II 

Calendar No. 297 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 1950 

To improve the provision of medical services and benefits to veterans, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 16, 2014 

Mr. SANDERS introduced the following bill; which was read the first time 

JANUARY 27, 2014 

Read the second time and placed on the calendar 

A BILL 

To improve the provision of medical services and benefits 

to veterans, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Mili6 tary Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014’’. 

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

8 this Act is as follows: 


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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code. 

Sec. 3. Budgetary effects. 

TITLE I—SURVIVOR AND DEPENDENT MATTERS 

Sec. 101. Extension of initial period for increased dependency and indemnity 

compensation for surviving spouses with children. 

Sec. 102. Eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation, educational 

assistance, and housing loans for surviving spouses who remarry after age 55. 

Sec. 103. Extension of marriage delimiting date for surviving spouses of Persian Gulf War veterans to qualify for death pension. 

Sec. 104. Making effective date provision consistent with provision for benefits 

eligibility of a veteran’s child based upon termination of remarriage by annulment. 

Sec. 105. Expansion of Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship. 

Sec. 106. Expansion of Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program. 

Sec. 107. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born with 

spina bifida. 

Sec. 108. Program on assisted living for children of Vietnam veterans and certain Korea service veterans born with spina bifida. 

Sec. 109. Program on grief counseling in retreat settings for surviving spouses 

of members of the Armed Forces who die while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces. 

Sec. 110. Program evaluation on survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance authorities. 

TITLE II—EDUCATION MATTERS 

Sec. 201. Approval of courses of education provided by public institutions of 

higher learning for purposes of All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program and Post-9/11 Educational Assistance conditional on in-State tuition rate for veterans. 

Sec. 202. Extension and expansion of authority for certain qualifying workstudy activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 203. Prohibitions relating to references to GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill. 

Sec. 204. Review of utilization of educational assistance to pursue programs of 

training on the job and participating employers. 

Sec. 205. Report on debt management and collection. 

Sec. 206. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers. 

TITLE III—HEALTH CARE MATTERS 

Subtitle A—Expansion and Improvements of Benefits Generally 

Sec. 301. Enhancement of nature of eligibility for care of certain veterans. 

Sec. 302. Requirement for enrollment in patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs of certain veterans eligible for enrollment by law but not currently permitted to enroll. 

Sec. 303. Further extension of period of eligibility for health care for veterans 

of combat service during certain periods of hostilities and war. 

Sec. 304. Extension to all veterans with a serious service-connected disability 

of eligibility for participation in family caregiver program. 

Sec. 305. Improved access to appropriate immunizations for veterans. 

Sec. 306. Expansion of provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans. 


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Sec. 307. Modification of commencement date of period of service at Camp 

Lejeune, North Carolina, for eligibility for hospital care and 

medical services in connection with exposure to contaminated 

water. 

Sec. 308. Expansion of emergency treatment reimbursement for certain veterans. 

Sec. 309. Relocation and restatement of limitation on requirements to furnish 

certain care and services contingent on the availability of appropriations. 

Sec. 310. Modification of determination of eligibility of veterans for treatment 

as a low-income family for purposes of enrollment in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 311. Extension of sunset date regarding transportation of individuals to 

and from facilities of Department of Veterans Affairs and requirement of report. 

Sec. 312. Coverage of costs of care for veterans at medical foster homes. 

Sec. 313. Extension and modification of pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury. 

Sec. 314. Program on health promotion for overweight and obese veterans 

through support of fitness center memberships. 

Sec. 315. Program on health promotion for veterans through establishment of 

Department of Veterans Affairs fitness facilities. 

Subtitle B—Health Care Administration 

Sec. 321. Extension of Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional 

Scholarship Program. 

Sec. 322. Expansion of availability of prosthetic and orthotic care for veterans. 

Sec. 323. Contracting for health care. 

Sec. 324. Limitation on expansion of dialysis pilot program. 

Sec. 325. Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs policy on reporting 

cases of infectious diseases at facilities of the Department. 

Sec. 326. Independent assessment of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks 

and medical centers of Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 327. Requirements in connection with next update of current strategic 

plan for Office of Rural Health of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs. 

Sec. 328. Report on provision of telemedicine services. 

Sec. 329. Designation of Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans 

Affairs Medical Center. 

Subtitle C—Complementary and Alternative Medicine 

Sec. 331. Expansion of research and education on and delivery of complementary and alternative medicine to veterans. 

Sec. 332. Program on integration of complementary and alternative medicine 

within Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. 

Sec. 333. Studies of barriers encountered by veterans in receiving, and administrators and clinicians in providing, complementary and alternative medicine services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 334. Program on use of wellness programs as complementary approach to 

mental health care for veterans and family members of veterans. 

Subtitle D—Mental Health Care 


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Sec. 341. Inclusion of mental health professionals in the education and training 

program for health personnel of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs. 

Sec. 342. Education program and peer support program for family members 

and caregivers of veterans with mental health disorders. 

Sec. 343. Report on provision of mental health services for families of certain 

veterans at facilities of the Department. 

Sec. 344. Annual report on community mental health partnership pilot program. 

Subtitle E—Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement 

Sec. 351. Restorative dental services for veterans. 

Sec. 352. Pilot program on expansion of furnishing of dental care to all enrolled veterans. 

Sec. 353. Program on education to promote dental health in veterans. 

Sec. 354. Information on dental services for inclusion in electronic medical 

records under dental insurance pilot program. 

Sec. 355. Authorization of appropriations. 

Subtitle F—Health Care Related to Sexual Trauma 

Sec. 361. Expansion of eligibility for sexual trauma counseling and treatment 

to veterans on inactive duty training. 

Sec. 362. Provision of counseling and treatment for sexual trauma by the Department of Veterans Affairs to members of the Armed Forces. 

Sec. 363. Department of Veterans Affairs screening mechanism to detect incidents of domestic abuse. 

Sec. 364. Reports on military sexual trauma and domestic abuse. 

Subtitle G—Reproductive Treatment and Services 

Sec. 371. Clarification that fertility counseling and treatment are medical services which the Secretary may furnish to veterans like other 

medical services. 

Sec. 372. Reproductive treatment and care for spouses and surrogates of veterans. 

Sec. 373. Adoption assistance for severely wounded veterans. 

Sec. 374. Regulations on furnishing of fertility counseling and treatment and 

adoption assistance by Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 375. Coordination between Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense on furnishing of fertility counseling and treatment. 

Sec. 376. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research. 

Sec. 377. Annual report on provision of fertility counseling and treatment furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 378. Program on assistance for child care for certain veterans. 

Sec. 379. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated 

from service in the Armed Forces. 

Subtitle H—Major Medical Facility Leases 

Sec. 381. Authorization of major medical facility leases. 

Sec. 382. Budgetary treatment of Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facilities leases. 

TITLE IV—EMPLOYMENT AND RELATED MATTERS 


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Subtitle A—Training and Other Services for Veterans Seeking Employment 

Sec. 401. Reauthorization of veterans retraining assistance program. 

Sec. 402. Extension of authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to members of Armed 

Forces with severe injuries or illnesses. 

Sec. 403. Extension of additional rehabilitation programs for persons who have 

exhausted rights to unemployment benefits under State law. 

Sec. 404. Unified employment portal for veterans. 

Sec. 405. Report on unified Government Internet portal for veterans on jobs 

available through the Federal Government. 

Sec. 406. Information on disability-related employment and education protections in Transition Assistance Program. 

Subtitle B—Employment of Veterans and Recognition of Veteran Status With 

Respect to Employment Related Matters 

Sec. 411. Employment of veterans with the Federal Government. 

Sec. 412. State recognition of military experience of veterans in issuing licenses 

and credentials to veterans. 

Sec. 413. Grants to hire veterans as first responders. 

Sec. 414. Employment of veterans as evaluation factor in the awarding of Federal contracts. 

Sec. 415. Report on discrimination against members of reserve components of 

Armed Forces and veterans in civilian labor market. 

Subtitle C—Program on Career Transition 

Sec. 421. Program on provision of career transition services to young veterans. 

Subtitle D—Improving Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of 

the Uniformed Services 

Sec. 431. Enforcement of rights of members of uniformed services with respect 

to States and private employers. 

Sec. 432. Suspension, termination, or debarment of contractors for repeated 

violations of employment or reemployment rights of members 

of uniformed services. 

Sec. 433. Subpoena power for Special Counsel in enforcement of employment 

and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services 

with respect to Federal executive agencies. 

Sec. 434. Issuance and service of civil investigative demands by Attorney General. 

Subtitle E—Small Business Matters 

Sec. 441. Expansion of contracting goals and preferences of Department of 

Veterans Affairs to include conditionally owned small business 

concerns 100 percent owned by veterans. 

Sec. 442. Modification of treatment under contracting goals and preferences of 

Department of Veterans Affairs for small businesses owned by 

veterans of small businesses after death of disabled veteran 

owners. 

Sec. 443. Treatment of businesses after deaths of servicemember-owners for 

purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs contracting goals 

and preferences. 


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Sec. 444. Special rule for treatment under contracting goals and preferences of 

Department of Veterans Affairs of small business concerns licensed in community property States. 

Sec. 445. Report on assistance for veterans in obtaining training on purchasing 

and operating a franchise. 

TITLE V—ACCOUNTABILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE 

IMPROVEMENTS 

Sec. 501. Administration of Veterans Integrated Service Networks. 

Sec. 502. Regional support centers for Veterans Integrated Service Networks. 

Sec. 503. Commission on Capital Planning for Department of Veterans Affairs 

Medical Facilities. 

Sec. 504. Advance appropriations for certain accounts of the Department of 

Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 505. Public access to Department of Veterans Affairs research and data 

sharing between Departments. 

Sec. 506. Assessment by Comptroller General of the United States of information made available by Veterans Benefits Administration. 

Sec. 507. Comptroller general report on advisory committees of the Department 

of Veterans Affairs. 

TITLE VI—IMPROVEMENT OF PROCESSING OF CLAIMS FOR 

COMPENSATION 

Subtitle A—Claims Based on Military Sexual Trauma 

Sec. 601. Medical examination and opinion for disability compensation claims 

based on military sexual trauma. 

Sec. 602. Case representative officers for military sexual trauma support. 

Sec. 603. Report on standard of proof for service-connection of mental health 

conditions related to military sexual trauma. 

Sec. 604. Reports on claims for disabilities incurred or aggravated by military 

sexual trauma. 

Subtitle B—Claims for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation 

Sec. 611. Program on treatment of certain applications for dependency and indemnity compensation as fully developed claims. 

Sec. 612. Report by Secretary of Veterans Affairs on improving timeliness and 

accuracy of administration of claims for dependency and indemnity compensation and pension for surviving spouses and 

children. 

Subtitle C—Agency of Original Jurisdiction 

Sec. 621. Working group to improve employee work credit and work management systems of Veterans Benefits Administration in an electronic environment. 

Sec. 622. Task force on retention and training of Department of Veterans Affairs claims processors and adjudicators. 

Sec. 623. Reports on requests by the Department of Veterans Affairs for 

records of other Federal agencies. 

Sec. 624. Recognition of representatives of Indian tribes in the preparation, 

presentation, and prosecution of claims under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 


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Sec. 625. Program on participation of local and tribal governments in improving quality of claims for disability compensation submitted to 

Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 626. Department of Veterans Affairs notice of average times for processing compensation claims. 

Sec. 627. Quarterly reports on progress of Department of Veterans Affairs in 

eliminating backlog of claims for compensation that have not 

been adjudicated. 

Sec. 628. Reports on use of existing authorities to expedite benefits decisions. 

Sec. 629. Reports on Department disability medical examinations and prevention of unnecessary medical examinations. 

Subtitle D—Board of Veterans’ Appeals and Court of Appeals for Veterans 

Claims 

Sec. 631. Treatment of certain misfiled documents as a notice of appeal to the 

Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. 

Sec. 632. Determination of manner of appearance for hearings before Board of 

Veterans’ Appeals. 

TITLE VII—OUTREACH MATTERS 

Sec. 701. Program to increase coordination of outreach efforts between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Federal, State, and local 

agencies and nonprofit organizations. 

Sec. 702. Cooperative agreements between Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 

States on outreach activities. 

Sec. 703. Advisory committee on outreach activities of Department of Veterans 

Affairs. 

Sec. 704. Advisory boards on outreach activities of Department of Veterans Affairs relating to health care. 

Sec. 705. Modification of requirement for periodic reports to Congress on outreach activities of Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 706. Budget transparency for outreach activities of Department of Veterans Affairs. 

TITLE VIII—OTHER MATTERS 

Sec. 801. Repeal of reductions made by Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. 

Sec. 802. Consideration by Secretary of Veterans Affairs of resources disposed 

of for less than fair market value by individuals applying for 

pension. 

Sec. 803. Extension of reduced pension for certain veterans covered by medicaid plans for services furnished by nursing facilities. 

Sec. 804. Conditions on award of per diem payments by Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs for provision of housing or services to homeless veterans. 

Sec. 805. Exception to certain recapture requirements and treatment of contracts and grants with State homes with respect to care for 

homeless veterans. 

Sec. 806. Extended period for scheduling of medical exams for veterans receiving temporary disability ratings for severe mental disorders. 

Sec. 807. Authority to issue Veterans ID Cards. 

Sec. 808. Honoring as veterans certain persons who performed service in the 

reserve components of the Armed Forces. 


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Sec. 809. Extension of authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to obtain information from Secretary of Treasury and Commissioner of Social Security for income verification purposes. 

Sec. 810. Extension of authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue and 

guarantee certain loans. 

Sec. 811. Review of determination of certain service in Philippines during 

World War II. 

Sec. 812. Review of determination of certain service of merchant mariners during World War II. 

Sec. 813. Report on Laotian military support of Armed Forces of the United 

States during Vietnam War. 

Sec. 814. Report on practices of the Department of Veterans Affairs to adequately provide services to veterans with hearing loss. 

Sec. 815. Report on joint programs of Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense with respect to hearing loss of members 

of the Armed Forces and veterans. 

Sec. 816. Limitation on aggregate amount of bonuses payable to personnel of 

the Department of Veterans Affairs during fiscal year 2014. 

1 SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE. 

2 Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in 

3 this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 

4 of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi5 sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 

6 section or other provision of title 38, United States Code. 

7 SEC. 3. BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

8 (a) PAYGO SCORECARD.—The budgetary effects of 

9 this Act shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard 

10 maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay11 As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(d)). 

12 (b) SENATE PAYGO SCORECARD.—The budgetary ef13 fects of this Act shall not be entered on any PAYGO score14 card maintained for purposes of section 201 of S. Con. 

15 Res. 21 (110th Congress). 


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1 TITLE I—SURVIVOR AND 

2 DEPENDENT MATTERS 

3 SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF INITIAL PERIOD FOR INCREASED 

4 DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSA5 TION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES WITH CHIL6 DREN. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1311(f)(2) is amended by 

8 striking ‘‘two-year’’ and inserting ‘‘three-year’’. 

9 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

10 subsection (a) shall take effect as of September 30, 2014, 

11 and shall apply to any surviving spouse who was eligible 

12 for or in receipt of benefits under section 1311(f) of title 

13 38, United States Code, on or after the date of the enact14 ment of this Act. 

15 SEC. 102. ELIGIBILITY FOR DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 

16 COMPENSATION, EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE, 

17 AND HOUSING LOANS FOR SURVIVING 

18 SPOUSES WHO REMARRY AFTER AGE 55. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (2)(B) of section 

20 103(d) is amended to read as follows: 

21 ‘‘(B) The remarriage after age 55 of the surviving 

22 spouse of a veteran shall not bar the furnishing of benefits 

23 specified in paragraph (5) to such person as the surviving 

24 spouse of the veteran.’’. 


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1 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph (5) of 

2 such section is amended by striking ‘‘Paragraphs (2)(A)’’ 

3 and inserting ‘‘Paragraphs (2)’’. 

4 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

5 this section shall take effect on the date that is one year 

6 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

7 SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF MARRIAGE DELIMITING DATE FOR 

8 SURVIVING SPOUSES OF PERSIAN GULF WAR 

9 VETERANS TO QUALIFY FOR DEATH PEN10 SION. 

11 Section 1541(f)(1)(E) is amended by striking ‘‘Janu12 ary 1, 2001’’ and inserting ‘‘the date that is 10 years and 

13 one day after the date on which the Persian Gulf War 

14 was terminated, as prescribed by Presidential proclama15 tion or by law’’. 

16 SEC. 104. MAKING EFFECTIVE DATE PROVISION CON17 SISTENT WITH PROVISION FOR BENEFITS 

18 ELIGIBILITY OF A VETERAN’S CHILD BASED 

19 UPON TERMINATION OF REMARRIAGE BY AN20 NULMENT. 

21 Section 5110(l) is amended by striking ‘‘, or of an 

22 award or increase of benefits based on recognition of a 

23 child upon termination of the child’s marriage by death 

24 or divorce,’’. 


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1 SEC. 105. EXPANSION OF MARINE GUNNERY SERGEANT 

2 JOHN DAVID FRY SCHOLARSHIP. 

3 (a) EXPANSION OF ENTITLEMENT.—Subsection 

4 (b)(9) of section 3311 is amended by inserting ‘‘or 

5 spouse’’ after ‘‘child’’. 

6 (b) LIMITATION AND ELECTION ON CERTAIN BENE7 FITS.—Subsection (f) of such section is amended— 

8 (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para9 graph (4); and 

10 (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol11 lowing new paragraphs: 

12 ‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The entitlement of an indi13 vidual to assistance under subsection (a) pursuant to 

14 paragraph (9) of subsection (b) because the indi15 vidual was a spouse of a person described in such 

16 paragraph shall expire on the earlier of— 

17 ‘‘(A) the date that is 15 years after the 

18 date on which the person died; and 

19 ‘‘(B) the date on which the individual re20 marries. 

21 ‘‘(3) ELECTION ON RECEIPT OF CERTAIN BENE22 FITS.—A surviving spouse entitled to assistance 

23 under subsection (a) pursuant to paragraph (9) of 

24 subsection (b) who is also entitled to educational as25 sistance under chapter 35 of this title may not re26 ceive assistance under both this section and such 


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1 chapter, but shall make an irrevocable election (in 

2 such form and manner as the Secretary may pre3 scribe) under which section or chapter to receive 

4 educational assistance.’’. 

5 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3321(b)(4) 

6 is amended— 

7 (1) by striking ‘‘an individual’’ and inserting ‘‘a 

8 child’’; and 

9 (2) by striking ‘‘such individual’s’’ each time it 

10 appears and inserting ‘‘such child’s’’. 

11 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

12 this section shall take effect on the date that is two years 

13 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

14 SEC. 106. EXPANSION OF YELLOW RIBBON G.I. EDUCATION 

15 ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3317(a) is amended by 

17 striking ‘‘in paragraphs (1) and (2)’’ and inserting ‘‘in 

18 paragraphs (1), (2), and (9)’’. 

19 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

20 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to academic terms 

21 beginning after July 1, 2015. 


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1 SEC. 107. BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN THAILAND 

2 SERVICE VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA 

3 BIFIDA. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 18 is 

5 amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

6 ‘‘§ 1822. Benefits for children of certain Thailand 

7 service veterans born with spina bifida 

8 ‘‘(a) BENEFITS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may 

9 provide to any child of a veteran of covered service in 

10 Thailand who is suffering from spina bifida the health 

11 care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary 

12 allowance required to be paid to a child of a Vietnam vet13 eran who is suffering from spina bifida under subchapter 

14 I of this chapter as if such child of a veteran of covered 

15 service in Thailand were a child of a Vietnam veteran who 

16 is suffering from spina bifida under such subchapter. 

17 ‘‘(b) SPINA BIFIDA CONDITIONS COVERED.—This 

18 section applies with respect to all forms and manifesta19 tions of spina bifida, except spina bifida occulta. 

20 ‘‘(c) VETERAN OF COVERED SERVICE IN THAI21 LAND.—For purposes of this section, a veteran of covered 

22 service in Thailand is any individual, without regard to 

23 the characterization of that individual’s service, who— 

24 ‘‘(1) served in the active military, naval, or air 

25 service in Thailand, as determined by the Secretary 

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1 ing the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and 

2 ending on May 7, 1975; and 

3 ‘‘(2) is determined by the Secretary, in con4 sultation with the Secretary of Defense, to have been 

5 exposed to a herbicide agent during such service in 

6 Thailand. 

7 ‘‘(d) HERBICIDE AGENT.—For purposes of this sec8 tion, the term ‘herbicide agent’ means a chemical in a her9 bicide used in support of United States and allied military 

10 operations in Thailand, as determined by the Secretary in 

11 consultation with the Secretary of Defense, during the pe12 riod beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 

13 7, 1975.’’. 

14 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO DEFINITION OF

15 ‘‘CHILD’’.—Section 1831(1) is amended— 

16 (1) in subparagraph (B)— 

17 (A) by striking ‘‘subchapter III of this 

18 chapter’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1821 of this 

19 title’’; and 

20 (B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘section 1821 

21 of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘that section’’; and 

22 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub23 paragraph: 


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1 ‘‘(C) For purposes of section 1822 of this title, 

2 an individual, regardless of age or marital status, 

3 who— 

4 ‘‘(i) is the natural child of a veteran of 

5 covered service in Thailand (as determined for 

6 purposes of that section); and 

7 ‘‘(ii) was conceived after the date on which 

8 that veteran first entered service described in 

9 subsection (c) of that section.’’. 

10 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

11 (1) SUBCHAPTER HEADING.—The heading for 

12 subchapter III of chapter 18 is amended by insert13 ing ‘‘AND THAILAND’’ after ‘‘KOREA’’. 

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

15 at the beginning of chapter 18 is amended— 

16 (A) by striking the item relating to sub17 chapter III and inserting the following new 

18 item: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—CHILDREN OF CERTAIN KOREA AND THAILAND SERVICE

VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA’’; 

19 and 

20 (B) by inserting after the item relating to 

21 section 1821 the following new item: 

‘‘1822. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born with spina 

bifida.’’. 


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1 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

2 this section shall take effect on the date that is one year 

3 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

4 SEC. 108. PROGRAM ON ASSISTED LIVING FOR CHILDREN 

5 OF VIETNAM VETERANS AND CERTAIN 

6 KOREA SERVICE VETERANS BORN WITH 

7 SPINA BIFIDA. 

8 (a) PROGRAM.—Commencing not later than 180 days 

9 after the date on which this section takes effect, the Sec10 retary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program to 

11 assess the feasibility and advisability of providing assisted 

12 living, group home care, or similar services in lieu of nurs13 ing home care to covered individuals. 

14 (b) COVERED INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of this 

15 section, a covered individual is any individual who is enti16 tled to health care under subchapter I or III of chapter 

17 18 of title 38, United States Code. 

18 (c) DURATION.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise pro20 vided in this subsection, the program shall be carried 

21 out during the three-year period beginning on the 

22 date of the commencement of the program. 

23 (2) CONTINUATION.—Subject to paragraph (3), 

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1 tional two-year period as the Secretary considers ap2 propriate. 

3 (3) TERMINATION.—The program may not op4 erate after the date that is five years after the date 

5 of the commencement of the program. 

6 (d) SCOPE OF SERVICES AND PROGRAM.—Under the 

7 program, the Secretary shall provide covered individuals 

8 with integrated, comprehensive services, including the fol9 lowing: 

10 (1) Assisted living, group home care, or such 

11 other similar services as the Secretary considers ap12 propriate. 

13 (2) Transportation services. 

14 (3) Such other services as the Secretary con15 siders appropriate for the care of covered individuals 

16 under the program. 

17 (e) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the 

18 program, the Secretary shall— 

19 (1) inform all covered individuals of the services 

20 available under the program; 

21 (2) enter into agreements with appropriate pro22 viders of assisted living, group home care, or other 

23 similar services for provision of services under the 

24 program; and 


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1 (3) determine the appropriate number of cov2 ered individuals to be enrolled in the program and 

3 criteria for such enrollment. 

4 (f) REPORTS.— 

5 (1) PRELIMINARY REPORTS.— 

6 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

7 after the date of the commencement of the pro8 gram and, if the program is continued under 

9 subsection (c)(2), not later than three years 

10 after the date of the commencement of the pro11 gram, the Secretary shall submit to the Com12 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 

13 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

14 House of Representatives a report on the pro15 gram. 

16 (B) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted 

17 under subparagraph (A) shall include the fol18 lowing: 

19 (i) A description of the implementa20 tion and operation of the program. 

21 (ii) The number of covered individuals 

22 receiving benefits under the program. 

23 (iii) An analysis that compares the 

24 costs of furnishing assisted living, group 


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1 home care, or similar service with the costs 

2 of furnishing nursing home care. 

3 (iv) An analysis of the costs and bene4 fits under the program. 

5 (v) The findings and conclusions of 

6 the Secretary with respect to the program. 

7 (vi) Such recommendations for the 

8 continuation or expansion of the program 

9 as the Secretary may have. 

10 (2) FINAL REPORT.— 

11 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 

12 days after the completion of the program, the 

13 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 

14 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com15 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

16 Representatives a report on the program. 

17 (B) CONTENTS.—The report submitted 

18 under subparagraph (A) shall include the fol19 lowing: 

20 (i) The findings and conclusions of 

21 the Secretary with respect to the program. 

22 (ii) Such recommendations for the 

23 continuation or expansion of the program 

24 as the Secretary may have. 


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1 (g) FUNDING.—Amounts to carry out the program 

2 shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise 

3 made available for the furnishing of nursing home care 

4 under chapter 18 of title 38, United States Code. 

5 (h) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

6 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact7 ment of this Act. 

8 SEC. 109. PROGRAM ON GRIEF COUNSELING IN RETREAT 

9 SETTINGS FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES OF MEM10 BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO DIE 

11 WHILE SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE 

12 ARMED FORCES. 

13 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 

15 180 days after the date on which this section takes 

16 effect, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 

17 out, through the Readjustment Counseling Service of 

18 the Veterans Health Administration, a program to 

19 assess the feasibility and advisability of providing 

20 grief counseling services described in subsection (b) 

21 in group retreat settings to surviving spouses of 

22 members of the Armed Forces who die while serving 

23 on active duty in the Armed Forces who would, as 

24 determined by the Readjustment Counseling Service, 


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1 benefit from the services provided under the pro2 gram. 

3 (2) PARTICIPATION AT ELECTION OF SUR4 VIVING SPOUSE.—The participation of a surviving 

5 spouse in the program under this section shall be at 

6 the election of the surviving spouse. 

7 (b) COVERED SERVICES.—The services provided to a 

8 surviving spouse under the program shall include the fol9 lowing: 

10 (1) Information and counseling on coping with 

11 grief. 

12 (2) Information about benefits and services 

13 available to surviving spouses under laws adminis14 tered by the Secretary. 

15 (3) Such other information and counseling as 

16 the Secretary considers appropriate to assist a sur17 viving spouse under the program with adjusting to 

18 the death of a spouse. 

19 (c) EVENTS.—The Secretary shall carry out the pro20 gram at not fewer than six events as follows: 

21 (1) Three events at which surviving spouses 

22 with dependent children are encouraged to bring 

23 their children. 


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1 (2) Three events at which surviving spouses 

2 with dependent children are not encouraged to bring 

3 their children. 

4 (d) DURATION.—The program shall be carried out 

5 during the two-year period beginning on the date of the 

6 commencement of the program. 

7 (e) REPORTS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

9 after the completion of the first year of the program 

10 and not later than 180 days after the completion of 

11 the program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 

12 a report on the program. 

13 (2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 

14 paragraph (1) shall contain the findings and conclu15 sions of the Secretary as a result of the program, 

16 and shall include such recommendations for the con17 tinuation or expansion of the program as the Sec18 retary considers appropriate. 

19 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘active 

20 duty’’, ‘‘Armed Forces’’, and ‘‘surviving spouse’’ have the 

21 meanings given such terms in section 101 of title 38, 

22 United States Code. 

23 (g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

24 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact25 ment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 110. PROGRAM EVALUATION ON SURVIVORS’ AND DE2 PENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AU3 THORITIES. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

5 shall enter into a contract with an appropriate private sec6 tor entity to conduct a program evaluation of the authori7 ties for survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance 

8 under chapter 35 of title 38, United States Code. 

9 (b) REPORT.—Not later than six months after the 

10 entry into the contract required by subsection (a), the Sec11 retary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

12 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

13 the House of Representatives a report setting forth the 

14 results of the program evaluation conducted pursuant to 

15 the contract, together with such comments on the results 

16 of the program evaluation as the Secretary considers ap17 propriate. 

18 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

19 one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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1 TITLE II—EDUCATION MATTERS 

2 SEC. 201. APPROVAL OF COURSES OF EDUCATION PRO3 VIDED BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER 

4 LEARNING FOR PURPOSES OF ALL-VOLUN5 TEER FORCE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 

6 PROGRAM AND POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL AS7 SISTANCE CONDITIONAL ON IN-STATE TUI8 TION RATE FOR VETERANS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3679 is amended by add10 ing at the end the following new subsection: 

11 ‘‘(c)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 

12 chapter and subject to paragraphs (3) through (6), the 

13 Secretary shall disapprove a course of education provided 

14 by a public institution of higher learning to a covered indi15 vidual pursuing a course of education with educational as16 sistance under chapter 30 or 33 of this title while living 

17 in the State in which the public institution of higher learn18 ing is located if the institution charges tuition and fees 

19 for that course for the covered individual at a rate that 

20 is higher than the rate the institution charges for tuition 

21 and fees for that course for residents of the State in which 

22 the institution is located, regardless of the covered individ23 ual’s State of residence. 

24 ‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered indi25 vidual is any individual as follows: 


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1 ‘‘(A) A veteran who was discharged or released 

2 from a period of not fewer than 90 days of service 

3 in the active military, naval, or air service less than 

4 three years before the date of enrollment in the 

5 course concerned. 

6 ‘‘(B) An individual who is entitled to assistance 

7 under section 3311(b)(9) or 3319 of this title by vir8 tue of such individual’s relationship to a veteran de9 scribed in subparagraph (A). 

10 ‘‘(3) If after enrollment in a course of education that 

11 is subject to disapproval under paragraph (1) by reason 

12 of paragraph (2)(A) or (2)(B) a covered individual pur13 sues one or more courses of education at the same public 

14 institution of higher learning while remaining continuously 

15 enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks be16 tween courses, semesters or terms) at that institution of 

17 higher learning, any course so pursued by the covered indi18 vidual at that institution of higher learning while so con19 tinuously enrolled shall also be subject to disapproval 

20 under paragraph (1). 

21 ‘‘(4) It shall not be grounds to disapprove a course 

22 of education under paragraph (1) if a public institution 

23 of higher learning requires a covered individual pursuing 

24 a course of education at the institution to demonstrate an 

25 intent, by means other than satisfying a physical presence 


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1 requirement, to establish residency in the State in which 

2 the institution is located, or to satisfy other requirements 

3 not relating to the establishment of residency, in order to 

4 be charged tuition and fees for that course at a rate that 

5 is equal to or less than the rate the institution charges 

6 for tuition and fees for that course for residents of the 

7 State. 

8 ‘‘(5) The Secretary may waive such requirements of 

9 paragraph (1) as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

10 ‘‘(6) Disapproval under paragraph (1) shall apply 

11 only with respect to educational assistance under chapters 

12 30 and 33 of this title.’’. 

13 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (c) of section 

14 3679 of title 38, United States Code (as added by sub15 section (a) of this section), shall apply with respect to edu16 cational assistance provided for pursuit of programs of 

17 education during academic terms that begin after July 1, 

18 2015, through courses of education that commence on or 

19 after that date. 


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1 SEC. 202. EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY FOR 

2 CERTAIN QUALIFYING WORK-STUDY ACTIVI3 TIES FOR PURPOSES OF THE EDUCATIONAL 

4 ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPART5 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

6 (a) EXTENSION OF EXPIRING CURRENT AUTHOR7 ITY.—Section 3485(a)(4) is amended by striking ‘‘June 

8 30, 2013’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘June 30, 

9 2015’’. 

10 (b) EXPANSION TO OUTREACH SERVICES PROVIDED

11 THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES.—Such section is 

12 further amended by adding at the end the following new 

13 subparagraph: 

14 ‘‘(K) During the period beginning on June 30, 

15 2013, and ending on June 30, 2015, the following 

16 activities carried out at the offices of Members of 

17 Congress for such Members: 

18 ‘‘(i) The distribution of information to 

19 members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and 

20 their dependents about the benefits and services 

21 under laws administered by the Secretary and 

22 other appropriate governmental and nongovern23 mental programs. 

24 ‘‘(ii) The preparation and processing of pa25 pers and other documents, including documents 

26 to assist in the preparation and presentation of 


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1 claims for benefits under laws administered by 

2 the Secretary.’’. 

3 (c) ANNUAL REPORTS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than June 30 of 

5 2014 and 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

6 shall submit to Congress a report on the work-study 

7 allowances paid under paragraph (1) of section 

8 3485(a) of title 38, United States Code, during the 

9 most recent one-year period for qualifying work10 study activities described in paragraph (4) of such 

11 section, as amended by subsections (a) and (b) of 

12 this section. 

13 (2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 

14 paragraph (1) shall include, for the year covered by 

15 such report, the following: 

16 (A) A description of the recipients of such 

17 work-study allowances. 

18 (B) A list of the locations where qualifying 

19 work-study activities were carried out. 

20 (C) A description of the outreach con21 ducted by the Secretary to increase awareness 

22 of the eligibility of such work-study activities 

23 for such work-study allowances. 


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1 SEC. 203. PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO REFERENCES TO GI 

2 BILL AND POST-9/11 GI BILL. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 36 is 

4 amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

5 ‘‘§ 3697B. Prohibition relating to references to GI Bill 

6 and Post-9/11 GI Bill 

7 ‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—(1) No person may, except with 

8 the written permission of the Secretary, use the words and 

9 phrases covered by this subsection in connection with any 

10 promotion, goods, services, or commercial activity in a 

11 manner that reasonably and falsely suggests that such use 

12 is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department 

13 or any component thereof. 

14 ‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, the words and 

15 phrases covered by this subsection are as follows: 

16 ‘‘(A) ‘GI Bill’. 

17 ‘‘(B) ‘Post-9/11 GI Bill’. 

18 ‘‘(3) A determination that a use of one or more words 

19 and phrases covered by this subsection in connection with 

20 a promotion, goods, services, or commercial activity is not 

21 a violation of this subsection may not be made solely on 

22 the ground that such promotion, goods, services, or com23 mercial activity includes a disclaimer of affiliation with the 

24 Department or any component thereof. 

25 ‘‘(b) ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.—(1) 

26 When any person is engaged or is about to engage in an 


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1 act or practice which constitutes or will constitute conduct 

2 prohibited by subsection (a), the Attorney General may 

3 initiate a civil proceeding in a district court of the United 

4 States to enjoin such act or practice. 

5 ‘‘(2) Such court may, at any time before final deter6 mination, enter such restraining orders or prohibitions, or 

7 take such other action as is warranted, to prevent injury 

8 to the United States or to any person or class of persons 

9 for whose protection the action is brought.’’. 

10 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

11 at the beginning of chapter 36 is amended by inserting 

12 after the item relating to section 3697A the following new 

13 item: 

‘‘3697B. Prohibition relating to references to GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill.’’. 

14 SEC. 204. REVIEW OF UTILIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL AS15 SISTANCE TO PURSUE PROGRAMS OF TRAIN16 ING ON THE JOB AND PARTICIPATING EM17 PLOYERS. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 

19 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet20 erans Affairs shall commence a review of— 

21 (1) the utilization of educational assistance 

22 under laws administered by the Secretary of Vet23 erans Affairs to pursue programs of training on the 

24 job (other than programs of apprenticeship); and 


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1 (2) the availability of such programs to individ2 uals seeking to pursue such programs with such edu3 cational assistance. 

4 (b) REPORT.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years 

6 after the date on which the Secretary commences the 

7 review required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall 

8 submit to Congress a report on such review. 

9 (2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para10 graph (1) shall include the following: 

11 (A) The extent of utilization as described 

12 in paragraph (1) of subsection (a). 

13 (B) An assessment of the availability of 

14 programs as described in paragraph (2) of such 

15 subsection. 

16 (C) A description of any barriers the Sec17 retary has identified to greater utilization of 

18 educational assistance for pursuit of a program 

19 of training on the job or availability of such 

20 programs. 

21 (D) Such recommendations for legislative 

22 or administrative action as the Secretary may 

23 have to increase or decrease such utilization or 

24 availability. 


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1 (E) Such other matters as the Secretary 

2 considers appropriate. 

3 SEC. 205. REPORT ON DEBT MANAGEMENT AND COLLEC4 TION. 

5 (a) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the effec6 tive date specified in subsection (c), the Comptroller Gen7 eral of the United States shall submit to the Committee 

8 on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 

9 Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

10 on processes used by the Department of Veterans Affairs 

11 to identify and resolve cases of incorrect payments associ12 ated with educational assistance under chapters 30 and 

13 33 of title 38, United States Code. 

14 (b) ISSUES ADDRESSED.—The report required by 

15 subsection (a) shall, to the extent possible, address the fol16 lowing: 

17 (1) The effectiveness of the processes referred 

18 to in subsection (a) in identifying and resolving in19 correct payments associated with educational assist20 ance under chapters 30 and 33 of title 38, United 

21 States Code. 

22 (2) The accuracy of overpayment information 

23 provided to veterans by the Education Service and 

24 Debt Management Center of the Department. 


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1 (3) How well the Debt Management Center of 

2 the Department communicates and works with vet3 erans to resolve disputed debt amounts. 

4 (4) How the payment and debt collection proc5 esses of the Department compare to comparable pro6 grams in other Federal agencies. 

7 (5) Any recommendations to improve the pay8 ment and debt collection processes of the Depart9 ment that the Comptroller General considers appro10 priate. 

11 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

12 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact13 ment of this Act. 

14 SEC. 206. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTI15 PLIERS. 

16 Section 3684(c) is amended— 

17 (1) by striking ‘‘$12’’ and inserting ‘‘$7’’; and 

18 (2) by striking ‘‘$15’’ and inserting ‘‘$11’’. 


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1 TITLE III—HEALTH CARE 

2 MATTERS 

3 Subtitle A—Expansion and Im4 provements of Benefits Gen5 erally 

6 SEC. 301. ENHANCEMENT OF NATURE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR 

7 CARE OF CERTAIN VETERANS. 

8 (a) NURSING HOME CARE FOR CATEGORY 2 

9 THROUGH 6 VETERANS.—Paragraph (2) of section 

10 1710(a) is amended by striking ‘‘and medical services, and 

11 may furnish nursing home care’’ and inserting ‘‘, medical 

12 services, and nursing home care’’. 

13 (b) CARE FOR CATEGORY 8 VETERANS.—Paragraph 

14 (3) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘may, to the 

15 extent resources and facilities are available and’’ and in16 serting ‘‘shall,’’. 

17 SEC. 302. REQUIREMENT FOR ENROLLMENT IN PATIENT 

18 ENROLLMENT SYSTEM OF THE DEPARTMENT 

19 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF CERTAIN VET20 ERANS ELIGIBLE FOR ENROLLMENT BY LAW 

21 BUT NOT CURRENTLY PERMITTED TO EN22 ROLL. 

23 (a) REQUIREMENT FOR ENROLLMENT.—Section 

24 1705 is amended by adding at the end the following new 

25 subsection: 


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1 ‘‘(d)(1) The Secretary shall provide for the enroll2 ment in the patient enrollment system of veterans speci3 fied in paragraph (2) by not later than December 31, 

4 2014. 

5 ‘‘(2) Veterans specified in this paragraph are as fol6 lows: 

7 ‘‘(A) Veterans with noncompensable service-con8 nected disabilities rated as zero percent disabling 

9 who— 

10 ‘‘(i) are not otherwise permitted to enroll 

11 in the system as of the date of the enactment 

12 of the Comprehensive Veterans Health and 

13 Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restora14 tion Act of 2014; and 

15 ‘‘(ii) as of the date of enrollment under 

16 this section, do not have access to health insur17 ance except through a health exchange estab18 lished pursuant to section 1311 of the Patient 

19 Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 

20 18031). 

21 ‘‘(B) Veterans without service-connected dis22 ability who— 

23 ‘‘(i) are not otherwise permitted to enroll 

24 in the system as of the date of the enactment 

25 of the Comprehensive Veterans Health and 


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1 Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restora2 tion Act of 2014; and 

3 ‘‘(ii) as of the date of enrollment under 

4 this section, do not have access to health insur5 ance except through a health exchange estab6 lished pursuant to section 1311 of the Patient 

7 Protection and Affordable Care Act. 

8 ‘‘(3) A veteran who, after enrolling in the patient en9 rollment system pursuant to this subsection, obtains ac10 cess to health insurance other than through a health ex11 change shall remain enrolled in the patient enrollment sys12 tem notwithstanding obtaining access to such health in13 surance. 

14 ‘‘(4) A veteran enrolled in the patient enrollment sys15 tem pursuant to this subsection shall maintain the priority 

16 for care of the veteran at the time of enrollment unless 

17 and until a change in circumstances of the veteran results 

18 in a higher priority for care of the veteran under sub19 section (a).’’. 

20 (b) VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR ENROLL21 MENT.— 

22 (1) USE OF INFORMATION ON HEALTH INSUR23 ANCE COVERAGE.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 53 is amended 

2 by inserting after section 5318 the following 

3 new section: 

4 ‘‘§ 5319. Review of reporting of health insurance cov5 erage 

6 ‘‘The Secretary shall notify each veteran who enrolls 

7 under subsection (d) of section 1705 of this title in the 

8 patient enrollment system of veterans under such section 

9 that information on the veteran’s access to health insur10 ance that is furnished to the Secretary for purposes of 

11 such enrollment may be compared with information ob12 tained by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 

13 6103(l)(23) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.’’. 

14 (B) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of 

15 sections at the beginning of chapter 53 is 

16 amended by adding at the end the following 

17 new item: 

‘‘5319. Review of reporting of health insurance coverage.’’. 

18 (2) DISCLOSURE OF RETURN INFORMATION BY

19 INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.—Section 6103(l) of 

20 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 

21 adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

22 ‘‘(23) DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN RETURN IN23 FORMATION FOR VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF

24 VETERANS FOR ENROLLMENT IN DEPARTMENT OF


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1 VETERANS AFFAIRS PATIENT ENROLLMENT SYS2 TEM.— 

3 ‘‘(A) RETURN INFORMATION FROM INTER4 NAL REVENUE SERVICE.—The Secretary shall, 

5 upon written request, disclose current return in6 formation from returns under section 6055 with 

7 respect to minimum essential coverage of indi8 viduals to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 

9 the purposes of verifying the eligibility of vet10 erans for enrollment in the patient enrollment 

11 system of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

12 under section 1705(d) of title 38. 

13 ‘‘(B) RESTRICTION ON DISCLOSURE.—The 

14 Secretary shall disclose return information 

15 under subparagraph (A) only for purposes of, 

16 and to the extent necessary in, verifying the eli17 gibility of veterans to enroll in the patient en18 rollment system described in that subpara19 graph. 

20 ‘‘(C) RESTRICTION ON USE OF DISCLOSED

21 INFORMATION.—Return information disclosed 

22 under subparagraph (A) may be used by the 

23 Secretary of Veterans Affairs only for the pur24 poses of, and to the extent necessary in, 

25 verifying the eligibility of veterans to enroll in 


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1 the patient enrollment system described in that 

2 subparagraph.’’. 

3 (c) PUBLIC NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT OF EN4 ROLLMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pub5 lish in the Federal Register, and shall make available to 

6 the public on an Internet website of the Department of 

7 Veterans Affairs, a notice regarding the date on which vet8 erans covered by subsection (d) of section 1705 of title 

9 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this 

10 section), may commence enrollment in the patient enroll11 ment system required by that section. 

12 SEC. 303. FURTHER EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY 

13 FOR HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS OF COM14 BAT SERVICE DURING CERTAIN PERIODS OF 

15 HOSTILITIES AND WAR. 

16 Section 1710(e)(3) is amended— 

17 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the date 

18 that is five years before the date of the enactment 

19 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

20 Year 2008, after a period of five years’’ and insert21 ing ‘‘January 27, 2003, after a period of 10 years’’; 

22 and 

23 (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘more 

24 than five years’’ and all that follows and inserting 

25 ‘‘before January 28, 2003, and who did not enroll 


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1 in the patient enrollment system under section 1705 

2 of this title before January 28, 2008, after January 

3 27, 2018.’’. 

4 SEC. 304. EXTENSION TO ALL VETERANS WITH A SERIOUS 

5 SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OF ELIGI6 BILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY CARE7 GIVER PROGRAM. 

8 Section 1720G(a)(2)(B) is amended by striking ‘‘on 

9 or after September 11, 2001’’. 

10 SEC. 305. IMPROVED ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE IMMUNIZA11 TIONS FOR VETERANS. 

12 (a) INCLUSION OF RECOMMENDED ADULT IMMUNI13 ZATIONS AS MEDICAL SERVICES.— 

14 (1) COVERED BENEFIT.—Subparagraph (F) of 

15 section 1701(9) is amended to read as follows: 

16 ‘‘(F) immunizations against infectious dis17 eases, including each immunization on the rec18 ommended adult immunization schedule at the 

19 time such immunization is indicated on that 

20 schedule;’’. 

21 (2) RECOMMENDED ADULT IMMUNIZATION

22 SCHEDULE DEFINED.—Section 1701 is amended by 

23 adding after paragraph (9) the following new para24 graph: 


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1 ‘‘(10) The term ‘recommended adult immuniza2 tion schedule’ means the schedule established (and 

3 periodically reviewed and, as appropriate, revised) by 

4 the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices 

5 established by the Secretary of Health and Human 

6 Services and delegated to the Centers for Disease 

7 Control and Prevention.’’. 

8 (b) INCLUSION OF RECOMMENDED ADULT IMMUNI9 ZATIONS IN ANNUAL REPORT.—Section 1704(1)(A) is 

10 amended— 

11 (1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

12 (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the 

13 end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

14 (3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following 

15 new clause: 

16 ‘‘(iii) to provide veterans each immu17 nization on the recommended adult immu18 nization schedule at the time such immuni19 zation is indicated on that schedule.’’. 

20 (c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years 

22 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec23 retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Com24 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 

25 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 


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1 Representatives a report on the development and im2 plementation by the Department of Veterans Affairs 

3 of quality measures and metrics, including targets 

4 for compliance, to ensure that veterans receiving 

5 medical services under chapter 17 of title 38, United 

6 States Code, receive each immunization on the rec7 ommended adult immunization schedule at the time 

8 such immunization is indicated on that schedule. 

9 (2) RECOMMENDED ADULT IMMUNIZATION

10 SCHEDULE DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term 

11 ‘‘recommended adult immunization schedule’’ has 

12 the meaning given that term in section 1701(10) of 

13 title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 

14 (a)(2). 

15 (3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 

16 take effect on the date that is one year after the 

17 date of the enactment of this Act. 

18 SEC. 306. EXPANSION OF PROVISION OF CHIROPRACTIC 

19 CARE AND SERVICES TO VETERANS. 

20 (a) PROGRAM FOR PROVISION OF CHIROPRACTIC

21 CARE AND SERVICES TO VETERANS.—Section 204(c) of 

22 the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Pro23 grams Enhancement Act of 2001 (Public Law 107–135; 

24 115 Stat. 2459; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended— 


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1 (1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The program’’; 

2 and 

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

4 paragraph: 

5 ‘‘(2) The program shall be carried out at not fewer 

6 than two medical centers or clinics in each Veterans Inte7 grated Service Network by not later than one year after 

8 the effective date specified in section 306(c) of the Com9 prehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Re10 tirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014, and at not fewer 

11 than 50 percent of all medical centers in each Veterans 

12 Integrated Service Network by not later than two years 

13 after such effective date.’’. 

14 (b) EXPANDED CHIROPRACTOR SERVICES AVAIL15 ABLE TO VETERANS.— 

16 (1) MEDICAL SERVICES.—Paragraph (6) of sec17 tion 1701 is amended by adding at the end the fol18 lowing new subparagraph: 

19 ‘‘(H) Chiropractic services.’’. 

20 (2) REHABILITATIVE SERVICES.—Paragraph 

21 (8) of such section is amended by inserting ‘‘chiro22 practic,’’ after ‘‘counseling,’’. 

23 (3) PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES.—Para24 graph (9) of such section is amended— 


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1 (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) 

2 through (K) as subparagraphs (G) through (L), 

3 respectively; and 

4 (B) by inserting after subparagraph (E) 

5 the following new subparagraph (F): 

6 ‘‘(F) periodic and preventive chiropractic 

7 examinations and services;’’. 

8 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend9 ments made by this section shall take effect on the date 

10 that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 

11 Act. 

12 SEC. 307. MODIFICATION OF COMMENCEMENT DATE OF PE13 RIOD OF SERVICE AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH 

14 CAROLINA, FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR HOSPITAL 

15 CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES IN CONNEC16 TION WITH EXPOSURE TO CONTAMINATED 

17 WATER. 

18 (a) MODIFICATION.—Section 1710(e)(1)(F) is 

19 amended by striking ‘‘January 1, 1957,’’ and inserting 

20 ‘‘August 1, 1953 (or such earlier date for the commence21 ment of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune 

22 as the Secretary, in consultation with the Agency for Toxic 

23 Substances and Disease Registry, shall specify),’’. 

24 (b) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Af25 fairs shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of any 


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1 earlier date for the commencement of exposure to contami2 nated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for pur3 poses of section 1710(e)(1)(F) of title 38, United States 

4 Code, as amended by subsection (a). 

5 SEC. 308. EXPANSION OF EMERGENCY TREATMENT REIM6 BURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN VETERANS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1725(b)(2)(B) is amend8 ed— 

9 (1) by inserting ‘‘(i)’’ after ‘‘(B)’’; 

10 (2) by striking the period at the end and insert11 ing ‘‘; or’’; and 

12 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

13 ‘‘(ii) the veteran was unable to receive care 

14 under this chapter within such 24-month period be15 cause of a waiting period imposed by the Depart16 ment with respect to a new patient examination of 

17 such veteran.’’. 

18 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

19 subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is one 

20 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 309. RELOCATION AND RESTATEMENT OF LIMITATION 

2 ON REQUIREMENTS TO FURNISH CERTAIN 

3 CARE AND SERVICES CONTINGENT ON THE 

4 AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

5 (a) RELOCATION AND RESTATEMENT.—Section 1707 

6 is amended by adding at the end the following new sub7 section: 

8 ‘‘(c)(1) The requirements specified in paragraph (2) 

9 shall be effective in any fiscal year only to the extent and 

10 in the amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts 

11 for such purposes. 

12 ‘‘(2) The requirements specified in this paragraph are 

13 as follows: 

14 ‘‘(A) The requirement in paragraphs (1), (2), 

15 and (3) of section 1710(a) of this title that the Sec16 retary provide hospital care and medical services. 

17 ‘‘(B) The requirement in section 1710A(a) of 

18 this title that the Secretary provide nursing home 

19 care. 

20 ‘‘(C) The requirement in section 1710B of this 

21 title that the Secretary provide a program of ex22 tended care services. 

23 ‘‘(D) The requirement in section 1745 of this 

24 title that the Secretary provide nursing home care 

25 and prescription medicines to veterans with service26 connected disabilities in State homes.’’. 


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1 (b) CONFORMING REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED LIMITA2 TION.—Section 1710(a) is amended— 

3 (1) by striking paragraph (4); and 

4 (2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para5 graph (4). 

6 SEC. 310. MODIFICATION OF DETERMINATION OF ELIGI7 BILITY OF VETERANS FOR TREATMENT AS A 

8 LOW-INCOME FAMILY FOR PURPOSES OF EN9 ROLLMENT IN THE PATIENT ENROLLMENT 

10 SYSTEM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

11 AFFAIRS. 

12 (a) AREAS OF RESIDENCE.—The Secretary of Vet13 erans Affairs shall modify the areas in which veterans re14 side as specified for purposes of determining whether vet15 erans qualify for treatment as low-income families for en16 rollment in the patient enrollment system of the Depart17 ment of Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a)(7) of title 

18 38, United States Code, to meet the requirements as fol19 lows: 

20 (1) Any area so specified shall be within only 

21 one State. 

22 (2) Any area so specified shall be co-extensive 

23 with one or more counties (or similar political sub24 divisions) in the State concerned. 


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1 (b) VARIABLE INCOME THRESHOLDS.—The Sec2 retary shall modify the thresholds for income as specified 

3 for purposes of determining whether veterans qualify for 

4 treatment as low-income families for enrollment in the pa5 tient enrollment system referred to in subsection (a) to 

6 meet the requirements as follows: 

7 (1) There shall be one income threshold for 

8 each State, equal to the highest income threshold 

9 among the counties within such State. 

10 (2) The calculation of the highest income 

11 threshold of a county shall be consistent with the 

12 calculation used for purposes of section 3(b) of the 

13 United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 

14 1437a(b)). 

15 (3) The timing and methodology for imple16 menting any modifications in geographic income 

17 thresholds pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be deter18 mined by the Secretary in such a manner as to per19 mit the Department to build capacity for enrolling 

20 such additional veterans in the patient enrollment 

21 system of the Department as become eligible for en22 rollment as a result of such modifications, except 

23 that all required modifications shall be completed 

24 not later than five years after date of the enactment 

25 of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 311. EXTENSION OF SUNSET DATE REGARDING TRANS2 PORTATION OF INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM 

3 FACILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

4 AFFAIRS AND REQUIREMENT OF REPORT. 

5 (a) EXTENSION OF SUNSET DATE.—Subsection 

6 (a)(2) of section 111A is amended by striking ‘‘December 

7 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 

8 (b) FUNDING AVAILABLE.—Such section is further 

9 amended by adding at the end the following new sub10 section: 

11 ‘‘(c) FUNDING.—There is hereby authorized to be ap12 propriated for each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015 for the 

13 Department, $4,000,000 to carry out this section.’’. 

14 (c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

16 to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 

17 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep18 resentatives a report on— 

19 (1) the efforts of the Secretary to carry out the 

20 transportation services required by section 111A(a) 

21 of title 38, United States Code; 

22 (2) the utilization of those services by covered 

23 veterans; and 

24 (3) the feasibility and advisability of the con25 tinuation of the provision of such services after Sep26 tember 30, 2015. 


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1 SEC. 312. COVERAGE OF COSTS OF CARE FOR VETERANS AT 

2 MEDICAL FOSTER HOMES. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—In conducting the medical foster 

4 home program pursuant to section 17.73 of title 38, Code 

5 of Federal Regulations, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

6 may cover the costs associated with the care of veterans 

7 at medical foster homes. 

8 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) shall take ef9 fect on the date that is one year after the date of the en10 actment of this Act. 

11 SEC. 313. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF PILOT PRO12 GRAM ON ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES FOR 

13 VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. 

14 (a) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.—Subsection (a) of 

15 section 1705 of the National Defense Authorization Act 

16 for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 38 U.S.C. 

17 1710C note) is amended by striking ‘‘a five-year’’ and in18 serting ‘‘an eight-year’’. 

19 (b) MODIFICATION OF LOCATIONS.—Subsection (b) 

20 of such section is amended— 

21 (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para22 graph (3); and 

23 (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 

24 following new paragraphs: 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The pilot program shall be 

2 carried out at locations selected by the Secretary for 

3 purposes of the pilot program. 

4 ‘‘(2) LOCATED IN SAME REGION AS

5 POLYTRAUMA CENTERS.—Of the locations selected 

6 under paragraph (1), at least one location shall be 

7 in each health care region of the Veterans Health 

8 Administration of the Department of Veterans Af9 fairs that contains a polytrauma center of the De10 partment of Veterans Affairs.’’. 

11 (c) MODIFICATION OF REPORT REQUIREMENTS.— 

12 Subsection (e) of such section is amended to read as fol13 lows: 

14 ‘‘(e) REPORTS.— 

15 ‘‘(1) ANNUAL REPORT.— 

16 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two 

17 years after the date of the enactment of the 

18 Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits 

19 and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 

20 2014, and not later than September 30 each 

21 year thereafter until 2018, the Secretary shall 

22 submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

23 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ 

24 Affairs of the House of Representatives a re25 port on the pilot program. 


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1 ‘‘(B) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted 

2 under subparagraph (A) shall include the fol3 lowing: 

4 ‘‘(i) The number of individuals that 

5 participated in the pilot program during 

6 the year preceding the submission of the 

7 report. 

8 ‘‘(ii) The number of individuals that 

9 successfully completed the pilot program 

10 during the year preceding the submission 

11 of the report. 

12 ‘‘(iii) The degree to which pilot pro13 gram participants and family members of 

14 pilot program participants were satisfied 

15 with the pilot program. 

16 ‘‘(iv) The interim findings and conclu17 sions of the Secretary with respect to the 

18 success of the pilot program and rec19 ommendations for improvement. 

20 ‘‘(2) FINAL REPORT.— 

21 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 

22 days after the completion of the pilot program, 

23 the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 

24 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com25 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 


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1 Representatives a final report on the pilot pro2 gram. 

3 ‘‘(B) ELEMENTS.—The final report re4 quired by subparagraph (A) shall include the 

5 following: 

6 ‘‘(i) A description of the pilot pro7 gram. 

8 ‘‘(ii) An assessment of the utility of 

9 the activities under the pilot program in 

10 enhancing the rehabilitation, quality of life, 

11 and community reintegration of veterans 

12 with traumatic brain injury, including com13 plex mild traumatic brain injury. 

14 ‘‘(iii) Such recommendations as the 

15 Secretary considers appropriate regarding 

16 improving the pilot program.’’. 

17 (d) MODIFICATION OF DEFINITIONS.— 

18 (1) COMMUNITY-BASED BRAIN INJURY RESI19 DENTIAL REHABILITATIVE CARE SERVICES.—Such 

20 section is further amended— 

21 (A) in the section heading, by striking 

22 ‘‘ASSISTED LIVING’’and inserting ‘‘COMMU23 NITY-BASED BRAIN INJURY RESIDENTIAL

24 REHABILITATIVE CARE’’; 


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1 (B) in subsection (c), in the subsection 

2 heading, by striking ‘‘ASSISTED LIVING’’ and 

3 inserting ‘‘COMMUNITY-BASED BRAIN INJURY

4 RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATIVE CARE’’; 

5 (C) by striking ‘‘assisted living’’ each place 

6 it appears, and inserting ‘‘community-based 

7 brain injury rehabilitative care’’; and 

8 (D) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘and 

9 personal care’’ and inserting ‘‘rehabilitation, 

10 and personal care’’. 

11 (2) ELIGIBLE VETERAN.—Subsection (f)(3) of 

12 such section is amended— 

13 (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘; 

14 and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 

15 (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the 

16 period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

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

18 subparagraph: 

19 ‘‘(E) has a traumatic brain injury that is 

20 classified as complex-mild to severe.’’. 

21 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

22 authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Vet23 erans Affairs for fiscal year 2015 $46,000,000 to carry 

24 out the pilot program under section 1705 of the National 

25 Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public 


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1 Law 110–181; 38 U.S.C. 1710C note), as amended by this 

2 section. The amount so authorized to be appropriated shall 

3 be available for obligation for the three-year period begin4 ning on the date that is one year after the date of the 

5 enactment of this Act. 

6 (f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

7 this section shall take effect on October 1, 2014. 

8 SEC. 314. PROGRAM ON HEALTH PROMOTION FOR OVER9 WEIGHT AND OBESE VETERANS THROUGH 

10 SUPPORT OF FITNESS CENTER MEMBER11 SHIPS. 

12 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Commencing not later 

13 than 180 days after the date on which this section takes 

14 effect, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, through the 

15 National Center for Preventive Health, carry out a pro16 gram to assess the feasibility and advisability of promoting 

17 health in covered veterans, including achieving a healthy 

18 weight and reducing risks of chronic disease, through sup19 port for fitness center membership. 

20 (b) COVERED VETERANS.—For purposes of this sec21 tion, a covered veteran is any veteran who— 

22 (1) is enrolled in the system of annual patient 

23 enrollment established and operated by the Secretary 

24 under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code; 


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1 (2) is determined by a clinician of the Depart2 ment of Veterans Affairs to be overweight or obese 

3 as of the date of the commencement of the program; 

4 and 

5 (3) resides in a location that is more than 15 

6 minutes driving distance from a fitness center at a 

7 facility of the Department that would otherwise be 

8 available to the veteran for at least eight hours per 

9 day during five or more days per week. 

10 (c) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—The program shall be 

11 carried out during the two-year period beginning on the 

12 date of the commencement of the program. 

13 (d) LOCATIONS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program, 

15 the Secretary shall select— 

16 (A) not less than five medical centers of 

17 the Department at which the Secretary shall 

18 cover the full reasonable cost of a fitness center 

19 membership for covered veterans within the 

20 catchment area of such centers; and 

21 (B) not less than five medical centers of 

22 the Department at which the Secretary shall 

23 cover half the reasonable cost of a fitness center 

24 membership for covered veterans within the 

25 catchment area of such centers. 


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1 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting locations 

2 for the program, the Secretary shall consider the 

3 feasibility and advisability of selecting locations in 

4 the following areas: 

5 (A) Rural areas. 

6 (B) Areas that are not in close proximity 

7 to an active duty military installation. 

8 (C) Areas in different geographic locations. 

9 (e) PARTICIPATION.— 

10 (1) MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.— 

11 The number of covered veterans who may participate 

12 in the program at each location selected under sub13 section (d) may not exceed 100. 

14 (2) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—The partici15 pation of a covered veteran in the program shall be 

16 at the election of the covered veteran in consultation 

17 with a clinician of the Department. 

18 (f) MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para20 graph (2), in carrying out the program, the Sec21 retary shall pay the following: 

22 (A) The full reasonable cost of a fitness 

23 center membership for covered veterans within 

24 the catchment area of centers selected under 


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1 subsection (d)(1)(A) who are participating in 

2 the program. 

3 (B) Half the reasonable cost of a fitness 

4 center membership for covered veterans within 

5 the catchment area of centers selected under 

6 subsection (d)(1)(B) who are participating in 

7 the program. 

8 (2) LIMITATION.—Payment for a fitness center 

9 membership of a covered veteran may not exceed 

10 $50 per month of membership. 

11 (g) REPORTS.— 

12 (1) PERIODIC REPORTS.—Not later than 90 

13 days after the date of the commencement of the pro14 gram and not less frequently than once every 90 

15 days thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 

16 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 

17 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

18 Representatives a report on activities carried out to 

19 implement the program, including outreach activities 

20 to veterans and community organizations. 

21 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 

22 after the date of the completion of the program, the 

23 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Vet24 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 


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1 Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a 

2 report on the program detailing— 

3 (A) the findings and conclusions of the 

4 Secretary as a result of the program; and 

5 (B) recommendations for the continuation 

6 or expansion of the program. 

7 (h) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

8 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact9 ment of this Act. 

10 SEC. 315. PROGRAM ON HEALTH PROMOTION FOR VET11 ERANS THROUGH ESTABLISHMENT OF DE12 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FITNESS 

13 FACILITIES. 

14 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Commencing not later 

15 than 180 days after the date on which this section takes 

16 effect, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out 

17 a program to assess the feasibility and advisability of pro18 moting health in covered veterans, including achieving a 

19 healthy weight, through establishment of Department of 

20 Veterans Affairs fitness facilities. 

21 (b) COVERED VETERANS.—For purposes of this sec22 tion, a covered veteran is any veteran who is enrolled in 

23 the system of annual patient enrollment established and 

24 operated by the Secretary under section 1705 of title 38, 

25 United States Code. 


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1 (c) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—The program shall be 

2 carried out during the three-year period beginning on the 

3 date of the commencement of the program. 

4 (d) LOCATIONS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 

6 out the program by establishing fitness facilities in 

7 Department facilities as follows: 

8 (A) In not fewer than five Department of 

9 Veterans Affairs medical centers selected by the 

10 Secretary for purposes of the program. 

11 (B) In not fewer than five outpatient clin12 ics of the Department selected by the Secretary 

13 for purposes of the program. 

14 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting locations 

15 for the program, the Secretary shall consider the 

16 feasibility and advisability of selecting locations in 

17 the following areas: 

18 (A) Rural areas. 

19 (B) Areas that are not in close proximity 

20 to an active duty military installation. 

21 (C) Areas in different geographic locations. 

22 (e) LIMITATION ON EXPENSES.—In establishing and 

23 supporting a fitness facility in a facility of the Department 

24 under the program, the Secretary may expend amounts 

25 as follows: 


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1 (1) For establishment and support of a fitness 

2 facility in a Department of Veterans Affairs medical 

3 center, not more than $60,000. 

4 (2) For establishment and support of a fitness 

5 facility in an outpatient clinic of the Department, 

6 not more than $40,000. 

7 (f) REPURPOSING OF PHYSICAL SPACE AND PUR8 CHASES OF EQUIPMENT.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (e), 

10 the Secretary may, in carrying out the program, re11 purpose existing physical space of the Department 

12 and purchase such fitness equipment and supplies as 

13 the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of 

14 the program. 

15 (2) REPURPOSING EXCEPTION.—Existing phys16 ical space used for the direct delivery of health care 

17 to patients may not be repurposed under paragraph 

18 (1). 

19 (g) PROHIBITION ON ASSESSMENT OF USER FEES.— 

20 The Secretary may not assess a fee upon a covered veteran 

21 for use of a fitness facility established under the program. 

22 (h) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—The participation 

23 of a covered veteran in the program shall be at the election 

24 of the covered veteran. 

25 (i) REPORTS.— 


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1 (1) PERIODIC REPORTS.—Not later than 90 

2 days after the date of the commencement of the pro3 gram and not less frequently than once every 90 

4 days thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 

5 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 

6 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

7 Representatives a report on activities carried out to 

8 implement the program, including outreach activities 

9 to veterans and community organizations. 

10 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 

11 after the date of the completion of the program, the 

12 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Vet13 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 

14 Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a 

15 report on the program detailing— 

16 (A) the findings and conclusions of the 

17 Secretary as a result of the program; and 

18 (B) recommendations for the continuation 

19 or expansion of the program. 

20 (j) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

21 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact22 ment of this Act. 


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1 Subtitle B—Health Care 

2 Administration 

3 SEC. 321. EXTENSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF4 FAIRS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOLAR5 SHIP PROGRAM. 

6 Section 7619 is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 

7 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2019’’. 

8 SEC. 322. EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF PROSTHETIC 

9 AND ORTHOTIC CARE FOR VETERANS. 

10 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OR EXPANSION OF ADVANCED

11 DEGREE PROGRAMS TO EXPAND AVAILABILITY OF PRO12 VISION OF CARE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

13 work with institutions of higher education to develop part14 nerships for the establishment or expansion of programs 

15 of advanced degrees in prosthetics and orthotics in order 

16 to improve and enhance the availability of high quality 

17 prosthetic and orthotic care for veterans. 

18 (b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 

19 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

20 to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 

21 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep22 resentatives a report setting forth a plan for carrying out 

23 subsection (a). The Secretary shall develop the plan in 

24 consultation with veterans service organizations, institu25 tions of higher education with accredited degree programs 


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1 in prosthetics and orthotics, and representatives of the 

2 prosthetics and orthotics field. 

3 (c) FUNDING.— 

4 (1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

5 There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for 

6 fiscal year 2015 for the Department of Veterans Af7 fairs, $10,000,000 to carry out this section. 

8 (2) AVAILABILITY.—The amount authorized to 

9 be appropriated by paragraph (1) shall remain avail10 able for expenditure until September 30, 2017. 

11 SEC. 323. CONTRACTING FOR HEALTH CARE. 

12 (a) USE OF CAPITATION-BASED RESOURCE ALLOCA13 TION IN ENTRY INTO CONTRACTS.—In entering into con14 tracts for the furnishing of health care services under the 

15 laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

16 (including under this title and the amendments made by 

17 this title), the Secretary shall use the capitation-based re18 source allocation model of the Department of Veterans Af19 fairs. 

20 (b) PRIORITY FOR CONTRACTS WITH CERTAIN ENTI21 TIES.—In entering into contracts for the furnishing of 

22 health care services under the laws administered by the 

23 Secretary, the Secretary shall afford a priority for entry 

24 into contracts for Federally Qualified Health Centers 


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1 (FQHCs) and Community Health Centers (CHCs), when2 ever appropriate. 

3 (c) BEST PRACTICES.—The Secretary shall modify 

4 the guidance of the Department of Veterans Affairs on 

5 contracts for health care services in order to provide for 

6 the incorporation into such contracts of standardized re7 quirements for such best practices under such contracts, 

8 including the following: 

9 (1) Requirements that contracts provide the 

10 Department on a regular basis information on 

11 scheduling and appearance for appointments for 

12 health care on per-patient basis. 

13 (2) Such other best practices requirements as 

14 the Secretary considers appropriate. 

15 (d) FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER DE16 FINED.—In this section the term ‘‘Federally Qualified 

17 Health Center’’ means a Federally-qualified health center 

18 as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security 

19 Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)). 

20 SEC. 324. LIMITATION ON EXPANSION OF DIALYSIS PILOT 

21 PROGRAM. 

22 (a) LIMITATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

23 shall not expand the dialysis pilot program to, or expand 

24 the capacity to provide additional dialysis care at, any faVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 cility owned or leased by the Department that is not an 

2 initial facility until after the date that— 

3 (1) the Secretary has implemented the dialysis 

4 pilot program at each initial facility for a period of 

5 not less than two years; 

6 (2) an independent analysis of the dialysis pilot 

7 program has been conducted at each initial facility, 

8 including a consideration and comparison of factors 

9 including— 

10 (A) the ability of veterans to access care 

11 under the dialysis pilot program; 

12 (B) the quality of care provided under the 

13 dialysis pilot program; and 

14 (C) the satisfaction of veterans who have 

15 received treatment under the dialysis pilot pro16 gram; and 

17 (3) the report required by subsection (b) has 

18 been submitted. 

19 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 

20 of the completion of the independent analysis required by 

21 subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall submit to Congress 

22 a report that— 

23 (1) includes the results of that independent 

24 analysis; and 


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1 (2) addresses any recommendations with re2 spect to the dialysis pilot program provided in a re3 port prepared by the Government Accountability Of4 fice. 

5 (c) UTILIZATION OF EXISTING DIALYSIS RE6 SOURCES.—In order to increase the access of veterans to 

7 dialysis care and decrease the travel time of such veterans 

8 to receive such care, the Secretary shall fully utilize exist9 ing dialysis resources of the Department, including any 

10 community dialysis provider with which the Department 

11 has entered into a contract or agreement for the provision 

12 of such care. 

13 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

14 (1) DIALYSIS PILOT PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘di15 alysis pilot program’’ means the pilot demonstration 

16 program established by the Secretary in 2009 to 

17 provide dialysis care to patients at certain outpatient 

18 facilities operated by the Department of Veterans 

19 Affairs. 

20 (2) INITIAL FACILITY.—The term ‘‘initial facil21 ity’’ means one of the four outpatient facilities iden22 tified by the Secretary to participate in the dialysis 

23 pilot program prior to the date of the enactment of 

24 this Act. 


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1 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

2 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact3 ment of this Act. 

4 SEC. 325. REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

5 AFFAIRS POLICY ON REPORTING CASES OF 

6 INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT FACILITIES OF 

7 THE DEPARTMENT. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 73 is 

9 amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

10 ‘‘§ 7330B. Reporting of infectious diseases 

11 ‘‘(a) REPORTING.—The Secretary shall ensure that 

12 the Department has in effect an up-to-date policy on re13 porting a notifiable infectious disease diagnosed at a facil14 ity under the jurisdiction of the Secretary in accordance 

15 with the provisions of State and local law in effect where 

16 such facility is located. 

17 ‘‘(b) NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASE.—For pur18 poses of this section, a notifiable infectious disease is any 

19 infectious disease that is— 

20 ‘‘(1) on the list of nationally notifiable diseases 

21 published by the Council of State and Territorial 

22 Epidemiologists and the Centers for Disease Control 

23 and Prevention; or 

24 ‘‘(2) covered by a provision of law of a State 

25 that requires the reporting of infectious diseases. 


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1 ‘‘(c) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—The Secretary 

2 shall develop performance measures to assess whether and 

3 to what degree the directors of Veterans Integrated Serv4 ice Networks and Department medical centers are com5 plying with the policy required by subsection (a).’’. 

6 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

7 at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by inserting 

8 after the item relating to section 7330A the following new 

9 item: 

‘‘7330B. Reporting of infectious diseases.’’. 

10 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

11 this section shall take effect on the date that is one year 

12 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

13 SEC. 326. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE VETERANS 

14 INTEGRATED SERVICE NETWORKS AND MED15 ICAL CENTERS OF DEPARTMENT OF VET16 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

17 (a) CONTRACT.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

19 Affairs shall seek to enter into a contract with an 

20 independent third-party to perform the services cov21 ered by this section. 

22 (2) TIMING.—The Secretary shall seek to enter 

23 into the contract described in paragraph (1) not 

24 later than 540 days after the date of the enactment 

25 of this Act. 


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1 (b) INDEPENDENT STUDY.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—Under a contract between 

3 the Secretary and an independent third-party under 

4 this section, the third party shall carry out a 

5 study— 

6 (A) to assess the organizational structures 

7 of medical centers of the Department of Vet8 erans Affairs; and 

9 (B) to improve succession planning among 

10 key leadership roles at Veterans Integrated 

11 Service Networks and medical centers of the 

12 Department. 

13 (2) MATTERS STUDIED AND PROPOSED.—In 

14 carrying out the study, the third party shall— 

15 (A) assess whether the organizational 

16 structure of the medical centers of the Depart17 ment is effective for the furnishing of medical 

18 services, addressing issues that arise regarding 

19 the furnishing of medical services, and address20 ing standard business operations; 

21 (B) propose one organizational chart for 

22 Department medical centers with a common set 

23 of base position descriptions; 

24 (C) propose a base set of medical positions 

25 that should be filled to ensure that the health 


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1 care provided to veterans by the Department is 

2 of good quality; and 

3 (D) identify which key leadership positions 

4 at Veterans Integrated Service Networks and 

5 Department medical centers should have succes6 sion plans and propose how to implement such 

7 plans. 

8 (3) TIMING.—The third party shall complete 

9 the study under this section not later than 270 days 

10 after entering into the contract described in sub11 section (a). 

12 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

13 on which the third party completes the study under this 

14 section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 

15 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet16 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

17 on the results of such study. 

18 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

19 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact20 ment of this Act. 

21 SEC. 327. REQUIREMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH NEXT UP22 DATE OF CURRENT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR OF23 FICE OF RURAL HEALTH OF THE DEPART24 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

25 (a) REQUIREMENTS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The first update of the Stra2 tegic Plan Refresh for Fiscal Years 2012 through 

3 2014 of the Office of Rural Health of the Depart4 ment of Veterans Affairs after the date of the enact5 ment of this Act, whether an update or refresh of 

6 such Strategic Plan Refresh or a strategic plan to 

7 supersede such Strategic Plan Refresh, shall be pre8 pared in accordance with this section. 

9 (2) CONSULTATION.—The Director of the Of10 fice of Rural Health shall prepare the update in con11 sultation with the following: 

12 (A) The Director of the Health Care Re13 tention and Recruitment Office of the Depart14 ment. 

15 (B) The Director of the Office of Quality 

16 and Performance of the Department. 

17 (C) The Director of the Office of Care Co18 ordination Services of the Department. 

19 (b) ELEMENTS.—The update described in subsection 

20 (a) shall include, for the period covered by the update, 

21 the following: 

22 (1) Goals and objectives for the recruitment 

23 and retention by the Veterans Health Administra24 tion of health care personnel in rural areas. 


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1 (2) Goals and objectives for ensuring timeliness 

2 and improving quality in the delivery of health care 

3 services by the Veterans Health Administration in 

4 rural areas through contract and fee-basis providers. 

5 (3) Goals and objectives for the implementation, 

6 expansion, and enhanced use of telemedicine services 

7 by the Veterans Health Administration in rural 

8 areas, including through coordination with other ap9 propriate offices of the Department. 

10 (4) Goals and objectives for ensuring the full 

11 and effective use of mobile outpatient clinics by the 

12 Veterans Health Administration for the provision of 

13 health care services in rural areas, including goals 

14 and objectives for the use of such clinics on a fully 

15 mobile basis and for encouraging health care pro16 viders who provide services through such clinics to 

17 do so in rural areas. 

18 (5) Procedures for soliciting from each Vet19 erans Health Administration facility that serves a 

20 rural area the following: 

21 (A) A statement of the clinical capacity of 

22 such facility. 

23 (B) The procedures of such facility in the 

24 event of a medical, surgical, or mental health 


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1 emergency outside the scope of the clinical ca2 pacity of such facility. 

3 (C) The procedures and mechanisms of 

4 such facility for the provision and coordination 

5 of health care for women veterans, including 

6 procedures and mechanisms for coordination 

7 with local hospitals and health care facilities, 

8 oversight of primary care and fee-basis care, 

9 and management of specialty care. 

10 (6) Goals and objectives for the modification of 

11 the funding allocation mechanisms of the Office of 

12 Rural Health in order to ensure that the Office dis13 tributes funds to components of the Department to 

14 best achieve the goals and objectives of the Office 

15 and in a timely manner. 

16 (7) Goals and objectives for the coordination of, 

17 and sharing of resources with respect to, the provi18 sion of health care services to veterans in rural areas 

19 between the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 

20 Department of Defense, the Indian Health Service 

21 of the Department of Health and Human Services, 

22 and other Federal agencies, as appropriate and pru23 dent. 

24 (8) Specific milestones for the achievement of 

25 the goals and objectives developed for the update. 


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1 (9) Procedures for ensuring the effective imple2 mentation of the update. 

3 (c) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 

4 days after the date of the issuance of the update described 

5 in subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

6 transmit the update to Congress, together with such com7 ments and recommendations in connection with the update 

8 as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

9 SEC. 328. REPORT ON PROVISION OF TELEMEDICINE SERV10 ICES. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 

12 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet13 erans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

14 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af15 fairs of the House of Representatives a report on the fol16 lowing: 

17 (1) Issues that may be impeding the provision 

18 by the Department of Veterans Affairs of telemedi19 cine services for veterans, including the following: 

20 (A) Statutory or regulatory restrictions. 

21 (B) Licensure or credentialing issues for 

22 any provider practicing telemedicine with vet23 erans who live in a different State than the pro24 vider. 


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1 (C) Limited broadband access in rural 

2 areas. 

3 (D) Limited information technology re4 sources or capabilities. 

5 (E) Long distances veterans must travel to 

6 access a facility or clinic with telemedicine ca7 pabilities. 

8 (F) Insufficient liability protection for pro9 viders. 

10 (G) Reimbursement issues faced by pro11 viders. 

12 (H) Travel limitations for providers that 

13 are unaffiliated with the Department and are 

14 participating or seeking to participate in a tele15 medicine program of the Department. 

16 (2) Actions taken to address the issues identi17 fied in paragraph (1). 

18 (3) An update on efforts by the Department to 

19 carry out the initiative of teleconsultation for the 

20 provision of remote mental health and traumatic 

21 brain injury assessments required by section 1709A 

22 of title 38, United States Code. 

23 (4) An update on efforts by the Department to 

24 offer training opportunities in telemedicine to med25 ical residents, as required by section 108(b) of the 


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1 Janey Ensminger Act (Public Law 112–154; 38 

2 U.S.C. 7406 note). 

3 (5) An update on efforts by the Department to, 

4 in partnership with primary care providers, install 

5 video cameras and instruments to monitor weight, 

6 blood pressure, and other vital statistics in the 

7 homes of patients. 

8 (b) TELEMEDICINE DEFINED.—In this section, the 

9 term ‘‘telemedicine’’ means the use by a health care pro10 vider of telecommunications to assist in the diagnosis or 

11 treatment of a patient’s medical condition. 

12 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

13 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact14 ment of this Act. 

15 SEC. 329. DESIGNATION OF CORPORAL MICHAEL J. 

16 CRESCENZ DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF17 FAIRS MEDICAL CENTER. 

18 (a) DESIGNATION.—The medical center of the De19 partment of Veterans Affairs located at 3900 Woodland 

20 Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shall after the date 

21 of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as 

22 the ‘‘Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Vet23 erans Affairs Medical Center’’. 

24 (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in any law, regula25 tion, map, document, paper, or other record of the United 


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1 States to the medical center referred to in subsection (a) 

2 shall be considered to be a reference to the Corporal Mi3 chael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 

4 Center. 

5 Subtitle C—Complementary and 

6 Alternative Medicine 

7 SEC. 331. EXPANSION OF RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ON 

8 AND DELIVERY OF COMPLEMENTARY AND 

9 ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE TO VETERANS. 

10 (a) DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN TO EXPAND RE11 SEARCH, EDUCATION, AND DELIVERY.—Not later than 

12 six months after the effective date specified in subsection 

13 (f), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan 

14 to expand materially and substantially the scope of re15 search and education on, and delivery and integration of, 

16 complementary and alternative medicine services into the 

17 health care services provided to veterans. 

18 (b) ELEMENTS.—The plan required by subsection (a) 

19 shall provide for the following: 

20 (1) Research on the following: 

21 (A) The comparative effectiveness of var22 ious complementary and alternative medicine 

23 therapies. 

24 (B) Approaches to integrating complemen25 tary and alternative medicine services into other 


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1 health care services provided by the Depart2 ment. 

3 (2) Education and training for health care pro4 fessionals of the Department on the following: 

5 (A) Complementary and alternative medi6 cine services selected by the Secretary for pur7 poses of the plan. 

8 (B) Appropriate uses of such services. 

9 (C) Integration of such services into the 

10 delivery of health care to veterans. 

11 (3) Research, education, and clinical activities 

12 on complementary and alternative medicine at cen13 ters of innovation at Department medical centers. 

14 (4) Identification or development of metrics and 

15 outcome measures to evaluate the provision and inte16 gration of complementary and alternative medicine 

17 services into the delivery of health care to veterans. 

18 (5) Integration and delivery of complementary 

19 and alternative medicine services with other health 

20 care services provided by the Department. 

21 (c) CONSULTATION.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out subsection 

23 (a), the Secretary shall consult with the following: 


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1 (A) The Director of the National Center 

2 on Complementary and Alternative Medicine of 

3 the National Institutes of Health. 

4 (B) The Commissioner of Food and Drugs. 

5 (C) Institutions of higher education, pri6 vate research institutes, and individual re7 searchers with extensive experience in com8 plementary and alternative medicine and the in9 tegration of complementary and alternative 

10 medicine practices into the delivery of health 

11 care. 

12 (D) Nationally recognized providers of 

13 complementary and alternative medicine. 

14 (E) Such other officials, entities, and indi15 viduals with expertise on complementary and al16 ternative medicine as the Secretary considers 

17 appropriate. 

18 (2) SCOPE OF CONSULTATION.—The Secretary 

19 shall undertake consultation under paragraph (1) in 

20 carrying out subsection (a) with respect to the fol21 lowing: 

22 (A) To develop the plan. 

23 (B) To identify specific complementary and 

24 alternative medicine practices that, on the basis 

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1 ventions, are appropriate to include as services 

2 to veterans. 

3 (C) To identify barriers to the effective 

4 provision and integration of complementary and 

5 alternative medicine services into the delivery of 

6 health care to veterans, and to identify mecha7 nisms for overcoming such barriers. 

8 (d) FUNDING.—There is authorized to be appro9 priated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary 

10 to carry out this section. 

11 (e) COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

12 DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘complementary and 

13 alternative medicine’’ shall have the meaning given that 

14 term in regulations the Secretary shall prescribe for pur15 poses of this section, which shall, to the degree practicable, 

16 be consistent with the meaning given such term by the 

17 Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

18 (f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

19 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact20 ment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 332. PROGRAM ON INTEGRATION OF COMPLEMEN2 TARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE WITHIN 

3 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MED4 ICAL CENTERS. 

5 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet6 erans Affairs shall— 

7 (1) carry out, through the Office of Patient 

8 Centered Care and Cultural Transformation of the 

9 Department of Veterans Affairs, a program to as10 sess the feasibility and advisability of integrating the 

11 delivery of complementary and alternative medicine 

12 services selected by the Secretary with other health 

13 care services provided by the Department for vet14 erans with mental health conditions, chronic pain 

15 conditions, other chronic conditions, and such other 

16 conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate; 

17 and 

18 (2) in developing the program, identify and re19 solve barriers to the provision of complementary and 

20 alternative medicine services selected by the Sec21 retary and the integration of those services with 

22 other health care services provided by the Depart23 ment. 

24 (b) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—The program shall be 

25 carried out during the three-year period beginning on the 

26 effective date specified in subsection (j). 


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1 (c) LOCATIONS.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 

3 out the program at not fewer than 15 separate De4 partment medical centers. 

5 (2) POLYTRAUMA CENTERS.—Not less than two 

6 of the medical centers designated under paragraph 

7 (1) shall be located at polytrauma rehabilitation cen8 ters of the Department. 

9 (3) SELECTION OF LOCATIONS.—In carrying 

10 out the program, the Secretary shall select locations 

11 that include the following areas: 

12 (A) Rural areas. 

13 (B) Areas that are not in close proximity 

14 to an active duty military installation. 

15 (C) Areas representing different geo16 graphic locations, such as census tracts estab17 lished by the Bureau of the Census. 

18 (d) PROVISION OF SERVICES.—Under the program, 

19 the Secretary shall provide covered services to covered vet20 erans by integrating complementary and alternative medi21 cine services with other services provided by the Depart22 ment at the medical centers designated under subsection 

23 (c)(1). 

24 (e) COVERED VETERANS.—For purposes of the pro25 gram, a covered veteran is any veteran who— 


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1 (1) has a mental health condition diagnosed by 

2 a clinician of the Department; 

3 (2) experiences chronic pain; or 

4 (3) has a chronic condition being treated by a 

5 clinician of the Department. 

6 (f) COVERED SERVICES.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of the pro8 gram, covered services are services consisting of 

9 complementary and alternative medicine as selected 

10 by the Secretary. 

11 (2) ADMINISTRATION OF SERVICES.—Covered 

12 services shall be administered under the program as 

13 follows: 

14 (A) Covered services shall be administered 

15 by clinicians employed by the Secretary for pur16 poses of this section who, to the extent prac17 ticable, shall provide services consisting of com18 plementary and alternative medicine, including 

19 those clinicians who solely provide such services. 

20 (B) Covered services shall be included as 

21 part of the Patient Aligned Care Teams initia22 tive of the Office of Patient Care Services, Pri23 mary Care Program Office, in coordination with 

24 the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cul25 tural Transformation. 


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1 (C) Covered services shall be made avail2 able to both— 

3 (i) covered veterans with mental 

4 health conditions, pain conditions, or 

5 chronic conditions described in subsection 

6 (e) who have received conventional treat7 ments from the Department for such con8 ditions; and 

9 (ii) covered veterans with mental 

10 health conditions, pain conditions, or 

11 chronic conditions described in subsection 

12 (e) who have not received conventional 

13 treatments from the Department for such 

14 conditions. 

15 (g) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—The participation 

16 of a veteran in the program shall be at the election of 

17 the veteran and in consultation with a clinician of the De18 partment. 

19 (h) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 

20 (1) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—Not later than 90 

21 days after the date of the commencement of the pro22 gram and not less frequently than once every 90 

23 days thereafter for the duration of the program, the 

24 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Vet25 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 


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1 Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a 

2 report on the efforts of the Secretary to carry out 

3 the program, including a description of the outreach 

4 conducted by the Secretary to veterans and commu5 nity organizations to inform such organizations 

6 about the program. 

7 (2) FINAL REPORT.— 

8 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 

9 days after the completion of the program, the 

10 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 

11 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com12 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

13 Representatives a report on the program. 

14 (B) CONTENTS.—The report submitted 

15 under subparagraph (A) shall include the fol16 lowing: 

17 (i) The findings and conclusions of 

18 the Secretary with respect to the program, 

19 including with respect to— 

20 (I) the utilization and efficacy of 

21 the complementary and alternative 

22 medicine services established under 

23 the program; 

24 (II) an assessment of the benefit 

25 of the program to covered veterans in 


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1 mental health diagnoses, pain man2 agement, and treatment of chronic ill3 ness; and 

4 (III) the comparative effective5 ness of various complementary and al6 ternative medicine therapies. 

7 (ii) Barriers identified under sub8 section (a)(2) that were not resolved. 

9 (iii) Such recommendations for the 

10 continuation or expansion of the program 

11 as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

12 (i) COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

13 DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘complementary and 

14 alternative medicine’’ shall have the meaning given that 

15 term in section 331(e) of this Act. 

16 (j) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

17 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact18 ment of this Act. 

19 SEC. 333. STUDIES OF BARRIERS ENCOUNTERED BY VET20 ERANS IN RECEIVING, AND ADMINISTRATORS 

21 AND CLINICIANS IN PROVIDING, COM22 PLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 

23 SERVICES FURNISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT 

24 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

25 (a) STUDIES REQUIRED.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

2 Affairs shall conduct comprehensive studies of the 

3 barriers encountered by veterans in receiving, and 

4 administrators and clinicians in providing, com5 plementary and alternative medicine services fur6 nished by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

7 (2) STUDIES CONDUCTED.— 

8 (A) VETERANS.—In conducting the study 

9 of veterans, the Secretary shall— 

10 (i) survey veterans who seek or receive 

11 hospital care or medical services furnished 

12 by the Department, as well as veterans 

13 who do not seek or receive such care or 

14 services; 

15 (ii) administer the survey to a rep16 resentative sample of veterans from each 

17 Veterans Integrated Service Network; and 

18 (iii) ensure that the sample of vet19 erans surveyed is of sufficient size for the 

20 study results to be statistically significant. 

21 (B) ADMINISTRATORS AND CLINICIANS.— 

22 In conducting the study of clinicians and ad23 ministrators, the Secretary shall— 


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1 (i) survey administrators of the De2 partment who are involved in the provision 

3 of health care services; 

4 (ii) survey clinicians that have pro5 vided complementary and alternative medi6 cine services through the program estab7 lished under section 332 of this Act, after 

8 those clinicians have provided those serv9 ices through such program for at least 90 

10 days; and 

11 (iii) administer the survey to adminis12 trators under clause (i)— 

13 (I) before the introduction of 

14 complementary and alternative medi15 cine services through such program; 

16 and 

17 (II) not earlier than 90 days 

18 after the introduction of complemen19 tary and alternative medicine services 

20 through such program. 

21 (b) ELEMENTS OF STUDIES.— 

22 (1) VETERANS.—In conducting the study of 

23 veterans required by subsection (a), the Secretary 

24 shall study the following: 


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1 (A) The perceived barriers associated with 

2 obtaining complementary and alternative medi3 cine services from the Department. 

4 (B) The satisfaction of veterans with com5 plementary and alternative medicine services in 

6 primary care. 

7 (C) The degree to which veterans are 

8 aware of eligibility requirements for, and the 

9 scope of services available under, complemen10 tary and alternative medicine services furnished 

11 by the Department. 

12 (D) The effectiveness of outreach to vet13 erans on the availability of complementary and 

14 alternative medicine for veterans. 

15 (E) Such other barriers as the Secretary 

16 considers appropriate. 

17 (2) ADMINISTRATORS AND CLINICIANS.—In 

18 conducting the study of administrators and clini19 cians required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall 

20 study the following: 

21 (A) The extent of the integration of com22 plementary and alternative medicine services 

23 within the services provided by the Department. 

24 (B) The perception by administrators and 

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1 riers to the delivery of high quality complemen2 tary and alternative medicine services by the 

3 Department. 

4 (C) Strategies that have been used to re5 duce or eliminate such barriers and the results 

6 of such strategies. 

7 (D) The satisfaction of administrators and 

8 clinicians regarding the integration of com9 plementary and alternative medicine services 

10 within the services provided by the Department. 

11 (E) The perception by administrators and 

12 clinicians of the value of specific complementary 

13 and alternative medicine services for inpatient 

14 and outpatient veteran populations. 

15 (c) DISCHARGE BY CONTRACT.—The Secretary shall 

16 enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity 

17 or organization to carry out the studies required by this 

18 section. 

19 (d) MANDATORY REVIEW OF DATA BY THE NA20 TIONAL RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ensure 

22 that the head of the National Research Advisory 

23 Council reviews the results of the studies conducted 

24 under this section. 


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1 (2) SUBMITTAL OF FINDINGS.—The head of the 

2 National Research Advisory Council shall submit 

3 findings with respect to the studies to the Under 

4 Secretary for Health and to other pertinent program 

5 offices within the Department with responsibilities 

6 relating to health care services for veterans. 

7 (e) REPORTS.— 

8 (1) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later 

9 than one year after the date of the enactment of this 

10 Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 

11 on the status of the implementation of this section. 

12 (2) REPORT ON STUDY.— 

13 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days 

14 after the date of the completion of the study, 

15 the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 

16 on the study required by subsection (a). 

17 (B) CONTENTS.—The report required by 

18 subparagraph (A) shall include the following: 

19 (i) Recommendations for such admin20 istrative and legislative proposals and ac21 tions as the Secretary considers appro22 priate. 

23 (ii) The findings of the head of the 

24 National Research Advisory Council and of 

25 the Under Secretary for Health. 


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1 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

2 authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2015 for the 

3 Department of Veterans Affairs, $2,000,000 to carry out 

4 this section. 

5 (g) COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

6 DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘complementary and 

7 alternative medicine’’ shall have the meaning given that 

8 term in section 331(e) of this Act. 

9 SEC. 334. PROGRAM ON USE OF WELLNESS PROGRAMS AS 

10 COMPLEMENTARY APPROACH TO MENTAL 

11 HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY 

12 MEMBERS OF VETERANS. 

13 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

15 Affairs shall carry out a program through the award 

16 of grants to public or private nonprofit entities to 

17 assess the feasibility and advisability of using 

18 wellness programs to complement the provision of 

19 mental health care to veterans and family members 

20 eligible for counseling under section 1712A(a)(1)(C) 

21 of title 38, United States Code. 

22 (2) MATTERS TO BE ADDRESSED.—The pro23 gram shall be carried out so as to assess the fol24 lowing: 


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1 (A) Means of improving coordination be2 tween Federal, State, local, and community pro3 viders of health care in the provision of mental 

4 health care to veterans and family members de5 scribed in paragraph (1). 

6 (B) Means of enhancing outreach, and co7 ordination of outreach, by and among providers 

8 of health care referred to in subparagraph (A) 

9 on the mental health care services available to 

10 veterans and family members described in para11 graph (1). 

12 (C) Means of using wellness programs of 

13 providers of health care referred to in subpara14 graph (A) as complements to the provision by 

15 the Department of Veterans Affairs of mental 

16 health care to veterans and family members de17 scribed in paragraph (1). 

18 (D) Whether wellness programs described 

19 in subparagraph (C) are effective in enhancing 

20 the quality of life and well-being of veterans 

21 and family members described in paragraph 

22 (1). 

23 (E) Whether wellness programs described 

24 in subparagraph (C) are effective in increasing 

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1 graph (1) to the primary mental health services 

2 provided such veterans by the Department. 

3 (F) Whether wellness programs described 

4 in subparagraph (C) have an impact on the 

5 sense of wellbeing of veterans described in para6 graph (1) who receive primary mental health 

7 services from the Department. 

8 (G) Whether wellness programs described 

9 in subparagraph (C) are effective in encour10 aging veterans receiving health care from the 

11 Department to adopt a more healthy lifestyle. 

12 (b) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the 

13 program for a period of three years beginning on the date 

14 that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 

15 Act. 

16 (c) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall carry out the 

17 program at facilities of the Department providing mental 

18 health care services to veterans and family members de19 scribed in subsection (a)(1). 

20 (d) GRANT PROPOSALS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—A public or private nonprofit 

22 entity seeking the award of a grant under this sec23 tion shall submit an application therefor to the Sec24 retary in such form and in such manner as the Sec25 retary may require. 


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1 (2) APPLICATION CONTENTS.—Each application 

2 submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the fol3 lowing: 

4 (A) A plan to coordinate activities under 

5 the program, to the extent possible, with the 

6 Federal, State, and local providers of services 

7 for veterans to enhance the following: 

8 (i) Awareness by veterans of benefits 

9 and health care services provided by the 

10 Department. 

11 (ii) Outreach efforts to increase the 

12 use by veterans of services provided by the 

13 Department. 

14 (iii) Educational efforts to inform vet15 erans of the benefits of a healthy and ac16 tive lifestyle. 

17 (B) A statement of understanding from 

18 the entity submitting the application that, if se19 lected, such entity will be required to report to 

20 the Secretary periodically on standardized data 

21 and other performance data necessary to evalu22 ate individual outcomes and to facilitate evalua23 tions among entities participating in the pro24 gram. 


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1 (C) Other requirements that the Secretary 

2 may prescribe. 

3 (e) GRANT USES.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—A public or private nonprofit 

5 entity awarded a grant under this section shall use 

6 the award for purposes prescribed by the Secretary. 

7 (2) ELIGIBLE VETERANS AND FAMILY.—In car8 rying out the purposes prescribed by the Secretary 

9 in paragraph (1), a public or private nonprofit entity 

10 awarded a grant under this section shall use the 

11 award to furnish services only to individuals speci12 fied in section 1712A(a)(1)(C) of title 38, United 

13 States Code. 

14 (f) REPORTS.— 

15 (1) PERIODIC REPORTS.— 

16 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 

17 days after the date of the commencement of the 

18 program, and every 180 days thereafter, the 

19 Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 

20 the program. 

21 (B) REPORT ELEMENTS.—Each report re22 quired by subparagraph (A) shall include the 

23 following: 

24 (i) The findings and conclusions of 

25 the Secretary with respect to the program 


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1 during the 180-day period preceding the 

2 report. 

3 (ii) An assessment of the benefits of 

4 the program to veterans and their family 

5 members during the 180-day period pre6 ceding the report. 

7 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 

8 after the end of the program, the Secretary shall 

9 submit to Congress a report detailing the rec10 ommendations of the Secretary as to the advisability 

11 of continuing or expanding the program. 

12 (g) WELLNESS DEFINED.—In this section, the term 

13 ‘‘wellness’’ has the meaning given that term in regulations 

14 prescribed by the Secretary. 

15 Subtitle D—Mental Health Care 

16 SEC. 341. INCLUSION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 

17 IN THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM 

18 FOR HEALTH PERSONNEL OF THE DEPART19 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the education and 

21 training program required under section 7302(a)(1) of 

22 title 38, United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans 

23 Affairs shall include education and training of marriage 

24 and family therapists and licensed professional mental 

25 health counselors. 


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1 (b) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall apportion fund2 ing for the education and training program equally among 

3 the professions included in the program. 

4 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

5 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact6 ment of this Act. 

7 SEC. 342. EDUCATION PROGRAM AND PEER SUPPORT PRO8 GRAM FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND CARE9 GIVERS OF VETERANS WITH MENTAL 

10 HEALTH DISORDERS. 

11 (a) PROGRAMS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

13 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec14 retary of Veterans Affairs shall establish an edu15 cation program (in this section referred to as the 

16 ‘‘education program’’) and a peer support program 

17 (in this section referred to as the ‘‘peer support pro18 gram’’) for the education and training of family 

19 members and caregivers of eligible veterans with 

20 mental health disorders. 

21 (2) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

22 (A) FAMILY MEMBER; CAREGIVER.—The 

23 terms ‘‘family member’’ and ‘‘caregiver’’ have 

24 the meaning given those terms in section 

25 1720G(d) of title 38, United States Code. 


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1 (B) ELIGIBLE VETERAN.—The term ‘‘eligi2 ble veteran’’ means a veteran who is enrolled in 

3 the health care system established under section 

4 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code. 

5 (b) EDUCATION PROGRAM.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Under the education pro7 gram, the Secretary shall provide a course of edu8 cation to family members and caregivers of eligible 

9 veterans on matters relating to coping with mental 

10 health disorders in veterans. 

11 (2) DURATION.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—The education program 

13 shall be carried out during the four-year period 

14 beginning on the date of the commencement of 

15 the education program. 

16 (B) AUTHORITY FOR EXTENSION.—The 

17 Secretary may extend the duration of the edu18 cation program for an additional four years. 

19 (3) LOCATIONS.— 

20 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as required by 

21 subparagraph (D), the Secretary shall carry out 

22 the education program at the following facilities 

23 of the Department of Veterans Affairs: 

24 (i) Not less than 10 medical centers of 

25 the Department. 


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1 (ii) Not less than 10 clinics of the De2 partment. 

3 (iii) Not less than 10 Vet Centers (as 

4 defined in section 1712A(h) of title 38, 

5 United States Code). 

6 (B) SOLICITATION OF APPLICATIONS.—In 

7 selecting locations for the education program, 

8 the Secretary shall solicit applications from eli9 gible facilities of the Department that are inter10 ested in carrying out the education program. 

11 (C) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting loca12 tions for the education program, the Secretary 

13 shall consider the feasibility and advisability of 

14 selecting locations in the following areas: 

15 (i) Rural areas. 

16 (ii) Areas that are not in close prox17 imity to an active duty installation. 

18 (iii) Areas in different geographic lo19 cations. 

20 (D) EXPANSION OF LOCATIONS.—Not later 

21 than two years after the date of the commence22 ment of the education program, the Secretary 

23 shall expand the number of facilities at which 

24 the Secretary is carrying out the education pro25 gram to include the following: 


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1 (i) Not less than 10 additional med2 ical centers of the Department. 

3 (ii) Not less than 10 additional clinics 

4 of the Department. 

5 (iii) Not less than 10 additional Vet 

6 Centers. 

7 (4) CONTRACTS.— 

8 (A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the 

9 education program, the Secretary shall enter 

10 into contracts with qualified entities described 

11 in subparagraph (B) to offer the course of edu12 cation described in paragraph (5) to family 

13 members and caregivers of eligible veterans and 

14 covered veterans. 

15 (B) QUALIFIED ENTITY DESCRIBED.—A 

16 qualified entity described in this subparagraph 

17 is a non-profit entity with experience in mental 

18 health education and outreach, including work 

19 with children, teens, and young adults, that— 

20 (i) uses high quality, relevant, and 

21 age-appropriate information in educational 

22 programming, materials, and coursework, 

23 including such programming, materials, 

24 and coursework for children, teens, and 

25 young adults; and 


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1 (ii) works with agencies, departments, 

2 nonprofit mental health organizations, 

3 early childhood educators, and mental 

4 health providers to develop educational 

5 programming, materials, and coursework. 

6 (C) PRIORITY.—In entering into contracts 

7 under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give 

8 priority to qualified entities that, to the max9 imum extent practicable, use Internet tech10 nology for the delivery of course content in an 

11 effort to expand the availability of support serv12 ices, especially in rural areas. 

13 (5) ELEMENTS.—The course of education de14 scribed in this paragraph shall consist of not less 

15 than 10 weeks of education and shall include the fol16 lowing: 

17 (A) General education on different mental 

18 health disorders, including information to im19 prove understanding of the experiences of indi20 viduals suffering from those disorders. 

21 (B) Techniques for handling crisis situa22 tions and administering mental health first aid 

23 to individuals suffering from mental health dis24 orders. 


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1 (C) Techniques for coping with the stress 

2 of living with someone with a mental health dis3 order. 

4 (D) Information on additional services 

5 available for family members and caregivers 

6 through the Department or community organi7 zations and providers related to mental health 

8 disorders. 

9 (E) Such other matters as the Secretary 

10 considers appropriate. 

11 (6) INSTRUCTORS.— 

12 (A) TRAINING.—Each instructor of the 

13 course of education described in paragraph (5) 

14 shall maintain a level of proficiency in the 

15 course of education as determined by the Sec16 retary, and shall submit proof of that level of 

17 proficiency to the Secretary at such time and in 

18 such manner as the Secretary determines ap19 propriate. 

20 (B) INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMPLETED

21 THE COURSE AS INSTRUCTORS.—Commencing 

22 as of the date that is two years after the date 

23 of the commencement of the education pro24 gram, any individual who has successfully com25 pleted the course of education described in 


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1 paragraph (5) and has successfully completed 

2 such additional training as is required for in3 structors pursuant to subparagraph (A) may 

4 act as an instructor in the course of education. 

5 (c) PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Under the peer support pro7 gram, the Secretary shall provide peer support to 

8 family members and caregivers of eligible veterans 

9 on matters relating to coping with mental health dis10 orders in veterans. 

11 (2) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall provide 

12 peer support under the peer support program at 

13 each location at which the Secretary provides edu14 cation under the education program. 

15 (3) ELEMENTS.—Peer support under the peer 

16 support program shall consist of meetings in group 

17 settings between a peer support coordinator under 

18 paragraph (4) and family members and caregivers of 

19 eligible veterans on matters relating to coping with 

20 mental health disorders in veterans. At each loca21 tion, those meetings shall be conducted not less 

22 often than twice each calendar quarter. 

23 (4) PEER SUPPORT COORDINATOR.— 

24 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 

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1 ity, may select an individual who has success2 fully completed the course of education de3 scribed in subsection (b)(5) to serve as a peer 

4 support coordinator for each such facility to 

5 carry out the peer support program. 

6 (B) PROFICIENCY OF INSTRUCTORS.— 

7 Each peer support coordinator shall maintain a 

8 level of proficiency in peer support as deter9 mined by the Secretary, and shall submit proof 

10 of that level of proficiency to the Secretary at 

11 such time and in such manner as the Secretary 

12 determines appropriate. 

13 (d) SURVEYS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 

15 a comprehensive and statistically significant survey 

16 of the satisfaction of individuals that have partici17 pated in the course of education described in sub18 section (b)(5) and individuals that have participated 

19 in the peer support program that includes the fol20 lowing: 

21 (A) The general satisfaction of those indi22 viduals with the education and assistance pro23 vided in the education program and the peer 

24 support program. 


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1 (B) The perceived effectiveness of the edu2 cation program and the peer support program 

3 in providing education and assistance that is 

4 useful for those individuals. 

5 (C) The applicability of the education pro6 gram and the peer support program to the 

7 issues faced by those individuals. 

8 (D) Such other matters as the Secretary 

9 considers appropriate. 

10 (E) A representative sample of the infor11 mation required by subparagraphs (A) through 

12 (D) from each Veterans Integrated Service Net13 work that is participating in the education pro14 gram and the peer support program. 

15 (2) COMPILATION OF INFORMATION.—The in16 formation compiled as a result of the surveys re17 quired by paragraph (1) shall be included in the an18 nual report required by subsection (e)(1). 

19 (e) REPORTS.— 

20 (1) ANNUAL REPORT.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

22 after the date of the commencement of the edu23 cation program and not later than September 

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1 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 

2 on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Represent3 atives a report on the education program and 

4 the peer support program. 

5 (B) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted 

6 under subparagraph (A) shall include the fol7 lowing: 

8 (i) The number of individuals that 

9 participated in the course of education de10 scribed in subsection (b)(5) during the 

11 year preceding the submission of the re12 port. 

13 (ii) The number of individuals that 

14 participated in the peer support program 

15 during the year preceding the submission 

16 of the report. 

17 (iii) A detailed analysis of the surveys 

18 conducted under subsection (d) with re19 spect to the individuals described in clause 

20 (i) and (ii). 

21 (iv) The degree to which veterans and 

22 family members and caregivers of veterans 

23 are aware of the eligibility requirements 

24 for enrollment in the education program 

25 and the peer support program. 


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1 (v) Any plans for expansion of the 

2 education program and the peer support 

3 program. 

4 (vi) The interim findings and conclu5 sions of the Secretary with respect to the 

6 success of the education program and the 

7 peer support program. 

8 (2) FINAL REPORT.— 

9 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

10 after the completion of the education program, 

11 the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 

12 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com13 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

14 Representatives a report on the feasibility and 

15 advisability of continuing the education pro16 gram and the peer support program. 

17 (B) ELEMENTS.—The report submitted 

18 under subparagraph (A) shall include the fol19 lowing: 

20 (i) A detailed analysis of the surveys 

21 conducted under subsection (d). 

22 (ii) The feasibility and advisability of 

23 continuing the education program without 

24 entering into contracts for the course of 

25 education described in subsection (b)(5) 


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1 and instead using peer support coordina2 tors selected under subsection (c)(4) as in3 structors of the course of education. 

4 (iii) The feasibility and advisability of 

5 expanding the education program and the 

6 peer support program. 

7 SEC. 343. REPORT ON PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH 

8 SERVICES FOR FAMILIES OF CERTAIN VET9 ERANS AT FACILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT. 

10 Not later than one year after the date of the enact11 ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

12 submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen13 ate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 

14 of Representatives a report on the feasibility and advis15 ability of providing services under the program established 

16 by section 304(a) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 

17 Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 38 

18 U.S.C. 1712A note) at medical facility of the Department 

19 of Veterans Affairs. 

20 SEC. 344. ANNUAL REPORT ON COMMUNITY MENTAL 

21 HEALTH PARTNERSHIP PILOT PROGRAM. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 

23 date of the enactment of this Act and not later than Sep24 tember 30 each year thereafter until the completion of the 

25 pilot program described in subsection (b), the Secretary 


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1 of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Vet2 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet3 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

4 on that pilot program. 

5 (b) PILOT PROGRAM DESCRIBED.—The pilot pro6 gram described in this subsection is the pilot program con7 ducted by the Veterans Health Administration to connect 

8 medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

9 with community-based mental health care providers and 

10 substance abuse treatment providers for the purpose of 

11 assisting in the treatment of veterans with mental health 

12 disorders, commonly known as the ‘‘Community Mental 

13 Health Partnership Pilot’’. 

14 (c) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted under sub15 section (a) shall include the following: 

16 (1) The number of sites participating in the 

17 pilot program. 

18 (2) The number of individuals participating in 

19 the pilot program at each site. 

20 (3) A detailed assessment of the effectiveness 

21 of, the participation of veterans in, and the satisfac22 tion of veterans with the pilot program. 

23 (4) An analysis of barriers to the effectiveness 

24 of, the participation of veterans in, and the satisfac25 tion of veterans with the pilot program. 


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1 (5) A description of the plans of the Secretary 

2 to conduct outreach and provide information to vet3 erans and community mental health providers with 

4 respect to the pilot program. 

5 (6) A description of any plans to expand the 

6 pilot program, including plans that focus on the 

7 unique needs of veterans located in rural areas. 

8 (7) An explanation of how the care provided 

9 under the pilot program is consistent with the min10 imum clinical mental health guidelines promulgated 

11 by the Veterans Health Administration, including 

12 clinical guidelines contained in the Uniform Mental 

13 Health Services Handbook of such Administration. 

14 Subtitle E—Dental Care Eligibility 

15 Expansion and Enhancement 

16 SEC. 351. RESTORATIVE DENTAL SERVICES FOR VETERANS. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1710(c) is amended— 

18 (1) in the second sentence— 

19 (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 

20 and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; and 

21 (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 

22 (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; 

23 (2) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(c)’’; 

24 (3) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 

25 the following: 


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1 ‘‘(2) The Secretary’’; and 

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

3 paragraph: 

4 ‘‘(3) In addition to the dental services, treatment, 

5 and appliances authorized to be furnished by paragraph 

6 (2), the Secretary may furnish dental services and treat7 ment, and dental appliances, needed to restore functioning 

8 in a veteran that is lost as result of any services or treat9 ment furnished under this subsection.’’. 

10 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

11 subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is one 

12 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

13 SEC. 352. PILOT PROGRAM ON EXPANSION OF FURNISHING 

14 OF DENTAL CARE TO ALL ENROLLED VET15 ERANS. 

16 (a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Commencing not 

17 later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of 

18 this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out 

19 a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability 

20 of furnishing dental care to veterans enrolled in the system 

21 of patient enrollment under section 1705 of title 38, 

22 United States Code, who are not eligible for dental serv23 ices and treatment, and related dental appliances, under 

24 current authorities. 


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1 (b) DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.—The pilot pro2 gram shall be carried out during the three-year period be3 ginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot pro4 gram. 

5 (c) LOCATIONS.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 

7 out the pilot program at not fewer than 16 locations 

8 as follows: 

9 (A) Four Department of Veterans Affairs 

10 medical centers with an established dental clin11 ic. 

12 (B) Four Department medical centers with 

13 a current contract for the furnishing of dental 

14 care. 

15 (C) Four Community-Based Outpatient 

16 Clinics (CBOCs) with space available for the 

17 furnishing of services and treatment under the 

18 pilot program. 

19 (D) Four facilities selected from among 

20 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) 

21 and Indian Health Service facilities with estab22 lished dental clinics, of which— 

23 (i) at least one facility shall be such 

24 an Indian Health Service facility; and 


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1 (ii) any Indian Health Service facility 

2 so selected shall be selected in consultation 

3 with the Secretary of Health and Human 

4 Services. 

5 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting locations 

6 for the pilot program, the Secretary shall consider 

7 the feasibility and advisability of selecting locations 

8 in each of the following: 

9 (A) Rural areas. 

10 (B) Areas that are not in close proximity 

11 to an active duty military installation. 

12 (C) Areas representing different geo13 graphic locations, such as census tracts estab14 lished by the Bureau of Census. 

15 (d) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING

16 VETERANS.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The total number of eligible 

18 veterans who may participate in the pilot program 

19 may not exceed 30,000. 

20 (2) DISTRIBUTION OF LIMITATION.—In apply21 ing the limitation in paragraph (1) to the pilot pro22 gram, the Secretary shall distribute the limitation 

23 across and among locations selected for the pilot 

24 program in a manner that takes appropriate account 


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1 of the size and need of veterans for dental services 

2 at each such location. 

3 (e) SCOPE OF SERVICES.—The dental services and 

4 treatment furnished to veterans under the pilot program 

5 shall be consistent with the dental services and treatment 

6 furnished by the Secretary to veterans with service-con7 nected disabilities rated 100 percent disabling under the 

8 laws administered by the Secretary. 

9 (f) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—The participation 

10 of a veteran in the pilot program shall be at the election 

11 of the veteran. 

12 (g) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF SERVICES.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The total amount the Sec14 retary may expend furnishing dental services and 

15 treatment to a veteran participating in the pilot pro16 gram during any one-year period may not exceed 

17 such amount as the Secretary determines appro18 priate. The amount so determined may not be less 

19 than $1,000. 

20 (2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall make 

21 the determination under paragraph (1)— 

22 (A) in consultation with the Director of the 

23 Indian Health Service; and 

24 (B) in consultation with the Director of 

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1 tion of the Department of Health and Human 

2 Services if one or more Federally Qualified 

3 Health Center is selected as a location for the 

4 pilot program under subsection (c)(1)(D). 

5 (h) COPAYMENTS.—The Secretary may collect copay6 ments for dental services and treatment furnished under 

7 the pilot program in accordance with authorities on the 

8 collection of copayments for medical care of veterans 

9 under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code. 

10 (i) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.— 

11 (1) NOTICE TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS ON PILOT

12 PROGRAM.—In carrying out the pilot program, the 

13 Secretary shall inform all veterans eligible to partici14 pate in the pilot program of the services and treat15 ment available under the pilot program. 

16 (2) CONTRACTS.—In carrying out the pilot pro17 gram, the Secretary may enter into contracts with 

18 appropriate entities for the provision of dental serv19 ices and treatment under the pilot program. Each 

20 such contract shall specify performance standards 

21 and metrics and processes for ensuring compliance 

22 of the contractor concerned with such performance 

23 standards. 

24 (j) REPORTS.— 

25 (1) PRELIMINARY REPORTS.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than each of 

2 540 days and three years after the date of the 

3 commencement of the pilot program, the Sec4 retary shall submit to the Committee on Vet5 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 

6 on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Represent7 atives a report on the pilot program. 

8 (B) CONTENTS.—Each report under sub9 paragraph (A) shall include the following: 

10 (i) A description of the implementa11 tion and operation of the pilot program. 

12 (ii) The number of veterans receiving 

13 services and treatment under the pilot pro14 gram, and a description of the dental serv15 ices and treatment furnished to such vet16 erans. 

17 (iii) An analysis of the costs and bene18 fits of the pilot program, including a com19 parison of costs and benefits by location 

20 type. 

21 (iv) An assessment of the impact of 

22 the pilot program on medical care, 

23 wellness, employability, and perceived qual24 ity of life of veterans. 


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1 (v) The current findings and conclu2 sions of the Secretary with respect to the 

3 pilot program. 

4 (vi) Such recommendations for the 

5 continuation or expansion of the pilot pro6 gram as the Secretary considers appro7 priate. 

8 (2) FINAL REPORT.— 

9 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 

10 days after the completion of the pilot program, 

11 the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 

12 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com13 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

14 Representatives a report on the pilot program. 

15 (B) CONTENTS.—The report under sub16 paragraph (A) shall include the following: 

17 (i) The findings and conclusions of 

18 the Secretary with respect to the pilot pro19 gram. 

20 (ii) Such recommendations for the 

21 continuation or expansion of the pilot pro22 gram as the Secretary considers appro23 priate. 

24 (k) FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER DE25 FINED.—In this section the term ‘‘Federally Qualified 


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1 Health Center’’ means a Federally-qualified health center 

2 as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security 

3 Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)). 

4 (l) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

5 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact6 ment of this Act. 

7 SEC. 353. PROGRAM ON EDUCATION TO PROMOTE DENTAL 

8 HEALTH IN VETERANS. 

9 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

11 Affairs shall carry out a program of education to 

12 promote dental health for veterans who are enrolled 

13 in the system of patient enrollment of the Depart14 ment of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of title 

15 38, United States Code. 

16 (2) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the program 

17 shall be deemed to alter or revise the eligibility of 

18 any veteran for dental care under the laws adminis19 tered by the Secretary. 

20 (b) ELEMENTS.—The program required by sub21 section (a) shall provide education for veterans on the fol22 lowing: 

23 (1) The association between dental health and 

24 overall health and well-being. 

25 (2) Proper techniques for dental care. 


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1 (3) Signs and symptoms of commonly occurring 

2 dental conditions. 

3 (4) Treatment options for commonly occurring 

4 dental issues. 

5 (5) Options for obtaining access to dental care, 

6 including information on eligibility for dental care 

7 through the Department and on purchasing private 

8 dental insurance. 

9 (6) Available and accessible options for obtain10 ing low or no-cost dental care, including through 

11 dental schools and Federally Qualified Health Cen12 ters (FQHCs). 

13 (7) Such other matters relating to dental health 

14 as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

15 (c) DELIVERY OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 

17 educational materials to veterans under the program 

18 required by subsection (a) through a variety of 

19 mechanisms, including the following: 

20 (A) The availability and distribution of 

21 print materials at Department facilities (includ22 ing at medical centers, clinics, Vet Centers, and 

23 readjustment counseling centers) and to pro24 viders (including members of Patient Aligned 

25 Care Teams). 


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1 (B) The availability and distribution of 

2 materials over the Internet, including through 

3 webinars and My HealtheVet. 

4 (C) Presentations of information, including 

5 both small group and large group presentations. 

6 (2) SELECTION OF MECHANISMS.—In selecting 

7 mechanisms for purposes of this subsection, the Sec8 retary shall select mechanisms designed to maximize 

9 the number of veterans who receive education under 

10 the program. 

11 (d) FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER DE12 FINED.—In this section the term ‘‘Federally Qualified 

13 Health Center’’ means a Federally-qualified health center 

14 as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security 

15 Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)). 

16 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

17 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact18 ment of this Act. 

19 SEC. 354. INFORMATION ON DENTAL SERVICES FOR INCLU20 SION IN ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS 

21 UNDER DENTAL INSURANCE PILOT PRO22 GRAM. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 540 

24 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec25 retary of Veterans Affairs shall expand the dental insurVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 ance pilot program established by section 17.169 of title 

2 38, Code of Federal Regulations, to establish a mechanism 

3 by which private sector dental care providers shall forward 

4 to the Department of Veterans Affairs information on 

5 dental care furnished to individuals under the pilot pro6 gram for inclusion in the electronic medical records of the 

7 Department with respect to such individuals. 

8 (b) CONSTRUCTION WITH CURRENT PILOT PROGRAM

9 REQUIREMENTS.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section shall 

11 be construed to revise eligibility for participation in, 

12 or the locations of, the pilot program referred to in 

13 subsection (a). 

14 (2) DURATION.—The Secretary may continue 

15 the pilot program for two years in addition to the 

16 duration otherwise provided for the pilot program in 

17 section 17.169 of title 38, Code of Federal Regula18 tions, if the Secretary determines that the continu19 ation is needed to assess the mechanism required by 

20 subsection (a). 

21 (3) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION IN MECHA22 NISM.—The participation in the mechanism required 

23 by subsection (a) of an individual otherwise partici24 pating in the pilot program shall be at the election 

25 of the individual. 


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1 (c) INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON MECHANISM IN

2 REPORTS.—Each report to Congress on the pilot program 

3 after the date of the date of the commencement of the 

4 mechanism required by subsection (a) shall include infor5 mation on the mechanism, including a current assessment 

6 of the feasability and advisability of using the mechanism 

7 to include information on dental care furnished individuals 

8 in the electronic medical records of the Department with 

9 respect to such individuals. 

10 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

11 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact12 ment of this Act. 

13 SEC. 355. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

14 There is authorized to be appropriated for the De15 partment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2015 

16 $305,000,000 to carry out this subtitle and the amend17 ments made by this subtitle. The amount so authorized 

18 to be appropriated shall be available for obligation for the 

19 five-year period beginning on the date that is one year 

20 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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1 Subtitle F—Health Care Related to 

2 Sexual Trauma 

3 SEC. 361. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SEXUAL TRAU4 MA COUNSELING AND TREATMENT TO VET5 ERANS ON INACTIVE DUTY TRAINING. 

6 Section 1720D(a)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘or ac7 tive duty for training’’ and inserting ‘‘, active duty for 

8 training, or inactive duty training’’. 

9 SEC. 362. PROVISION OF COUNSELING AND TREATMENT 

10 FOR SEXUAL TRAUMA BY THE DEPARTMENT 

11 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO MEMBERS OF THE 

12 ARMED FORCES. 

13 (a) EXPANSION OF COVERAGE TO MEMBERS OF THE

14 ARMED FORCES.—Subsection (a) of section 1720D is 

15 amended— 

16 (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para17 graph (3); 

18 (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol19 lowing new paragraph (2): 

20 ‘‘(2)(A) In operating the program required by para21 graph (1), the Secretary may, in consultation with the 

22 Secretary of Defense, provide counseling and care and 

23 services to members of the Armed Forces (including mem24 bers of the National Guard and Reserves) on active duty 


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1 to overcome psychological trauma described in that para2 graph. 

3 ‘‘(B) A member described in subparagraph (A) shall 

4 not be required to obtain a referral before receiving coun5 seling and care and services under this paragraph.’’; and 

6 (3) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by para7 graph (1)— 

8 (A) by striking ‘‘a veteran’’ and inserting 

9 ‘‘an individual’’; and 

10 (B) by striking ‘‘that veteran’’ each place 

11 it appears and inserting ‘‘that individual’’. 

12 (b) INFORMATION TO MEMBERS ON AVAILABILITY OF

13 COUNSELING AND SERVICES.—Subsection (c) of such sec14 tion is amended— 

15 (1) by striking ‘‘to veterans’’ each place it ap16 pears; and 

17 (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘members of 

18 the Armed Forces and’’ before ‘‘individuals’’. 

19 (c) INCLUSION OF MEMBERS IN REPORTS ON COUN20 SELING AND SERVICES.—Subsection (e) of such section 

21 is amended— 

22 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 

23 striking ‘‘to veterans’’; 

24 (2) in paragraph (2)— 


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1 (A) by striking ‘‘women veterans’’ and in2 serting ‘‘individuals’’; and 

3 (B) by striking ‘‘training under subsection 

4 (d).’’ and inserting ‘‘training under subsection 

5 (d), disaggregated by— 

6 ‘‘(A) veterans; 

7 ‘‘(B) members of the Armed Forces (in8 cluding members of the National Guard and 

9 Reserves) on active duty; and 

10 ‘‘(C) for each of subparagraphs (A) and 

11 (B)— 

12 ‘‘(i) men; and 

13 ‘‘(ii) women.’’; 

14 (3) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘veterans’’ 

15 and inserting ‘‘individuals’’; and 

16 (4) in paragraph (5)— 

17 (A) by striking ‘‘women veterans’’ and in18 serting ‘‘individuals’’ ; and 

19 (B) by inserting ‘‘, including specific rec20 ommendations for individuals specified in sub21 paragraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (2)’’ 

22 before the period at the end. 

23 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

24 this section shall take effect on the date that is one year 

25 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 363. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SCREEN2 ING MECHANISM TO DETECT INCIDENTS OF 

3 DOMESTIC ABUSE. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 

5 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet6 erans Affairs shall develop and implement a screening 

7 mechanism to be used when a veteran seeks healthcare 

8 services from the Department of Veterans Affairs to detect 

9 if the veteran has been a victim of domestic abuse for pur10 poses of improving the treatment of the veteran and as11 sessing the prevalence of domestic abuse in the veteran 

12 population. 

13 (b) READILY AVAILABLE SCREENING TOOLS.—In de14 veloping and implementing a screening mechanism under 

15 subsection (a), the Secretary may incorporate into the 

16 screening mechanism such readily available screening tools 

17 as the Secretary considers appropriate for the screening 

18 mechanism. 

19 (c) DOMESTIC ABUSE DEFINED.—In this section, the 

20 term ‘‘domestic abuse’’ means behavior with respect to an 

21 individual that— 

22 (1) constitutes— 

23 (A) a pattern of behavior resulting in phys24 ical or emotional abuse, economic control, or in25 terference with the personal liberty of that indi26 vidual; 


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1 (B) a violation of Federal or State law in2 volving the use, attempted use, or threatened 

3 use of force or violence against that individual; 

4 or 

5 (C) a violation of a lawful order issued for 

6 the protection of that individual; and 

7 (2) is committed by a person who— 

8 (A) is a current or former spouse or do9 mestic partner of that individual; 

10 (B) shares a child in common with that in11 dividual; 

12 (C) is a current or former intimate partner 

13 of that individual that shares or has shared a 

14 common domicile with that individual; 

15 (D) is a caregiver or family caregiver of 

16 that individual (as such terms are defined in 

17 section 1720G(d) of title 38, United States 

18 Code); or 

19 (E) is in any other type of relationship 

20 with that individual that the Secretary may 

21 specify for purposes of this section. 

22 SEC. 364. REPORTS ON MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA AND DO23 MESTIC ABUSE. 

24 (a) REPORT ON SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR MILITARY

25 SEXUAL TRAUMA IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS


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1 AFFAIRS.—Not later than 630 days after the date of the 

2 enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

3 shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

4 Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

5 House of Representatives a report on the treatment and 

6 services available from the Department of Veterans Af7 fairs for male veterans who experience military sexual 

8 trauma compared to such treatment and services available 

9 to female veterans who experience military sexual trauma. 

10 (b) REPORT ON DOMESTIC ABUSE AMONG VET11 ERANS.—Not later than two years after the implementa12 tion of the screening mechanism required by section 

13 363(a) of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 

14 the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 

15 through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 

16 and Prevention, shall jointly submit to the Committee on 

17 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet18 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

19 on domestic abuse among veterans that includes the fol20 lowing: 

21 (1) A summary of the types, outcomes, and cir22 cumstances of incidents of domestic abuse that have 

23 been reported by veterans during the two-year period 

24 preceding the submission of the report. 


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1 (2) A summary of the treatments available from 

2 the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans who 

3 experience domestic abuse and an assessment of the 

4 effectiveness of those treatments. 

5 (3) Data and analysis on any correlation be6 tween an incident of military sexual trauma or sex7 ual trauma experienced after the age of 18 and do8 mestic abuse. 

9 (4) Any other issues that the Secretary of Vet10 erans Affairs or the Director of the Centers for Dis11 ease Control and Prevention determines appropriate. 

12 (c) REPORTS ON TRANSITION OF MILITARY SEXUAL

13 TRAUMA AND DOMESTIC ABUSE TREATMENT FROM DE14 PARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

15 AFFAIRS.—Not later than 630 days after the date of the 

16 enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five 

17 years, the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of 

18 Defense Joint Executive Committee established by section 

19 320(a) of title 38, United States Code, shall submit to 

20 the appropriate committees of Congress a report on mili21 tary sexual trauma and domestic abuse that includes the 

22 following: 

23 (1) The processes and procedures utilized by 

24 the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Depart25 ment of Defense to facilitate transition of treatment 


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1 of individuals who have experienced military sexual 

2 trauma or domestic abuse from treatment provided 

3 by the Department of Defense to treatment provided 

4 by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

5 (2) A description and assessment of the collabo6 ration between the Department of Veterans Affairs 

7 and the Department of Defense in assisting veterans 

8 in filing claims for disabilities related to military 

9 sexual trauma or domestic abuse, including permit10 ting veterans access to information and evidence 

11 necessary to develop or support such claims. 

12 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

13 (1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON14 GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con15 gress’’ means— 

16 (A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

17 and the Committee on Armed Services of the 

18 Senate; and 

19 (B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

20 and the Committee on Armed Services of the 

21 House of Representatives. 

22 (2) DOMESTIC ABUSE.—The term ‘‘domestic 

23 abuse’’ has the meaning given that term in section 

24 363(c) of this Act. 


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1 (3) MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.—The term 

2 ‘‘military sexual trauma’’ means psychological trau3 ma, which in the judgment of a mental health pro4 fessional employed by the Department, resulted from 

5 a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a 

6 sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred 

7 while the veteran was serving on active duty or ac8 tive duty for training. 

9 (4) SEXUAL HARASSMENT.—The term ‘‘sexual 

10 harassment’’ means repeated, unsolicited verbal or 

11 physical contact of a sexual nature which is threat12 ening in character. 

13 (5) SEXUAL TRAUMA.—The term ‘‘sexual trau14 ma’’ shall have the meaning given that term by the 

15 Secretary of Veterans Affairs for purposes of this 

16 section. 

17 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

18 on the date that is 270 days after the date of the enact19 ment of this Act. 


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1 Subtitle G—Reproductive 

2 Treatment and Services 

3 SEC. 371. CLARIFICATION THAT FERTILITY COUNSELING 

4 AND TREATMENT ARE MEDICAL SERVICES 

5 WHICH THE SECRETARY MAY FURNISH TO 

6 VETERANS LIKE OTHER MEDICAL SERVICES. 

7 Section 1701(6), as amended by section 306(b)(1) of 

8 this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the fol9 lowing new subparagraph: 

10 ‘‘(I) Fertility counseling and treatment, in11 cluding treatment using assisted reproductive 

12 technology.’’. 

13 SEC. 372. REPRODUCTIVE TREATMENT AND CARE FOR 

14 SPOUSES AND SURROGATES OF VETERANS. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 is 

16 amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

17 ‘‘§ 1788. Reproductive treatment and care for spouses 

18 and surrogates of veterans 

19 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall furnish fer20 tility counseling and treatment, including through the use 

21 of assisted reproductive technology, to a spouse or surro22 gate of a severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran who has 

23 an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in line of 

24 duty in the active military, naval, or air service and who 

25 is enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment esVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00134 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 tablished under section 1705(a) of this title if the spouse 

2 or surrogate and the veteran apply jointly for such coun3 seling and treatment through a process prescribed by the 

4 Secretary. 

5 ‘‘(b) COORDINATION OF CARE FOR OTHER SPOUSES

6 AND SURROGATES.—In the case of a spouse or surrogate 

7 of a veteran not described in subsection (a) who is seeking 

8 fertility counseling and treatment, the Secretary may co9 ordinate fertility counseling and treatment for such spouse 

10 or surrogate. 

11 ‘‘(c) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall 

12 be construed to require the Secretary— 

13 ‘‘(1) to find or certify a surrogate for a veteran 

14 or to connect a surrogate with a veteran; or 

15 ‘‘(2) to furnish maternity care to a spouse or 

16 surrogate of a veteran. 

17 ‘‘(d) ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY DE18 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘assisted reproductive 

19 technology’ includes in vitro fertilization and other fertility 

20 treatments in which both eggs and sperm are handled 

21 when clinically appropriate.’’. 

22 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

23 at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting 

24 after the item relating to section 1787 the following new 

25 item: 


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‘‘1788. Reproductive treatment and care for spouses and surrogates of veterans.’’. 

1 SEC. 373. ADOPTION ASSISTANCE FOR SEVERELY WOUND2 ED VETERANS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter VIII of chapter 17, 

4 as amended by section 372(a) of this Act, is further 

5 amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

6 ‘‘§ 1789. Adoption assistance 

7 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may pay an 

8 amount, not to exceed the limitation amount, to assist a 

9 covered veteran in the adoption of one or more children. 

10 ‘‘(b) COVERED VETERAN.—For purposes of this sec11 tion, a covered veteran is any severely wounded, ill, or in12 jured veteran who— 

13 ‘‘(1) has an infertility condition incurred or ag14 gravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, 

15 or air service; and 

16 ‘‘(2) is enrolled in the system of annual patient 

17 enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this 

18 title. 

19 ‘‘(c) LIMITATION AMOUNT.—For purposes of this 

20 section, the limitation amount is the amount equal to the 

21 lesser of— 

22 ‘‘(1) the cost the Department would incur if the 

23 Secretary were to provide a covered veteran with one 

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1 sisted reproductive technology under section 1788 of 

2 this title, as determined by the Secretary; or 

3 ‘‘(2) the cost the Department would incur by 

4 paying the expenses of three adoptions by covered 

5 veterans, as determined by the Secretary. 

6 ‘‘(d) ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY DE7 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘assisted reproductive 

8 technology’ has the meaning given that term in section 

9 1788 of this title.’’. 

10 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

11 at the beginning of chapter 17, as amended by section 

12 372(b) of this Act, is further amended by inserting after 

13 the item relating to section 1788 the following new item: 

‘‘1789. Adoption assistance.’’. 

14 SEC. 374. REGULATIONS ON FURNISHING OF FERTILITY 

15 COUNSELING AND TREATMENT AND ADOP16 TION ASSISTANCE BY DEPARTMENT OF VET17 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 540 days after the 

19 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet20 erans Affairs shall prescribe regulations— 

21 (1) on the furnishing of fertility treatment to 

22 veterans using assisted reproductive technology; 

23 (2) to carry out section 1788 of title 38, United 

24 States Code, as added by section 372 of this Act; 

25 and 


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1 (3) to carry out section 1789 of such title, as 

2 added by section 373 of this Act. 

3 (b) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding any other provi4 sion of law, during the period beginning on the date of 

5 the enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which 

6 the Secretary prescribes regulations under subsection (a), 

7 the Secretary may not furnish— 

8 (1) to a veteran any fertility treatment that 

9 uses an assisted reproductive technology that the 

10 Secretary has not used in the provision of a fertility 

11 treatment to a veteran before the date of the enact12 ment of this Act; 

13 (2) any fertility counseling or treatment under 

14 section 1788 of such title, as added by section 372 

15 of this Act; or 

16 (3) any assistance under section 1789 of such 

17 title, as added by section 373 of this Act. 

18 (c) ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY DE19 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘assisted reproductive 

20 technology’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

21 1788 of such title, as added by section 372 of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 375. COORDINATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF VET2 ERANS AFFAIRS AND DEPARTMENT OF DE3 FENSE ON FURNISHING OF FERTILITY COUN4 SELING AND TREATMENT. 

5 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary 

6 of Defense shall share best practices and facilitate refer7 rals, as they consider appropriate, on the furnishing of fer8 tility counseling and treatment. 

9 SEC. 376. FACILITATION OF REPRODUCTION AND INFER10 TILITY RESEARCH. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 73, as 

12 amended by section 325(a) of this Act, is further amended 

13 by adding at the end the following new section: 

14 ‘‘§ 7330C. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility 

15 research 

16 ‘‘(a) FACILITATION OF RESEARCH REQUIRED.—The 

17 Secretary shall facilitate research conducted collabo18 ratively by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 

19 Health and Human Services to improve the ability of the 

20 Department of Veterans Affairs to meet the long-term re21 productive health care needs of veterans who have a geni22 tourinary service-connected disability or a condition that 

23 was incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active 

24 military, naval, or air service, such as a spinal cord injury, 

25 that affects the veterans’ ability to reproduce. 


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1 ‘‘(b) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.—The Sec2 retary shall ensure that information produced by the re3 search facilitated under this section that may be useful 

4 for other activities of the Veterans Health Administration 

5 is disseminated throughout the Veterans Health Adminis6 tration.’’. 

7 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

8 at the beginning of chapter 73, as amended by section 

9 325(b) of this Act, is further amended by inserting after 

10 the item relating to section 7330B the following new item: 

‘‘7330C. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research.’’. 

11 (c) REPORT.—Not later than three years after the 

12 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet13 erans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the re14 search activities conducted by the Secretary under section 

15 7330C of title 38, United States Code, as added by sub16 section (a). 

17 SEC. 377. ANNUAL REPORT ON PROVISION OF FERTILITY 

18 COUNSELING AND TREATMENT FURNISHED 

19 BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 

21 date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently 

22 than annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Af23 fairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

24 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

25 the House of Representatives a report on the fertility 


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1 counseling and treatment furnished by the Department of 

2 Veterans Affairs during the year preceding the submittal 

3 of the report. 

4 (b) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted under sub5 section (a) shall include, for the period covered by the re6 port, the following: 

7 (1) The number of veterans who received fer8 tility counseling or treatment furnished by the De9 partment of Veterans Affairs, disaggregated by era 

10 of military service of such veterans. 

11 (2) The number of spouses and surrogates of 

12 veterans who received fertility counseling or treat13 ment furnished by the Department. 

14 (3) The cost to the Department of furnishing 

15 fertility counseling and treatment, disaggregated by 

16 cost of services and administration. 

17 (4) The average cost to the Department per re18 cipient of such counseling and treatment. 

19 (5) In cases in which the Department furnished 

20 fertility treatment through the use of assisted repro21 ductive technology, the average number of cycles per 

22 person furnished. 

23 (6) A description of how fertility counseling and 

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1 nated with similar services of the Department of De2 fense. 

3 SEC. 378. PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR 

4 CERTAIN VETERANS. 

5 (a) ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN

6 VETERANS RECEIVING HEALTH CARE.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 

8 is amended by adding at the end the following new 

9 section: 

10 ‘‘§ 1709B. Assistance for child care for certain vet11 erans receiving health care 

12 ‘‘(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall 

13 carry out a program to provide, subject to subsection (b), 

14 assistance to qualified veterans described in subsection (c) 

15 to obtain child care so that such veterans can receive 

16 health care services described in subsection (c). 

17 ‘‘(b) LIMITATION ON PERIOD OF PAYMENTS.—As18 sistance may only be provided to a qualified veteran under 

19 this section for receipt of child care during the period that 

20 the qualified veteran— 

21 ‘‘(1) receives health care services described in 

22 subsection (c) at a facility of the Department; and 

23 ‘‘(2) requires travel to and from such facility 

24 for the receipt of such health care services. 


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1 ‘‘(c) QUALIFIED VETERANS.—For purposes of this 

2 section, a qualified veteran is a veteran who is— 

3 ‘‘(1) the primary caretaker of a child or chil4 dren; and 

5 ‘‘(2)(A) receiving from the Department— 

6 ‘‘(i) regular mental health care services; 

7 ‘‘(ii) intensive mental health care services; 

8 or 

9 ‘‘(iii) such other intensive health care serv10 ices that the Secretary determines that provi11 sion of assistance to the veteran to obtain child 

12 care would improve access to such health care 

13 services by the veteran; or 

14 ‘‘(B) in need of regular or intensive mental 

15 health care services from the Department, and but 

16 for lack of child care services, would receive such 

17 health care services from the Department. 

18 ‘‘(d) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall carry out the 

19 program in no fewer than three Veterans Integrated Serv20 ice Networks selected by the Secretary for purposes of the 

21 program. 

22 ‘‘(e) FORMS OF CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.—(1) 

23 Child care assistance under this section may include the 

24 following: 


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1 ‘‘(A) Stipends for the payment of child care of2 fered by licensed child care centers (either directly 

3 or through a voucher program) which shall be, to 

4 the extent practicable, modeled after the Depart5 ment of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Pro6 gram established pursuant to section 630 of the 

7 Treasury and General Government Appropriations 

8 Act, 2002 (Public Law 107–67; 115 Stat. 552). 

9 ‘‘(B) Direct provision of child care at an on-site 

10 facility of the Department. 

11 ‘‘(C) Payments to private child care agencies. 

12 ‘‘(D) Collaboration with facilities or programs 

13 of other Federal departments or agencies. 

14 ‘‘(E) Such other forms of assistance as the Sec15 retary considers appropriate. 

16 ‘‘(2) In the case that child care assistance under this 

17 section is provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), 

18 such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child care.’’. 

19 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec20 tions at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by 

21 inserting after the item relating to section 1709A 

22 the following new item: 

‘‘1709B. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care.’’. 

23 (3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 

24 205(e) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 

25 Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 


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1 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by inserting ‘‘but 

2 not after the date of the enactment of the Com3 prehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Mili4 tary Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014’’ be5 fore the period at the end. 

6 (b) ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS

7 RECEIVING READJUSTMENT COUNSELING AND RELATED

8 MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17, 

10 as amended by subsection (a)(1) of this section, is 

11 further amended by adding at the end the following 

12 new section: 

13 ‘‘§ 1709C. Assistance for child care for individuals re14 ceiving readjustment counseling and re15 lated mental health services 

16 ‘‘(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall 

17 carry out a program to provide, subject to subsection (b), 

18 assistance to qualified individuals described in subsection 

19 (c) to obtain child care so that such individuals can receive 

20 readjustment counseling and related mental health serv21 ices. 

22 ‘‘(b) LIMITATION ON PERIOD OF PAYMENTS.—As23 sistance may only be provided to a qualified individual 

24 under this section for receipt of child care during the pe25 riod that the qualified individual receives readjustment 


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1 counseling and related health care services at a Vet Cen2 ter. 

3 ‘‘(c) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of this 

4 section, a qualified individual is an individual who is— 

5 ‘‘(1) the primary caretaker of a child or chil6 dren; and 

7 ‘‘(2)(A) receiving from the Department regular 

8 readjustment counseling and related mental health 

9 services; or 

10 ‘‘(B) in need of readjustment counseling and 

11 related mental health services from the Department, 

12 and but for lack of child care services, would receive 

13 such counseling and services from the Department. 

14 ‘‘(d) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall carry out the 

15 program under this section in no fewer than three Read16 justment Counseling Service Regions selected by the Sec17 retary for purposes of the program. 

18 ‘‘(e) FORMS OF CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.—(1) 

19 Child care assistance under this section may include the 

20 following: 

21 ‘‘(A) Stipends for the payment of child care of22 fered by licensed child care centers (either directly 

23 or through a voucher program) which shall be, to 

24 the extent practicable, modeled after the Depart25 ment of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy ProVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00146 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 gram established pursuant to section 630 of the 

2 Treasury and General Government Appropriations 

3 Act, 2002 (Public Law 107–67; 115 Stat. 552). 

4 ‘‘(B) Payments to private child care agencies. 

5 ‘‘(C) Collaboration with facilities or programs 

6 of other Federal departments or agencies. 

7 ‘‘(D) Such other forms of assistance as the Sec8 retary considers appropriate. 

9 ‘‘(2) In the case that child care assistance under this 

10 subsection is provided as a stipend under paragraph 

11 (1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child 

12 care. 

13 ‘‘(f) VET CENTER DEFINED.—In this section, the 

14 term ‘Vet Center’ means a center for readjustment coun15 seling and related mental health services for individuals 

16 under section 1712A of this title.’’. 

17 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec18 tions at the beginning of chapter 17, as amended by 

19 subsection (a)(2) of this section, is further amended 

20 by inserting after the item relating to section 1709B 

21 the following new item: 

‘‘1709C. Assistance for child care for individuals receiving readjustment counseling and related mental health services.’’. 


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1 SEC. 379. COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN 

2 VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERV3 ICE IN THE ARMED FORCES. 

4 (a) COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 

6 is amended by adding at the end the following new 

7 section: 

8 ‘‘§ 1720H. Counseling in retreat settings for women 

9 veterans newly separated from service in 

10 the Armed Forces 

11 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide, 

12 through the Readjustment Counseling Service of the Vet13 erans Health Administration, reintegration and readjust14 ment services described in subsection (c) in group retreat 

15 settings to women veterans who are recently separated 

16 from service in the Armed Forces after a prolonged de17 ployment. 

18 ‘‘(b) ELECTION OF VETERAN.—The receipt of serv19 ices under this section by a woman veteran shall be at 

20 the election of the veteran. 

21 ‘‘(c) COVERED SERVICES.—The services provided to 

22 a woman veteran under this section shall include the fol23 lowing: 

24 ‘‘(1) Information on reintegration into the vet25 eran’s family, employment, and community. 

26 ‘‘(2) Financial counseling. 


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1 ‘‘(3) Occupational counseling. 

2 ‘‘(4) Information and counseling on stress re3 duction. 

4 ‘‘(5) Information and counseling on conflict res5 olution. 

6 ‘‘(6) Such other information and counseling as 

7 the Secretary considers appropriate to assist the vet8 eran in reintegration into the veteran’s family, em9 ployment, and community.’’. 

10 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec11 tions at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by 

12 inserting after the item relating to section 1720G 

13 the following new item: 

‘‘1720H. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated 

from service in the Armed Forces.’’. 

14 (b) REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED PILOT PROGRAM AU15 THORITY.—Section 203 of the Caregivers and Veterans 

16 Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111– 

17 163; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is hereby repealed. 

18 Subtitle H—Major Medical Facility 

19 Leases 

20 SEC. 381. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 

21 LEASES. 

22 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 

23 following major medical facility leases at the locations 

24 specified, and in an amount for each lease not to exceed 


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1 the amount shown for such location (not including any es2 timated cancellation costs): 

3 (1) For a clinical research and pharmacy co4 ordinating center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, an 

5 amount not to exceed $9,560,000. 

6 (2) For a community-based outpatient clinic, 

7 Brick, New Jersey, an amount not to exceed 

8 $7,280,000. 

9 (3) For a new primary care and dental clinic 

10 annex, Charleston, South Carolina, an amount not 

11 to exceed $7,070,250. 

12 (4) For the Cobb County community-based 

13 Outpatient Clinic, Cobb County, Georgia, an amount 

14 not to exceed $6,409,000. 

15 (5) For the Leeward Outpatient Healthcare Ac16 cess Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, including a co-lo17 cated clinic with the Department of Defense and the 

18 co-location of the Honolulu Regional Office of the 

19 Veterans Benefits Administration and the Kapolei 

20 Vet Center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 

21 an amount not to exceed $15,887,370. 

22 (6) For a community-based outpatient clinic, 

23 Johnson County, Kansas, an amount not to exceed 

24 $2,263,000. 


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1 (7) For a replacement community-based out2 patient clinic, Lafayette, Louisiana, an amount not 

3 to exceed $2,996,000. 

4 (8) For a community-based outpatient clinic, 

5 Lake Charles, Louisiana, an amount not to exceed 

6 $2,626,000. 

7 (9) For outpatient clinic consolidation, New 

8 Port Richey, Florida, an amount not to exceed 

9 $11,927,000. 

10 (10) For an outpatient clinic, Ponce, Puerto 

11 Rico, an amount not to exceed $11,535,000. 

12 (11) For lease consolidation, San Antonio, 

13 Texas, an amount not to exceed $19,426,000. 

14 (12) For a community-based outpatient clinic, 

15 San Diego, California, an amount not to exceed 

16 $11,946,100. 

17 (13) For an outpatient clinic, Tyler, Texas, an 

18 amount not to exceed $4,327,000. 

19 (14) For the Errera Community Care Center, 

20 West Haven, Connecticut, an amount not to exceed 

21 $4,883,000. 

22 (15) For the Worcester community-based Out23 patient Clinic, Worcester, Massachusetts, an amount 

24 not to exceed $4,855,000. 


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1 (16) For the expansion of a community-based 

2 outpatient clinic, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, an 

3 amount not to exceed $4,232,060. 

4 (17) For a multispecialty clinic, Chattanooga, 

5 Tennessee, an amount not to exceed $7,069,000. 

6 (18) For the expansion of a community-based 

7 outpatient clinic, Chico, California, an amount not to 

8 exceed $4,534,000. 

9 (19) For a community-based outpatient clinic, 

10 Chula Vista, California, an amount not to exceed 

11 $3,714,000. 

12 (20) For a new research lease, Hines, Illinois, 

13 an amount not to exceed $22,032,000. 

14 (21) For a replacement research lease, Hous15 ton, Texas, an amount not to exceed $6,142,000. 

16 (22) For a community-based outpatient clinic, 

17 Lincoln, Nebraska, an amount not to exceed 

18 $7,178,400. 

19 (23) For a community-based outpatient clinic, 

20 Lubbock, Texas, an amount not to exceed 

21 $8,554,000. 

22 (24) For a community-based outpatient clinic 

23 consolidation, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, an 

24 amount not to exceed $8,022,000. 


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1 (25) For a community-based outpatient clinic, 

2 Phoenix, Arizona, an amount not to exceed 

3 $20,757,000. 

4 (26) For the expansion of a community-based 

5 outpatient clinic, Redding, California, an amount not 

6 to exceed $8,154,000. 

7 (27) For the expansion of a community-based 

8 outpatient clinic, Tulsa, Oklahoma, an amount not 

9 to exceed $13,269,200. 

10 SEC. 382. BUDGETARY TREATMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF 

11 VETERANS AFFAIRS MAJOR MEDICAL FACILI12 TIES LEASES. 

13 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

14 (1) Title 31, United States Code, requires the 

15 Department of Veterans Affairs to record the full 

16 cost of its contractual obligation against funds avail17 able at the time a contract is executed. 

18 (2) Office of Management and Budget Circular 

19 A–11 provides guidance to agencies in meeting the 

20 statutory requirements under title 31, United States 

21 Code, with respect to leases. 

22 (3) For operating leases, Office of Management 

23 and Budget Circular A–11 requires the Department 

24 of Veterans Affairs to record up-front budget au25 thority in an ‘‘amount equal to total payments under 


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1 the full term of the lease or [an] amount sufficient 

2 to cover first year lease payments plus cancellation 

3 costs’’. 

4 (b) REQUIREMENT FOR OBLIGATION OF FULL

5 COST.—Subject to the availability of appropriations pro6 vided in advance, in exercising the authority of the Sec7 retary of Veterans Affairs to enter into leases provided 

8 in this Act, the Secretary shall record, pursuant to section 

9 1501 of title 31, United States Code, as the full cost of 

10 the contractual obligation at the time a contract is exe11 cuted either— 

12 (1) an amount equal to total payments under 

13 the full term of the lease; or 

14 (2) if the lease specifies payments to be made 

15 in the event the lease is terminated before its full 

16 term, an amount sufficient to cover the first year 

17 lease payments plus the specified cancellation costs. 

18 (c) TRANSPARENCY.— 

19 (1) COMPLIANCE.—Subsection (b) of section 

20 8104 is amended by adding at the end the following 

21 new paragraph: 

22 ‘‘(7) In the case of a prospectus proposing 

23 funding for a major medical facility lease, a detailed 

24 analysis of how the lease is expected to comply with 

25 Office of Management and Budget Circular A–11 


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1 and section 1341 of title 31 (commonly referred to 

2 as the ‘Anti-Deficiency Act’). Any such analysis shall 

3 include— 

4 ‘‘(A) an analysis of the classification of the 

5 lease as a ‘lease-purchase’, ‘capital lease’, or 

6 ‘operating lease’ as those terms are defined in 

7 Office of Management and Budget Circular A– 

8 11; 

9 ‘‘(B) an analysis of the obligation of budg10 etary resources associated with the lease; and 

11 ‘‘(C) an analysis of the methodology used 

12 in determining the asset cost, fair market value, 

13 and cancellation costs of the lease.’’. 

14 (2) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Such section 

15 8104 is further amended by adding at the end the 

16 following new subsection: 

17 ‘‘(h)(1) Not less than 30 days before entering into 

18 a major medical facility lease, the Secretary shall submit 

19 to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 

20 the House of Representatives— 

21 ‘‘(A) notice of the Secretary’s intention to enter 

22 into the lease; 

23 ‘‘(B) a copy of the proposed lease; 


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1 ‘‘(C) a description and analysis of any dif2 ferences between the prospectus submitted pursuant 

3 to subsection (b) and the proposed lease; and 

4 ‘‘(D) a scoring analysis demonstrating that the 

5 proposed lease fully complies with Office of Manage6 ment and Budget Circular A–11. 

7 ‘‘(2) Each committee described in paragraph (1) shall 

8 ensure that any information submitted to the committee 

9 under such paragraph is treated by the committee with 

10 the same level of confidentiality as is required by law of 

11 the Secretary and subject to the same statutory penalties 

12 for unauthorized disclosure or use as the Secretary. 

13 ‘‘(3) Not more than 30 days after entering into a 

14 major medical facility lease, the Secretary shall submit to 

15 each committee described in paragraph (1) a report on 

16 any material differences between the lease that was en17 tered into and the proposed lease described under such 

18 paragraph, including how the lease that was entered into 

19 changes the previously submitted scoring analysis de20 scribed in subparagraph (D) of such paragraph.’’. 

21 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec22 tion, or the amendments made by this section, shall be 

23 construed to in any way relieve the Department of Vet24 erans Affairs from any statutory or regulatory obligations 


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1 or requirements existing prior to the enactment of this 

2 section and such amendments. 

3 TITLE IV—EMPLOYMENT AND 

4 RELATED MATTERS 

5 Subtitle A—Training and Other 

6 Services for Veterans Seeking 

7 Employment 

8 SEC. 401. REAUTHORIZATION OF VETERANS RETRAINING 

9 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 

10 (a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (k) of section 211 of 

11 the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Public Law 112– 

12 56; 38 U.S.C. 4100 note) is amended by striking ‘‘March 

13 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘June 30, 2016’’. 

14 (b) NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE VETERANS.—Subsection 

15 (a)(2) of such section is amended— 

16 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

17 the end; 

18 (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period 

19 at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 

20 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub21 paragraphs: 

22 ‘‘(C) 50,000 during the period beginning 

23 April 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015; and 

24 ‘‘(D) 50,000 during the period beginning 

25 July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016.’’. 


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1 (c) CLARIFICATION OF LIMITATION ON AGGREGATE

2 AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE.—Subsection (b) of such section 

3 is amended by striking ‘‘up to 12 months of retraining 

4 assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs’’ 

5 and inserting ‘‘an aggregate of not more than 12 months 

6 of retraining assistance provided by the Secretary of Vet7 erans Affairs under this section’’. 

8 (d) PROVIDERS OF RETRAINING ASSISTANCE.—Sub9 section (b) of such section is further amended— 

10 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and 

11 (5) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and 

12 (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol13 lowing new paragraph (3): 

14 ‘‘(3) is offered by a four-year educational insti15 tution and, as determined by the Secretary, is not 

16 reasonably available at a community college or tech17 nical school;’’. 

18 (e) EXTENSION OF APPLICATION DATE.—Subsection 

19 (e)(1)(G) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘October 

20 1, 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2015’’. 

21 (f) REPORTS.—Subsection (i) of such section is 

22 amended— 

23 (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘RE24 PORT’’ and inserting ‘‘REPORTS’’; 


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1 (2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 

2 following new paragraph (1): 

3 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

4 Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees 

5 of Congress reports on training assistance provided 

6 under this section as follows: 

7 ‘‘(A) By not later than October 1, 2015, 

8 for participants provided assistance through 

9 March 31, 2014. 

10 ‘‘(B) By not later than October 1, 2017, 

11 for participants provided assistance during the 

12 period beginning on April 1, 2014, and ending 

13 on June 2016.’’; and 

14 (3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘The report 

15 required by paragraph (1) shall include’’ and insert16 ing ‘‘Each report required by paragraph (1) shall in17 clude, for the period covered by such report,’’. 

18 SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF 

19 VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE REHABILI20 TATION AND VOCATIONAL BENEFITS TO 

21 MEMBERS OF ARMED FORCES WITH SEVERE 

22 INJURIES OR ILLNESSES. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1631(b)(2) of the Wound24 ed Warrior Act (title XVI of Public Law 110–181; 10 


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1 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 

2 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2016’’. 

3 (b) REPORT.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

5 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec6 retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appro7 priate committees of Congress a report on the bene8 fits provided by the Secretary under section 1631(b) 

9 of such Act. 

10 (2) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON11 GRESS.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate 

12 committees of Congress’’ means— 

13 (A) the Committee on Armed Services and 

14 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen15 ate; and 

16 (B) the Committee on Armed Services and 

17 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

18 House of Representatives. 

19 SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF ADDITIONAL REHABILITATION 

20 PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE EX21 HAUSTED RIGHTS TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENE22 FITS UNDER STATE LAW. 

23 Section 3102(b)(4) is amended by striking ‘‘March 

24 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘March 31, 2016’’. 


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1 SEC. 404. UNIFIED EMPLOYMENT PORTAL FOR VETERANS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4105 is amended by add3 ing at the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(c)(1) The Secretary shall develop a single, unified 

5 Federal web-based employment portal, for use by veterans, 

6 containing information regarding all Federal programs 

7 and activities concerning employment, unemployment, and 

8 training to the extent the programs and activities affect 

9 veterans. 

10 ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall work with representatives 

11 from the Department of Defense, the Department of Vet12 erans Affairs, the Small Business Administration, and 

13 other Federal agencies and organizations concerned with 

14 veterans’ issues, to determine an appropriate platform and 

15 implementing agency for the portal. The Secretary shall 

16 enter into an agreement with the other Federal agencies 

17 for the implementation of the portal.’’. 

18 (b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Labor shall 

19 implement the portal required by subsection (c) of section 

20 4105 of title 38, United States Code (as added by sub21 section (a) of this section), by not later than January 1, 

22 2015. 


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1 SEC. 405. REPORT ON UNIFIED GOVERNMENT INTERNET 

2 PORTAL FOR VETERANS ON JOBS AVAILABLE 

3 THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 

4 (a) IDENTIFICATION OF INTERNET WEBSITES AND

5 APPLICATIONS THAT CAN ASSIST VETERANS SEEKING

6 EMPLOYMENT.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor 

8 shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans 

9 Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, and other appro10 priate public and private entities, take appropriate 

11 actions to identify Internet websites and applications 

12 that can assist veterans in seeking employment. 

13 (2) PRIORITY IN IDENTIFICATION OF CERTAIN

14 WEBSITES AND APPLICATIONS.—In identifying 

15 websites and applications pursuant to paragraph (1), 

16 the Secretary shall place a particular priority on 

17 identifying websites and applications that do the fol18 lowing: 

19 (A) Match veterans seeking employment 

20 with available jobs based on the skills the vet21 erans acquired as members of the Armed 

22 Forces. 

23 (B) Permit employers to post information 

24 about available jobs. 

25 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the ef26 fective date specified in subsection (c), the Secretary of 


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1 Labor shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

2 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

3 the House of Representatives a report on the actions of 

4 the Secretary under subsection (a). The report shall in5 clude an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 

6 creating a single, unified Internet-based employment por7 tal for the Federal Government for use by veterans regard8 ing employment through the Federal Government, includ9 ing the cost of creating the portal, the collaboration with 

10 other Federal agencies required to create the portal, and 

11 the anticipated use of the portal. 

12 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

13 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact14 ment of this Act. 

15 SEC. 406. INFORMATION ON DISABILITY-RELATED EMPLOY16 MENT AND EDUCATION PROTECTIONS IN 

17 TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1144(b) of title 10, 

19 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 

20 following new paragraph: 

21 ‘‘(9) Provide information about disability-re22 lated employment and education protections.’’. 

23 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

24 subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is one 

25 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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1 Subtitle B—Employment of Vet2 erans and Recognition of Vet3 eran Status With Respect to Em4 ployment Related Matters 

5 SEC. 411. EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS WITH THE FEDERAL 

6 GOVERNMENT. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4214 is amended— 

8 (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the 

9 following: 

10 ‘‘(4)(A) The requirement under this paragraph is in 

11 addition to the appointment of qualified covered veterans 

12 under the authority under paragraph (1) by the Depart13 ment of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. 

14 ‘‘(B) The head of each agency, in consultation with 

15 the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall 

16 develop a plan for exercising the authority specified in sub17 paragraph (C) during the five-year period beginning on 

18 the date of the enactment of the Comprehensive Veterans 

19 Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Res20 toration Act of 2014. 

21 ‘‘(C) The authority specified in this subparagraph is 

22 the authority as follows: 

23 ‘‘(i) The authority under paragraph (1). 

24 ‘‘(ii) The authority available to the agency con25 cerned under the Veterans Employment OpportuniVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00164 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 ties Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–339) and the 

2 amendments made by that Act. 

3 ‘‘(D) The Director of the Office of Personnel Man4 agement shall ensure that under the plans developed 

5 under subparagraph (B) agencies shall appoint to existing 

6 vacancies not fewer than 15,000 qualified covered veterans 

7 during the five-year period beginning on the date of the 

8 enactment of the Comprehensive Veterans Health and 

9 Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 

10 2014. For purposes of complying with this subparagraph, 

11 an appointment pursuant to the authority referred to in 

12 subparagraph (C)(ii) shall not count toward the number 

13 required by this subparagraph unless the appointment is 

14 to a vacancy in a full-time, permanent position.’’; 

15 (2) in subsection (d), in the third sentence, by 

16 inserting ‘‘(including, during the 5-year period be17 ginning on the date of the enactment of the Com18 prehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Mili19 tary Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014, the 

20 development and implementation by each agency of 

21 the plan required under subsection (b)(4), which 

22 shall include information regarding the grade or pay 

23 level of appointments by the agency under the plan 

24 and whether the appointments are, or are converted 


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1 to, career or career-conditional appointments)’’ after 

2 ‘‘subsection (b) of this section’’; and 

3 (3) in subsection (e)— 

4 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

5 (i) in the matter before subparagraph 

6 (A), by striking ‘‘to the Congress’’ and in7 serting ‘‘to the appropriate committees of 

8 Congress’’; and 

9 (ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 

10 ‘‘(including, during the 5-year period be11 ginning on the date of the enactment of 

12 the Comprehensive Veterans Health and 

13 Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Res14 toration Act of 2014, the development and 

15 implementation by the agency of the plan 

16 required under subsection (b)(4), which 

17 shall include information regarding the 

18 grade or pay level of appointments by the 

19 agency under the plan and whether the ap20 pointments are, or are converted to, per21 manent appointments)’’ before the period; 

22 and 

23 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

24 paragraph: 


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1 ‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘appropriate com2 mittees of Congress’ means— 

3 ‘‘(A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and 

4 the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern5 mental Affairs of the Senate; and 

6 ‘‘(B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and 

7 the Committee on Oversight and Government Re8 form of the House of Representatives.’’. 

9 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

10 of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Per11 sonnel Management shall submit to the appropriate com12 mittees of Congress (as defined under section 4214(e)(3) 

13 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection 

14 (a)) regarding the development of a plan to carry out the 

15 amendments made by subsection (a). 

16 SEC. 412. STATE RECOGNITION OF MILITARY EXPERIENCE 

17 OF VETERANS IN ISSUING LICENSES AND 

18 CREDENTIALS TO VETERANS. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4102A(c) is amended by 

20 striking paragraph (9) and inserting the following new 

21 paragraph (9): 

22 ‘‘(9)(A) As a condition of a grant or contract under 

23 which funds are made available to a State under sub24 section (b)(5) in order to carry out section 4103A or 4104 

25 of this title, the State shall— 


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1 ‘‘(i) establish a program under which the State 

2 administers an examination to each veteran seeking 

3 a license or credential issued by the State and issues 

4 such license or credential to such veteran without re5 quiring such veteran to undergo any training or ap6 prenticeship if the veteran— 

7 ‘‘(I) receives a satisfactory score on com8 pletion of such examination, as determined by 

9 the State; 

10 ‘‘(II) has been awarded a military occupa11 tional specialty that is substantially equivalent 

12 to or exceeds the requirements of the State for 

13 the issuance of such license or credential; 

14 ‘‘(III) has engaged in the active practice of 

15 the occupation for which the veteran is seeking 

16 such license or credential for at least two of the 

17 five years preceding the date of application; and 

18 ‘‘(IV) pays any customary or usual fees re19 quired by the State for such license or creden20 tial; and 

21 ‘‘(ii) submit each year to the Secretary a report 

22 on the exams administered under clause (i) during 

23 the most recently completed 12-month period that 

24 includes, for the period covered by the report the 

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1 tered by the State under clause (i) and a description 

2 of the results of such exams, disaggregated by occu3 pational field. 

4 ‘‘(B) The Secretary may waive the requirement under 

5 subparagraph (A) that a State establish a program de6 scribed in that subparagraph as a condition of a grant 

7 or contract if the State certifies to the Secretary that the 

8 State— 

9 ‘‘(i) takes into account previous military train10 ing for the purposes of issuing licenses or creden11 tials; 

12 ‘‘(ii) permits veterans to completely satisfy 

13 through examination any training or testing require14 ments for a license or credential with respect to 

15 which a veteran has previously completed military 

16 training; and 

17 ‘‘(iii) for any credential or license for which a 

18 veteran is unable to completely satisfy such require19 ments through examination, the State substantially 

20 reduces training time required to satisfy such re21 quirement based on the military training received by 

22 the veteran. 

23 ‘‘(C) Not less frequently than once each year, the 

24 Secretary shall submit to Congress and the Secretary of 


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1 Defense a report summarizing the information received by 

2 the Secretary under subparagraph (A)(ii).’’. 

3 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 

4 (1) EXAMS.—Subparagraph (A) of section 

5 4102A(c)(9) of title 38, United States Code, as 

6 added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date 

7 that is one year after the date of the enactment of 

8 this Act and shall apply with respect to grants and 

9 contracts described in such subparagraph awarded 

10 after such date. 

11 (2) REPORTS.—Subparagraph (B) of such sec12 tion 4102A(c)(9), as so added, shall take effect on 

13 the date that is one year after the date of the enact14 ment of this Act and the Secretary of Labor shall 

15 submit the first report under such subparagraph not 

16 later than two years after the date of the enactment 

17 of this Act. 

18 SEC. 413. GRANTS TO HIRE VETERANS AS FIRST RESPOND19 ERS. 

20 (a) GRANTS FOR FIREFIGHTERS.—The Secretary of 

21 Homeland Security shall award grants under section 34 

22 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 

23 (15 U.S.C. 2229a) to hire veterans as firefighters. 

24 (b) GRANTS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.— 

25 The Attorney General shall award grants under part Q 


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1 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets 

2 Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd et seq.) to hire veterans 

3 as law enforcement officers. 

4 (c) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec5 tion to hire veterans, the Secretary of Homeland Security 

6 and the Attorney General shall give priority to the hiring 

7 of veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces 

8 on or after September 11, 2001. 

9 (d) FUNDING.— 

10 (1) DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.— 

11 There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 

12 year 2015 for the Department of Homeland Secu13 rity, $125,000,000 to carry out subsection (a). 

14 (2) DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.—There is au15 thorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2015 for 

16 the Department of Justice, $125,000,000 to carry 

17 out subsection (b). 

18 (3) AVAILABILITY.—The amounts authorized to 

19 be appropriated by this subsection shall be available 

20 for expenditure through September 30, 2018. 

21 SEC. 414. EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS AS EVALUATION 

22 FACTOR IN THE AWARDING OF FEDERAL 

23 CONTRACTS. 

24 (a) CIVILIAN CONTRACTS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 33 of title 41, 

2 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

3 end the following new section: 

4 ‘‘§ 3312. Employment of veterans as evaluation factor 

5 ‘‘The head of each executive agency shall consider fa6 vorably as an evaluation factor in solicitations for con7 tracts and task or delivery order valued at or above 

8 $25,000,000 the employment by a prospective contractor 

9 of veterans constituting at least 5 percent of the contrac10 tor’s workforce.’’. 

11 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec12 tions at the beginning of 33 chapter of such title is 

13 amended by adding after the item relating to section 

14 3311 the following new item: 

‘‘3312. Employment of veterans as evaluation factor.’’. 

15 (b) DEFENSE CONTRACTS.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 137 of title 10, 

17 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

18 end the following new section: 

19 ‘‘§ 2336. Employment of veterans as evaluation factor 

20 ‘‘The head of each agency shall consider favorably as 

21 an evaluation factor in solicitations for contracts and task 

22 or delivery order valued at or above $25,000,000 the em23 ployment by a prospective contractor of veterans consti24 tuting at least 5 percent of the contractor’s workforce.’’. 


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1 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec2 tions at the beginning of chapter 137 of such title 

3 is amended by adding after the item relating to sec4 tion 2335 the following new item: 

‘‘2336. Employment of veterans as evaluation factor.’’. 

5 (c) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after 

6 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Acquisi7 tion Regulatory Council shall amend the Federal Acquisi8 tion Regulation to carry out the provisions of section 3313 

9 of title 41, United States Code, and section 2336 of title 

10 10, United States Code, as added by subsections (a) and 

11 (b), respectively. 

12 SEC. 415. REPORT ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MEMBERS 

13 OF RESERVE COMPONENTS OF ARMED 

14 FORCES AND VETERANS IN CIVILIAN LABOR 

15 MARKET. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 570 days after the 

17 date of the enactment of this act, the Secretary of Labor, 

18 in coordination with the heads of such agencies as the Sec19 retary considers appropriate, shall submit to the appro20 priate committees of Congress a report on barriers and 

21 potential discrimination facing veterans in the labor mar22 ket. 

23 (b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection 

24 (a) shall include the following: 

25 (1) An evaluation of the following: 


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1 (A) The extent to which members of the 

2 reserve components of the Armed Forces and 

3 veterans face barriers to entry into the civilian 

4 labor market, including whether such members 

5 and veterans face obstacles in obtaining employ6 ment, maintaining employment, or receiving 

7 promotions while employed. 

8 (B) The extent to which a member of a re9 serve component of the Armed Forces or a vet10 eran faces discrimination in the civilian labor 

11 market based on the member’s or veteran’s sta12 tus as a member of a reserve component of the 

13 Armed Forces or as a veteran, as the case may 

14 be. 

15 (C) The adequacy and effectiveness of 

16 Federal laws in effect on the day before the 

17 date of the enactment of this Act in preventing 

18 or ameliorating acts of discrimination against 

19 members of the reserve components of the 

20 Armed Forces and veterans seeking or retaining 

21 employment in the civilian labor market. 

22 (D) The adequacy and effectiveness of pro23 grams of the Department of Labor in effect on 

24 the day before the date of the enactment of this 

25 Act in educating private sector employers on 


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1 matters relevant to hiring and employing vet2 erans and the military experience of veterans. 

3 (2) Such recommendations as the Secretary 

4 may have for legislative or administrative action— 

5 (A) to address barriers or discrimination 

6 that members of the reserve components of the 

7 Armed Forces and veterans may face in the ci8 vilian labor market; 

9 (B) to improve education and outreach for 

10 employers in the civilian labor market on issues 

11 regarding hiring and employing such members 

12 and veterans; and 

13 (C) to assist employers in the civilian labor 

14 market in matching the military experience of 

15 such members and veterans with the needs of 

16 such employers. 

17 (3) Such other matters as the Secretary con18 siders appropriate. 

19 (c) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—In 

20 this section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con21 gress’’ means— 

22 (1) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the 

23 Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen24 sions of the Senate; and 


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1 (2) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the 

2 Committee on Education and the Workforce of the 

3 House of Representatives. 

4 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

5 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact6 ment of this Act. 

7 Subtitle C—Program on Career 

8 Transition 

9 SEC. 421. PROGRAM ON PROVISION OF CAREER TRANSI10 TION SERVICES TO YOUNG VETERANS. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 180 

12 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec13 retary of Veterans Affairs shall, in collaboration with the 

14 Secretary of Labor, carry out a program to assess the fea15 sibility and advisability of establishing a program to pro16 vide career transition services to eligible individuals— 

17 (1) to provide eligible individuals with work ex18 perience in the civilian sector; 

19 (2) to increase the marketable skills of eligible 

20 individuals; 

21 (3) to assist eligible individuals in obtaining 

22 long-term employment; and 

23 (4) to assist in integrating eligible individuals 

24 into their local communities. 


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1 (b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of the 

2 program, an eligible individual is an individual who— 

3 (1) is— 

4 (A) a veteran of the Armed Forces who 

5 was discharged or released from service therein 

6 under conditions other than dishonorable; or 

7 (B) a member of a reserve component of 

8 the Armed Forces (including the National 

9 Guard) who— 

10 (i) served on active duty in the Armed 

11 Forces (other than active duty for train12 ing) for more than 180 consecutive days 

13 during the three-year period ending on the 

14 date of application for participation in the 

15 program; and 

16 (ii) is not serving on active duty on 

17 the date of commencement of participation 

18 in the program; 

19 (2) if discharged or released from the Armed 

20 Forces on the date of commencement of participa21 tion in the program, was so discharged or released 

22 not later than three years before application for par23 ticipation in the program; 

24 (3) is unemployed or underemployed, as deter25 mined by the Secretary; and 


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1 (4) is, at the time at which the individual ap2 plies for participation in the program, 18 years of 

3 age or older, but not more than 30 years of age. 

4 (c) ELIGIBLE EMPLOYERS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of the pro6 gram, an eligible employer is an employer deter7 mined by the Secretary to meet such criteria for 

8 participation in the program as the Secretary shall 

9 establish for purposes of the program. 

10 (2) PAST PERFORMANCE ON CERTAIN MAT11 TERS.—The criteria established by the Secretary 

12 under paragraph (1) may include past performance 

13 of an employer with respect to the following: 

14 (A) Job training, basic skills training, and 

15 related activities. 

16 (B) Financial accountability. 

17 (C) Demonstrated high potential for 

18 growth and long-term job creation. 

19 (3) FOR-PROFIT AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT EMPLOY20 ERS.—The employers determined by the Secretary to 

21 be eligible employers under paragraph (1) may in22 clude both for-profit and not-for-profit employers. 

23 (4) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.—In deter24 mining employers to be eligible employers under 

25 paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that small 


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1 business concerns are afforded opportunities to par2 ticipate in the program. 

3 (5) EXCLUSIONS.—The following employers 

4 may not be determined to be an eligible employer 

5 under paragraph (1): 

6 (A) An agency of the Federal Government 

7 or a State or local government. 

8 (B) An employer that has previously par9 ticipated in the program and, as determined by 

10 the Secretary, failed to abide by any require11 ment of the program. 

12 (C) An employer that cannot give an as13 surance to the Secretary at the time of applica14 tion for participation in the program under sub15 section (l), and in such manner as the Secretary 

16 shall specify pursuant to that subsection, on 

17 each matter as follows: 

18 (i) That the employer has not been in19 vestigated or subject to a case or action by 

20 the Federal Trade Commission during the 

21 180-day period ending on the date the em22 ployer would otherwise commence partici23 pation in the program. 

24 (ii) That the employer has been in 

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1 reau during the period described in clause 

2 (i). 

3 (iii) That the employer is not delin4 quent with respect to payment of any taxes 

5 or employer contributions described under 

6 section 3301 and 3302 (a)(1) of the Inter7 nal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 

8 3301 and 3302(a)(1)). 

9 (iv) That the employer would not re10 quest the placement of an additional eligi11 ble individual under the program, if after 

12 such additional placement, the number of 

13 eligible individuals placed in internships at 

14 such employer under the program would 

15 constitute more than 10 percent of the eli16 gible employer’s workforce. For purposes 

17 of the previous sentence, being an intern 

18 under the program placed at an employer 

19 shall be considered part of the employer’s 

20 workforce. 

21 (v) That the employer has the inten22 tion of retaining eligible participants after 

23 such participants have completed participa24 tion in the program. 


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1 (d) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the 

2 program during the three-year period beginning on the 

3 date of the commencement of the program. 

4 (e) CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES.—For purposes 

5 of the program, career transition services are the fol6 lowing: 

7 (1) Internships under subsection (f). 

8 (2) Mentorship and job-shadowing under sub9 section (g). 

10 (3) Volunteer opportunities under subsection 

11 (h). 

12 (4) Professional skill workshops under sub13 section (i). 

14 (5) Skills assessment under subsection (j). 

15 (6) Additional services under subsection (k). 

16 (f) INTERNSHIPS.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—For each eligible individual 

18 whom the Secretary approves for participation in the 

19 program, the Secretary shall attempt to place such 

20 eligible individual in an internship on a full-time 

21 basis with an eligible employer whom the Secretary 

22 has approved for participation in the program. 

23 (2) DURATION.—Each internship under the 

24 program shall be for a period of one year. 

25 (3) WAGES.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

2 furnish pay and benefits to each eligible indi3 vidual participating in an internship under the 

4 program for the duration of such participation 

5 in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000. 

6 (4) EMPLOYMENT STATUS.—For purposes of 

7 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 

8 (Public Law 111–148), an eligible individual placed 

9 in an internship with an eligible employer under the 

10 program shall be considered an employee of the De11 partment of Veterans Affairs and not the eligible 

12 employer during the period of such internship under 

13 the program. 

14 (5) RELATION TO OTHER FEDERAL ASSIST15 ANCE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 

16 pay received by an individual under this subsection 

17 may not be used in any calculation to determine the 

18 eligibility of such individual for any Federal program 

19 for the purpose of obtaining child care assistance. 

20 (g) MENTORSHIP AND JOB-SHADOWING.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of an eligible 

22 employer’s participation in the program and the 

23 placement of an eligible individual in an internship 

24 at the eligible employer, the eligible employer shall 

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1 ship at the eligible employer under the program with 

2 at least one mentor who is an employee of the eligi3 ble employer. 

4 (2) JOB-SHADOWING AND CAREER COUN5 SELING.—To the extent practicable, a mentor as6 signed to an eligible individual participating in the 

7 program shall provide such eligible individual with 

8 job shadowing and career counseling. 

9 (h) VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—As a condition on participa11 tion in the program, each eligible individual who 

12 participates in the program shall, not less frequently 

13 than once each month in which the eligible indi14 vidual participates in the program, engage in a 

15 qualifying volunteer activity in accordance with 

16 guidelines the Secretary shall establish. 

17 (2) QUALIFYING VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES.—For 

18 purposes of this subsection, a qualifying volunteer 

19 activity is any activity the Secretary considers re20 lated to providing assistance to, or for the benefit of, 

21 a veteran. Such activities may include the following: 

22 (A) Outreach. 

23 (B) Assisting an organization recognized 

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1 erans under section 5902 of title 38, United 

2 States Code, on a volunteer basis. 

3 (C) Service benefitting a veteran in a State 

4 home or a Department of Veterans Affairs med5 ical facility. 

6 (D) Service benefitting a veteran at an in7 stitution of higher education. 

8 (i) PROFESSIONAL SKILLS WORKSHOPS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 

10 eligible individuals participating in the program with 

11 workshops for the development and improvement of 

12 the professional skills of such eligible individuals. 

13 (2) TAILORED.—The workshops provided by the 

14 Secretary shall be tailored to meet the particular 

15 needs of eligible individuals participating in the pro16 gram as determined under subsection (j). 

17 (3) TOPICS.—The workshops provided to eligi18 ble individuals participating in the program may in19 clude workshops for the development of such profes20 sional skills as the Secretary considers appropriate, 

21 which may include the following: 

22 (A) Written and oral communication skills. 

23 (B) Basic word processing and other com24 puter skills. 

25 (C) Interpersonal skills. 


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1 (4) MANNER OF PRESENTATION.—Workshops 

2 on particular topics shall be provided through such 

3 means as may be appropriate, effective, and ap4 proved of by the Secretary for purposes of the pro5 gram. Such means may include use of electronic 

6 communication. 

7 (5) ASSESSMENTS.—The Secretary shall con8 duct an assessment of a participant in a workshop 

9 conducted under this subsection to assess the par10 ticipant’s knowledge acquired as a result of partici11 pating in the workshop. 

12 (j) SKILLS ASSESSMENT.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Under the program, the Sec14 retary shall develop and implement an objective as15 sessment of eligible individuals participating in the 

16 program to assist in the placement of such individ17 uals in internships under subsection (f) and to assist 

18 in the tailoring of workshops under subsection (i). 

19 (2) ELEMENTS.—The assessment may include 

20 an assessment of the skill levels and service needs of 

21 each participant, which may include a review of 

22 basic professional entry-level skills, prior work expe23 rience, employability, and the individual’s interests. 

24 (k) ADDITIONAL SERVICES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para2 graph (2), the Secretary shall, under the program, 

3 furnish the following services to an eligible individual 

4 participating in the program when assessment under 

5 subsection (j) indicates such services are appro6 priate: 

7 (A) Counseling, such as job counseling and 

8 career counseling. 

9 (B) Job search assistance. 

10 (C) Follow-up services with participants 

11 that are offered unsubsidized employment by 

12 the employer with whom they were assigned. 

13 (D) Transportation, as described in para14 graph (3). 

15 (2) REFERRALS.—In lieu of furnishing a serv16 ice to an eligible individual under paragraph (1), the 

17 Secretary may refer such eligible individual to an18 other Federal, State, or local government program 

19 that provides such service. 

20 (3) TRANSPORTATION.—In accordance with cri21 teria established by the Secretary for purposes of the 

22 program, the Secretary may pay an allowance based 

23 upon mileage, of any eligible individual placed in an 

24 internship under the program not in excess of 75 


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1 miles to or from a facility of the eligible employer or 

2 other place in connection with such internship. 

3 (l) PARTICIPATION.— 

4 (1) APPLICATION.— 

5 (A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible employer or 

6 eligible individual seeking to participate in the 

7 program shall submit to the Secretary an appli8 cation therefor at such time, in such manner, 

9 and containing such information as the Sec10 retary shall specify. 

11 (B) REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBLE EM12 PLOYERS.—An application submitted by an eli13 gible employer under subparagraph (A) shall in14 clude a certification or other information, in 

15 such form and manner as the Secretary shall 

16 specify, on each of the assurances required by 

17 subsection (c)(5)(C), including the assurance 

18 that the employer has the intention of retaining 

19 eligible participants after they have completed 

20 participation in the program as provided in 

21 clause (v) of that subsection. 

22 (2) TIME OF APPLICATION FOR CERTAIN ELIGI23 BLE INDIVIDUALS.—A member of the Armed Forces 

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1 charge or release from the Armed Forces may sub2 mit an application to participate in the program not 

3 earlier than 180 days before the date on which the 

4 member expects to be discharged or released from 

5 the Armed Forces. A member who submits such an 

6 application shall be treated as unemployed or under7 employed for purposes of subsection (b)(2) if the 

8 member has not accepted an offer of employment 

9 after discharge or release as of the time of the sub10 mittal of the application. 

11 (3) DELIMITING DATE FOR COMMENCEMENT OF

12 PARTICIPATION BY INDIVIDUALS.—An eligible indi13 vidual may not commence participation in the pro14 gram after the date that is two years after the date 

15 of the commencement of the program. 

16 (4) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall review 

17 each application submitted by an applicant under 

18 paragraph (1) and approve or disapprove the appli19 cant for participation in the program. 

20 (m) GRANTS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award 

22 grants to eligible entities to assist the Secretary in 

23 carrying out the program. 


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1 (2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—For purposes of the 

2 program, an eligible entity is a nonprofit organiza3 tion. 

4 (3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In awarding grants 

5 under this subsection, the Secretary may consider 

6 whether an eligible entity— 

7 (A) has an understanding of the unemploy8 ment problems of eligible individuals and mem9 bers of the Armed Forces transitioning from 

10 service in the Armed Forces to civilian life; and 

11 (B) has the capability to assist the Sec12 retary in administering effectively the program 

13 and providing career transition services to eligi14 ble individuals. 

15 (4) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts received by a re16 cipient of a grant under this subsection may be used 

17 as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes 

18 of the program, including as follows: 

19 (A) To assist the Secretary in carrying out 

20 the program. 

21 (B) To recruit eligible employers and eligi22 ble individuals to participate in the program. 

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1 nities at eligible employers participating in the 

2 program. 

3 (D) To coordinate and carry out job place4 ment and other employer outreach activities. 

5 (n) OUTREACH.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

7 Affairs and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly 

8 carry out a program of outreach to inform eligible 

9 employers and eligible individuals about the program 

10 and the benefits of participating in the program. 

11 (2) INCLUDED LOCATIONS AND GROUPS.—The 

12 Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 

13 Labor shall ensure that any outreach program and 

14 activities conducted under paragraph (1) include, to 

15 the extent practicable, rural communities, tribal 

16 lands of the United States, Native Americans, and 

17 tribal organizations (as defined in section 3765 of 

18 title 38, United States Code). 

19 (o) AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO

20 PROGRAM.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each year of the program, 

22 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may recognize one 

23 or more eligible employers or one or more eligible in24 dividuals participating in the program for demVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00190 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 onstrating outstanding achievement in carrying out 

2 or in contributing to the success of the program. 

3 (2) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall establish 

4 such selection procedures and criteria as the Sec5 retary considers appropriate for the award of rec6 ognition under this subsection. 

7 (p) MINIMIZATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON

8 PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS.—The Secretary shall take 

9 such measures as may be necessary to minimize adminis10 trative burdens incurred by eligible employers due to par11 ticipation in the program. 

12 (q) REPORTS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days after 

14 the completion of the first year of the program and 

15 not later than 180 days after the completion of the 

16 second and third years of the program, the Sec17 retary shall submit to Congress a report on the pro18 gram. 

19 (2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 

20 paragraph (1) shall include the following: 

21 (A) An evaluation of the program. 

22 (B) The number and characteristics of 

23 participants in the program. 


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1 (C) The number and types of internships 

2 in which eligible individuals were placed under 

3 the program. 

4 (D) The number of individuals who ob5 tained long-term full-time unsubsidized employ6 ment positions after participation in the pro7 gram, the hourly wage and nature of such em8 ployment, and if available, whether such indi9 viduals were still employed in such positions 

10 three months after obtaining such positions. 

11 (E) An assessment of the feasibility and 

12 advisability of providing career transition serv13 ices to eligible individuals. 

14 (F) An assessment of the effect of the pro15 gram on earnings of eligible individuals and the 

16 employment of eligible individuals. 

17 (G) Such recommendations for legislative 

18 and administrative action as the Secretary may 

19 have to improve the program, to expand the 

20 program, or to improve the employment of eligi21 ble individuals. 

22 (r) FUNDING LIMITATIONS.— 

23 (1) WAGES FOR INTERNSHIPS.—Not less than 

24 95 percent of amounts authorized to be appropriated 


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1 for the program by subsection (t) shall be used to 

2 provide pay under subsection (f)(3). 

3 (2) ADMINISTRATION.—Not more than 5 per4 cent of amounts authorized to be appropriated for 

5 the program by subsection (t) may be used to ad6 minister the program. 

7 (s) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

8 (1) ACTIVE DUTY, ARMED FORCES, RESERVE

9 COMPONENT, AND VETERAN.—The terms ‘‘active 

10 duty’’, ‘‘Armed Forces’’, ‘‘reserve component’’, and 

11 ‘‘veteran’’ have the meanings given such terms in 

12 section 101 of title 38, United States Code. 

13 (2) FULL-TIME BASIS.—The term ‘‘full-time 

14 basis’’, with respect to an internship, means partici15 pation in the internship of not fewer than 30 hours 

16 per week and not more than 40 hours per week. 

17 (3) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.—The term 

18 ‘‘small business concern’’ has the meaning given 

19 that term under section 3(a) of the Small Business 

20 Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)). 

21 (4) UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.—The 

22 term ‘‘unemployment compensation’’ means regular 

23 compensation (as defined in section 205 of the Fed24 eral-State Extended Unemployment Compensation 

25 Act of 1970), compensation under the Federal-State 


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1 Extended Compensation Act of 1970, and compensa2 tion under the emergency unemployment compensa3 tion program under title IV of the Supplemental Ap4 propriations Act, 2008. 

5 (t) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

6 hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2015 

7 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $600,000,000 to 

8 carry out this section. The amount so authorized to be 

9 appropriated shall remain available until expended. 

10 Subtitle D—Improving Employ11 ment and Reemployment Rights 

12 of Members of the Uniformed 

13 Services 

14 SEC. 431. ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF UNI15 FORMED SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO 

16 STATES AND PRIVATE EMPLOYERS. 

17 (a) ACTION FOR RELIEF.—Subsection (a) of section 

18 4323 is amended— 

19 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

20 (A) by striking ‘‘appear on behalf of, and 

21 act as attorney for, the person on whose behalf 

22 the complaint is submitted and’’; 

23 (B) by striking ‘‘for such person’’; 

24 (C) by striking the fourth sentence; and 


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1 (D) by adding at the end the following: 

2 ‘‘The person on whose behalf the complaint is 

3 referred may, upon timely application, intervene 

4 in such action, and may obtain such appro5 priate relief as is provided in subsections (d) 

6 and (e).’’; 

7 (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 

8 following new paragraph (2): 

9 ‘‘(2)(A) Not later than 60 days after the date the 

10 Attorney General receives a referral under paragraph (1), 

11 the Attorney General shall transmit, in writing, to the per12 son on whose behalf the complaint is submitted— 

13 ‘‘(i) if the Attorney General has made a deci14 sion to commence an action for relief under para15 graph (1) relating to the complaint of the person, 

16 notice of the decision; and 

17 ‘‘(ii) if the Attorney General has not made such 

18 a decision, notice of when the Attorney General ex19 pects to make such a decision. 

20 ‘‘(B) If the Attorney General notifies a person that 

21 the Attorney General expects to make a decision under 

22 subparagraph (A)(ii), the Attorney General shall, not later 

23 than 30 days after the date on which the Attorney General 

24 makes such decision, notify, in writing, the person of such 

25 decision.’’; 


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1 (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para2 graph (4); 

3 (4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol4 lowing new paragraph (3): 

5 ‘‘(3) Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable 

6 cause to believe that a State (as an employer) or a private 

7 employer is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance 

8 to the full enjoyment of any of the rights and benefits pro9 vided for under this chapter, and that the pattern or prac10 tice is of such a nature and is intended to deny the full 

11 exercise of such rights and benefits, the Attorney General 

12 may commence an action for relief under this chapter.’’; 

13 and 

14 (5) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by para15 graph (3), by striking subparagraph (C) and insert16 ing the following new subparagraph (C): 

17 ‘‘(C) has been notified by the Attorney General 

18 that the Attorney General does not intend to com19 mence an action for relief under paragraph (1) with 

20 respect to the complaint under such paragraph.’’. 

21 (b) STANDING.—Subsection (f) of such section is 

22 amended to read as follows: 

23 ‘‘(f) STANDING.—An action under this chapter may 

24 be initiated only by the Attorney General or by a person 


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1 claiming rights or benefits under this chapter under sub2 section (a).’’. 

3 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (h)(2) 

4 of such section is amended by striking ‘‘under subsection 

5 (a)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘under paragraph (1) or (4) of sub6 section (a)’’. 

7 SEC. 432. SUSPENSION, TERMINATION, OR DEBARMENT OF 

8 CONTRACTORS FOR REPEATED VIOLATIONS 

9 OF EMPLOYMENT OR REEMPLOYMENT 

10 RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF UNIFORMED SERV11 ICES. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 43 is 

13 amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

14 ‘‘§ 4328. Suspension, termination, or debarment of 

15 contractors 

16 ‘‘(a) GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION, TERMINATION, OR

17 DEBARMENT.—Payment under a contract awarded by a 

18 Federal executive agency may be suspended and the con19 tract may be terminated, and the contractor who made 

20 the contract with the agency may be suspended or 

21 debarred in accordance with the requirements of this sec22 tion, if the head of the agency determines that the con23 tractor as an employer has repeatedly been convicted of 

24 failing or refusing to comply with one or more provisions 

25 of this chapter. 


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1 ‘‘(b) EFFECT OF DEBARMENT.—A contractor 

2 debarred by a final decision under this section is ineligible 

3 for award of a contract by a Federal executive agency, 

4 and for participation in a future procurement by a Federal 

5 executive agency, for a period specified in the decision, not 

6 to exceed 5 years.’’. 

7 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

8 at the beginning of chapter 43 is amended by inserting 

9 after the item relating to section 4327 the following new 

10 item: 

‘‘4328. Suspension, termination, or debarment of contractor.’’. 

11 (c) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after 

12 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Acquisi13 tion Regulatory Council shall amend the Federal Acquisi14 tion Regulation to carry out section 4328 of title 38, 

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

16 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 4328 of title 38, 

17 United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall 

18 apply with respect to failures and refusals to comply with 

19 provisions of chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, 

20 occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this 

21 Act. 

22 (e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Section 4332(a) is amend23 ed— 

24 (1) by redesignating paragraph (10) as para25 graph (11); and 


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1 (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the fol2 lowing new paragraph (10): 

3 ‘‘(10) The number of suspensions, terminations, 

4 and debarments under section 4328 of this title, 

5 disaggregated by the agency or department imposing 

6 the suspension or debarment.’’. 

7 SEC. 433. SUBPOENA POWER FOR SPECIAL COUNSEL IN EN8 FORCEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND REEM9 PLOYMENT RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF UNI10 FORMED SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO FED11 ERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES. 

12 Section 4324 is amended by adding at the end the 

13 following new subsection: 

14 ‘‘(e)(1) In order to carry out the Special Counsel’s 

15 responsibilities under this section, the Special Counsel 

16 may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony 

17 of Federal employees and the production of documents 

18 from Federal employees and Federal executive agencies. 

19 ‘‘(2) In the case of contumacy or failure to obey a 

20 subpoena issued under paragraph (1), upon application by 

21 the Special Counsel, the Merit Systems Protection Board 

22 may issue an order requiring a Federal employee or Fed23 eral executive agency to comply with a subpoena of the 

24 Special Counsel. 


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1 ‘‘(3) An order issued under paragraph (2) may be 

2 enforced by the Merit Systems Protection Board in the 

3 same manner as any order issued under section 1204 of 

4 title 5.’’. 

5 SEC. 434. ISSUANCE AND SERVICE OF CIVIL INVESTIGATIVE 

6 DEMANDS BY ATTORNEY GENERAL. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4323 is amended— 

8 (1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection 

9 (j); and 

10 (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the fol11 lowing new subsection (i): 

12 ‘‘(i) ISSUANCE AND SERVICE OF CIVIL INVESTIGA13 TIVE DEMANDS.—(1) Whenever the Attorney General has 

14 reason to believe that any person may be in possession, 

15 custody, or control of any documentary material relevant 

16 to an investigation under this subchapter, the Attorney 

17 General may, before commencing a civil action under sub18 section (a), issue in writing and serve upon such person, 

19 a civil investigative demand requiring— 

20 ‘‘(A) the production of such documentary mate21 rial for inspection and copying; 

22 ‘‘(B) that the custodian of such documentary 

23 material answer in writing written questions with re24 spect to such documentary material; or 


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1 ‘‘(C) the production of any combination of such 

2 documentary material or answers. 

3 ‘‘(2) The provisions of section 3733 of title 31 gov4 erning the authority to issue, use, and enforce civil inves5 tigative demands shall apply with respect to the authority 

6 to issue, use, and enforce civil investigative demands under 

7 this section, except that, for purposes of applying such sec8 tion 3733— 

9 ‘‘(A) references to false claims law investigators 

10 or investigations shall be considered references to in11 vestigators or investigations under this subchapter; 

12 ‘‘(B) references to interrogatories shall be con13 sidered references to written questions, and answers 

14 to such need not be under oath; 

15 ‘‘(C) the definitions relating to ‘false claims 

16 law’ shall not apply; and 

17 ‘‘(D) provisions relating to qui tam relators 

18 shall not apply.’’. 

19 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (i) of section 

20 4323 of title 38, United States Code, as added by sub21 section (a)(2), shall take effect on the date of the enact22 ment of this Act and shall apply with respect to violations 

23 of chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, alleged to 

24 have occurred on or after such date. 


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1 (c) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Section 4332(b)(2) is 

2 amended— 

3 (1) by striking ‘‘Not later than’’ and inserting 

4 the following: 

5 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than’’; and 

6 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub7 paragraph: 

8 ‘‘(B) ANNUAL SUPPLEMENT ON CIVIL IN9 VESTIGATIVE DEMANDS.— 

10 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney 

11 General shall include with each report sub12 mitted under subparagraph (A) for the last 

13 quarter of each fiscal year a report on the 

14 issuance of civil investigative demands 

15 under section 4323(i) of this title during 

16 the most recently completed fiscal year. 

17 ‘‘(ii) ELEMENTS.—Each report sub18 mitted under clause (i) shall include the 

19 following for the fiscal year covered by the 

20 report: 

21 ‘‘(I) The number of times that a 

22 civil investigative demand was issued 

23 under section 4323(i) of this title. 

24 ‘‘(II) For each civil investigative 

25 demand issued under such section 


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1 with respect to an investigation, 

2 whether such investigation resulted in 

3 a settlement, order, or judgment.’’. 

4 Subtitle E—Small Business Matters 

5 SEC. 441. EXPANSION OF CONTRACTING GOALS AND PREF6 ERENCES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF7 FAIRS TO INCLUDE CONDITIONALLY OWNED 

8 SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS 100 PERCENT 

9 OWNED BY VETERANS. 

10 Section 8127(l) is amended— 

11 (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘uncondition12 ally’’ before ‘‘owned by’’ each place it appears; and 

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

14 paragraph: 

15 ‘‘(3) The term ‘unconditionally owned’ includes, 

16 with respect to ownership of a small business con17 cern, conditional ownership of such small business 

18 concern if such business concern is 100 percent 

19 owned by one or more veterans.’’. 


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1 SEC. 442. MODIFICATION OF TREATMENT UNDER CON2 TRACTING GOALS AND PREFERENCES OF DE3 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR 

4 SMALL BUSINESSES OWNED BY VETERANS OF 

5 SMALL BUSINESSES AFTER DEATH OF DIS6 ABLED VETERAN OWNERS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8127(h) is amended— 

8 (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘rated as’’ 

9 and all that follows through ‘‘disability.’’ and insert10 ing a period; and 

11 (2) in paragraph (2), by amending subpara12 graph (C) to read as follows: 

13 ‘‘(C) The date that— 

14 ‘‘(i) in the case of a surviving spouse of a 

15 veteran with a service-connected disability rated 

16 as 100 percent disabling or who dies as a result 

17 of a service-connected disability, is 10 years 

18 after the date of the veteran’s death; or 

19 ‘‘(ii) in the case of a surviving spouse of a 

20 veteran with a service-connected disability rated 

21 as less than 100 percent disabling who does not 

22 die as a result of a service-connected disability, 

23 is three years after the date of the veteran’s 

24 death.’’. 

25 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

26 subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 180 


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1 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall 

2 apply with respect to applications received pursuant to 

3 section 8127(f)(2) of title 38, United States Code, that 

4 are verified on or after such date. 

5 SEC. 443. TREATMENT OF BUSINESSES AFTER DEATHS OF 

6 SERVICEMEMBER-OWNERS FOR PURPOSES 

7 OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

8 CONTRACTING GOALS AND PREFERENCES. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8127 is amended— 

10 (1) by redesignating subsections (i) through (l) 

11 as subsections (j) through (m), respectively; and 

12 (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the fol13 lowing new subsection (i): 

14 ‘‘(i) TREATMENT OF BUSINESSES AFTER DEATH OF

15 SERVICEMEMBER-OWNER.—(1) If a member of the Armed 

16 Forces owns at least 51 percent of a small business con17 cern and such member is killed in line of duty in the active 

18 military, naval, or air service, the surviving spouse or de19 pendent child of such member who acquires such owner20 ship rights in such small business concern shall, for the 

21 period described in paragraph (2), be treated as if the sur22 viving spouse or dependent child were a veteran with a 

23 service-connected disability for purposes of determining 

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1 poses of contracting goals and preferences under this sec2 tion. 

3 ‘‘(2) The period referred to in paragraph (1) is the 

4 period beginning on the date on which the member of the 

5 Armed Forces dies and ending on the date as follows: 

6 ‘‘(A) In the case of a surviving spouse, the ear7 liest of the following dates: 

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

9 spouse remarries. 

10 ‘‘(ii) The date on which the surviving 

11 spouse relinquishes an ownership interest in the 

12 small business concern and no longer owns at 

13 least 51 percent of such small business concern. 

14 ‘‘(iii) The date that is ten years after the 

15 date of the member’s death. 

16 ‘‘(B) In the case of a dependent child, the ear17 liest of the following dates: 

18 ‘‘(i) The date on which the surviving de19 pendent child relinquishes an ownership interest 

20 in the small business concern and no longer 

21 owns at least 51 percent of such small business 

22 concern. 

23 ‘‘(ii) The date that is ten years after the 

24 date of the member’s death.’’. 


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1 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (i) of section 

2 8127 of title 38, United States Code, as added by sub3 section (a), shall take effect on the date of the enactment 

4 of this Act and shall apply with respect to the deaths of 

5 members of the Armed Forces occurring on or after such 

6 date. 

7 SEC. 444. SPECIAL RULE FOR TREATMENT UNDER CON8 TRACTING GOALS AND PREFERENCES OF DE9 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF SMALL 

10 BUSINESS CONCERNS LICENSED IN COMMU11 NITY PROPERTY STATES. 

12 Section 8127, as amended by section 443 of this Act, 

13 is further amended by adding at the end the following new 

14 subsection: 

15 ‘‘(n) SPECIAL RULE FOR COMMUNITY PROPERTY

16 STATES.—Whenever the Secretary assesses, for purposes 

17 of this section, the degree of ownership by an individual 

18 of a small business concern licensed in a community prop19 erty State, the Secretary shall also assess what that degree 

20 of ownership would be if such small business concern had 

21 been licensed in a State other than a community property 

22 State. If the Secretary determines that such individual 

23 would have had a greater degree of ownership of the small 

24 business concern had such small business concern been li25 censed in a State other than a community property State, 


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1 the Secretary shall treat, for purposes of this section, such 

2 small business concern as if it had been licensed in a State 

3 other than a community property State.’’. 

4 SEC. 445. REPORT ON ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS IN OB5 TAINING TRAINING ON PURCHASING AND OP6 ERATING A FRANCHISE. 

7 (a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than one year 

8 after the effective date specified in subsection (c), the Sec9 retary of Labor shall, in consultation with the Secretary 

10 of Veterans Affairs, the Administrator of the Small Busi11 ness Administration, and other appropriate entities, sub12 mit to Congress a report on the assistance available to 

13 veterans to obtain training necessary to purchase and op14 erate a franchise. 

15 (b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 

16 (a) shall include the following: 

17 (1) A description of the assistance available for 

18 veterans through the Department of Labor, the De19 partment of Veterans Affairs, the Small Business 

20 Administration, or any other agency of the Federal 

21 Government in order to obtain training necessary to 

22 purchase or operate a franchise. 

23 (2) Information on the number of veterans who 

24 have sought and obtained the training described in 


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1 paragraph (1) during the five calendar years pre2 ceding the report. 

3 (3) A description of any barriers encountered 

4 by veterans in obtaining the training described in 

5 paragraph (1). 

6 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

7 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact8 ment of this Act. 

9 TITLE V—ACCOUNTABILITY AND 

10 ADMINISTRATIVE IMPROVE11 MENTS 

12 SEC. 501. ADMINISTRATION OF VETERANS INTEGRATED 

13 SERVICE NETWORKS. 

14 (a) VETERANS INTEGRATED SERVICE NETWORKS.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 73 

16 is amended by adding at the end the following new 

17 section: 

18 ‘‘§ 7310. Veterans Integrated Service Networks 

19 ‘‘(a) ORGANIZATION.—(1) The Secretary shall orga20 nize the Veterans Health Administration in geographically 

21 defined Veterans Integrated Service Networks. 

22 ‘‘(2) Each Veterans Integrated Service Network shall 

23 be organized in consideration of the following: 

24 ‘‘(A) The size of the veteran population of the 

25 region of the network. 


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1 ‘‘(B) The complexity of the medical needs of 

2 the veterans in such region. 

3 ‘‘(C) Patient referral patterns. 

4 ‘‘(D) The availability of a full continuum of 

5 health care services. 

6 ‘‘(E) The ability of the Department to furnish 

7 health care efficiently. 

8 ‘‘(F) Partnerships with non-Department health 

9 care entities. 

10 ‘‘(b) STAFFING MODEL.—(1) The Secretary shall es11 tablish a staffing model for each Veterans Integrated 

12 Service Network that— 

13 ‘‘(A) is appropriate for the mission and respon14 sibilities of the Veterans Integrated Service Net15 work; and 

16 ‘‘(B) accounts for the specific health care needs 

17 of differing populations in the Veterans Integrated 

18 Service Network. 

19 ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that each Veterans 

20 Integrated Service Network complies with the staffing 

21 model established by the Secretary under paragraph (1) 

22 for such Veterans Integrated Service Network. 

23 ‘‘(c) INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.—The 

24 Secretary shall ensure that each Veterans Integrated ServVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00210 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 ice Network maintains a regional integrated healthcare 

2 system by— 

3 ‘‘(1) implementing alliances with such other 

4 governmental, public, and private health care organi5 zations and practitioners as the Secretary considers 

6 appropriate to meet the needs of veterans in the 

7 Network; 

8 ‘‘(2) providing oversight and management of, 

9 and taking responsibility for, a regional budget for 

10 the activities of the Veterans Health Administration 

11 in the geographic area of the Network that is— 

12 ‘‘(A) aligned with the budget guidelines of 

13 the Department and the Veterans Health Ad14 ministration; 

15 ‘‘(B) balanced at the end of each fiscal 

16 year; and 

17 ‘‘(C) sufficient to provide high-quality 

18 health care to veterans within the region and to 

19 meet any unique needs of the veterans of the 

20 region; 

21 ‘‘(3) using national metrics to develop systems 

22 to provide effective, efficient, and safe delivery of 

23 health care; and 

24 ‘‘(4) ensuring high-quality clinical programs 

25 and services are rendered in and through— 


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1 ‘‘(A) the medical centers and outpatient 

2 clinics of the Department that are located in 

3 the Network; and 

4 ‘‘(B) other non-Department clinical or 

5 health care delivery settings located in the Net6 work. 

7 ‘‘(d) REDUCTION IN DUPLICATE FUNCTIONS.—The 

8 Secretary shall ensure that the Veterans Integrated Serv9 ice Networks identify and reduce, whenever practicable, 

10 the duplication of functions in clinical, administrative, and 

11 operational processes and practices of the Veterans Health 

12 Administration. 

13 ‘‘(e) COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION.—The Sec14 retary shall ensure that each Veterans Integrated Service 

15 Network— 

16 ‘‘(1) works to achieve maximum effectiveness in 

17 patient care and safety, graduate medical education, 

18 and research; and 

19 ‘‘(2) assesses the consolidation or realignment 

20 of institutional functions, including capital asset, 

21 safety, and operational support functions, in collabo22 ration and cooperation with other Veterans Inte23 grated Service Networks and the following offices or 

24 entities within the geographical area of the Network: 


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1 ‘‘(A) The offices of the Veterans Benefits 

2 Administration and the National Cemetery Ad3 ministration. 

4 ‘‘(B) The offices, installations, and facili5 ties of the Department of Defense, including 

6 the offices, installations, and facilities of each 

7 branch of the Armed Forces and the reserve 

8 components of the Armed Forces. 

9 ‘‘(C) The offices, installations, and facili10 ties of the Coast Guard. 

11 ‘‘(D) Offices of State and local agencies 

12 that have a mission to provide assistance to vet13 erans. 

14 ‘‘(E) Medical schools and other affiliates. 

15 ‘‘(F) Offices of Congress, offices of State 

16 and local elected officials, and other government 

17 offices. 

18 ‘‘(G) Federal, State, and local emergency 

19 preparedness organizations. 

20 ‘‘(H) Community and nonprofit organiza21 tions. 

22 ‘‘(I) Such other entities of the Federal 

23 Government as the Secretary considers appro24 priate. 


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1 ‘‘(f) HEADQUARTERS.—(1) The Secretary shall en2 sure that each Veterans Integrated Service Network has 

3 only one headquarters office. 

4 ‘‘(2) The location of a headquarters office for a Vet5 erans Integrated Service Network shall be determined by 

6 the Secretary and co-located with a Department of Vet7 erans Affairs medical center. 

8 ‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary may employ or contract for 

9 the services of such full time equivalent employees and 

10 contractors at the headquarters of each Veterans Inte11 grated Service Network as the Secretary considers appro12 priate in accordance with the staffing models established 

13 under subsection (b). 

14 ‘‘(B) Not later than December 31 each year, the Sec15 retary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

16 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

17 the House of Representatives a report on employment at 

18 the headquarters of Veterans Integrated Service Networks 

19 during the most recently completed fiscal year. 

20 ‘‘(C) Each report submitted under subparagraph (B) 

21 shall include the following for the year covered by the re22 port: 

23 ‘‘(i) The number of individuals employed at 

24 each headquarters of a Veterans Integrated Service 

25 Network. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) The number of individuals employed by the 

2 Veterans Health Administration in each Veterans 

3 Integrated Service Network who are not employed at 

4 the same location as the headquarters of the Net5 work. 

6 ‘‘(iii) The title for each position of employment 

7 at a headquarters of a Veterans Integrated Service 

8 Network. 

9 ‘‘(iv) The title for each position of employment 

10 with the Veterans Health Administration in each 

11 Veterans Integrated Service Network that is not at 

12 the same location as the headquarters of the Net13 work. 

14 ‘‘(v) An assessment of the impact on the budget 

15 of the Department by the employment of individuals 

16 at the headquarters of the Veterans Integrated Serv17 ice Networks. 

18 ‘‘(g) TRIENNIAL STRUCTURE REVIEW, REASSESS19 MENT, AND REPORT.—(1) Beginning three years after the 

20 date of the enactment of this section and not less fre21 quently than once every three years thereafter, the Sec22 retary shall conduct a review and assessment of the struc23 ture and operations of the Veterans Integrated Service 

24 Networks in order to identify recommendations— 


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1 ‘‘(A) for streamlining and reducing costs associ2 ated with the operation of each headquarters of a 

3 Veterans Integrated Service Network; and 

4 ‘‘(B) for reducing costs of health care within 

5 the Veterans Health Administration. 

6 ‘‘(2) Not later than 180 days after conducting a re7 view and assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary 

8 shall submit to the Committee of Veterans’ Affairs of the 

9 Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

10 House of Representatives a report on such review and as11 sessment, which shall include such recommendations for 

12 legislative or administrative action as the Secretary con13 siders appropriate to improve the Veterans Integrated 

14 Service Networks.’’. 

15 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec16 tions at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by 

17 inserting after the item relating to section 7309 the 

18 following new item: 

‘‘7310. Veterans Integrated Service Networks.’’. 

19 (b) RELOCATION OF HEADQUARTERS.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a head21 quarters office of a Veterans Integrated Service Net22 work that on the day before the date of the enact23 ment of this Act was in a location that was not co24 located with a Department of Veterans Affairs medVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00216 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 ical center and the Secretary is engaged in a lease 

2 for such location, the Secretary may— 

3 (A) relocate such headquarters upon the 

4 expiration of such lease so that such head5 quarters is co-located as required by section 

6 7310(f)(2) of title 38, United States Code (as 

7 added by subsection (a)(1)); or 

8 (B) notwithstanding such section 

9 7310(f)(2) (as so added), renew such lease or 

10 enter into a new lease to keep such head11 quarters in such location. 

12 (2) REPORT.—If the Secretary renews a lease 

13 or engages in a new lease under paragraph (1)(B), 

14 the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Vet15 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 

16 Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives, 

17 before renewing such lease or engaging in such 

18 lease, a report describing the reasons for such re19 newal or engagement. Such report shall include the 

20 following: 

21 (A) A list of Department of Veterans Af22 fairs medical centers in the Veterans Integrated 

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1 ings, and the total underutilized square footage 

2 for each such medical center. 

3 (B) The cost of the current lease (the an4 nual amount of rent, the total cost over the life 

5 of the lease, and the total cost per square foot) 

6 and the current square footage being leased. 

7 (C) The cost of the new lease (the annual 

8 amount of rent, the total cost over the life of 

9 the lease, and the total cost per square foot) 

10 and the square footage to be leased. 

11 (c) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

12 construed to require any change in the location or type 

13 of medical care or service provided by a Department of 

14 Veterans Affairs medical center, a Department community 

15 based outpatient clinic, a center for readjustment coun16 seling and related mental health services for veterans 

17 under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code 

18 (known as a ‘‘vet center’’), or other facility that provides 

19 direct care or services under a law administered by the 

20 Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

21 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section, and the amend22 ments made by this section, shall take effect on the date 

23 that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 

24 Act. 


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1 SEC. 502. REGIONAL SUPPORT CENTERS FOR VETERANS IN2 TEGRATED SERVICE NETWORKS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 73, as 

4 amended by section 501(a)(1) of this Act, is further 

5 amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

6 ‘‘§ 7310A. Regional support centers for Veterans Inte7 grated Service Networks 

8 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab9 lish not more than four regional support centers within 

10 the Veterans Health Administration to assess the effec11 tiveness and efficiency of the Veterans Integrated Service 

12 Networks. The head of each regional support center shall 

13 report to the Under Secretary of Health. 

14 ‘‘(b) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the regional sup15 port centers established under subsection (a) are as fol16 lows: 

17 ‘‘(1) To assess the quality of work performed 

18 within finance operations and other compliance re19 lated activities of the Veterans Integrated Service 

20 Networks. 

21 ‘‘(2) To assess how effectively and efficiently 

22 each Veterans Integrated Service Network conducts 

23 outreach to veterans who served in Operation En24 during Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Oper25 ation New Dawn, or any other contingency operation 

26 (as that term is defined in section 101 of title 10). 


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1 ‘‘(3) To assess how effectively and efficiently 

2 each Veterans Integrated Service Network conducts 

3 programs for the benefit of women veterans. 

4 ‘‘(4) To assess how effectively and efficiently 

5 each Veterans Integrated Service Network conducts 

6 programs that address homelessness among vet7 erans. 

8 ‘‘(5) To assess how effectively and efficiently 

9 each Veterans Integrated Service Network consumes 

10 energy. 

11 ‘‘(6) To assess such other matters concerning 

12 the operations and activities of the Veterans Inte13 grated Service Networks as the Secretary considers 

14 appropriate. 

15 ‘‘(c) STAFF.—The Secretary may hire such employ16 ees and contractors as the Secretary considers appropriate 

17 to carry out the functions of the regional support centers. 

18 ‘‘(d) LOCATION OF REGIONAL SUPPORT CENTERS.— 

19 (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the location of 

20 each regional support center established under subsection 

21 (a) shall be determined by the Secretary and co-located 

22 with a medical center of the Department. 

23 ‘‘(2) The Secretary may choose a location for a re24 gional support center established under subsection (a) that 

25 is not co-located with a medical center of the Department 


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1 if the Secretary submits to the Committee on Veterans’ 

2 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af3 fairs of the House of Representatives, before entering into 

4 a contract for a location that is not co-located with a med5 ical center, a report describing the reasons for choosing 

6 a location for the regional support center that is not co7 located with a medical center of the Department. Such re8 port shall include the following: 

9 ‘‘(A) A list of medical centers of the Depart10 ment in the Veterans Integrated Service Network of 

11 the regional support center with underutilized build12 ings, the number of all Veterans Health Administra13 tion buildings in such Network, and the total under14 utilized square footage for each medical center of the 

15 Department in such Network. 

16 ‘‘(B) The estimated cost of such lease (the an17 nual amount of rent, the total cost over the life of 

18 the lease, and the total cost per square foot) and the 

19 square footage to be leased.’’. 

20 (b) INITIAL STAFFING.—In providing for the initial 

21 staff of each regional support center established under sec22 tion 7310A(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added 

23 by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, 

24 to the degree practicable, transfer employees from head25 quarters of Veterans Integrated Service Networks to reVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00221 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 gional support centers who were employed in positions at 

2 such headquarters that covered functions similar to those 

3 described in section 7310A(b) of such title, as so added. 

4 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

5 at the beginning of chapter 73, as amended by section 

6 501(a)(2) of this Act, is further amended by inserting 

7 after the item relating to section 7310 the following new 

8 item: 

‘‘7310A. Regional support centers for Veterans Integrated Service Networks.’’. 

9 (d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

10 construed to require any change in the location or type 

11 of medical care or service provided by a Department of 

12 Veterans Affairs medical center, a Department community 

13 based outpatient clinic, a center for readjustment coun14 seling and related mental health services for veterans 

15 under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code 

16 (known as a ‘‘vet center’’), or other facility that provides 

17 direct care or services under a law administered by the 

18 Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

19 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section, and the amend20 ments made by this section, shall take effect on the date 

21 that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 

22 Act. 


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1 SEC. 503. COMMISSION ON CAPITAL PLANNING FOR DE2 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 

3 FACILITIES. 

4 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.— 

5 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the 

6 Commission on Capital Planning for Department of 

7 Veterans Affairs Medical Facilities (in this section 

8 referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

9 (2) MEMBERSHIP.— 

10 (A) VOTING MEMBERS.—The Commission 

11 shall, subject to subparagraph (B), be composed 

12 of 10 voting members as follows: 

13 (i) 1 shall be appointed by the Presi14 dent. 

15 (ii) 1 shall be appointed by the Ad16 ministrator of General Services. 

17 (iii) 3 shall be appointed by the Sec18 retary of Veterans Affairs, of whom— 

19 (I) 1 shall be an employee of the 

20 Veterans Health Administration; 

21 (II) 1 shall be an employee of the 

22 Office of Asset Enterprise Manage23 ment of the Department of Veterans 

24 Affairs; and 

25 (III) 1 shall be an employee of 

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1 ties Management of the Department 

2 of Veterans Affairs. 

3 (iv) 1 shall be appointed by the Sec4 retary of Defense from among employees 

5 of the Army Corps of Engineers. 

6 (v) 1 shall be appointed by the major7 ity leader of the Senate. 

8 (vi) 1 shall be appointed by the minor9 ity leader of the Senate. 

10 (vii) 1 shall be appointed by the 

11 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

12 (viii) 1 shall be appointed by the mi13 nority leader of the House of Representa14 tives. 

15 (B) REQUIREMENT RELATING TO CERTAIN

16 APPOINTMENTS OF VOTING MEMBERS.—Of the 

17 members appointed pursuant to clause (i), (ii), 

18 and (iv) through (viii) of subparagraph (A), all 

19 shall have expertise in capital leasing, construc20 tion, or health facility management planning. 

21 (C) NON-VOTING MEMBERS.—The Com22 mission shall be assisted by 10 non-voting mem23 bers, appointed by the vote of a majority of 

24 members of the Commission under subpara25 graph (A), of whom— 


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1 (i) 6 shall be representatives of vet2 erans service organizations recognized by 

3 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and 

4 (ii) 4 shall be individuals from outside 

5 the Department of Veterans Affairs with 

6 experience and expertise in matters relat7 ing to management, construction, and leas8 ing of capital assets. 

9 (D) DATE OF APPOINTMENT OF VOTING

10 MEMBERS.—The appointments of the members 

11 of the Commission under subparagraph (A) 

12 shall be made not later than 60 days after the 

13 date of the enactment of this Act. 

14 (3) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 

15 Members shall be appointed for the life of the Com16 mission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not 

17 affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same 

18 manner as the original appointment. 

19 (4) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 15 days 

20 after the date on which 7 members of the Commis21 sion have been appointed, the Commission shall hold 

22 its first meeting. 

23 (5) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 

24 the call of the Chair. 


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1 (6) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 

2 the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a 

3 lesser number of members may hold hearings. 

4 (7) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Commission 

5 shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its 

6 members. 

7 (b) DUTIES OF COMMISSION.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall un9 dertake a comprehensive evaluation and assessment 

10 of various options for capital planning for Depart11 ment of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, including 

12 an evaluation and assessment of the mechanisms by 

13 which the Department currently selects means for 

14 the delivery of health care, whether by major con15 struction, major medical facility leases, sharing 

16 agreements with the Department of Defense, the In17 dian Health Service, and Federally Qualified Health 

18 Clinics under section 330 of the Public Health Serv19 ice Act (42 U.S.C. 254b), contract care, multisite 

20 care, telemedicine, extended hours for care, or other 

21 means. 

22 (2) CONTEXT OF EVALUATION AND ASSESS23 MENT.—In undertaking the evaluation and assess24 ment, the Commission shall consider— 


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1 (A) the importance of access to health care 

2 through the Department, including associated 

3 guidelines of the Department on access to, and 

4 drive time for, health care; 

5 (B) limitations and requirements applica6 ble to the construction and leasing of medical 

7 facilities for the Department, including applica8 ble laws, regulations, and costs as determined 

9 by both the Congressional Budget Office and 

10 the Office of Management and Budget; 

11 (C) the nature of capital planning for De12 partment medical facilities in an era of fiscal 

13 uncertainty; 

14 (D) projected future fluctuations in the 

15 population of veterans; and 

16 (E) the extent to which the Department 

17 was able to meet the mandates of the Capital 

18 Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services Com19 mission. 

20 (3) PARTICULAR CONSIDERATIONS.—In under21 taking the evaluation and assessment, the Commis22 sion shall address, in particular, the following: 

23 (A) The Major Medical Facility Lease Pro24 gram of the Department, including an identiVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00227 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 fication of potential improvements to the lease 

2 authorization processes under that Program. 

3 (B) The management processes of the De4 partment for its Major Medical Facility Con5 struction Program, including processes relating 

6 to contract award and management, project 

7 management, and processing of change orders. 

8 (C) The overall capital planning program 

9 of the Department for medical facilities, includ10 ing an evaluation and assessment of— 

11 (i) the manner in which the Depart12 ment determines whether to use capital or 

13 non-capital means to expand access to 

14 health care; 

15 (ii) the manner in which the Depart16 ment determines the disposition of under17 utilized and un-utilized buildings on cam18 puses of Department medical centers, and 

19 any barriers to disposition; 

20 (iii) the effectiveness of the facility 

21 master planning initiative of the Depart22 ment; and 

23 (iv) the extent to which sustainable 

24 attributes are planned for to decrease operVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00228 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 ating costs for Department medical facili2 ties. 

3 (D) The current backlog of construction 

4 projects for Department medical facilities, in5 cluding an identification of the most effective 

6 means to quickly secure the most critical re7 pairs required, including repairs relating to fa8 cility condition deficiencies, structural safety, 

9 and compliance with the Americans With Dis10 abilities Act of 1990. 

11 (4) REPORTS.—Subject to paragraph (5), the 

12 Commission shall submit to the Secretary of Vet13 erans Affairs, and to the Committee Veterans’ Af14 fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ 

15 Affairs of the House of Representatives, reports as 

16 follows: 

17 (A) Not later than six months after its ini18 tial meeting under subsection (a)(4), a report 

19 on the Major Medical Facility Lease Program 

20 and the Congressional lease authorization proc21 ess. 

22 (B) Not later than one year after its initial 

23 meeting, a report— 


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1 (i) on the management processes of 

2 the Department for the construction of De3 partment medical facilities; and 

4 (ii) setting forth an update of any 

5 matters covered in the report under sub6 paragraph (A). 

7 (C) Not later than 18 months after its ini8 tial meeting, a report— 

9 (i) on the overall capital planning pro10 gram of the Department for medical facili11 ties; and 

12 (ii) setting forth an update of any 

13 matters covered in earlier reports under 

14 this paragraph. 

15 (D) Not later than two years after its ini16 tial meeting, a report— 

17 (i) on the current backlog of construc18 tion projects for Department medical facili19 ties; 

20 (ii) setting forth an update of any 

21 matters covered in earlier reports under 

22 this paragraph; and 

23 (iii) including such other matters re24 lating to the duties of the Commission that 

25 the Commission considers appropriate. 


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1 (E) Not later than 27 months after its ini2 tial meeting, a report on the implementation by 

3 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to 

4 subsection (g) of the recommendations included 

5 pursuant to paragraph (5) in the reports under 

6 this paragraph. 

7 (5) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Each report under 

8 paragraph (4) shall include, for the aspect of the 

9 capital asset planning process of the Department 

10 covered by such report, such recommendations as 

11 the Commission considers appropriate for the im12 provement and enhancement of such aspect of the 

13 capital asset planning process. 

14 (c) POWERS OF COMMISSION.— 

15 (1) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold 

16 such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, 

17 take such testimony, and receive such evidence as 

18 the Commission considers advisable to carry out this 

19 section. 

20 (2) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

21 The Commission may secure directly from any Fed22 eral department or agency such information as the 

23 Commission considers necessary to carry out this 

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1 sion, the head of such department or agency shall 

2 furnish such information to the Commission. 

3 (d) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 

4 (1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each mem5 ber of the Commission who is not an officer or em6 ployee of the Federal Government shall be com7 pensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of 

8 the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV 

9 of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 

10 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel 

11 time) during which such member is engaged in the 

12 performance of the duties of the Commission. All 

13 members of the Commission who are officers or em14 ployees of the United States shall serve without com15 pensation in addition to that received for their serv16 ices as officers or employees of the United States. 

17 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the 

18 Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, includ19 ing per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates author20 ized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 

21 chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 

22 away from their homes or regular places of business 

23 in the performance of services for the Commission. 

24 (3) STAFF.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Chair of the Com2 mission may, without regard to the civil service 

3 laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an 

4 executive director and such other additional 

5 personnel as may be necessary to enable the 

6 Commission to perform its duties. The employ7 ment of an executive director shall be subject to 

8 confirmation by the Commission. 

9 (B) COMPENSATION.—The Chair of the 

10 Commission may fix the compensation of the 

11 executive director and other personnel without 

12 regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of 

13 chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relat14 ing to classification of positions and General 

15 Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay 

16 for the executive director and other personnel 

17 may not exceed the rate payable for level V of 

18 the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 

19 such title. 

20 (4) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.— 

21 Any Federal Government employee may be detailed 

22 to the Commission without reimbursement, and such 

23 detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil 

24 service status or privilege. 


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1 (5) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTER2 MITTENT SERVICES.—The Chair of the Commission 

3 may procure temporary and intermittent services 

4 under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, 

5 at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily 

6 equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed 

7 for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 

8 5316 of such title. 

9 (e) TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.—The Commis10 sion shall terminate 60 days after the date on which the 

11 Commission submits its report under subsection 

12 (b)(4)(E). 

13 (f) FUNDING.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

14 shall make available to the Commission such amounts as 

15 the Secretary and the Chair of the Commission jointly 

16 consider appropriate for the Commission to perform its 

17 duties under this section. 

18 (g) ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

20 Affairs shall implement each recommendation in21 cluded in a report under subsection (b)(4) that the 

22 Secretary considers feasible and advisable and can 

23 be implemented without further legislative action. 

24 (2) REPORTS.—Not later than 120 days after 

25 receipt of a report under subparagraphs (A) through 


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1 (D) of subsection (b)(4), the Secretary shall submit 

2 to the Committee Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 

3 and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

4 House of Representatives a report setting forth the 

5 following: 

6 (A) An assessment of the feasibility and 

7 advisability of each recommendation contained 

8 in such report. 

9 (B) For each recommendation assessed as 

10 feasible and advisable— 

11 (i) if such recommendation does not 

12 require further legislative action for imple13 mentation, a description of the actions 

14 taken, and to be taken, by the Secretary to 

15 implement such recommendation; and 

16 (ii) if such recommendation requires 

17 further legislative action for implementa18 tion, recommendations for such legislative 

19 action. 

20 SEC. 504. ADVANCE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CERTAIN AC21 COUNTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

22 AFFAIRS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 117 is amended— 


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1 (1) by striking ‘‘medical care accounts of the 

2 Department’’ each place it appears and inserting 

3 ‘‘covered accounts of the Department’’; 

4 (2) in subsection (c)— 

5 (A) by striking ‘‘medical care accounts of 

6 the Veterans Health Administration, Depart7 ment of Veterans Affairs account’’ and insert8 ing ‘‘accounts of the Department of Veterans 

9 Affairs account’’; 

10 (B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘Vet11 erans Health Administration,’’ after ‘‘(1)’’; 

12 (C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘Vet13 erans Health Administration,’’ after ‘‘(2)’’; 

14 (D) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘Vet15 erans Health Administration,’’ after ‘‘(3)’’; 

16 (E) by redesignating paragraphs (1) 

17 through (3) as paragraphs (7) through (9), re18 spectively; 

19 (F) by inserting before paragraph (7), as 

20 redesignated by subparagraph (E), the fol21 lowing new paragraphs: 

22 ‘‘(1) Veterans Benefits Administration, Com23 pensation and Pensions. 

24 ‘‘(2) Veterans Benefits Administration, Read25 justment Benefits. 


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1 ‘‘(3) Veterans Benefits Administration, Vet2 erans Insurance and Indemnities. 

3 ‘‘(4) Veterans Benefits Administration, Vet4 erans Housing Benefit Program Fund. 

5 ‘‘(5) Veterans Benefits Administration, Voca6 tional Rehabilitation Loans Program Account. 

7 ‘‘(6) Veterans Benefits Administration, Native 

8 American Veteran Housing Loan Program Ac9 count.’’; and 

10 (G) in the subsection heading, by striking 

11 ‘‘MEDICAL CARE ACCOUNTS’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘COVERED ACCOUNTS’’; and 

13 (3) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘cer14 tain medical care accounts’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘certain accounts’’. 

16 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

17 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2016 

18 and each subsequent fiscal year. 

19 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1105 of 

20 title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the 

21 first paragraph (37) and inserting the following: 

22 ‘‘(37) information on estimates of appropria23 tions for the fiscal year following the fiscal year for 

24 which the budget is submitted for the following ac25 counts of the Department of Veterans Affairs: 


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1 ‘‘(A) Veterans Benefits Administration, 

2 Compensation and Pensions. 

3 ‘‘(B) Veterans Benefits Administration, 

4 Readjustment Benefits. 

5 ‘‘(C) Veterans Benefits Administration, 

6 Veterans Insurance and Indemnities. 

7 ‘‘(D) Veterans Benefits Administration, 

8 Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund. 

9 ‘‘(E) Veterans Benefits Administration, 

10 Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Ac11 count. 

12 ‘‘(F) Veterans Benefits Administration, 

13 Native American Veteran Housing Loan Pro14 gram Account. 

15 ‘‘(G) Veterans Health Administration, 

16 Medical Services. 

17 ‘‘(H) Veterans Health Administration, 

18 Medical Support and Compliance. 

19 ‘‘(I) Veterans Health Administration, Med20 ical Facilities.’’. 

21 (d) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Such section is fur22 ther amended by redesignating the second paragraph (37), 

23 as added by section 11(a)(2) of the GPRA Modernization 

24 Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–352; 124 Stat. 3881), as 

25 paragraph (39). 


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1 SEC. 505. PUBLIC ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

2 AFFAIRS RESEARCH AND DATA SHARING BE3 TWEEN DEPARTMENTS. 

4 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNET WEBSITE.—The 

5 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available on an 

6 Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

7 available to the public the following: 

8 (1) Data files that contain information on re9 search of the Department. 

10 (2) A data dictionary on each data file. 

11 (3) Instructions for how to obtain access to 

12 each data file for use in research. 

13 (b) PUBLIC ACCESS TO MANUSCRIPTS ON DEPART14 MENT FUNDED RESEARCH.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 

16 540 days after the effective date specified in sub17 section (e), the Secretary shall require, as a condi18 tion on the use of any data gathered or formulated 

19 from research funded by the Department, that any 

20 final, peer-reviewed manuscript prepared for publica21 tion that uses such data be submitted to the Sec22 retary for deposit in the digital archive under para23 graph (2) and publication under paragraph (3). 

24 (2) DIGITAL ARCHIVE.—Not later than 540 

25 days after the effective date specified in subsection 

26 (e), the Secretary shall— 


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1 (A) establish a digital archive consisting of 

2 manuscripts described in paragraph (1); or 

3 (B) partner with another executive agency 

4 to compile such manuscripts in a digital ar5 chive. 

6 (3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 

7 (A) AVAILABILITY OF ARCHIVE.—The Sec8 retary shall ensure that the digital archive 

9 under paragraph (2) and the contents of such 

10 archive are available to the public via a publicly 

11 accessible Internet website at no cost to the 

12 public. 

13 (B) AVAILABILITY OF MANUSCRIPTS.—The 

14 Secretary shall ensure that each manuscript 

15 submitted to the Secretary under paragraph (1) 

16 is available to the public under subparagraph 

17 (A) not later than one year after the official 

18 date on which the manuscript is otherwise pub19 lished. 

20 (4) CONSISTENT WITH COPYRIGHT LAW.—The 

21 Secretary shall carry out this subsection in a man22 ner consistent with applicable copyright law. 

23 (5) ANNUAL REPORT.— 

24 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

25 after the date the Secretary begins making 


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1 manuscripts available to the public under this 

2 subsection and not less frequently than once 

3 each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 

4 to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

5 Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

6 of the House of Representatives a report on the 

7 implementation of this subsection during the 

8 most recent one-year period. 

9 (B) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted 

10 under subparagraph (A) shall include for the 

11 period of the report: 

12 (i) The number of manuscripts sub13 mitted under paragraph (1). 

14 (ii) The titles of such manuscripts. 

15 (iii) The authors of such manuscripts. 

16 (iv) For each such manuscript, the 

17 name and issue number or volume number, 

18 as the case may be, of the journal or other 

19 publication in which such manuscript was 

20 published. 

21 (c) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DATA SHARING BE22 TWEEN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DE23 PARTMENT OF DEFENSE.—Not later than one year after 

24 the effective date specified in subsection (e), the Depart25 ment of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint 


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1 Executive Committee established by section 320(a) of title 

2 38, United States Code, shall submit to the Secretary of 

3 Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense options and 

4 recommendations for the establishment of a program for 

5 long-term cooperation and data sharing between and with6 in the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Depart7 ment of Defense to facilitate research on outcomes of mili8 tary service, readjustment after combat deployment, and 

9 other topics of importance to the following: 

10 (1) Veterans. 

11 (2) Members of the Armed Forces. 

12 (3) Family members of veterans. 

13 (4) Family members of members of the Armed 

14 Forces. 

15 (5) Members of communities that have a sig16 nificant population of veterans or members of the 

17 Armed Forces. 

18 (d) EXECUTIVE AGENCY DEFINED.—In this section, 

19 the term ‘‘executive agency’’ has the meaning given that 

20 term in section 133 of title 41, United States Code. 

21 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

22 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact23 ment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 506. ASSESSMENT BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF 

2 THE UNITED STATES OF INFORMATION MADE 

3 AVAILABLE BY VETERANS BENEFITS ADMIN4 ISTRATION. 

5 (a) ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION CURRENTLY

6 AVAILABLE.—Not later than two years after the date of 

7 the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 

8 United States shall— 

9 (1) conduct an assessment of the process by 

10 which the Veterans Benefits Administration informs 

11 veterans, veterans service organizations, and such 

12 other persons as the Comptroller General considers 

13 appropriate regarding the furnishing of benefits 

14 under laws administered by the Secretary of Vet15 erans Affairs to determine the extent to which the 

16 process results in disseminated information that— 

17 (A) adequately supports and improves the 

18 timeliness and accuracy of decisions made by 

19 the Administration with respect to claims for 

20 disability compensation and such other benefits 

21 furnished under laws administered by the Sec22 retary of Veterans Affairs as the Comptroller 

23 General considers appropriate; and 

24 (B) encourages the filing of fully developed 

25 claims for benefits under laws administered by 

26 the Secretary; and 


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1 (2) assess how the Veterans Benefits Adminis2 tration notifies each claimant during, and as part of, 

3 any electronic filing process established by the Sec4 retary for the filing of applications for disability 

5 compensation and such other benefits under laws ad6 ministered by the Secretary as the Comptroller Gen7 eral considers appropriate that services may be 

8 available to the claimant from a veterans service or9 ganization. 

10 (b) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 

11 of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 

12 submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen13 ate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 

14 of Representatives a report on the findings of the Comp15 troller General under subsection (a). Such report shall in16 clude such recommendations as the Comptroller General 

17 may have for legislative or administrative action to im18 prove the availability of information made available to the 

19 public by the Veterans Benefits Administration regarding 

20 the furnishing of benefits under laws administered by the 

21 Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

22 (c) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEFINED.— 

23 In this section, the term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ 

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1 erans Affairs for the representation of veterans under sec2 tion 5902 of title 38, United States Code. 

3 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

4 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact5 ment of this Act. 

6 SEC. 507. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON ADVISORY 

7 COMMITTEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VET8 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 

10 effective date specified in subsection (c), the Comptroller 

11 General shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af12 fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af13 fairs of the House of Representatives a report on the advi14 sory committees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

15 (b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection 

16 (a)— 

17 (1) shall include— 

18 (A) recommendations or proposals for con19 tinuing, modifying, or terminating certain advi20 sory committees, including noting areas of over21 lap and duplication among the advisory commit22 tees; and 

23 (B) such other information as the Comp24 troller General considers appropriate; and 

25 (2) may include— 


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1 (A) a description of each advisory com2 mittee, including with respect to each com3 mittee— 

4 (i) the purpose of the committee; 

5 (ii) the commencement date of the 

6 committee; and 

7 (iii) the anticipated termination date 

8 of the committee; 

9 (B) a summary of the anticipated expenses 

10 and the actual expenses incurred for each advi11 sory committee during the most recent three 

12 fiscal years ending before the date of the enact13 ment of this Act; and 

14 (C) with respect to meetings held by each 

15 advisory committee— 

16 (i) the frequency with which each 

17 committee has met during the shorter of— 

18 (I) the most recent three fiscal 

19 years ending before the date of the 

20 enactment of this Act; and 

21 (II) the life of the committee; 

22 (ii) the date of the most recent meet23 ing held by the committee before such date 

24 of enactment; and 


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1 (iii) the date of the most recent report 

2 or other written product developed by the 

3 committee before such date of enactment. 

4 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

5 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact6 ment of this Act. 

7 TITLE VI—IMPROVEMENT OF 

8 PROCESSING OF CLAIMS FOR 

9 COMPENSATION 

10 Subtitle A—Claims Based on 

11 Military Sexual Trauma 

12 SEC. 601. MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND OPINION FOR DIS13 ABILITY COMPENSATION CLAIMS BASED ON 

14 MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5103A(d) is amended by 

16 adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

17 ‘‘(3)(A) In the case of a claim for disability com18 pensation based on a mental health condition related to 

19 military sexual trauma, the Secretary shall treat an exam20 ination or opinion as being necessary to make a decision 

21 on a claim for purposes of paragraph (1) if the evidence 

22 of record before the Secretary, taking into consideration 

23 all information and lay or medical evidence (including 

24 statements of the claimant)— 


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1 ‘‘(i)(I) contains competent evidence that the 

2 claimant has a current disability, or persistent or re3 current symptoms of disability; and 

4 ‘‘(II) indicates that the disability or symptoms 

5 may be associated with the claimant’s active mili6 tary, naval, or air service; but 

7 ‘‘(ii) does not contain a diagnosis or opinion by 

8 a mental health professional that may assist in cor9 roborating the occurrence of a military sexual trau10 ma stressor related to a diagnosable mental health 

11 condition. 

12 ‘‘(B) In this paragraph, the term ‘military sexual 

13 trauma’ shall have the meaning specified by the Secretary 

14 for purposes of this paragraph, and shall include ‘sexual 

15 harassment’ (as so specified).’’. 

16 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 

17 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet18 erans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

19 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af20 fairs of the House of Representatives a report on the num21 ber of examinations and opinions conducted by the Sec22 retary pursuant to paragraph (3) of section 5103A(d) of 

23 title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), 

24 including the following: 


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1 (1) The number of examinations conducted 

2 using a standardized disability assessment. 

3 (2) The number of examinations conducted 

4 using a non-standardized clinical interview. 

5 SEC. 602. CASE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICERS FOR MILITARY 

6 SEXUAL TRAUMA SUPPORT. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

8 shall assign to each individual seeking compensation under 

9 the laws administered by the Secretary based on military 

10 sexual trauma a case representative officer who shall pro11 vide advice and general information to such individual on 

12 the claims process for such compensation. Each case rep13 resentative officer so assigned shall be assigned from 

14 among current personnel of the Department of Veterans 

15 Affairs. 

16 (b) LIAISON.—A case representative officer assigned 

17 to an individual under subsection (a) shall be responsible 

18 for serving as a liaison between the individual, an author19 ized agent or attorney of the individual under section 5904 

20 of title 38, United States Code, or an otherwise accredited 

21 representative of the individual, and the Department of 

22 Veterans Affairs on matters relating to the claim of the 

23 individual for compensation under the laws administered 

24 by the Secretary. 


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1 (c) CASE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICER REQUIRE2 MENTS.— 

3 (1) COMPETENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.—Each 

4 case representative officer assigned under subsection 

5 (a) shall be competent and knowledgeable about the 

6 following: 

7 (A) The claims adjudication process and 

8 applicable laws, regulations, and other authority 

9 applicable to the adjudication of disability 

10 claims based on military sexual trauma. 

11 (B) Such other services to victims of sex12 ual trauma as the Secretary considers appro13 priate. 

14 (2) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS

15 TO WHICH ASSIGNED.—A case representative officer 

16 may not be assigned to more individuals described in 

17 subsection (a) than, as determined by the Secretary, 

18 is appropriate for the provision of individual case 

19 management assistance by such officer. 

20 (d) INFORMATION ON BENEFITS AND PROGRAMS RE21 LATING TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make 

23 available to the public information on the availability 

24 of case representative officers under subsection (a) 

25 to assist in the application for benefits based on 


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1 military sexual trauma. The Secretary shall revise 

2 and update the information so made available in 

3 order to ensure that the information is as current as 

4 possible. 

5 (2) INDIVIDUALS SEPARATING FROM MILITARY

6 SERVICE.—The Secretary shall, in consultation with 

7 the Secretary of Defense, ensure that individuals 

8 who are being separated from the active military, 

9 naval, or air service are provided appropriate infor10 mation about programs, requirements, and proce11 dures for applying for benefits based on military sex12 ual trauma and the availability of case representa13 tive officers under subsection (a). 

14 (e) INFORMATION ON TRAINING FOR AGENTS AND

15 REPRESENTATIVES OF INDIVIDUALS ASSIGNED CASE

16 REPRESENTATIVE OFFICER.—The Secretary shall make 

17 available to the authorized agent or attorney of an indi18 vidual assigned a case representative under subsection (a), 

19 or to the otherwise accredited representative of the indi20 vidual, any relevant materials used to train such case rep21 resentative officer for the duties of such position. 

22 (f) ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WOMEN VETERANS

23 CONSIDERATION OF MECHANISMS TO ENHANCE COORDI24 NATION BETWEEN VBA AND VHA ON BENEFITS FOR

25 MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.—The Advisory Committee 


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1 on Women Veterans established under section 542 of title 

2 38, United States Code, shall undertake actions to identify 

3 mechanisms to enhance coordination between the Veterans 

4 Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Admin5 istration in the provision of benefits based on military sex6 ual trauma, including the identification of barriers to the 

7 appropriate provision of benefits for military sexual trau8 ma by such Administrations and of means of eliminating 

9 or reducing such barriers. 

10 (g) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not less frequently than an11 nually, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 

12 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 

13 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep14 resentatives a report setting forth the following: 

15 (1) A certification whether or not the case rep16 resentative officers assigned under subsection (a) 

17 during the preceding year met the requirements 

18 specified in subsection (c). 

19 (2) A description of the current training the 

20 Secretary provides to employees of the Veterans 

21 Benefits Administration on claims for benefits based 

22 on military sexual trauma, including the frequency, 

23 length, and content of such training. 

24 (3) A description of current policies and proce25 dures on the training the Secretary provides to case 


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1 representative officers, including the current position 

2 descriptions for case representative officers. 

3 (4) A description of current efforts to coordi4 nate activities and assistance provided to individuals 

5 who seek care or benefits for military sexual trauma 

6 between the Veterans Health Administration and 

7 Veterans Benefits Administration, including the ef8 forts of the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans 

9 under subsection (f). 

10 (h) SUNSET.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—No case representative offi12 cer may be assigned under subsection (a) after De13 cember 31, 2018. 

14 (2) CONTINUATION OF DUTIES AFTER SUNSET

15 DATE.—Paragraph (1) shall not be construed to pro16 hibit any case representative officer assigned to an 

17 individual before the date specified in that para18 graph from performing duties pursuant to this sec19 tion after that date with respect to a claim for which 

20 that case representative officer was assigned to such 

21 individual before that date. 

22 (i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

23 (1) ACTIVE MILITARY, NAVAL, OR AIR SERV24 ICE.—The term ‘‘active military, naval, or air servVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00253 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 ice’’ has the meaning given that term in section 101 

2 of title 38, United States Code. 

3 (2) MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.—The term 

4 ‘‘military sexual trauma’’ shall have the meaning 

5 specified by the Secretary for purposes of this sec6 tion, and shall include ‘‘sexual harassment’’ (as so 

7 specified). 

8 SEC. 603. REPORT ON STANDARD OF PROOF FOR SERVICE9 CONNECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDI10 TIONS RELATED TO MILITARY SEXUAL TRAU11 MA. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

13 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet14 erans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

15 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af16 fairs of the House of Representatives a report on the cur17 rent standard of proof for service-connection under chap18 ter 11 of title 38, United States Code, for covered mental 

19 health conditions based on military sexual trauma. 

20 (b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Secretary shall in21 clude in the report under subsection (a) any recommenda22 tions the Secretary considers appropriate to improve the 

23 adjudication of claims for compensation based on military 

24 sexual trauma, including— 


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1 (1) recommendations for an appropriate stand2 ard of proof for such claims if the Secretary con3 siders such recommendations advisable; and 

4 (2) recommendations for legislative action, if 

5 necessary, to carry out such improvement. 

6 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

7 (1) ACTIVE MILITARY, NAVAL, OR AIR SERV8 ICE.—The term ‘‘active military, naval, or air serv9 ice’’ has the meaning given that term in section 101 

10 of title 38, United States Code. 

11 (2) COVERED MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION.— 

12 The term ‘‘covered mental health condition’’ means 

13 post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, 

14 or other mental health diagnosis that the Secretary 

15 determines to be related to military sexual trauma. 

16 (3) MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.—The term 

17 ‘‘military sexual trauma’’ shall have the meaning 

18 specified by the Secretary for purposes of this sec19 tion, and shall include ‘‘sexual harassment’’ (as so 

20 specified). 

21 SEC. 604. REPORTS ON CLAIMS FOR DISABILITIES IN22 CURRED OR AGGRAVATED BY MILITARY SEX23 UAL TRAUMA. 

24 (a) REPORTS.—Not later than December 1, 2014, 

25 and each year thereafter through 2018, the Secretary of 


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1 Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the 

2 covered claims submitted to the Secretary during the pre3 vious fiscal year. 

4 (b) ELEMENTS.—Each report under subsection (a) 

5 shall include the following: 

6 (1) The number of covered claims submitted to 

7 or considered by the Secretary during the fiscal year 

8 covered by the report. 

9 (2) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1), 

10 the number and percentage of such claims— 

11 (A) submitted by each gender; 

12 (B) that were approved, including the 

13 number and percentage of such approved claims 

14 submitted by each gender; and 

15 (C) that were denied, including the number 

16 and percentage of such denied claims submitted 

17 by each gender. 

18 (3) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) 

19 that were approved, the number and percentage, list20 ed by each gender, of claims assigned to each rating 

21 percentage of disability. 

22 (4) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) 

23 that were denied— 

24 (A) the three most common reasons given 

25 by the Secretary under section 5104(b)(1) of 


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1 title 38, United States Code, for such denials; 

2 and 

3 (B) the number of denials that were based 

4 on the failure of a veteran to report for a med5 ical examination. 

6 (5) Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) 

7 that were resubmitted to the Secretary after denial 

8 in a previous adjudication— 

9 (A) the number of such claims submitted 

10 to or considered by the Secretary during the fis11 cal year covered by the report; 

12 (B) the number and percentage of such 

13 claims— 

14 (i) submitted by each gender; 

15 (ii) that were approved, including the 

16 number and percentage of such approved 

17 claims submitted by each gender; and 

18 (iii) that were denied, including the 

19 number and percentage of such denied 

20 claims submitted by each gender; 

21 (C) the number and percentage, listed by 

22 each gender, of claims assigned to each rating 

23 percentage of disability; and 

24 (D) of such claims that were again de25 nied— 


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1 (i) the three most common reasons 

2 given by the Secretary under section 

3 5104(b)(1) of such title for such denials; 

4 and 

5 (ii) the number of denials that were 

6 based on the failure of a veteran to report 

7 for a medical examination. 

8 (6) The number of covered claims that, as of 

9 the end of the fiscal year covered by the report, are 

10 pending and, separately, the number of such claims 

11 on appeal. 

12 (7) For the fiscal year covered by the report, 

13 the average number of days that covered claims take 

14 to complete beginning on the date on which the 

15 claim is submitted. 

16 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

17 (1) ACTIVE MILITARY, NAVAL, OR AIR SERV18 ICE.—The term ‘‘active military, naval, or air serv19 ice’’ has the meaning given that term in section 101 

20 of title 38, United States Code. 

21 (2) COVERED CLAIMS.—The term ‘‘covered 

22 claims’’ means claims for disability compensation 

23 submitted to the Secretary based on post traumatic 

24 stress disorder alleged to have been incurred or ag25 gravated by military sexual trauma. 


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1 (3) MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.—The term 

2 ‘‘military sexual trauma’’ shall have the meaning 

3 specified by the Secretary for purposes of this sec4 tion, and shall include ‘‘sexual harassment’’ (as so 

5 specified). 

6 Subtitle B—Claims for Dependency 

7 and Indemnity Compensation 

8 SEC. 611. PROGRAM ON TREATMENT OF CERTAIN APPLICA9 TIONS FOR DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 

10 COMPENSATION AS FULLY DEVELOPED 

11 CLAIMS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

13 shall carry out a program to assess the feasibility and ad14 visability of expediting the treatment of a covered depend15 ency and indemnity compensation claim. 

16 (b) COVERED DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COM17 PENSATION CLAIMS.—For purposes of this section, a cov18 ered dependency and indemnity compensation claim is a 

19 claim submitted to the Secretary for compensation under 

20 chapter 13 of title 38, United States Code, for which the 

21 claimant— 

22 (1) applies for such compensation within one23 year of the death of the veteran upon whose service 

24 the claim is based; 


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1 (2) was the dependent on the claim of a veteran 

2 who was receiving benefits for one or more service3 connected conditions as of the date of death; 

4 (3) submits a death certificate or other evidence 

5 with the claim indicating that the veteran’s death 

6 was due to a service-connected or compensable dis7 ability; and 

8 (4) in the case that the claimant is the spouse 

9 of the deceased veteran, certifies that he or she has 

10 not remarried since the date of the veteran’s death. 

11 (c) DURATION.—The program shall be carried out 

12 during the one-year period beginning on the date that is 

13 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

14 (d) LOCATIONS.—The program shall be carried out 

15 at the Pension Management Center of the Department of 

16 Veterans Affairs or such centers selected by the Secretary 

17 for purposes of the program. 

18 (e) REPORT.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days 

20 after the date on which the program is completed, 

21 the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Vet22 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 

23 Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a 

24 report on the program. 


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1 (2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para2 graph (1) shall include the following: 

3 (A) The number of covered dependency 

4 and indemnity compensation claims that were 

5 adjudicated under the program, disaggregated 

6 by the following: 

7 (i) Claims in which the claimant 

8 claimed entitlement to compensation on the 

9 basis of the claimant’s status as the spouse 

10 of a deceased veteran. 

11 (ii) Claims in which the claimant 

12 claimed entitlement to compensation on the 

13 basis of the claimant’s status as the child 

14 of a deceased veteran. 

15 (iii) Claims in which the claimant 

16 claimed entitlement to compensation on the 

17 basis of the claimant’s status as the parent 

18 of a deceased veteran. 

19 (B) The number of covered dependency 

20 and indemnity compensation claims that were 

21 adjudicated under the program and for which 

22 compensation was not awarded, disaggregated 

23 by clauses (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (A). 

24 (C) A comparison of the accuracy and 

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1 gram with claims submitted to the Secretary for 

2 compensation under chapter 13 of title 38, 

3 United States Code, that were not provided ex4 peditious treatment under the program. 

5 (D) The findings of the Secretary with re6 spect to the program. 

7 (E) Such recommendations as the Sec8 retary may have for legislative or administrative 

9 action to improve the adjudication of claims 

10 submitted to the Secretary for compensation 

11 under chapter 13 of title 38, United States 

12 Code. 

13 SEC. 612. REPORT BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

14 ON IMPROVING TIMELINESS AND ACCURACY 

15 OF ADMINISTRATION OF CLAIMS FOR DE16 PENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION 

17 AND PENSION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES AND 

18 CHILDREN. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 455 days after the 

20 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet21 erans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

22 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af23 fairs of the House of Representatives a report with rec24 ommendations for legislative or administrative actions to 

25 improve the timeliness and accuracy with which the SecVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00262 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 retary processes and adjudicates claims for compensation 

2 under chapter 13 of title 38, United States Code, and pen3 sion under sections 1541 and 1542 of such title. 

4 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

5 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact6 ment of this Act. 

7 Subtitle C—Agency of Original 

8 Jurisdiction 

9 SEC. 621. WORKING GROUP TO IMPROVE EMPLOYEE WORK 

10 CREDIT AND WORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS 

11 OF VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION IN 

12 AN ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT. 

13 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 

14 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

15 Veterans Affairs shall establish a working group to assess 

16 and develop recommendations for the improvement of the 

17 employee work credit and work management systems of 

18 the Veterans Benefits Administration in an electronic en19 vironment. 

20 (b) COMPOSITION.—The working group shall be com21 posed of the following: 

22 (1) The Secretary or the Secretary’s designee. 

23 (2) Individuals selected by the Secretary from 

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1 sion benefits and are recommended to the Secretary 

2 by a labor organization for purposes of this section, 

3 including at least one of each of the following indi4 viduals: 

5 (A) A veterans service representative. 

6 (B) A rating veterans service representa7 tive. 

8 (C) A decision review officer. 

9 (3) Not fewer than three individuals selected by 

10 the Secretary to represent different organizations 

11 recognized by the Secretary for the representation of 

12 veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United 

13 States Code. 

14 (4) Individuals selected by the Secretary— 

15 (A) that are not employees of the Depart16 ment; and 

17 (B) that are experts in work credit and 

18 work management systems. 

19 (c) DUTIES.—The duties of the working group are 

20 to assess and develop recommendations for the following: 

21 (1) The improvement of the employee work 

22 credit and work management systems of the Vet23 erans Benefits Administration in an electronic envi24 ronment. 


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1 (2) A scientific, data based methodology to be 

2 used in revising the employee work credit system of 

3 the Department to improve the quality and quantity 

4 of work produced by employees of the Department. 

5 (3) The improvement of the resource allocation 

6 model of the Veterans Benefits Administration, with 

7 a focus on the processing of claims in an electronic 

8 environment. 

9 (4) A schedule by which the revisions referred 

10 to in paragraph (2) will be implemented by the De11 partment. 

12 (d) REVIEW AND INCORPORATION OF FINDINGS

13 FROM PRIOR STUDY.—In carrying out its duties under 

14 subsection (c), the working group shall review the findings 

15 and conclusions of previous studies of the employee work 

16 credit and work management systems of the Veterans 

17 Benefits Administration. 

18 (e) ROLE OF THE SECRETARY.—The Secretary shall 

19 consider the recommendations of the working group and 

20 implement such recommendations as the Secretary deter21 mines appropriate. 

22 (f) REPORTS.— 

23 (1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 180 

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1 ing group, the working group shall submit to Con2 gress a report on the progress of the working group. 

3 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than one year 

4 after the date of the establishment of the working 

5 group, the Secretary shall submit to Congress the 

6 methodology described in subsection (c)(2) and the 

7 schedule described in subsection (c)(4) that the Sec8 retary has decided to implement pursuant to sub9 section (e). 

10 (g) IMPLEMENTATION OF METHODOLOGY AND

11 SCHEDULE.—After submitting the report under sub12 section (f), the Secretary shall take such actions as may 

13 be necessary to apply the methodology described in sub14 section (c)(2) and the schedule described in subsection 

15 (c)(4) that the Secretary has decided to implement pursu16 ant to subsection (e). 

17 SEC. 622. TASK FORCE ON RETENTION AND TRAINING OF 

18 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

19 CLAIMS PROCESSORS AND ADJUDICATORS. 

20 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 

21 Affairs shall establish a task force to assess retention and 

22 training of claims processors and adjudicators that are 

23 employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and 

24 other departments and agencies of the Federal Govern25 ment. 


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1 (b) COMPOSITION.—The task force shall be composed 

2 of the following: 

3 (1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs or des4 ignee. 

5 (2) The Director of the Office of Personnel 

6 Management or designee. 

7 (3) The Commissioner of Social Security or des8 ignee. 

9 (4) An individual selected by the Secretary of 

10 Veterans Affairs who represents an organization rec11 ognized by the Secretary for the representation of 

12 veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United 

13 States Code. 

14 (5) Such other individuals selected by the Sec15 retary who represent such other organizations and 

16 institutions as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

17 (c) DURATION.—The task force established under 

18 subsection (a) shall terminate not later than two years 

19 after the date on which the task force is established under 

20 such subsection. 

21 (d) DUTIES.—The duties of the task force are as fol22 lows: 

23 (1) To identify key skills required by claims 

24 processors and adjudicators to perform the duties of 

25 claims processors and adjudicators in the various 


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1 claims processing and adjudication positions 

2 throughout the Federal Government. 

3 (2) To identify reasons for employee attrition 

4 from claims processing positions. 

5 (3) To coordinate with educational institutions 

6 to develop training and programs of education for 

7 members of the Armed Forces to prepare such mem8 bers for employment in claims processing and adju9 dication positions in the Federal Government. 

10 (4) To identify and coordinate offices of the De11 partment of Defense and the Department of Vet12 erans Affairs located throughout the United States 

13 to provide information about, and promotion of, 

14 available claims processing positions to members of 

15 the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life and to 

16 veterans with disabilities. 

17 (5) To establish performance measures to 

18 evaluate the effectiveness of the task force. 

19 (6) Not later than one year after the date of 

20 the establishment of the task force, to develop a 

21 Government-wide strategic and operational plan for 

22 promoting employment of veterans in claims proc23 essing positions in the Federal Government. 

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1 sess the implementation of such plan, and to revise 

2 such plan as the task force considers appropriate. 

3 (e) REPORTS.— 

4 (1) SUBMITTAL OF PLAN.—Not later than one 

5 year after the date of the establishment of the task 

6 force, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 

7 to Congress a report on the plan developed by the 

8 task force under subsection (d)(6). 

9 (2) ASSESSMENT OF IMPLEMENTATION.—Not 

10 later than 120 days after the termination of the task 

11 force, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a re12 port that assesses the implementation of the plan 

13 developed by the task force under subsection (d)(6). 

14 SEC. 623. REPORTS ON REQUESTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 

15 VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR RECORDS OF 

16 OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. 

17 (a) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 

18 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 

19 days thereafter through the date that is 910 days after 

20 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

21 Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Vet22 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet23 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

24 on the attempts of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

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1 fits from another department or agency of the Federal 

2 Government during the 180-day period ending on the date 

3 of such report. 

4 (b) ELEMENTS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each report shall set forth 

6 the following: 

7 (A) For the period covered by such report, 

8 the following: 

9 (i) The total number of requests made 

10 by the Department. 

11 (ii) The types of records requested. 

12 (iii) The number of requests made be13 fore the receipt of each record. 

14 (iv) The amount of time between the 

15 initial request for each record and the re16 ceipt of each record. 

17 (v) The number of occurrences of the 

18 receipt of a record after the adjudication of 

19 the claim for which the record was sought. 

20 (vi) A description of the efforts of the 

21 Secretary to expedite the delivery of 

22 records to the Department from other de23 partments and agencies of the Federal 

24 Government. 


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1 (B) Such recommendations for legislative 

2 or administrative action as the Secretary con3 siders appropriate in light of such report. 

4 (2) PRESENTATION.—The information in a re5 port under clause (i) through (v) of paragraph 

6 (1)(A) shall be set forth separately for each depart7 ment and agency of the Federal Government covered 

8 by such report. 

9 SEC. 624. RECOGNITION OF REPRESENTATIVES OF INDIAN 

10 TRIBES IN THE PREPARATION, PRESEN11 TATION, AND PROSECUTION OF CLAIMS 

12 UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SEC13 RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

14 Section 5902(a)(1) is amended by inserting ‘‘, includ15 ing Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian 

16 Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 

17 U.S.C. 450b))’’ after ‘‘as the Secretary may approve’’. 

18 SEC. 625. PROGRAM ON PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL AND 

19 TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS IN IMPROVING QUAL20 ITY OF CLAIMS FOR DISABILITY COMPENSA21 TION SUBMITTED TO DEPARTMENT OF VET22 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

23 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet24 erans Affairs shall carry out a program to assess the feasi25 bility and advisability of entering into memoranda of unVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00271 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 derstanding with local governments and tribal organiza2 tions— 

3 (1) to improve the quality of claims submitted 

4 to the Secretary for compensation under chapter 11 

5 of title 38, United States Code, and pension under 

6 chapter 15 of such title; and 

7 (2) to provide assistance to veterans who may 

8 be eligible for such compensation or pension in sub9 mitting such claims. 

10 (b) MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING TRIBAL

11 ORGANIZATIONS.—In carrying out the program required 

12 by subsection (a), the Secretary shall enter into, or main13 tain existing, memoranda of understanding with at least— 

14 (1) two tribal organizations; and 

15 (2) 10 State or local governments. 

16 (c) DURATION.—The program shall be carried out 

17 during the two-year period beginning on the date of the 

18 commencement of the program. 

19 (d) REPORT.— 

20 (1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than one year 

21 after the date of the commencement of the program, 

22 the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Vet23 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 

24 Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a 

25 report that includes the following: 


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1 (A) A description of the implementation 

2 and operation of the program, including a de3 scription of outreach conducted by the Sec4 retary to tribal organizations and State and 

5 local governments. 

6 (B) An evaluation of the program, includ7 ing the total number of memoranda of under8 standing entered into or maintained by the Sec9 retary. 

10 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 

11 after the termination of the program, the Secretary 

12 shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

13 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af14 fairs of the House of Representatives a report that 

15 includes the following: 

16 (A) A description of the implementation 

17 and operation of the program, including a de18 scription of outreach conducted by the Sec19 retary to tribal organizations and State and 

20 local governments. 

21 (B) An evaluation of the program, includ22 ing the total number of memoranda of under23 standing entered into or maintained by the Sec24 retary. 


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1 (C) The findings and conclusions of the 

2 Secretary with respect to the program. 

3 (D) Such recommendations for continu4 ation or expansion of the program as the Sec5 retary considers appropriate. 

6 (e) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION DEFINED.—In this sec7 tion, the term ‘‘tribal organization’’ has the meaning given 

8 that term in section 3765 of title 38, United States Code. 

9 SEC. 626. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NOTICE OF 

10 AVERAGE TIMES FOR PROCESSING COM11 PENSATION CLAIMS. 

12 (a) PUBLIC NOTICE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af13 fairs shall, to the extent practicable, post the information 

14 described in subsection (b)— 

15 (1) in physical locations, such as Regional Of16 fices or other claims in-take facilities, that the Sec17 retary considers appropriate; 

18 (2) on the Internet website of the Department; 

19 and 

20 (3) through other mediums or using such other 

21 methods, including collaboration with veterans serv22 ice organizations, as the Secretary considers appro23 priate. 

24 (b) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The information described in 

2 this subsection is the average processing time of the 

3 claims described in paragraph (2). 

4 (2) CLAIMS DESCRIBED.—The claims described 

5 in this paragraph are each of the following types of 

6 claims for benefits under the laws administered by 

7 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs: 

8 (A) A fully developed claim. 

9 (B) A claim that is not fully developed. 

10 (3) UPDATE OF INFORMATION.—The informa11 tion described in this subsection shall be updated not 

12 less frequently than once each fiscal quarter. 

13 (c) EXPIRATION OF REQUIREMENTS.—The require14 ments of subsection (a) shall expire on December 31, 

15 2015. 

16 (d) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEFINED.— 

17 In this section, the term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ 

18 means an organization recognized by the Secretary of Vet19 erans Affairs for the representation of veterans under sec20 tion 5902 of title 38, United States Code. 


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1 SEC. 627. QUARTERLY REPORTS ON PROGRESS OF DEPART2 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN ELIMI3 NATING BACKLOG OF CLAIMS FOR COM4 PENSATION THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADJU5 DICATED. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

7 date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently 

8 than quarterly thereafter through calendar year 2015, the 

9 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Com10 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com11 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa12 tives a report on the backlog of claims filed with the De13 partment of Veterans Affairs for compensation that have 

14 not been adjudicated by the Department. 

15 (b) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under sub16 section (a) shall include the following: 

17 (1) For each month through calendar year 

18 2015, a projection of the following: 

19 (A) The number of claims completed. 

20 (B) The number of claims received. 

21 (C) The number of claims on backlog at 

22 the end of the month. 

23 (D) The number of claims pending at the 

24 end of the month. 

25 (E) The number of appeals pending at the 

26 end of the month. 


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1 (F) A description of the status of the im2 plementation of initiatives carried out by the 

3 Secretary to address the backlog, including the 

4 expected impact of those initiatives on accuracy 

5 and timeliness of adjudication of claims. 

6 (2) For each quarter through calendar year 

7 2015, a projection of the average accuracy of dis8 ability determinations for compensation claims that 

9 require a disability rating (or disability decision). 

10 (3) For each month during the most recently 

11 completed quarter, the following: 

12 (A) The number of claims completed. 

13 (B) The number of claims received. 

14 (C) The number of claims on backlog at 

15 the end of the month. 

16 (D) The number of claims pending at the 

17 end of the month. 

18 (E) The number of appeals pending at the 

19 end of the month. 

20 (F) A description of the status of the im21 plementation of initiatives carried out by the 

22 Secretary to address the backlog, including the 

23 impact of those initiatives on accuracy and 

24 timeliness of adjudication of claims. 


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1 (G) An assessment of the accuracy of dis2 ability determinations for compensation claims 

3 that require a disability rating (or disability de4 cision). 

5 (4) For the most recently completed quarter— 

6 (A) the number of cases physically received 

7 at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and dock8 eted; 

9 (B) the number of cases pending at the 

10 Board of Veterans’ Appeals at the end of the 

11 quarter; 

12 (C) the number of cases physically at the 

13 Board of Veterans’ Appeals at the end of the 

14 quarter; 

15 (D) the number of notices of disagreement 

16 and appeals filed to the agency of original juris17 diction referred to in section 7105(b)(1) of title 

18 38, United States Code; and 

19 (E) the number of decisions made by the 

20 Board of Veterans’ Appeals and the percentage 

21 of such decisions that were allowed, remanded, 

22 denied, or otherwise disposed of. 

23 (c) AVAILABILITY TO PUBLIC.—The Secretary shall 

24 make each report submitted under subsection (a) available 

25 to the public. 


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1 (d) ON BACKLOG AND PENDING DEFINED.—In this 

2 section, the terms ‘‘on backlog’’ and ‘‘pending’’, with re3 spect to a claim for compensation received by the Sec4 retary, shall have the meaning specified by the Secretary 

5 for purposes of this section. 

6 SEC. 628. REPORTS ON USE OF EXISTING AUTHORITIES TO 

7 EXPEDITE BENEFITS DECISIONS. 

8 (a) REPORT ON CURRENT USE OF TEMPORARY, IN9 TERMEDIATE, AND PROVISIONAL RATING DECISIONS.— 

10 (1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 

11 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

12 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 

13 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 

14 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

15 Representatives a report on the use of temporary, 

16 intermediate, and provisional rating decisions to ex17 pedite the benefits decisions of the Department of 

18 Veterans Affairs. 

19 (2) REPORT ELEMENTS.—The report required 

20 by paragraph (1) shall include the following: 

21 (A) With respect to temporary and inter22 mediate rating decisions, the following: 

23 (i) The number of temporary and in24 termediate rating decisions issued by the 


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1 Department during each of fiscal years 

2 2011, 2012, and 2013. 

3 (ii) A description of any reasons or 

4 obstacles that prevent use of existing au5 thorities to issue temporary or inter6 mediate rating decisions. 

7 (iii) A description of the Quick Pay 

8 Disability initiative, including the rationale 

9 for not expanding the initiative beyond 

10 pilot program status. 

11 (B) With respect to provisional rating deci12 sions, the following: 

13 (i) The number of provisional rating 

14 decisions issued by the Department during 

15 the oldest claims first initiative. 

16 (ii) Of the provisional rating decisions 

17 issued during the oldest claims first initia18 tive— 

19 (I) the number of such decisions 

20 that involved a claim granted; 

21 (II) the number of such decisions 

22 that involved a claim denied; and 

23 (III) the number of such deci24 sions that involved a claim granted in 

25 part or a claim denied in part. 


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1 (iii) A statement of the most common 

2 reasons claims were not granted earlier 

3 under the oldest claims first initiative when 

4 there was sufficient evidence to render an 

5 award of benefits in the provisional rating 

6 decision. 

7 (iv) The average number of days to 

8 issue a provisional rating decision under 

9 the oldest claims first initiative. 

10 (v) Of the total number of decisions 

11 that were completed under the oldest 

12 claims first initiative— 

13 (I) the number that were Cat14 egory 1 claims and received a final 

15 rating decision; and 

16 (II) the number that were Cat17 egory 2 claims and received a provi18 sional rating decision. 

19 (vi) The number of rating decisions 

20 issued during the oldest claims first imita21 tive that involved a brokered claim, set 

22 forth by number of such claims by Re23 gional Office of the Department, includ24 ing— 


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1 (I) the number of brokered 

2 claims received by each Regional Of3 fice; and 

4 (II) the number of brokered 

5 claims issued by each Regional Office. 

6 (vii) The number of provisional rating 

7 decisions issued during the oldest claims 

8 first initiative with respect to which the 

9 veteran requested that the provisional deci10 sion become final in order to appeal. 

11 (viii) The number of provisional rating 

12 decisions issued during the oldest claims 

13 first initiative with respect to which the 

14 veteran requested an appeal after the expi15 ration of the 1-year period beginning on 

16 the date of notification of the provisional 

17 rating decision. 

18 (ix) An assessment of the accuracy of 

19 provisional rating decisions issued during 

20 the oldest claims first initiative, set forth 

21 by Category 1 claims and Category 2 

22 claims. 

23 (C) Such other matters as the Secretary 

24 considers appropriate for purposes of the re25 port. 


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1 (3) SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION.—If the Sec2 retary continues to obtain information on rating de3 cisions under clauses (vii) and (viii) of paragraph 

4 (2)(B) after the date of the submittal of the report 

5 required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall sub6 mit to the committees of Congress referred to in 

7 paragraph (1) a report on such information that 

8 supplements the information on such clauses in the 

9 report under paragraph (1) when the Secretary com10 pletes accumulation of such information. 

11 (b) PLAN FOR INCREASE IN USE OF TEMPORARY OR

12 INTERMEDIATE RATING DECISIONS.— 

13 (1) REPORT ON PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later 

14 than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

15 this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Com16 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 

17 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

18 Representatives a report setting forth a plan to in19 crease the use of temporary or intermediate rating 

20 decisions to expedite benefit decisions of the Depart21 ment when the record contains sufficient evidence to 

22 grant any claim at issue, including service connec23 tion. 

24 (2) PLAN ELEMENTS.—The plan required 

25 under paragraph (1) shall include the following: 


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1 (A) Mechanisms to overcome obstacles to 

2 the use of temporary or intermediate rating de3 cisions, including mechanisms (such as up4 grades) to assure the ability of the Veterans 

5 Benefits Management System to facilitate the 

6 issuance of temporary or intermediate rating 

7 decisions. 

8 (B) Mechanisms to ensure that appropriate 

9 claimant populations, such as claimants who file 

10 complex or multi-issue disability compensation 

11 claims, benefit from the availability of tem12 porary or intermediate rating decisions. 

13 (C) Mechanisms to provide for the use of 

14 temporary or intermediate rating decisions, in15 cluding mechanisms to resolve whether a re16 quest by a claimant or claimant representative 

17 should trigger use of a temporary or inter18 mediate rating decision depending on the cir19 cumstances of the claimant. 

20 (D) Mechanisms to prevent the use of tem21 porary or intermediate rating decisions in lieu 

22 of a final rating decision when a final rating de23 cision could be made with little or no additional 

24 claim development. 


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1 (E) Such recommendations for legislative 

2 or administrative action as the Secretary con3 siders appropriate to increase the use of tem4 porary or intermediate rating decisions to expe5 dite benefit decisions of the Department. 

6 SEC. 629. REPORTS ON DEPARTMENT DISABILITY MEDICAL 

7 EXAMINATIONS AND PREVENTION OF UNNEC8 ESSARY MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS. 

9 (a) REPORT ON DISABILITY MEDICAL EXAMINA10 TIONS FURNISHED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF11 FAIRS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

13 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec14 retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Com15 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 

16 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

17 Representatives a report on the furnishing of general 

18 medical and specialty medical examinations by the 

19 Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of ad20 judicating claims for benefits under laws adminis21 tered by the Secretary. 

22 (2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under 

23 paragraph (1) shall include the following: 

24 (A) The number of general medical exami25 nations furnished by the Department during the 


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1 period of fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for 

2 purposes of adjudicating claims for benefits 

3 under laws administered by the Secretary. 

4 (B) The number of general medical exami5 nations furnished by the Department during the 

6 period of fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for 

7 purposes of adjudicating a claim in which a 

8 comprehensive joint examination was conducted, 

9 but for which no disability relating to a joint, 

10 bone, or muscle had been asserted as an issue 

11 in the claim. 

12 (C) The number of specialty medical ex13 aminations furnished by the Department during 

14 the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2012 

15 for purposes of adjudicating a claim. 

16 (D) The number of specialty medical ex17 aminations furnished by the Department during 

18 the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2012 

19 for purposes of adjudicating a claim in which 

20 one or more joint examinations were conducted. 

21 (E) A summary with citations to any med22 ical and scientific studies that provide a basis 

23 for determining that three repetitions is ade24 quate to determine the effect of repetitive use 

25 on functional impairments. 


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1 (F) The names of all examination reports, 

2 including general medical examinations and 

3 Disability Benefits Questionnaires, used for 

4 evaluation of compensation and pension dis5 ability claims which require measurement of re6 peated ranges of motion testing and the number 

7 of examinations requiring such measurements 

8 which were conducted in fiscal year 2012. 

9 (G) The average amount of time taken by 

10 an individual conducting a medical examination 

11 to perform the three repetitions of movement of 

12 each joint. 

13 (H) A discussion of whether there are 

14 more efficient and effective scientifically reliable 

15 methods of testing for functional loss on repet16 itive use of an extremity other than the three 

17 time repetition currently used by the Depart18 ment. 

19 (I) Recommendations as to the continu20 ation of the practice of measuring functional 

21 impairment by using three repetitions of move22 ment of each joint during the examination as a 

23 criteria for evaluating the effect of repetitive 

24 motion on functional impairment with sup25 porting rationale. 


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1 (b) REPORT AND PLAN TO PREVENT THE ORDERING

2 OF UNNECESSARY MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

4 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec5 retary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

6 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet7 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a re8 port on the efforts of the Secretary in reducing the 

9 necessity for in-person disability examinations and 

10 other efforts to comply with the provisions of section 

11 5125 of title 38, United States Code. 

12 (2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para13 graph (1) shall include the following: 

14 (A) Criteria used by the Secretary to de15 termine if a claim is eligible for the Acceptable 

16 Clinical Evidence initiative. 

17 (B) The number of claims determined to 

18 be eligible for the Acceptable Clinical Evidence 

19 initiative during the period beginning on the 

20 date of the initiation of the initiative and end21 ing on the date of the enactment of this Act, 

22 disaggregated— 

23 (i) by fiscal year; and 

24 (ii) by claims determined eligible 

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1 dence provided by a private health care 

2 provider. 

3 (C) The total number of claims determined 

4 to be eligible for the Acceptable Clinical Evi5 dence initiative that required an employee of 

6 the Department to supplement the evidence 

7 with information obtained during a telephone 

8 interview with a claimant or health care pro9 vider. 

10 (D) Information on any other initiatives or 

11 efforts, including disability benefits question12 naires, of the Department to further encourage 

13 the use of medical evidence provided by a pri14 vate health care provider and reliance upon re15 ports of a medical examination administered by 

16 a private physician if the report is sufficiently 

17 complete to be adequate for the purposes of ad18 judicating a claim. 

19 (E) A plan— 

20 (i) to measure, track, and prevent the 

21 ordering of unnecessary medical examina22 tions when the provision by a claimant of 

23 a medical examination administered by a 

24 private physician in support of a claim for 

25 benefits under chapter 11 or 15 of title 38, 


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1 United States Code, is adequate for the 

2 purpose of making a decision on that 

3 claim; and 

4 (ii) that includes the actions the Sec5 retary will take to eliminate any request by 

6 the Department for a medical examination 

7 in the case of a claim for benefits under 

8 chapter 11 or 15 of such title in support 

9 of which a claimant submits medical evi10 dence or a medical opinion provided by a 

11 private health care provider that is com12 petent, credible, probative, and otherwise 

13 adequate for purposes of making a decision 

14 on that claim. 

15 Subtitle D—Board of Veterans’ Ap16 peals and Court of Appeals for 

17 Veterans Claims 

18 SEC. 631. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN MISFILED DOCUMENTS 

19 AS A NOTICE OF APPEAL TO THE COURT OF 

20 APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. 

21 Section 7266 is amended by adding at the end the 

22 following new subsection: 

23 ‘‘(e)(1) If a person adversely affected by a final deci24 sion of the Board, who has not filed a notice of appeal 

25 with the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 


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1 Claims under subsection (a), misfiles a document with the 

2 Board or the agency of original jurisdiction referred to in 

3 section 7105(b)(1) of this title that expresses disagree4 ment with such decision and a clear intent to seek review 

5 of such decision by the United States Court of Appeals 

6 for Veterans Claims, not later than 120 days after the 

7 date of such decision, such document shall be treated as 

8 timely filed under subsection (a). 

9 ‘‘(2) The treatment of misfiled documents under 

10 paragraph (1) does not limit equitable relief that may be 

11 otherwise available to a person described in that para12 graph.’’. 

13 SEC. 632. DETERMINATION OF MANNER OF APPEARANCE 

14 FOR HEARINGS BEFORE BOARD OF VET15 ERANS’ APPEALS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7107 is amended— 

17 (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘in sub18 section (f)’’ and inserting ‘‘in subsection (g)’’; 

19 (2) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub20 section (g); and 

21 (3) by striking subsections (d) and (e) and in22 serting the following new subsections: 

23 ‘‘(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a hear24 ing before the Board shall be conducted through picture 

25 and voice transmission, by electronic or other means, in 


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1 such a manner that the appellant is not present in the 

2 same location as the members of the Board during the 

3 hearing. 

4 ‘‘(2)(A) A hearing before the Board shall be con5 ducted in person upon the request of an appellant. 

6 ‘‘(B) In the absence of a request under subparagraph 

7 (A), a hearing before the Board may also be conducted 

8 in person as the Board considers appropriate. 

9 ‘‘(e)(1) In a case in which a hearing before the Board 

10 is to be held as described in subsection (d)(1), the Sec11 retary shall provide suitable facilities and equipment to the 

12 Board or other components of the Department to enable 

13 an appellant located at an appropriate facility within the 

14 area served by a regional office to participate as so de15 scribed. 

16 ‘‘(2) Any hearing conducted as described in sub17 section (d)(1) shall be conducted in the same manner as, 

18 and shall be considered the equivalent of, a personal hear19 ing. 

20 ‘‘(f)(1) In a case in which a hearing before the Board 

21 is to be held as described in subsection (d)(2), the appel22 lant may request that the hearing be held at the principal 

23 location of the Board or at a facility of the Department 

24 located within the area served by a regional office of the 

25 Department. 


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1 ‘‘(2) A hearing to be held within an area served by 

2 a regional office of the Department shall (except as pro3 vided in paragraph (3)) be scheduled to be held in accord4 ance with the place of the case on the docket under sub5 section (a) relative to other cases on the docket for which 

6 hearings are scheduled to be held within that area. 

7 ‘‘(3) A hearing to be held within an area served by 

8 a regional office of the Department may, for cause shown, 

9 be advanced on motion for an earlier hearing. Any such 

10 motion shall set forth succinctly the grounds upon which 

11 the motion is based. Such a motion may be granted only— 

12 ‘‘(A) if the case involves interpretation of law of 

13 general application affecting other claims; 

14 ‘‘(B) if the appellant is seriously ill or is under 

15 severe financial hardship; or 

16 ‘‘(C) for other sufficient cause shown.’’. 

17 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

18 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to cases received 

19 by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals pursuant to notices of 

20 disagreement submitted on or after the date of the enact21 ment of this Act. 


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1 TITLE VII—OUTREACH MATTERS 

2 SEC. 701. PROGRAM TO INCREASE COORDINATION OF OUT3 REACH EFFORTS BETWEEN THE DEPART4 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND FEDERAL, 

5 STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES AND NON6 PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. 

7 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet8 erans Affairs shall carry out a program to assess the feasi9 bility and advisability of using State and local government 

10 agencies and nonprofit organizations— 

11 (1) to increase awareness of veterans regarding 

12 benefits and services for veterans; and 

13 (2) to improve coordination of outreach activi14 ties regarding such benefits and services between the 

15 Secretary and Federal, State, and local government 

16 and nonprofit providers of health care and benefit 

17 services for veterans. 

18 (b) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the 

19 program for a two-year period. 

20 (c) GRANTS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 

22 out the program through the competitive award of 

23 grants to State and local government agencies and 

24 nonprofit organizations— 


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1 (A) to increase the awareness of veterans 

2 regarding benefits and services for veterans; 

3 and 

4 (B) to improve coordination of outreach 

5 activities regarding such benefits and services 

6 between the Secretary and Federal, State, and 

7 local government and nonprofit providers of 

8 health care and benefit services for veterans. 

9 (2) APPLICATION.— 

10 (A) IN GENERAL.—A State or local gov11 ernment agency or nonprofit organization seek12 ing a grant under the program shall submit to 

13 the Secretary an application therefor in such 

14 form and in such manner as the Secretary con15 siders appropriate. 

16 (B) ELEMENTS.—Each application sub17 mitted under subparagraph (A) shall include 

18 the following: 

19 (i) A description of the consultations, 

20 if any, with the Department of Veterans 

21 Affairs in the development of any proposal 

22 under the application. 

23 (ii) A description of the project for 

24 which the applicant is seeking a grant 

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1 ordinate under the program, to the great2 est extent possible, the outreach activities 

3 of Federal, State, and local government 

4 agencies that provide health care, benefits, 

5 and services for veterans and nonprofit or6 ganizations that provide such care, bene7 fits, and services to enhance the awareness 

8 and availability of such care, benefits, and 

9 services. 

10 (iii) An agreement to report to the 

11 Secretary standardized data and other per12 formance measures necessary for the Sec13 retary to evaluate the program and to fa14 cilitate evaluation of projects for which 

15 grants are awarded under the program. 

16 (iv) Such other information as the 

17 Secretary may require. 

18 (3) CONSIDERATIONS.— 

19 (A) IN GENERAL.—In awarding grants 

20 under the program to carry out projects, the 

21 Secretary shall consider— 

22 (i) where the projects will be carried 

23 out and which populations are targeted; 

24 and 


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1 (ii) the likelihood that each potential 

2 grantee will successfully carry out the 

3 grant proposal. 

4 (B) CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING LOCA5 TION AND TARGET POPULATION.—In taking the 

6 matters specified in subparagraph (A)(ii) into 

7 consideration, the Secretary shall consider in 

8 particular the advisability of awarding grants 

9 for projects— 

10 (i) carried out in areas with popu11 lations that have a high proportion of vet12 eran representation; 

13 (ii) carried out in a variety of geo14 graphic areas, including urban, rural, and 

15 highly rural areas; and 

16 (iii) that target a variety of veteran 

17 populations, including racial and ethnic mi18 norities, low-income populations, and older 

19 populations. 

20 (4) USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall estab21 lish appropriate uses of grant amounts received 

22 under the program. 

23 (5) OVERSIGHT OF USE OF FUNDS.—The Sec24 retary shall establish appropriate mechanisms for 

25 oversight of the use of grant amounts received under 


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1 the program, including the evidence grantees must 

2 submit to demonstrate use of grant amounts and 

3 procedures for the recovery of grant amounts that 

4 were improperly used. 

5 (6) LIMITATION.—In a fiscal year, not more 

6 than 20 percent of all grant amounts awarded in 

7 that fiscal year may be awarded to a single State en8 tity. 

9 (d) STATE MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—The Sec10 retary may not make a grant to a State under subsection 

11 (c) unless that State agrees that, with respect to the costs 

12 to be incurred by the State in carrying out the program 

13 or projects for which the grant was awarded, the State 

14 will make available (directly or through donations from 

15 public or private entities) non-Federal contributions in an 

16 amount equal to 50 percent of Federal funds provided 

17 under the grant. 

18 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

19 hereby authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sec20 tion the following: 

21 (1) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2015. 

22 (2) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2016. 

23 (f) ANNUAL REPORT.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days 

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1 ning after the date of the commencement of the pro2 gram, and not less frequently than once every year 

3 thereafter for the duration of the program, the Sec4 retary shall submit to Congress a report evaluating 

5 the program and the projects supported by grants 

6 awarded under the program. 

7 (2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para8 graph (1) shall include the following: 

9 (A) The findings and conclusions of the 

10 Secretary with respect to the program. 

11 (B) An assessment of the benefit to vet12 erans of the program. 

13 (C) The performance measures used by the 

14 Secretary for purposes of the program and data 

15 showing the performance of grantees under the 

16 program under such measures. 

17 (D) The recommendations of the Secretary 

18 as to the feasibility and advisability of con19 tinuing or expanding or modifying the program. 

20 (g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

21 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact22 ment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 702. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN SEC2 RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND STATES 

3 ON OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 63 is amended by insert5 ing after section 6306 the following new section: 

6 ‘‘§ 6306A. Cooperative agreements with States 

7 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter into co8 operative agreements and arrangements with various 

9 State agencies and State departments to carry out this 

10 chapter and to otherwise carry out, coordinate, improve, 

11 or enhance outreach activities of the Department and the 

12 States. 

13 ‘‘(b) REPORT.—The Secretary shall include in each 

14 report submitted under section 6308 of this title a descrip15 tion of the agreements and arrangements entered into by 

16 the Secretary under subsection (a).’’. 

17 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

18 at the beginning of chapter 63 is amended by inserting 

19 after the item relating to section 6306 the following new 

20 item: 

‘‘6306A. Cooperative agreements with States.’’. 

21 SEC. 703. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON OUTREACH ACTIVI22 TIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF23 FAIRS. 

24 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

25 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 


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1 Veterans Affairs shall establish an advisory committee on 

2 outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

3 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The advisory committee shall be 

4 composed of individuals selected by the Secretary from 

5 among the following: 

6 (1) To the maximum extent practicable, individ7 uals who are eminent in their respective fields of 

8 public relations. 

9 (2) Representatives of organizations with offices 

10 that focus on communications and distribute mes11 sages through major media news outlets and social 

12 media. 

13 (3) To the maximum extent practicable, individ14 uals with experience communicating financial results 

15 and business strategy for purposes of shaping a con16 fident brand image. 

17 (4) To the maximum extent practicable, individ18 uals with experience with consumer and lifestyle im19 aging and creating publicity for a particular product 

20 or service. 

21 (5) To the maximum extent practicable, vet22 erans who have experience in press and public rela23 tions. 


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1 (c) DUTIES.—The advisory committee shall advise 

2 the Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental 

3 Affairs— 

4 (1) to ensure that the Department of Veterans 

5 Affairs is strategically and effectively— 

6 (A) engaging the public and Department 

7 stakeholders to increase awareness nationally 

8 regarding all benefits and services furnished by 

9 the Department; 

10 (B) explaining new or changing policies of 

11 the Department; 

12 (C) improving the image and reputation of 

13 the Department; and 

14 (D) coordinating and collaborating with 

15 national community-based organizations, non16 profits, and State and local government agen17 cies; 

18 (2) to assist the Secretary in conducting such 

19 other press or public relations activities relating to 

20 outreach activities of the Department as the Sec21 retary and the Assistant Secretary for Public and 

22 Intergovernmental Affairs consider appropriate; and 

23 (3) to ensure coordination and collaboration on 

24 efforts within the Department for the development, 


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1 implementation, and review of local outreach with 

2 respect to benefits that include the following: 

3 (A) Compensation and pension benefits. 

4 (B) Insurance benefits. 

5 (C) Burial and memorial benefits. 

6 (D) Education benefits. 

7 (E) Vocational rehabilitation and employ8 ment benefits. 

9 (F) Readjustment counseling benefits. 

10 (G) Loan guarantee benefits. 

11 (H) Such other benefits as the Secretary 

12 considers appropriate. 

13 (d) LOCATION OF MEETINGS.—Each meeting of the 

14 advisory committee shall take place at a location that is 

15 property of the Department and shall, to the maximum 

16 extent practicable, use teleconference technology. 

17 (e) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult 

18 with and seek the advice of the advisory committee not 

19 less frequently than quarterly on matters relating to the 

20 duties of the advisory committee under subsection (c). 

21 (f) REPORTS.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not less frequently than 

23 once every 90 days for the first year and semiannu24 ally thereafter, the advisory committee shall submit 


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1 to Congress and to the Secretary a report on out2 reach activities of the Department. 

3 (2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Each report sub4 mitted under paragraph (1) shall include such rec5 ommendations for legislative and administrative ac6 tion as the advisory committee considers appropriate 

7 to improve the press and public relations of the De8 partment relating to outreach. 

9 (g) TERMINATION.—The advisory committee shall 

10 terminate on October 1, 2015, and the requirements and 

11 authorities under this section shall terminate on such date. 

12 (h) OUTREACH DEFINED.—In this section, the term 

13 ‘‘outreach’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

14 6301 of title 38, United States Code. 

15 SEC. 704. ADVISORY BOARDS ON OUTREACH ACTIVITIES OF 

16 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS RELAT17 ING TO HEALTH CARE. 

18 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—For each entity described in 

20 paragraph (2), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

21 shall, acting through the director of that entity, es22 tablish not later than 180 days after the effective 

23 date specified in subsection (h) an advisory board at 

24 that entity on matters relating to outreach activities 


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1 of the Department of Veterans Affairs at that enti2 ty. 

3 (2) ENTITY DESCRIBED.—An entity described 

4 in this paragraph is— 

5 (A) a healthcare system of the Depart6 ment; or 

7 (B) a Veterans Integrated System Net8 work, if such Veterans Integrated System Net9 work does not contain a healthcare system. 

10 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each advisory board estab12 lished under subsection (a)(1) shall be, to the max13 imum extent practicable, composed of individuals se14 lected by the Secretary from among the following: 

15 (A) Individuals who are eminent in their 

16 respective fields of public relations. 

17 (B) Representatives of organizations with 

18 offices that focus on communications and dis19 tribute messages through major media news 

20 outlets and social media. 

21 (C) Individuals with experience commu22 nicating financial results and business strategy 

23 for purposes of shaping a confident brand 

24 image. 


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1 (D) Individuals with experience with con2 sumer and lifestyle imaging and creating pub3 licity for a particular product or service. 

4 (E) Employees of the Department who are 

5 involved in press and public relations strategy 

6 for an entity described in subsection (a)(2). 

7 (F) To the maximum extent practicable, 

8 veterans who have experience in press and pub9 lic relations. 

10 (2) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—The partici11 pation of an individual selected under paragraph (1) 

12 shall be at the election of the individual. 

13 (c) DUTIES.—Each advisory board established under 

14 subsection (a)(1) at an entity described in subsection 

15 (a)(2) shall advise the Assistant Secretary for Public and 

16 Intergovernmental Affairs— 

17 (1) to ensure that the Department of Veterans 

18 Affairs is strategically and effectively— 

19 (A) engaging the public and Department 

20 stakeholders to increase awareness nationally 

21 regarding benefits and services furnished by the 

22 Department; 

23 (B) explaining new or changing policies of 

24 the Department; 


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1 (C) improving the image and reputation of 

2 the Department; 

3 (D) coordinating and collaborating with 

4 national community-based organizations, non5 profits, and State and local government agen6 cies; and 

7 (E) coordinating and collaborating on ef8 forts within the Department for the develop9 ment, implementation, and review of local out10 reach with respect to benefits that include— 

11 (i) compensation and pension benefits; 

12 (ii) insurance benefits; 

13 (iii) burial and memorial benefits; 

14 (iv) education benefits; 

15 (v) vocational rehabilitation and em16 ployment benefits; 

17 (vi) readjustment counseling benefits; 

18 (vii) loan guarantee benefits; and 

19 (viii) such other benefits as the Sec20 retary considers appropriate; and 

21 (2) to assist the director of that entity in con22 ducting such other press or public relations activities 

23 relating to outreach activities of the Department as 

24 that advisory board considers appropriate. 

25 (d) MEETING LOCATION.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—If teleconference technology 

2 is not used, meetings of each advisory board estab3 lished under subsection (a)(1) shall be held at a lo4 cation that is property of the Department. 

5 (2) TELECONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY.—Each 

6 advisory board shall use, to the maximum extent 

7 practicable, teleconference technology. 

8 (e) CONSULTATION.—Each director of an entity de9 scribed in subsection (a)(2) shall consult with and seek 

10 the advice of the advisory board established at such entity 

11 not less frequently than once every two months on matters 

12 relating to the duties of the advisory board under sub13 section (c). 

14 (f) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not less frequently than 

15 each year, each advisory board established under sub16 section (a)(1) shall submit to the Secretary a report with 

17 such information as may be beneficial to the Secretary in 

18 preparing the reports required by section 6308 of title 38, 

19 United States Code. 

20 (g) TERMINATION.—Each advisory board established 

21 under subsection (a)(1) and the authorities and require22 ments of this section shall terminate three years after the 

23 effective date specified in subsection (h). 


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1 (h) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

2 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact3 ment of this Act. 

4 SEC. 705. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT FOR PERIODIC 

5 REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON OUTREACH AC6 TIVITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF7 FAIRS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6308 is amended— 

9 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘even-num10 bered’’; and 

11 (2) in subsection (b)— 

12 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘bien13 nial’’; 

14 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘for leg15 islative and administrative action’’ after ‘‘Rec16 ommendations’’; and 

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

18 paragraph: 

19 ‘‘(3) Recommendations that such administrative 

20 actions as may be taken— 

21 ‘‘(A) to maximize resources for outreach 

22 activities of the Department; and 

23 ‘‘(B) to focus outreach efforts on activities 

24 that are proven to be more effective.’’. 

25 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 


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1 (1) SECTION HEADING.—The heading for sec2 tion 6308 is amended by striking ‘‘Biennial’’ and 

3 inserting ‘‘Annual’’. 

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

5 at the beginning of chapter 63 is amended by strik6 ing the item relating to section 6308 and inserting 

7 the following new item: 

‘‘6308. Annual report to Congress.’’. 

8 SEC. 706. BUDGET TRANSPARENCY FOR OUTREACH ACTIVI9 TIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF10 FAIRS. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 63 is amended by insert12 ing after section 6308 the following new section: 

13 ‘‘§ 6309. Budget transparency 

14 ‘‘(a) BUDGET REQUIREMENTS.—In the budget jus15 tification materials submitted to Congress in support of 

16 the Department budget for a fiscal year (as submitted 

17 with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) 

18 of title 31), the Secretary shall include a separate state19 ment of the amount requested for such fiscal year for ac20 tivities of the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Af21 fairs as follows: 

22 ‘‘(1) For outreach activities of the Department 

23 in aggregate. 

24 ‘‘(2) For outreach activities of each element of 

25 the Department specified in subsection (b)(1). 


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1 ‘‘(b) PROCEDURES FOR EFFECTIVE COORDINATION

2 AND COLLABORATION.—(1) Not later than 180 days after 

3 the date of the enactment of the Comprehensive Veterans 

4 Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Res5 toration Act of 2014, the Secretary shall establish and 

6 maintain procedures for the Office of Public and Intergov7 ernmental Affairs to ensure the effective coordination and 

8 collaboration of outreach activities of the Department be9 tween and among the following: 

10 ‘‘(A) Office of the Secretary. 

11 ‘‘(B) Veterans Health Administration. 

12 ‘‘(C) Veterans Benefits Administration. 

13 ‘‘(D) National Cemetery Administration. 

14 ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall— 

15 ‘‘(A) beginning after the date on which the Sec16 retary establishes procedures under paragraph (1), 

17 not less frequently than once every two years con18 duct a review of the procedures established and 

19 maintained under paragraph (1) to ensure that such 

20 procedures meet the requirements of such para21 graph; 

22 ‘‘(B) make such modifications to such proce23 dures as the Secretary considers appropriate based 

24 upon reviews conducted under subparagraph (A) in 

25 order to better meet such requirements; and 


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1 ‘‘(C) not later than 45 days after completing a 

2 review under subparagraph (A), submit to Congress 

3 a report on the findings of such review.’’. 

4 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

5 at the beginning of chapter 63 is amended by inserting 

6 after the item relating to section 6308 the following new 

7 item: 

‘‘6309. Budget transparency.’’. 

8 TITLE VIII—OTHER MATTERS 

9 SEC. 801. REPEAL OF REDUCTIONS MADE BY BIPARTISAN 

10 BUDGET ACT OF 2013. 

11 Section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 

12 is repealed as of the date of the enactment of such Act. 

13 SEC. 802. CONSIDERATION BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS 

14 AFFAIRS OF RESOURCES DISPOSED OF FOR 

15 LESS THAN FAIR MARKET VALUE BY INDIVID16 UALS APPLYING FOR PENSION. 

17 (a) VETERANS.—Section 1522 is amended— 

18 (1) in subsection (a)— 

19 (A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The Sec20 retary’’; and 

21 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

22 paragraph: 

23 ‘‘(2)(A) If a veteran otherwise eligible for payment 

24 of pension under section 1513 or 1521 of this title or the 

25 spouse of such veteran disposes of covered resources for 


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1 less than fair market value on or after the look-back date 

2 described in subparagraph (C)(i), the Secretary shall deny 

3 or discontinue the payment of pension to such veteran 

4 under section 1513 or 1521 of this title, as the case may 

5 be, for months during the period beginning on the date 

6 described in subparagraph (D) and equal to the number 

7 of months calculated as provided in subparagraph (E). 

8 ‘‘(B)(i) For purposes of this paragraph, a covered re9 source is any resource that was a part of the corpus of 

10 the estate of the veteran or, if the veteran has a spouse, 

11 the corpus of the estates of the veteran and of the vet12 eran’s spouse, that the Secretary considers that under all 

13 the circumstances, if the veteran or spouse had not dis14 posed of such resource, it would be reasonable that the 

15 resource (or some portion of the resource) be consumed 

16 for the veteran’s maintenance. 

17 ‘‘(ii) For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary 

18 may consider, in accordance with regulations the Sec19 retary shall prescribe, a transfer of an asset (including a 

20 transfer of an asset to an annuity, trust, or other financial 

21 instrument or investment) a disposal of a covered resource 

22 for less than fair market value if such transfer reduces 

23 the amount in the corpus of the estate of the veteran or, 

24 if the veteran has a spouse, the corpus of the estates of 

25 the veteran and of the veteran’s spouse, that the Secretary 


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1 considers, under all the circumstances, would be reason2 able to be consumed for the veteran’s maintenance. 

3 ‘‘(C)(i) The look-back date described in this clause 

4 is a date that is 36 months before the date described in 

5 clause (ii). 

6 ‘‘(ii) The date described in this clause is the date on 

7 which the veteran applies for pension under section 1513 

8 or 1521 of this title or, if later, the date on which the 

9 veteran (or the spouse of the veteran) disposes of covered 

10 resources for less than fair market value. 

11 ‘‘(D) The date described in this subparagraph is the 

12 first day of the first month in or after which covered re13 sources were disposed of for less than fair market value 

14 and which does not occur in any other period of ineligi15 bility under this paragraph. 

16 ‘‘(E) The number of months calculated under this 

17 subparagraph shall be equal to— 

18 ‘‘(i) the total, cumulative uncompensated value 

19 of the portion of covered resources so disposed of by 

20 the veteran (or the spouse of the veteran) on or 

21 after the look-back date described in subparagraph 

22 (C)(i) that the Secretary determines would reason23 ably have been consumed for the veteran’s mainte24 nance; divided by 


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1 ‘‘(ii) the maximum amount of monthly pension 

2 that is payable to a veteran under section 1513 or 

3 1521 of this title, including the maximum amount of 

4 increased pension payable under such sections on ac5 count of family members, but not including any 

6 amount of pension payable under such sections be7 cause a veteran is in need of regular aid and attend8 ance or is permanently housebound, 

9 rounded down, in the case of any fraction, to the nearest 

10 whole number, but shall not in any case exceed 36 

11 months.’’; 

12 (2) in subsection (b)— 

13 (A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The Sec14 retary’’; and 

15 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

16 paragraph: 

17 ‘‘(2)(A) If a veteran otherwise eligible for payment 

18 of increased pension under subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f) 

19 of section 1521 of this title on account of a child, the 

20 spouse of the veteran, or the child disposes of covered re21 sources for less than fair market value on or after the 

22 look-back date described in subparagraph (C)(i), the Sec23 retary shall deny or discontinue payment of such increased 

24 pension for months during the period beginning on the 


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1 date described in subparagraph (D) and equal to the num2 ber of months calculated as provided in subparagraph (E). 

3 ‘‘(B)(i) For purposes of this paragraph, a covered re4 source is any resource that was a part of the corpus of 

5 the estate of the child that the Secretary considers that 

6 under all the circumstances, if the veteran, the spouse of 

7 the veteran, or the child had not disposed of such resource, 

8 it would be reasonable that the resource (or some portion 

9 of the resource) be consumed for the child’s maintenance. 

10 ‘‘(ii) For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary 

11 may consider, in accordance with regulations the Sec12 retary shall prescribe, a transfer of an asset (including a 

13 transfer of an asset to an annuity, trust, or other financial 

14 instrument or investment) a disposal of a covered resource 

15 for less than fair market value if such transfer reduces 

16 the amount in the corpus of the estate of the child that 

17 the Secretary considers, under all the circumstances, 

18 would be reasonable to be consumed for the child’s mainte19 nance. 

20 ‘‘(C)(i) The look-back date described in this clause 

21 is a date that is 36 months before the date described in 

22 clause (ii). 

23 ‘‘(ii) The date described in this clause is the date on 

24 which the veteran applies for payment of increased pen25 sion under subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f) of section 1521 


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1 of this title on account of a child or, if later, the date 

2 on which the veteran, the spouse of the veteran, or the 

3 child disposes of covered resources for less than fair mar4 ket value. 

5 ‘‘(D) The date described in this subparagraph is the 

6 first day of the first month in or after which covered re7 sources were disposed of for less than fair market value 

8 and which does not occur in any other period of ineligi9 bility under this paragraph. 

10 ‘‘(E) The number of months calculated under this 

11 subparagraph shall be equal to— 

12 ‘‘(i) the total, cumulative uncompensated value 

13 of the portion of the covered resources so disposed 

14 of by the veteran, the spouse of the veteran, or the 

15 child on or after the look-back date described in sub16 paragraph (C)(i) that the Secretary determines 

17 would reasonably have been consumed for the child’s 

18 maintenance; divided by 

19 ‘‘(ii) the maximum amount of increased month20 ly pension that is payable to a veteran under sub21 section (c), (d), (e), or (f) of section 1521 of this 

22 title on account of a child, 

23 rounded down, in the case of any fraction, to the nearest 

24 whole number, but shall not in any case exceed 36 

25 months.’’; and 


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1 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub2 section: 

3 ‘‘(c)(1)(A) The Secretary shall not deny or dis4 continue payment of pension under section 1513 or 1521 

5 of this title or payment of increased pension under sub6 section (c), (d), (e), or (f) of section 1521 of this title 

7 on account of a child by reason of the application of sub8 section (a)(2) or (b)(2) of this section to the disposal of 

9 resources by an individual— 

10 ‘‘(i) if— 

11 ‘‘(I) a satisfactory showing is made to the 

12 Secretary (in accordance with regulations pro13 mulgated by the Secretary) that all resources 

14 disposed of for less than fair market value have 

15 been returned to the individual who disposed of 

16 the resources; or 

17 ‘‘(II) the Secretary determines, under pro18 cedures established by the Secretary in accord19 ance with subparagraph (B), that the denial or 

20 discontinuance of payment would work an 

21 undue hardship; or 

22 ‘‘(ii) to the extent that any portion of the re23 sources disposed of for less than fair market value 

24 have been returned to the individual who disposed of 

25 the resources. 


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1 ‘‘(B) Undue hardship would be worked by the denial 

2 or discontinuance of payment for purposes of subpara3 graph (A)(i)(II) if the denial or discontinuance of payment 

4 would deprive the individual during the period of denial 

5 or discontinuance— 

6 ‘‘(i) of medical care such that the individual’s 

7 life or health would be endangered; 

8 ‘‘(ii) of necessary food or clothing, or other ne9 cessities of life; or 

10 ‘‘(iii) on such other basis as the Secretary shall 

11 specify in the procedures required by subparagraph 

12 (A)(i)(II). 

13 ‘‘(C) If payment of pension or increased pension that 

14 would otherwise be denied or discontinued by reason of 

15 the application of subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) is denied or 

16 discontinued only in part by reason of the return of re17 sources as described in subparagraph (A)(ii), the period 

18 of the denial or discontinuance as determined pursuant to 

19 subparagraph (E) of subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2), as appli20 cable, shall be recalculated to take into account such re21 turn of resources. 

22 ‘‘(2) At the time a veteran applies for pension under 

23 section 1513 or 1521 of this title or increased pension 

24 under subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f) of section 1521 of 

25 this title on account of a child, and at such other times 


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1 as the Secretary considers appropriate, the Secretary 

2 shall— 

3 ‘‘(A) inform such veteran of the provisions of 

4 subsections (a)(2) and (b)(2) providing for a period 

5 of ineligibility for payment of pension under such 

6 sections for individuals who make certain disposi7 tions of resources for less than fair market value, in8 cluding the exception for hardship from such period 

9 of ineligibility; 

10 ‘‘(B) obtain from such veteran information 

11 which may be used in determining whether or not a 

12 period of ineligibility for such payments would be re13 quired by reason of such subsections; and 

14 ‘‘(C) provide such veteran a timely process for 

15 determining whether or not the exception for hard16 ship shall apply to such veteran.’’. 

17 (b) SURVIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN.—Section 

18 1543 is amended— 

19 (1) in subsection (a)— 

20 (A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 

21 paragraph (3); 

22 (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 

23 following new paragraph (2): 

24 ‘‘(2)(A) If a surviving spouse otherwise eligible for 

25 payment of pension under section 1541 of this title disVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00320 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 poses of covered resources for less than fair market value 

2 on or after the look-back date described in subparagraph 

3 (C)(i), the Secretary shall deny or discontinue the pay4 ment of pension to such surviving spouse under section 

5 1541 of this title for months during the period beginning 

6 on the date described in subparagraph (D) and equal to 

7 the number of months calculated as provided in subpara8 graph (E). 

9 ‘‘(B)(i) For purposes of this paragraph, a covered re10 source is any resource that was a part of the corpus of 

11 the estate of the surviving spouse that the Secretary con12 siders that under all the circumstances, if the surviving 

13 spouse had not disposed of such resource, it would be rea14 sonable that the resource (or some portion of the resource) 

15 be consumed for the surviving spouse’s maintenance. 

16 ‘‘(ii) For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary 

17 may consider, in accordance with regulations the Sec18 retary shall prescribe, a transfer of an asset (including a 

19 transfer of an asset to an annuity, trust, or other financial 

20 instrument or investment) a disposal of a covered resource 

21 for less than fair market value if such transfer reduces 

22 the amount in the corpus of the estate of the surviving 

23 spouse that the Secretary considers, under all the cir24 cumstances, would be reasonable to be consumed for the 

25 surviving spouse’s maintenance. 


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1 ‘‘(C)(i) The look-back date described in this clause 

2 is a date that is 36 months before the date described in 

3 clause (ii). 

4 ‘‘(ii) The date described in this clause is the date on 

5 which the surviving spouse applies for pension under sec6 tion 1541 of this title or, if later, the date on which the 

7 surviving spouse disposes of covered resources for less 

8 than fair market value. 

9 ‘‘(D) The date described in this subparagraph is the 

10 first day of the first month in or after which covered re11 sources were disposed of for less than fair market value 

12 and which does not occur in any other period of ineligi13 bility under this paragraph. 

14 ‘‘(E) The number of months calculated under this 

15 subparagraph shall be equal to— 

16 ‘‘(i) the total, cumulative uncompensated value 

17 of the portion of the covered resources so disposed 

18 of by the surviving spouse on or after the look-back 

19 date described in subparagraph (C)(i) that the Sec20 retary determines would reasonably have been con21 sumed for the surviving spouse’s maintenance; di22 vided by 

23 ‘‘(ii) the maximum amount of monthly pension 

24 that is payable to a surviving spouse under section 

25 1541 of this title, including the maximum amount of 


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1 increased pension payable under such section on ac2 count of a child, but not including any amount of 

3 pension payable under such section because a sur4 viving spouse is in need of regular aid and attend5 ance or is permanently housebound, 

6 rounded down, in the case of any fraction, to the nearest 

7 whole number, but shall not in any case exceed 36 

8 months.’’; 

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

10 paragraph: 

11 ‘‘(4)(A) If a surviving spouse otherwise eligible for 

12 payment of increased pension under subsection (c), (d), 

13 or (e) of section 1541 of this title on account of a child 

14 or the child disposes of covered resources for less than fair 

15 market value on or after the look-back date described in 

16 subparagraph (C)(i), the Secretary shall deny or dis17 continue payment of such increased pension for months 

18 during the period beginning on the date described in sub19 paragraph (D) and equal to the number of months cal20 culated as provided in subparagraph (E). 

21 ‘‘(B)(i) For purposes of this paragraph, a covered re22 source is any resource that was a part of the corpus of 

23 the estate of the child that the Secretary considers that 

24 under all the circumstances, if the surviving spouse or the 

25 child had not disposed of such resource, it would be reaVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:42 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00323 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1950.PCS S1950

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1 sonable that the resource (or some portion of the resource) 

2 be consumed for the child’s maintenance. 

3 ‘‘(ii) For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary 

4 may consider, in accordance with regulations the Sec5 retary shall prescribe, a transfer of an asset (including a 

6 transfer of an asset to an annuity, trust, or other financial 

7 instrument or investment) a disposal of a covered resource 

8 for less than fair market value if such transfer reduces 

9 the amount in the corpus of the estate of the child that 

10 the Secretary considers, under all the circumstances, 

11 would be reasonable to be consumed for the child’s mainte12 nance. 

13 ‘‘(C)(i) The look-back date described in this clause 

14 is a date that is 36 months before the date described in 

15 clause (ii). 

16 ‘‘(ii) The date described in this clause is the date on 

17 which the surviving spouse applies for payment of in18 creased pension under subsection (c), (d), or (e) of section 

19 1541 of this title on account of a child or, if later, the 

20 date on which the surviving spouse (or the child) disposes 

21 of covered resources for less than fair market value. 

22 ‘‘(D) The date described in this subparagraph is the 

23 first day of the first month in or after which covered re24 sources were disposed of for less than fair market value 


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1 and which does not occur in any other period of ineligi2 bility under this paragraph. 

3 ‘‘(E) The number of months calculated under this 

4 clause shall be equal to— 

5 ‘‘(i) the total, cumulative uncompensated value 

6 of the portion of the covered resources so disposed 

7 of by the surviving spouse (or the child) on or after 

8 the look-back date described in subparagraph (C)(i) 

9 that the Secretary determines would reasonably have 

10 been consumed for the child’s maintenance; divided 

11 by 

12 ‘‘(ii) the maximum amount of increased month13 ly pension that is payable to a surviving spouse 

14 under subsection (c), (d), or (e) of section 1541 of 

15 this title on account of a child, 

16 rounded down, in the case of any fraction, to the nearest 

17 whole number, but shall not in any case exceed 36 

18 months.’’; 

19 (2) in subsection (b)— 

20 (A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The Sec21 retary’’; and 

22 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

23 paragraph: 

24 ‘‘(2)(A) If a child otherwise eligible for payment of 

25 pension under section 1542 of this title or any person with 


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1 whom such child is residing who is legally responsible for 

2 such child’s support disposes of covered resources for less 

3 than fair market value on or after the look-back date de4 scribed in subparagraph (C)(i), the Secretary shall deny 

5 or discontinue the payment of pension to such child under 

6 section 1542 of this title for months during the period be7 ginning on the date described in subparagraph (D) and 

8 equal to the number of months calculated as provided in 

9 subparagraph (E). 

10 ‘‘(B)(i) For purposes of this paragraph, a covered re11 source is any resource that was a part of the corpus of 

12 the estate of the child or the corpus of the estate of any 

13 person with whom such child is residing who is legally re14 sponsible for such child’s support that the Secretary con15 siders that under all the circumstances, if the child or per16 son had not disposed of such resource, it would be reason17 able that the resource (or some portion of the resource) 

18 be consumed for the child’s maintenance. 

19 ‘‘(ii) For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary 

20 may consider, in accordance with regulations the Sec21 retary shall prescribe, a transfer of an asset (including a 

22 transfer of an asset to an annuity, trust, or other financial 

23 instrument or investment) a disposal of a covered resource 

24 for less than fair market value if such transfer reduces 

25 the amount in the corpus of the estate described in clause 


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1 (i) that the Secretary considers, under all the cir2 cumstances, would be reasonable to be consumed for the 

3 child’s maintenance. 

4 ‘‘(C)(i) The look-back date described in this clause 

5 is a date that is 36 months before the date described in 

6 clause (ii). 

7 ‘‘(ii) The date described in this clause is the date on 

8 which the child applies for pension under section 1542 of 

9 this title or, if later, the date on which the child (or person 

10 described in subparagraph (B)) disposes of covered re11 sources for less than fair market value. 

12 ‘‘(D) The date described in this clause is the first 

13 day of the first month in or after which covered resources 

14 were disposed of for less than fair market value and which 

15 does not occur in any other period of ineligibility under 

16 this paragraph. 

17 ‘‘(E) The number of months calculated under this 

18 clause shall be equal to— 

19 ‘‘(i) the total, cumulative uncompensated value 

20 of the portion of the covered resources so disposed 

21 of by the child (or person described in subparagraph 

22 (B)) on or after the look-back date described in sub23 paragraph (C)(i) that the Secretary determines 

24 would reasonably have been consumed for the child’s 

25 maintenance; divided by 


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1 ‘‘(ii) the maximum amount of monthly pension 

2 that is payable to a child under section 1542 of this 

3 title, 

4 rounded down, in the case of any fraction, to the nearest 

5 whole number, but shall not in any case exceed 36 

6 months.’’; and 

7 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub8 section: 

9 ‘‘(c)(1)(A) The Secretary shall not deny or dis10 continue payment of pension under section 1541 or 1542 

11 of this title or payment of increased pension under sub12 section (c), (d), or (e) of section 1541 of this title on ac13 count of a child by reason of the application of subsection 

14 (a)(2), (a)(4), or (b)(2) of this section to the disposal of 

15 resources by an individual— 

16 ‘‘(i) if— 

17 ‘‘(I) a satisfactory showing is made to the 

18 Secretary (in accordance with regulations pro19 mulgated by the Secretary) that all resources 

20 disposed of for less than fair market value have 

21 been returned to the individual who disposed of 

22 the resources; or 

23 ‘‘(II) the Secretary determines, under pro24 cedures established by the Secretary in accord25 ance with subparagraph (B), that the denial or 


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1 discontinuance of payment would work an 

2 undue hardship; or 

3 ‘‘(ii) to the extent that any portion of the re4 sources disposed of for less than fair market value 

5 have been returned to the individual who disposed of 

6 the resources. 

7 ‘‘(B) Undue hardship would be worked by the denial 

8 or discontinuance of payment for purposes of subpara9 graph (A)(i)(II) if the denial or discontinuance of payment 

10 would deprive the individual during the period of denial 

11 or discontinuance— 

12 ‘‘(i) of medical care such that the individual’s 

13 life or health would be endangered; 

14 ‘‘(ii) of necessary food or clothing, or other ne15 cessities of life; or 

16 ‘‘(iii) on such other basis as the Secretary shall 

17 specify in the procedures required by subparagraph 

18 (A)(i)(II). 

19 ‘‘(C) If payment of pension or increased pension that 

20 would otherwise be denied or discontinued by reason of 

21 the application of subsection (a)(2), (a)(4), or (b)(2) is 

22 denied or discontinued only in part by reason of the return 

23 of resources as described in subparagraph (A)(ii), the pe24 riod of the denial or discontinuance as determined pursu25 ant to subparagraph (E) of subsection (a)(2), (a)(4), or 


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1 (b)(2), as applicable, shall be recalculated to take into ac2 count such return of resources. 

3 ‘‘(2) At the time a surviving spouse or child applies 

4 for pension under section 1541 or 1542 of this title or 

5 increased pension under subsection (c), (d), or (e) of sec6 tion 1541 of this title on account of a child, and at such 

7 other times as the Secretary considers appropriate, the 

8 Secretary shall— 

9 ‘‘(A) inform such surviving spouse or child of 

10 the provisions of subsections (a)(2), (a)(4), and 

11 (b)(2), as applicable, providing for a period of ineli12 gibility for payment of pension or increased pension 

13 under such sections for individuals who make certain 

14 dispositions of resources for less than fair market 

15 value, including the exception for hardship from 

16 such period of ineligibility; 

17 ‘‘(B) obtain from such surviving spouse or child 

18 information which may be used in determining 

19 whether or not a period of ineligibility for such pay20 ments would be required by reason of such sub21 sections; and 

22 ‘‘(C) provide such surviving spouse or child a 

23 timely process for determining whether or not the 

24 exception for hardship shall apply to such surviving 

25 spouse or child.’’. 


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1 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsections (a)(2), (b)(2), 

2 and (c) of section 1522 of title 38, United States Code, 

3 as added by subsection (a), and subsections (a)(2), (a)(4), 

4 (b)(2), and (c) of section 1543 of such title, as added by 

5 subsection (b), shall take effect on the date that is one 

6 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall 

7 apply with respect to payments of pension and increased 

8 pension applied for after such date and to payments of 

9 pension and increased pension for which eligibility is rede10 termined after such date, except that no reduction in pen11 sion shall be made under such subsections because of any 

12 disposal of covered resources made before such date. 

13 (d) ANNUAL REPORTS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 months 

15 after the date of the enactment of this Act and not 

16 less frequently than once each year thereafter 

17 through 2018, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

18 shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con19 gress a report on the administration of subsections 

20 (a)(2), (b)(2), and (c) of section 1522 of title 38, 

21 United States Code, as added by subsection (a), and 

22 subsections (a)(2), (a)(4), (b)(2), and (c) of section 

23 1543 of such title, as added by subsection (b), dur24 ing the most recent 12-month period. 


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1 (2) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted under 

2 paragraph (1) shall include the following, for the pe3 riod covered by the report: 

4 (A) The number of individuals who applied 

5 for pension under chapter 15 of such title. 

6 (B) The number of individuals who re7 ceived pension under such chapter. 

8 (C) The number of individuals with respect 

9 to whom the Secretary denied or discontinued 

10 payment of pension under the subsections re11 ferred to in paragraph (1). 

12 (D) A description of any trends identified 

13 by the Secretary regarding pension payments 

14 that have occurred as a result of the amend15 ments made by this section. 

16 (E) Such other information as the Sec17 retary considers appropriate. 

18 (3) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS

19 DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appro20 priate committees of Congress’’ means— 

21 (A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

22 and the Select Committee on Aging of the Sen23 ate; and 

24 (B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

25 the House of Representatives. 


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1 SEC. 803. EXTENSION OF REDUCED PENSION FOR CERTAIN 

2 VETERANS COVERED BY MEDICAID PLANS 

3 FOR SERVICES FURNISHED BY NURSING FA4 CILITIES. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (d)(7) of section 5503 

6 is amended by striking ‘‘November 30, 2016’’ and insert7 ing ‘‘September 30, 2018’’. 

8 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

9 (1) SECTION HEADING.—The section heading of 

10 such section is amended to read as follows: ‘‘Re11 duced pension for certain hospitalized 

12 veterans and certain veterans receiving 

13 domiciliary, nursing home, or nursing fa14 cility care’’. 

15 (2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 

16 at the beginning of chapter 55 is amended by strik17 ing the item relating to section 5503 and inserting 

18 the following new item: 

‘‘5503. Reduced pension for certain hospitalized veterans and certain veterans 

receiving domiciliary, nursing home, or nursing facility care.’’. 

19 SEC. 804. CONDITIONS ON AWARD OF PER DIEM PAYMENTS 

20 BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR 

21 PROVISION OF HOUSING OR SERVICES TO 

22 HOMELESS VETERANS. 

23 (a) CONDITION.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 2012(c)(1) is 

2 amended by striking ‘‘unless the facilities’’ and all 

3 that follows through ‘‘may specify.’’ and inserting 

4 the following: ‘‘unless the Secretary certifies the fol5 lowing: 

6 ‘‘(A) That the building where the grant recipi7 ent or eligible entity provides housing or services for 

8 which the grant recipient or eligible entity would re9 ceive such payment is in compliance with the codes 

10 relevant to the operations and level of care provided, 

11 including applicable provisions of the most recently 

12 published version of the Life Safety Code of the Na13 tional Fire Protection Association or such other 

14 comparable fire and safety requirements as the Sec15 retary may specify. 

16 ‘‘(B) That such building and such housing or 

17 services are in compliance with licensing require18 ments, fire and safety requirements, and any other 

19 requirements in the jurisdiction in which the build20 ing is located regarding the condition of the building 

21 and the provision of such housing or services.’’. 

22 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 

23 by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to an ap24 plication for a per diem payment under section 2012 


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1 of title 38, United States Code, submitted on or 

2 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

3 (b) ANNUAL INSPECTIONS REQUIRED.—Section 

4 2012 is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting 

5 the following new subsection (b): 

6 ‘‘(b)(1) Not less frequently than once each fiscal year, 

7 the Secretary shall inspect each facility of each grant re8 cipient or entity eligible for payments under subsection (a) 

9 at which the recipients and entities provide services under 

10 section 2011 of this title or this section. 

11 ‘‘(2) Except as provided in paragraph (1), inspections 

12 made under such paragraph shall be made at such times 

13 as the Secretary considers necessary. 

14 ‘‘(3) An inspection of a facility of a recipient or entity 

15 described in paragraph (1) made under such paragraph 

16 may be made with or without prior notice to the recipient 

17 or entity, as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

18 ‘‘(4) No per diem payment may be provided to a 

19 grant recipient or eligible entity under this section unless 

20 the facilities of the grant recipient or eligible entity meet 

21 such standards as the Secretary shall prescribe.’’. 

22 (c) REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION AUTHORIZED.— 

23 Subsection (c) of such section is amended— 

24 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 

25 paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; 


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1 (2) in paragraph (1), as amended by subsection 

2 (a)(1), by striking ‘‘in paragraph (2)’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘in paragraph (4)’’; and 

4 (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol5 lowing new paragraph (2): 

6 ‘‘(2) The Secretary may revoke any certification 

7 made under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines 

8 that such certification is no longer accurate.’’. 

9 (d) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION OF TERMI10 NATION OF PER DIEM REQUIRED.—Such subsection is 

11 further amended by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol12 lowing new paragraph (3): 

13 ‘‘(3) Not later than 30 days after the date on which 

14 the Secretary terminates provision of per diem payment 

15 under this section to a grant recipient or an eligible entity, 

16 the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

17 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af18 fairs of the House of Representatives notice of such termi19 nation if such termination were made because a facility 

20 of the grant recipient or eligible entity did not comply 

21 with— 

22 ‘‘(A) an applicable provision of the most re23 cently published version of the Life Safety Code of 

24 the National Fire Protection Association or such 


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1 other comparable fire and safety requirement as the 

2 Secretary has specified; or 

3 ‘‘(B) a licensing requirement, fire or safety re4 quirement, or another requirement in the jurisdic5 tion in which the facility is located regarding the 

6 condition of the facility.’’. 

7 (e) TREATMENT OF CURRENT RECIPIENTS OF PER

8 DIEM PAYMENTS.— 

9 (1) ASSESSMENT.—In the case of the recipient 

10 of a per diem payment under section 2012 of title 

11 38, United States Code, that receives such a pay12 ment during the year in which this Act is enacted 

13 for the provision of housing or services, the Sec14 retary of Veterans Affairs shall assess whether the 

15 building where such housing or services are provided 

16 is and whether the housing and services are in com17 pliance as required by section 2012(c)(1) of such 

18 title, as amended by subsection (a)(1). 

19 (2) FAILURE TO COMPLY.—In the case de20 scribed in paragraph (1), if the Secretary does not 

21 certify the compliance of the building and the hous22 ing or services under such section before the date 

23 that is two years after the date of the enactment of 

24 this Act, the Secretary may not make any additional 

25 per diem payments to the recipient for the provision 


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1 of such housing or services under section 2012 of 

2 such title until the Secretary certifies that such 

3 building is and such housing or services are in com4 pliance. 

5 (f) CONFORMING CONDITION ON AWARD OF GRANTS

6 BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR COMPREHEN7 SIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS.—Section 2011(b)(5)(A) is 

8 amended by inserting ‘‘, including housing and building 

9 codes,’’. 

10 SEC. 805. EXCEPTION TO CERTAIN RECAPTURE REQUIRE11 MENTS AND TREATMENT OF CONTRACTS AND 

12 GRANTS WITH STATE HOMES WITH RESPECT 

13 TO CARE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. 

14 (a) EXCEPTION TO CERTAIN RECAPTURE REQUIRE15 MENTS.—Section 8136(b) is amended by inserting ‘‘, or 

16 the provision of services or conduct of a program pursuant 

17 to a contract or grant issued or awarded by the Secretary 

18 under subchapter II of chapter 20 or section 2031(a)(2) 

19 of this title,’’ after ‘‘outpatient clinic’’. 

20 (b) CONSTRUCTION.—The amendment made by sub21 section (a) may not be construed to authorize the Sec22 retary of Veterans Affairs to enter into a contract with 

23 a State home or award a grant to a State home for the 

24 furnishing of residential care for a veteran without— 


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1 (1) identifying a substantial need for such care; 

2 and 

3 (2) determining that the State home is the 

4 most appropriate provider of such care. 

5 SEC. 806. EXTENDED PERIOD FOR SCHEDULING OF MED6 ICAL EXAMS FOR VETERANS RECEIVING TEM7 PORARY DISABILITY RATINGS FOR SEVERE 

8 MENTAL DISORDERS. 

9 Section 1156(a)(3) is amended by striking ‘‘six 

10 months’’ and inserting ‘‘18 months’’. 

11 SEC. 807. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE VETERANS ID CARDS. 

12 (a) AUTHORITY.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

14 Affairs may issue a card to a veteran that identifies 

15 the veteran as a veteran and includes a photo of the 

16 veteran and the name of the veteran. 

17 (2) NO REQUIREMENT FOR ENROLLMENT OR

18 RECEIPT OF BENEFITS.—The Secretary may issue a 

19 card under paragraph (1) to a veteran, whether or 

20 not such veteran is— 

21 (A) enrolled in the system of annual pa22 tient enrollment established under section 

23 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; or 


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1 (B) in receipt of educational assistance, 

2 compensation, or pension under laws adminis3 tered by the Secretary. 

4 (3) DESIGNATION.—A card issued under para5 graph (1) may be known as a ‘‘Veterans ID Card’’. 

6 (b) RECOGNITION OF VETERANS ID CARDS FOR RE7 DUCED PRICING OF PHARMACEUTICALS, CONSUMER

8 PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES.—The Secretary may work 

9 with national retail chains that offer reduced prices on 

10 pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and services to vet11 erans to ensure that such retail chains recognize cards 

12 issued under subsection (a)(1) for purposes of offering re13 duced prices on pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and 

14 services. 

15 (c) VETERAN DEFINED.—In this section, the term 

16 ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning given the term in section 101 

17 of title 38, United States Code. 

18 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

19 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact20 ment of this Act. 

21 SEC. 808. HONORING AS VETERANS CERTAIN PERSONS 

22 WHO PERFORMED SERVICE IN THE RESERVE 

23 COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 

24 Any person who is entitled under chapter 1223 of 

25 title 10, United States Code, to retired pay for nonregular 


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1 service or, but for age, would be entitled under such chap2 ter to retired pay for nonregular service shall be honored 

3 as a veteran but shall not be entitled to any benefit by 

4 reason of this honor. 

5 SEC. 809. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF 

6 VETERANS AFFAIRS TO OBTAIN INFORMA7 TION FROM SECRETARY OF TREASURY AND 

8 COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY FOR 

9 INCOME VERIFICATION PURPOSES. 

10 Section 5317(g) is amended by striking ‘‘September 

11 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2018’’. 

12 SEC. 810. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF 

13 VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ISSUE AND GUAR14 ANTEE CERTAIN LOANS. 

15 Section 3729(b)(2) is amended— 

16 (1) in subparagraph (A)— 

17 (A) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘October 1, 

18 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘May 1, 2018’’; and 

19 (B) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘October 1, 

20 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘May 1, 2018’’; 

21 (2) in subparagraph (B)— 

22 (A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘October 1, 

23 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘May 1, 2018’’; and 

24 (B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘October 1, 

25 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘May 1, 2018’’; 


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1 (3) in subparagraph (C)— 

2 (A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘October 1, 

3 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘May 1, 2018’’; and 

4 (B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘October 1, 

5 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘May 1, 2018’’; and 

6 (4) in subparagraph (D)— 

7 (A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘October 1, 

8 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘May 1, 2018’’; and 

9 (B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘October 1, 

10 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘May 1, 2018’’. 

11 SEC. 811. REVIEW OF DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN SERV12 ICE IN PHILIPPINES DURING WORLD WAR II. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Af14 fairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and 

15 such military historians as the Secretary of Defense rec16 ommends, shall review the process used to determine 

17 whether a covered individual served in support of the 

18 Armed Forces of the United States during World War II 

19 in accordance with section 1002(d) of title X of Division 

20 A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 

21 2009 (Public Law 111–5; 38 U.S.C. 107 note) for pur22 poses of determining whether such covered individual is 

23 eligible for payments described in such section. 

24 (b) COVERED INDIVIDUALS.—In this section, a cov25 ered individual is any individual who timely submitted a 


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1 claim for benefits under subsection (c) of section 1002 of 

2 title X of Division A of the American Recovery and Rein3 vestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–5; 38 U.S.C. 107 

4 note) based on service as described in subsection (d) of 

5 that section. 

6 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

7 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 

8 Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

9 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

10 the House of Representatives a report detailing any find11 ings, actions taken, or recommendations for legislative ac12 tion with respect to the review conducted under subsection 

13 (a). 

14 (d) PROHIBITION ON BENEFITS FOR DISQUALIFYING

15 CONDUCT UNDER NEW PROCESS PURSUANT TO RE16 VIEW.—If pursuant to the review conducted under sub17 section (a) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines 

18 to establish a new process for the making of payments 

19 as described in that subsection, the process shall include 

20 mechanisms to ensure that individuals are not treated as 

21 covered individuals for purposes of such payments if such 

22 individuals engaged in any disqualifying conduct during 

23 service described in that subsection, including collabora24 tion with the enemy or criminal conduct. 


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1 SEC. 812. REVIEW OF DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN SERV2 ICE OF MERCHANT MARINERS DURING 

3 WORLD WAR II. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Af5 fairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the 

6 Secretary of Homeland Security and such military histo7 rians as the Secretary of Defense recommends, shall re8 view the process used to determine whether an individual 

9 performed service under honorable conditions that satis10 fies the requirements of a coastwise merchant seaman who 

11 is recognized pursuant to section 401 of the GI Bill Im12 provement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–202; 38 U.S.C. 

13 106 note) as having performed active duty service . 

14 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 

16 Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

17 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

18 the House of Representatives a report detailing any find19 ings, actions taken, or recommendations for legislative ac20 tion with respect to the review conducted under subsection 

21 (a). 

22 SEC. 813. REPORT ON LAOTIAN MILITARY SUPPORT OF 

23 ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES 

24 DURING VIETNAM WAR. 

25 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 

26 effective date specified in subsection (c), the Secretary of 


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1 Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of De2 fense and such agencies and individuals as the Secretary 

3 of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate, shall submit to 

4 the appropriate committees of Congress a report on— 

5 (1) the extent to which Laotian military forces 

6 provided combat support to the Armed Forces of the 

7 United States between February 28, 1961, and May 

8 15, 1975; 

9 (2) whether the current classification by the Ci10 vilian/Military Service Review Board of the Depart11 ment of Defense of service by individuals of Hmong 

12 ethnicity is appropriate; and 

13 (3) any recommendations for legislative action. 

14 (b) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—In 

15 this section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con16 gress’’ means— 

17 (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the 

18 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

19 (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the 

20 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

21 Representatives. 

22 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

23 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact24 ment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 814. REPORT ON PRACTICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 

2 VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ADEQUATELY PRO3 VIDE SERVICES TO VETERANS WITH HEAR4 ING LOSS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 

6 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet7 erans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

8 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af9 fairs of the House of Representatives a report on the ac10 tions taken by the Secretary to implement the findings 

11 and recommendations included in the 2006 report by the 

12 Institute of Medicine of the National Academies entitled 

13 ‘‘Noise and Military Service: Implications for Hearing 

14 Loss and Tinnitus’’ that was prepared pursuant to section 

15 104 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002 (Public Law 

16 107–330; 116 Stat. 2822). 

17 (b) EFFECT OF DUTY MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL

18 SPECIALTY NOISE EXPOSURE LISTING ON RECEIPT OF

19 BENEFITS BY VETERANS.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall include 

21 in the report required by subsection (a) an evalua22 tion of the extent to which veterans who had a mili23 tary occupational specialty during service as a mem24 ber of the Armed Forces that is not included on the 

25 Duty Military Occupational Specialty Noise Expo26 sure Listing (in this subsection referred to as the 


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1 ‘‘MOS List’’) are precluded from receiving benefits 

2 related to hearing loss from the Department of Vet3 erans Affairs. 

4 (2) DATA.—The Secretary shall include in the 

5 evaluation required by paragraph (1) the following: 

6 (A) With respect to veterans who had a 

7 military occupational specialty included on the 

8 MOS List— 

9 (i) the number of claims for benefits 

10 related to hearing loss from the Depart11 ment of Veterans Affairs that were grant12 ed; and 

13 (ii) the number of claims for benefits 

14 related to hearing loss from the Depart15 ment that were denied. 

16 (B) With respect to veterans who had a 

17 military occupational specialty not included on 

18 the MOS List— 

19 (i) the number of claims for benefits 

20 related to hearing loss from the Depart21 ment that were granted; 

22 (ii) the number of claims for benefits 

23 related to hearing loss from the Depart24 ment that were denied; 


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1 (iii) of the number of denied claims 

2 under clause (ii), the number of those 

3 claims that were appealed; and 

4 (iv) of the number of appealed claims 

5 under clause (iii), the number of those ap6 pealed claims that were successfully ap7 pealed. 

8 (c) ADDITIONAL MATTERS.—The Secretary shall in9 clude in the report required by subsection (a) the fol10 lowing: 

11 (1) In the case of a veteran with unilateral 

12 hearing loss, an explanation of the scientific basis 

13 for the practice of the Department of determining a 

14 disability rating level with respect to hearing based 

15 on an examination of that veteran’s healthy ear in16 stead of the injured ear. 

17 (2) An analysis of the reduction in earning ca18 pacity for veterans as a result of unilateral hearing 

19 loss, with a focus on the ability of those veterans— 

20 (A) to detect the direction of sound; and 

21 (B) to understand speech. 

22 (3) An explanation of the rationale for the prac23 tice of the Department of not issuing a compensable 

24 rating for hearing loss at certain levels that are se25 vere enough to require the use of hearing aids. 


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1 (4) A survey of the audiologists that conduct 

2 compensation and pension examinations for the De3 partment to assess the implementation of the most 

4 recent edition of the best practices manual for hear5 ing loss and tinnitus examinations that includes the 

6 following: 

7 (A) A description of the training received 

8 by those audiologists compared to the methods 

9 described in the most recent edition of the best 

10 practices manual for hearing loss and tinnitus 

11 examinations. 

12 (B) An assessment of how those audiol13 ogists have complied with that training. 

14 (C) Whether those audiologists are using a 

15 range of tones up to 8000 hertz to test the 

16 hearing of veterans. 

17 (d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

18 construed to authorize or require the Secretary to defer, 

19 delay, or replace the ongoing efforts of the Secretary to 

20 update the schedule of ratings required by section 1155 

21 of title 38, United States Code. 

22 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

23 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact24 ment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 815. REPORT ON JOINT PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT 

2 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DEPARTMENT 

3 OF DEFENSE WITH RESPECT TO HEARING 

4 LOSS OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 

5 AND VETERANS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the 

7 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet8 erans Affairs shall, in consultation with the Secretary of 

9 Defense, submit to Congress a report that identifies the 

10 following: 

11 (1) Goals for the Department of Veterans Af12 fairs and the Department of Defense for the preven13 tion, early detection, and treatment of hearing loss 

14 by the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory 

15 Research of the Department of Veterans Affairs and 

16 the Hearing Center of Excellence of the Department 

17 of Defense. 

18 (2) Resources of the Department of Veterans 

19 Affairs that could be made available to assist the 

20 Department of Defense in conducting audiometric 

21 tests and tinnitus screenings for members of the 

22 Armed Forces. 

23 (3) Barriers to information being added to the 

24 Hearing Loss and Auditory System Injury Registry 

25 required under section 721(c)(1) of the Duncan 

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1 cal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 

2 4506). 

3 (4) Recommendations for any legislative or ad4 ministrative actions necessary with respect to the 

5 Hearing Loss and Auditory System Injury Reg6 istry— 

7 (A) to assist in achieving the goals speci8 fied in paragraph (1); 

9 (B) to improve the adjudication of claims 

10 for benefits with respect to hearing loss; and 

11 (C) to further the research objectives of 

12 the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory 

13 Research of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

14 and the Hearing Center of Excellence of the 

15 Department of Defense. 

16 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

17 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact18 ment of this Act. 

19 SEC. 816. LIMITATION ON AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF BO20 NUSES PAYABLE TO PERSONNEL OF THE DE21 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DURING 

22 FISCAL YEAR 2014. 

23 The aggregate amount of bonuses and awards pay24 able to personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

25 under chapter 45 or 53 of title 5, United States Code, 


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1 or any other provision of such title, during fiscal year 

2 2014 may not exceed $368,000,000. 


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Calendar No. 297 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 1950 

A BILL 

To improve the provision of medical services and 

benefits to veterans, and for other purposes. 

JANUARY 27, 2014 

Read the second time and placed on the calendar 


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