IIB 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 294 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 3, 2015 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

AN ACT 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts 

and agreements for the placement of veterans in nonDepartment medical foster homes for certain veterans 

who are unable to live independently. 

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

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

2 

HR 294 RFS 

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Long-Term Care Vet3 erans Choice Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONTRACT AU5 THORITY FOR PLACEMENT OF VETERANS IN 

6 NON-DEPARTMENT MEDICAL FOSTER HOMES. 

7 (a) AUTHORITY.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1720 of title 38, 

9 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

10 end the following new subsection: 

11 ‘‘(h)(1) During the 3-year period beginning on Octo12 ber 1, 2015, and subject to paragraph (2), at the request 

13 of a veteran for whom the Secretary is required to provide 

14 nursing home care under section 1710A of this title, the 

15 Secretary may place the veteran in a medical foster home 

16 that meets Department standards, at the expense of the 

17 United States, pursuant to a contract or agreement en18 tered into between the Secretary and the medical foster 

19 home for such purpose. A veteran who is placed in a med20 ical foster home under this subsection shall agree, as a 

21 condition of such placement, to accept home health serv22 ices furnished by the Secretary under section 1717 of this 

23 title. 

24 ‘‘(2) Not more than 900 veterans placed in a medical 

25 foster home, whether placed before or after the enactment 

26 of the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act, may have 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

3 

HR 294 RFS 

1 their care covered at the expense of the United States 

2 under subsection (a). 

3 ‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘medical foster 

4 home’ means a home designed to provide non-institutional, 

5 long-term, supportive care for veterans who are unable to 

6 live independently and prefer a family setting.’’. 

7 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (h) of title 

8 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), 

9 shall take effect on October 1, 2015. 

10 (b) LIMITATIONS ON AWARDS AND BONUSES.—Sec11 tion 705 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Account12 ability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 703 

13 note) is amended to read as follows: 

14 ‘‘SEC. 705. LIMITATION ON AWARDS AND BONUSES PAID TO 

15 EMPLOYEES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

16 AFFAIRS. 

17 ‘‘The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that 

18 the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses paid by the 

19 Secretary in a fiscal year under chapter 45 or 53 of title 

20 5, United States Code, or any other awards or bonuses 

21 authorized under such title or title 38, United States 

22 Code, does not exceed the following amounts: 

23 ‘‘(1) With respect to each of fiscal years 2015 

24 through 2018, $300,000,000. 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

4 

HR 294 RFS 

1 ‘‘(2) With respect to each of fiscal years 2019 

2 through 2024, $360,000,000.’’. 

Passed the House of Representatives March 2, 

2015. 

Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, 

Clerk. 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS