 (a) SECTION 1980A.—Section 1980A of title 38, 

8 United States Code, is amended as follows: 

9 (1) Subsection (a) is amended to read as follows: 

10 ‘‘(a)(1) A member of the uniformed services who is in11 sured under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance shall 

12 automatically be insured for traumatic injury in accord13 ance with this section. Insurance benefits under this section 

14 shall be payable if the member, while so insured, sustains 

15 a traumatic injury on or after December 1, 2005, that re16 sults in a qualifying loss specified pursuant to subsection 

17 (b)(1). 

18 ‘‘(2) If a member suffers more than one such qualifying 

19 loss as a result of traumatic injury from the same trau20 matic event, payment shall be made under this section in 

21 accordance with the schedule prescribed pursuant to sub22 section (d) for the single loss providing the highest pay23 ment.’’. 

24 (2) Subsection (b) is amended—

25 (A) in paragraph (1)—
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1 (i) by striking ‘‘issued a’’ and all that 

2 follows through ‘‘limited to—’’ and insert3 ing ‘‘insured against traumatic injury 

4 under this section is insured against such 

5 losses due to traumatic injury (in this sec6 tion referred to as ‘qualifying losses’) as are 

7 prescribed by the Secretary by regulation. 

8 Qualifying losses so prescribed shall include 

9 the following:’’; 

10 (ii) by capitalizing the first letter of 

11 the first word of each of subparagraphs (A) 

12 through (H); 

13 (iii) by striking the semicolon at the 

14 end of each of subparagraphs (A) through 

15 (F) and inserting a period; and 

16 (iv) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end of 

17 subparagraph (G) and inserting a period; 

18 (B) in paragraph (2)—

19 (i) by striking ‘‘subsection—’’ and in20 serting ‘‘subsection:’’; 

21 (ii) by striking ‘‘the’’ at the beginning 

22 of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) and in23 serting ‘‘The’’; 

24 (iii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

25 ‘‘4 limbs;’’ and inserting ‘‘four limbs.’’; 
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1 (iv) in subparagraph (B), by striking 

2 ‘‘; and’’ at the end and inserting a period; 

3 (v) in subparagraph (C), by striking 

4 ‘‘1 side’’ and inserting ‘‘one side’’; and 

5 (vi) by adding at the end the following 

6 new subparagraph: 

7 ‘‘(D) The term ‘inability to carry out the activi8 ties of daily living’ means the inability to independ9 ently perform two or more of the following six func10 tions: 

11 ‘‘(i) Bathing. 

12 ‘‘(ii) Continence. 

13 ‘‘(iii) Dressing. 

14 ‘‘(iv) Eating. 

15 ‘‘(v) Toileting. 

16 ‘‘(vi) Transferring.’’; 

17 (C) in paragraph (3)—

18 (i) by striking ‘‘, in collaboration with 

19 the Secretary of Defense,’’; 

20 (ii) by striking ‘‘shall prescribe’’ and 

21 inserting ‘‘may prescribe’’; and 

22 (iii) by striking ‘‘the conditions under 

23 which coverage against loss will not be pro24 vided’’ and inserting ‘‘conditions under 
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1 which coverage otherwise provided under 

2 this section is excluded’’; and 

3 (D) by adding at the end the following new 

4 paragraph: 

5 ‘‘(4) A member shall not be considered for the purposes 

6 of this section to be a member insured under 

7 Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance if the member is in8 sured under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance only as 

9 an insurable dependent of another member pursuant to sub10 paragraph (A)(ii) or (C)(ii) of section 1967(a)(1) of this 

11 title.’’. 

12 (3) Subsection (c) is amended to read as follows: 

13 ‘‘(c)(1) A payment may be made to a member under 

14 this section only for a qualifying loss that results directly 

15 from a traumatic injury sustained while the member is cov16 ered against loss under this section and from no other cause. 

17 ‘‘(2)(A) A payment may be made to a member under 

18 this section for a qualifying loss resulting from a traumatic 

19 injury only for a loss that is incurred during the applicable 

20 period of time specified pursuant to subparagraph (B). 

21 ‘‘(B) For each qualifying loss, the Secretary shall pre22 scribe, by regulation, a period of time to be the period of 

23 time within which a loss of that type must be incurred, 

24 determined from the date on which the member sustains the 
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1 traumatic injury resulting in that loss, in order for that 

2 loss to be covered under this section.’’. 

3 (4) Subsection (d) is amended by striking ‘‘losses 

4 described in subsection (b)(1) shall be—’’ and all that 

5 follows and inserting ‘‘qualifying losses shall be made 

6 in accordance with a schedule prescribed by the Sec7 retary, by regulation, specifying the amount of pay8 ment to be made for each type of qualifying loss, to 

9 be based on the severity of the qualifying loss. The 

10 minimum payment that may be prescribed for a 

11 qualifying loss is $25,000, and the maximum pay12 ment that may be prescribed for a qualifying loss is 

13 $100,000.’’. 

14 (5) Subsection (e) is amended—

15 (A) by striking ‘‘of Veterans Affairs’’ each 

16 place it appears; 

17 (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘as the 

18 premium allocable’’ and all that follows through 

19 ‘‘protection under this section’’; 

20 (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Sec21 retary of the concerned service’’ and inserting 

22 ‘‘Secretary concerned’’; and 

23 (D) by striking paragraphs (6), (7), and (8) 

24 and inserting the following: 
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1 ‘‘(6) The cost attributable to insuring members under 

2 this section for any month or other period specified by the 

3 Secretary, less the premiums paid by the members, shall 

4 be paid by the Secretary concerned to the Secretary. The 

5 Secretary shall allocate the amount payable among the uni6 formed services using such methods and data as the Sec7 retary determines to be reasonable and practicable. Pay8 ments under this paragraph shall be made on a monthly 

9 basis or at such other intervals as may be specified by the 

10 Secretary and shall be made within 10 days of the date 

11 on which the Secretary provides notice to the Secretary con12 cerned of the amount required. 

13 ‘‘(7) For each period for which a payment by a Sec14 retary concerned is required under paragraph (6), the Sec15 retary concerned shall contribute such amount from appro16 priations available for active duty pay of the uniformed 

17 service concerned. 

18 ‘‘(8) The sums withheld from the basic or other pay 

19 of members, or collected from them by the Secretary con20 cerned, under this subsection, and the sums contributed 

21 from appropriations under this subsection, together with the 

22 income derived from any dividends or premium rate adjust23 ments received from insurers shall be deposited to the credit 

24 of the revolving fund established in the Treasury of the 

25 United States under section 1869(d)(1) of this title.’’. 
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1 (6) Subsection (f) is amended to read as follows: 

2 ‘‘(f) When a claim for benefits is submitted under this 

3 section, the Secretary of Defense or, in the case of a member 

4 not under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense, the 

5 Secretary concerned, shall certify to the Secretary whether 

6 the member with respect to whom the claim is submitted—

7 ‘‘(1) was at the time of the injury giving rise to 

8 the claim insured under Servicemembers’ Group Life 

9 Insurance for the purposes of this section; and 

10 ‘‘(2) has sustained a qualifying loss.’’. 

11 (7) Subsection (g) of such section is amended—

12 (A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(g)’’; 

13 (B) by striking ‘‘will not be made’’ and in14 serting ‘‘may not be made under the insurance 

15 coverage under this section’’; 

16 (C) by striking ‘‘the period’’ and all that 

17 follows through ‘‘the date’’ and inserting ‘‘a pe18 riod prescribed by the Secretary, by regulation, 

19 for such purpose that begins on the date’’; 

20 (D) by designating the second sentence as 

21 paragraph (2); 

22 (E) by striking ‘‘If the member’’ and insert23 ing ‘‘If a member eligible for a payment under 

24 this section’’ ; 
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1 (F) by striking ‘‘will be’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘shall be’’; and 

3 (G) by striking ‘‘according to’’ and all that 

4 follows and inserting ‘‘to the beneficiary or bene5 ficiaries to whom the payment would be made if 

6 the payment were life insurance under section 

7 1967(a) of this title.’’. 

8 (8) Subsection (h) of such section is amended—

9 (A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘mem10 ber’s separation from the uniformed service’’ and 

11 inserting ‘‘termination of the member’s duty sta12 tus in the uniformed services that established eli13 gibility for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insur14 ance’’; 

15 (B) by striking the second sentence; and 

16 (C) by adding at the end the following new 

17 sentence: ‘‘The termination of coverage under 

18 this section is effective in accordance with the 

19 preceding sentence, notwithstanding any con20 tinuation after the date specified in that sentence 

21 of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance cov22 erage pursuant to 1968(a) of this title for a pe23 riod specified in that section.’’. 

24 (9) Such section is further amended by adding at 

25 the end the following new subsection: 
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1 ‘‘(j) Regulations under this section shall be prescribed 

2 in consultation with the Secretary of Defense.’’. 

3 (b) APPLICABILITY TO QUALIFYING LOSSES INCURRED

4 IN OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM AND OPERATION IRAQI

5 FREEDOM BEFORE EFFECTIVE DATE OF NEW PROGRAM.—

6 (1) ELIGIBILITY.—A member of the uniformed 

7 services who during the period beginning on October 

8 7, 2001, and ending at the close of November 30, 

9 2005, sustains a traumatic injury resulting in a 

10 qualifying loss is eligible for coverage for that loss 

11 under section 1980A of title 38, United States Code, 

12 if, as determined by the Secretary concerned, that loss 

13 was a direct result of a traumatic injury incurred in 

14 the theater of operations for Operation Enduring 

15 Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

16 (2) CERTIFICATION OF PERSONS ENTITLED TO

17 PAYMENT.—The Secretary concerned shall certify to 

18 the life insurance company issuing the policy of life 

19 insurance for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance 

20 under chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, the 

21 name and address of each person who the Secretary 

22 concerned determines to be entitled by reason of para23 graph (1) to a payment under section 1980A of title 

24 38, United States Code, plus such additional informa25 tion as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may require. 
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1 (3) FUNDING.—At the time a certification is 

2 made under paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned, 

3 from funds then available to that Secretary for the 

4 pay of members of the uniformed services under the 

5 jurisdiction of that Secretary, shall pay to the Sec6 retary of Veterans Affairs the amount of funds the 

7 Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines to be nec8 essary to pay all costs related to payments to be made 

9 under that certification. Amounts received by the Sec10 retary of Veterans Affairs under this paragraph shall 

11 be deposited to the credit of the revolving fund in the 

12 Treasury of the United States established under sec13 tion 1969(d) of title 38, United States Code. 

14 (4) QUALIFYING LOSS.—For purposes of this sub15 section, the term ‘‘qualifying loss’’ means—

16 (A) a loss specified in the second sentence of 

17 subsection (b)(1) of section 1980A of title 38, 

18 United States Code, as amended by subsection 

19 (a); and 

20 (B) any other loss specified by the Secretary 

21 of Veterans Affairs pursuant to the first sentence 

22 of that subsection. 

23 (5) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—For purposes of 

24 this subsection, the term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has 
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1 the meaning given that term in paragraph (25) of 

2 section 101 of title 38, United States Code. 

3 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

4 (1) Section 1965 of title 38, United States Code, 

5 is amended by striking paragraph (11). 

6 (2) Section 1032(c) of Public Law 109–13 (119 

7 Stat. 257; 38 U.S.C. 1980A note) is repealed. 

8 SEC. 502. TERMINOLOGY AMENDMENTS TO REVISE REF9 ERENCES TO CERTAIN VETERANS IN PROVI10 SIONS RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY FOR COM11 PENSATION OR DEPENDENCY AND INDEM12 NITY COMPENSATION. 

13 Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows: 

14 (1) Section 1114(l) is amended by striking ‘‘so 

15 helpless’’ and inserting ‘‘with such significant disabil16 ities’’. 

17 (2) Section 1114(m) is amended by striking ‘‘so 

18 helpless’’ and inserting ‘‘so significantly disabled’’. 

19 (3) Sections 1115(1)(E)(ii), 1122(b)(2), 

20 1311(c)(2), 1315(g)(2), and 1502(b)(2) are amended 

21 by striking ‘‘helpless or blind, or so nearly helpless or 

22 blind as to’’ and inserting ‘‘blind, or so nearly blind 

23 or significantly disabled as to’’. 

24 SEC. 503. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS. 

25 Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows: 
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1 (1) TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR.—Section 1117(h)(1) 

2 is amended by striking ‘‘nothwithstanding’’ and in3 serting ‘‘notwithstanding’’. 

4 (2) INSERTION OF MISSING WORD.—Section 

5 1513(a) is amended by inserting ‘‘section’’ after ‘‘pre6 scribed by’’. 

7 (3) DELETION OF EXTRA WORDS.—Section 

8 3012(a)(1)(C)(ii) is amended by striking ‘‘on or’’. 

9 (4) CROSS REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Section 

10 3017(b)(1)(D) is amended by striking ‘‘3011(c)’’ and 

11 inserting ‘‘3011(e)’’. 

12 (5) STYLISTIC AMENDMENTS.—Section 3018A is 

13 amended—

14 (A) by striking ‘‘of this section’’ in sub15 sections (b) and (c); 

16 (B) by striking ‘‘of this subsection’’ in sub17 sections (a)(4), (a)(5), (d)(1) (both places it ap18 pears), and (d)(3); and 

19 (C) by striking ‘‘of this chapter’’ in sub20 section (d)(3) and inserting ‘‘of this title’’. 

21 (6) CROSS REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Section 

22 3117(b)(1) is amended—

23 (A) by striking ‘‘section 8’’ and inserting 

24 ‘‘section 4(b)(1)’’; and 
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1 (B) by striking ‘‘633(b)’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘633(b)(1)’’. 

3 (7) INSERTION OF MISSING WORD.—Section 

4 3511(a)(1) is amended by inserting ‘‘sections’’ after 

5 ‘‘under both’’. 

6 (8) SUBSECTION HEADINGS.—

7 (A) Sections 3461, 3462, 3481, 3565, 3680, 

8 and 3690 are each amended by revising each 

9 subsection heading for a subsection therein (ap10 pearing as a centered heading immediately be11 fore the text of the subsection) so that such head12 ing appears immediately after the subsection des13 ignation and is set forth in capitals-and-small14 capitals typeface, followed by a period and a 

15 one-em dash. 

16 (B) Section 3461(c) is amended by insert17 ing after the subsection designation the following: 

18 ‘‘DURATION OF ENTITLEMENT.—’’. 

19 (C) Section 3462 is amended—

20 (i) in subsection (d), by inserting after 

21 the subsection designation the following: 

22 ‘‘PRISONERS OF WAR.—’’; and 

23 (ii) in subsection (e), by inserting after 

24 the subsection designation the following: 

25 ‘‘TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE.—’’. 
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1 (9) CROSS REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Section 

2 3732(c)(10)(D) is amended by striking ‘‘clause (B) of 

3 paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (8) of this subsection’’ 

4 and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (5)(B), (6), (7)(B), and 

5 (8)(B)’’. 

6 (10) DATE OF ENACTMENT REFERENCE.—Sec7 tion 3733(a)(7) is amended by striking ‘‘the date of 

8 the enactment of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003’’ 

9 and inserting ‘‘December 16, 2003’’. 

10 (11) REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISIONS.—Sec11 tion 4102A is amended—

12 (A) in subsection (c)(7)—

13 (i) by striking ‘‘With respect to pro14 gram years beginning during or after fiscal 

15 year 2004, one percent of’’ and inserting 

16 ‘‘Of’’; and 

17 (ii) by striking ‘‘for the program year’’ 

18 and inserting ‘‘for any program year, one 

19 percent’’; and 

20 (B) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘By not 

21 later than May 7, 2003, the’’ and inserting 

22 ‘‘The’’. 

23 (12) REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISIONS.—Sec24 tion 4105(b) is amended—
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1 (A) by striking ‘‘shall provide,’’ and all that 

2 follows through ‘‘Affairs with’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘shall, on the 15th day of each month, provide 

4 the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Af5 fairs with updated information regarding’’; and 

6 (B) by striking ‘‘and shall’’ and all that fol7 lows through ‘‘regarding the list’’. 

8 (13) CITATION CORRECTION.—Section 4110B is 

9 amended—

10 (A) by striking ‘‘this Act’’ and inserting 

11 ‘‘the Workforce Investment Act of 1998’’; and 

12 (B) by inserting ‘‘(29 U.S.C. 2822(b))’’ be13 fore the period at the end. 

14 (14) CROSS-REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Section 

15 4331(b)(2)(C) is amended by striking ‘‘section 

16 2303(a)(2)(C)(ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 

17 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii)’’. 

18 (15) CAPITALIZATION CORRECTION.—Section 

19 7253(d)(5) is amended by striking ‘‘court’’ and in20 serting ‘‘Court’’.
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Amend the title so as to read ‘‘An Act to amend title 

38, United States Code, to improve and extend housing, 

insurance, outreach, and benefits programs provided 

under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs, to improve and extend employment programs for 

veterans under laws administered by the Secretary of 

Labor, and for other purposes.’’.

Attest:

Clerk. 
109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 1235

AMENDMENTS