II 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5985 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 

Received 

AN ACT 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain 

expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary 

of Veterans Affairs, 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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

3 ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act 

4 of 2016’’. 

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

6 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

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

Sec. 3. Scoring of budgetary effects. 

TITLE I—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH 

CARE 

Sec. 101. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for hospital care 

and nursing home care. 

Sec. 102. Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities. 

Sec. 103. Extension of authorization of appropriations for assistance and support services for caregivers. 

Sec. 104. Extension of authority for recovery from third parties of cost of care 

and services furnished to veterans with health-plan contracts 

for non-service-connected disability. 

Sec. 105. Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for child care 

for certain veterans receiving health care. 

Sec. 106. Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans. 

Sec. 107. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service. 

Sec. 108. Extension of deadline for report on pilot program on use of community-based organizations and local and State government entities to ensure that veterans receive care and benefits for which 

they are eligible. 

TITLE II—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS 

Sec. 201. Extension of authority for the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education. 

Sec. 202. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real property at 

time of foreclosure. 

Sec. 203. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans. 

Sec. 204. Extension of authority to provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to members of the Armed Forces with severe injuries or 

illnesses. 

TITLE III—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO 

HOMELESS VETERANS 

Sec. 301. Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration programs. 

Sec. 302. Extension of authority for homeless women veterans and homeless 

veterans with children reintegration program. 


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Sec. 303. Extension of authority for referral and counseling services for veterans at risk of homelessness transitioning from certain institutions. 

Sec. 304. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for homeless veterans. 

Sec. 305. Extension and modification of authority to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing. 

Sec. 306. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans with 

special needs. 

Sec. 307. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans. 

Sec. 308. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation services for 

seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans. 

TITLE IV—OTHER EXTENSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS OF 

AUTHORITY AND OTHER MATTERS 

Sec. 401. Extension of authority for transportation of individuals to and from 

Department facilities. 

Sec. 402. Extension of authority for operation of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines. 

Sec. 403. Extension of authority for monthly assistance allowances under the 

Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special 

Events. 

Sec. 404. Extension of requirement to provide reports to Congress regarding 

equitable relief in the case of administrative error. 

Sec. 405. Extension of authorization of appropriations for adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces. 

Sec. 406. Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. 

Sec. 407. Modification to authorization of appropriations for comprehensive 

service programs for homeless veterans. 

Sec. 408. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating. 

Sec. 409. Extension of authority for specially adapted housing assistive technology grant program. 

Sec. 410. Extension of authority to guarantee payment of principal and interest 

on certificates or other securities. 

Sec. 411. Extension of authority to enter into agreement with the National 

Academy of Sciences regarding associations between diseases 

and exposure to dioxin and other chemical compounds in herbicides. 

Sec. 412. Extension of authority for performance of medical disabilities examinations by contract physicians. 

Sec. 413. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers. 

Sec. 414. Extension of requirement for annual report on Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program Office. 

Sec. 415. Extension of authority to approve courses of education in cases of 

withdrawal of recognition of accrediting agency by Secretary of 

Education. 


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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. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

8 The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 

9 complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 

10 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 

11 titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 

12 Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 

13 by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro14 vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 

15 vote on passage. 

16 TITLE I—EXTENSIONS OF AU17 THORITY RELATING TO 

18 HEALTH CARE 

19 SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION OF 

20 COPAYMENTS FOR HOSPITAL CARE AND 

21 NURSING HOME CARE. 

22 Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ‘‘Sep23 tember 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE 

2 NURSING HOME CARE TO CERTAIN VET3 ERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABIL4 ITIES. 

5 Section 1710A(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 

6 31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

7 SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA8 TIONS FOR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERV9 ICES FOR CAREGIVERS. 

10 Section 1720G(e) is amended— 

11 (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’; 

12 (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at 

13 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

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

15 paragraph: 

16 ‘‘(4) $734,628,000 for fiscal year 2017.’’. 

17 SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY FROM 

18 THIRD PARTIES OF COST OF CARE AND SERV19 ICES FURNISHED TO VETERANS WITH 

20 HEALTH-PLAN CONTRACTS FOR NON-SERV21 ICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY. 

22 Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended, in the matter pre23 ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘October 1, 2016’’ and in24 serting ‘‘October 1, 2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM 

2 ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CER3 TAIN VETERANS RECEIVING HEALTH CARE. 

4 (a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (e) of 

5 section 205 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 

6 Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 

7 Stat. 1144; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking 

8 ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 

9 2017’’. 

10 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Sub11 section (h) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘and 

12 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2016, and 2017’’. 

13 SEC. 106. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO 

14 VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR 

15 TRANSPORTATION OF HIGHLY RURAL VET16 ERANS. 

17 Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omni18 bus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 

19 124 Stat. 1154; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by 

20 striking ‘‘2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

21 SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM 

22 ON COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR 

23 WOMEN VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM 

24 SERVICE. 

25 (a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (d) of section 203 of 

26 the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act 


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1 of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1143; 38 U.S.C. 

2 1712A) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ and 

3 inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

4 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Sub5 section (f) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘and 

6 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2016, and 2017’’. 

7 SEC. 108. EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR REPORT ON PILOT 

8 PROGRAM ON USE OF COMMUNITY-BASED 

9 ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL AND STATE 

10 GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO ENSURE THAT 

11 VETERANS RECEIVE CARE AND BENEFITS 

12 FOR WHICH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. 

13 Section 506(g)(1) of the Caregivers and Veterans 

14 Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111– 

15 163; 38 U.S.C. 523 note) is amended by striking ‘‘180 

16 days after the completion of the pilot program’’ and insert17 ing ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

18 TITLE II—EXTENSIONS OF AU19 THORITY RELATING TO BENE20 FITS 

21 SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE VETERANS’ 

22 ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. 

23 Section 3692(c) is amended by striking ‘‘December 

24 31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING 

2 NET VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AT TIME OF 

3 FORECLOSURE. 

4 Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ‘‘October 

5 1, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2017’’. 

6 SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VEND7 EE LOANS. 

8 Section 3733(a)(7) is amended— 

9 (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 

10 by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016’’ and inserting 

11 ‘‘September 30, 2017’’; and 

12 (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘Sep13 tember 30, 2016,’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 

14 2017,’’. 

15 SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REHA16 BILITATION AND VOCATIONAL BENEFITS TO 

17 MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH SE18 VERE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES. 

19 Section 1631(b)(2) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title 

20 XVI of Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 458; 10 U.S.C. 

21 1071 note) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ 

22 and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 


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1 TITLE III—EXTENSIONS OF AU2 THORITY RELATING TO 

3 HOMELESS VETERANS 

4 SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VET5 ERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS. 

6 Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking 

7 ‘‘2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

8 SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS 

9 WOMEN VETERANS AND HOMELESS VET10 ERANS WITH CHILDREN REINTEGRATION 

11 PROGRAM. 

12 Section 2021A(f)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘2016’’ 

13 and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

14 SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR REFERRAL AND 

15 COUNSELING SERVICES FOR VETERANS AT 

16 RISK OF HOMELESSNESS TRANSITIONING 

17 FROM CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS. 

18 Section 2023(d) is amended by striking ‘‘September 

19 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

20 SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUS21 ING ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. 

22 Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ‘‘September 

23 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 305. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY 

2 TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 

3 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-IN4 COME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT 

5 HOUSING. 

6 Subparagraph (E) of section 2044(e)(1) is amended 

7 to read as follows: 

8 ‘‘(E) $320,000,000 for each of fiscal years 

9 2015 through 2017.’’. 

10 SEC. 306. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PRO11 GRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPE12 CIAL NEEDS. 

13 Section 2061(d)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘2016’’ 

14 and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

15 SEC. 307. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY 

16 COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS. 

17 Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 

18 31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

19 SEC. 308. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TREATMENT AND 

20 REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR SERIOUSLY 

21 MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS. 

22 (a) GENERAL TREATMENT.—Section 2031(b) is 

23 amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016’’ and inserting 

24 ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 


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1 (b) ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT CERTAIN LOCA2 TIONS.—Section 2033(d) is amended by striking ‘‘Sep3 tember 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

4 TITLE IV—OTHER EXTENSIONS 

5 AND MODIFICATIONS OF AU6 THORITY AND OTHER MAT7 TERS 

8 SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TRANSPOR9 TATION OF INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM DE10 PARTMENT FACILITIES. 

11 Section 111A(a)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘Decem12 ber 31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

13 SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF 

14 THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

15 REGIONAL OFFICE IN MANILA, THE REPUB16 LIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. 

17 Section 315(b) is amended by striking ‘‘September 

18 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

19 SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR MONTHLY AS20 SISTANCE ALLOWANCES UNDER THE OFFICE 

21 OF NATIONAL VETERANS SPORTS PROGRAMS 

22 AND SPECIAL EVENTS. 

23 Section 322(d)(4) is amended by striking ‘‘2016’’ and 

24 inserting ‘‘2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE RE2 PORTS TO CONGRESS REGARDING EQUI3 TABLE RELIEF IN THE CASE OF ADMINISTRA4 TIVE ERROR. 

5 Section 503(c) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 

6 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

7 SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA8 TIONS FOR ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAMS 

9 FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF 

10 THE ARMED FORCES. 

11 Section 521A is amended— 

12 (1) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ‘‘2016’’ 

13 and inserting ‘‘2017’’; and 

14 (2) in subsection (l), by striking ‘‘2016’’ and in15 serting ‘‘2017’’. 

16 SEC. 406. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COM17 MITTEE ON MINORITY VETERANS. 

18 Section 544(e) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 

19 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

20 SEC. 407. MODIFICATION TO AUTHORIZATION OF APPRO21 PRIATIONS FOR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE 

22 PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. 

23 Section 2013(7) is amended by striking 

24 ‘‘$250,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$257,700,000’’. 


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1 SEC. 408. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY EX2 PANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY 

3 ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CER4 TAIN VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES CAUSING 

5 DIFFICULTY AMBULATING. 

6 Section 2101(a)(4) is amended— 

7 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Sep8 tember 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 

9 2017’’; and 

10 (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘2016’’ 

11 and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

12 SEC. 409. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SPECIALLY 

13 ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY 

14 GRANT PROGRAM. 

15 Section 2108(g) is amended by striking ‘‘September 

16 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

17 SEC. 410. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO GUARANTEE PAY18 MENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON CER19 TIFICATES OR OTHER SECURITIES. 

20 Section 3720(h)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘Decem21 ber 31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 411. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO 

2 AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL ACADEMY 

3 OF SCIENCES REGARDING ASSOCIATIONS BE4 TWEEN DISEASES AND EXPOSURE TO DIOXIN 

5 AND OTHER CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS IN HER6 BICIDES. 

7 Section 3(i) of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public 

8 Law 102–4; 38 U.S.C. 1116 note) is amended by striking 

9 ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 

10 2017’’. 

11 SEC. 412. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE 

12 OF MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS 

13 BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS. 

14 Subsection (c) of section 704 of the Veterans Benefits 

15 Act of 2003 (38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking 

16 ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 

17 2017’’. 

18 SEC. 413. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTI19 PLIERS. 

20 Section 406 of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

21 Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–175; 

22 38 U.S.C. 3684 note) is amended by striking ‘‘two-year’’ 

23 and inserting ‘‘three-year’’. 


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1 SEC. 414. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL RE2 PORT ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-DE3 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTER4 AGENCY PROGRAM OFFICE. 

5 Section 1635(h)(1) of the National Defense Author6 ization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 

7 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by striking ‘‘2016’’ and 

8 inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

9 SEC. 415. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO APPROVE 

10 COURSES OF EDUCATION IN CASES OF WITH11 DRAWAL OF RECOGNITION OF ACCREDITING 

12 AGENCY BY SECRETARY OF EDUCATION. 

13 Section 3679(a) of title 38, United States Code, is 

14 amended— 

15 (1) by striking ‘‘Any course’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 

16 Except as provided by paragraph (2), any course’’; 

17 and 

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

19 paragraph: 

20 ‘‘(2) In the case of a course of education that would 

21 be subject to disapproval under paragraph (1) solely for 

22 the reason that the Secretary of Education withdraws the 

23 recognition of the accrediting agency that accredited the 

24 course, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation 

25 with the Secretary of Education, and notwithstanding the 

26 withdrawal, may continue to treat the course as an apVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:24 Sep 15, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5985.RDS H5985

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1 proved course of education under this chapter for a period 

2 not to exceed 18 months from the date of the withdrawal 

3 of recognition of the accrediting agency, unless the Sec4 retary of Veterans Affairs or the appropriate State ap5 proving agency determines that there is evidence to sup6 port the disapproval of the course under this chapter. The 

7 Secretary shall provide to any veteran enrolled in such a 

8 course of education notice of the status of the course of 

9 education.’’. 

Passed the House of Representatives September 13, 

2016. 

Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, 

Clerk. 


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