H. R. 5985 

One Hundred Fourteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, 

the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen 

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. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2016’’. 

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

is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

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

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 communitybased 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. 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. 
H. R. 5985—2 

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. 

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

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act 

an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment 

to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall 

be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 

38, United States Code. 

SEC. 3. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

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

with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined 

by reference to the latest statement titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of 

PAYGO Legislation’’ for this Act, submitted for printing in the 

Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior 

to the vote on passage. 

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. 

Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 

2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 
H. R. 5985—3 

SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME 

CARE TO CERTAIN VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED 

DISABILITIES. 

Section 1710A(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 

ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS. 

Section 1720G(e) is amended— 

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

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

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

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

SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY FROM THIRD 

PARTIES OF COST OF CARE AND SERVICES FURNISHED 

TO VETERANS WITH HEALTH-PLAN CONTRACTS FOR NONSERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY. 

Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended, in the matter preceding 

clause (i), by striking ‘‘October 1, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘October 

1, 2017’’. 

SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS 

RECEIVING HEALTH CARE. 

(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (e) of section 205 

of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 

2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1144; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) 

is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ and inserting 

‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Subsection (h) of such 

section is amended by striking ‘‘and 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2016, 

and 2017’’. 

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

SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF 

HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS. 

Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 

Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1154; 38 

U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking ‘‘2016’’ and inserting 

‘‘2017’’. 

SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VETERANS 

NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE. 

(a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (d) of section 203 of the Caregivers 

and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 

111–163; 124 Stat. 1143; 38 U.S.C. 1712A) is amended by striking 

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

(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Subsection (f) of such 

section is amended by striking ‘‘and 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2016, 

and 2017’’. 
H. R. 5985—4 

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. 

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

Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 38 U.S.C. 523 

note) is amended by striking ‘‘180 days after the completion of 

the pilot program’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

TITLE II—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY 

RELATING TO BENEFITS 

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

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. 

Section 3692(c) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING NET VALUE 

OF REAL PROPERTY AT TIME OF FORECLOSURE. 

Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2017’’. 

SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS. 

Section 3733(a)(7) is amended— 

(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 

‘‘September 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’; and 

(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016,’’ 

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

SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REHABILITATION 

AND VOCATIONAL BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 

FORCES WITH SEVERE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES. 

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

Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 458; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended 

by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

TITLE III—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY 

RELATING TO HOMELESS VETERANS 

SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS. 

Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking ‘‘2016’’ and 

inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS AND HOMELESS VETERANS WITH CHILDREN REINTEGRATION PROGRAM. 

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

‘‘2017’’. 
H. R. 5985—5 

SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR REFERRAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS. 

Section 2023(d) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. 

Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

SEC. 305. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR 

VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT 

HOUSING. 

Subparagraph (E) of section 2044(e)(1) is amended to read 

as follows: 

‘‘(E) $320,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 

2017.’’. 

SEC. 306. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR 

HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. 

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

‘‘2017’’. 

SEC. 307. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

ON HOMELESS VETERANS. 

Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

SEC. 308. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TREATMENT AND 

REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY 

ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS. 

(a) GENERAL TREATMENT.—Section 2031(b) is amended by 

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

(b) ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS.—Section 

2033(d) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016’’ and inserting 

‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

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. 

Section 111A(a)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF THE 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE 

IN MANILA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. 

Section 315(b) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 
H. R. 5985—6 

SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR MONTHLY ASSISTANCE 

ALLOWANCES UNDER THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL VETERANS SPORTS PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. 

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

‘‘2017’’. 

SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE REPORTS TO 

CONGRESS REGARDING EQUITABLE RELIEF IN THE CASE 

OF ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR. 

Section 503(c) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 

ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR DISABLED VETERANS 

AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 

Section 521A is amended— 

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

‘‘2017’’; and 

(2) in subsection (l), by striking ‘‘2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

SEC. 406. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 

MINORITY VETERANS. 

Section 544(e) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

SEC. 407. MODIFICATION TO AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 

FOR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. 

Section 2013(7) is amended by striking ‘‘$250,000,000’’ and 

inserting ‘‘$257,700,000’’. 

SEC. 408. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY EXPANSION 

OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 

ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES 

CAUSING DIFFICULTY AMBULATING. 

Section 2101(a)(4) is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’; and 

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

‘‘2017’’. 

SEC. 409. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED 

HOUSING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM. 

Section 2108(g) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2017’’. 

SEC. 410. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO GUARANTEE PAYMENT OF 

PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON CERTIFICATES OR OTHER 

SECURITIES. 

Section 3720(h)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2016’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 
H. R. 5985—7 

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. 

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

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

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

SEC. 412. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL 

DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS. 

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

2003 (38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking ‘‘December 

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

SEC. 413. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS. 

Section 406 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring 

Authorities Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–175; 38 U.S.C. 3684 note) 

is amended by striking ‘‘two-year’’ and inserting ‘‘three-year’’. 

SEC. 414. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL REPORT ON 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS INTERAGENCY PROGRAM OFFICE. 

Section 1635(h)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act 

for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) 

is amended by striking ‘‘2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2017’’. 

SEC. 415. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO APPROVE COURSES OF EDUCATION IN CASES OF WITHDRAWAL OF RECOGNITION OF 

ACCREDITING AGENCY BY SECRETARY OF EDUCATION. 

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

(1) by striking ‘‘Any course’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) Except as 

provided by paragraph (2), any course’’; and 

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

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

to disapproval under paragraph (1) solely for the reason that the 

Secretary of Education withdraws the recognition of the accrediting 

agency that accredited the course, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 

in consultation with the Secretary of Education, and notwithstanding the withdrawal, may continue to treat the course as an 

approved course of education under this chapter for a period not 

to exceed 18 months from the date of the withdrawal of recognition 

of the accrediting agency, unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

or the appropriate State approving agency determines that there 

is evidence to support the disapproval of the course under this 

chapter. The Secretary shall provide to any veteran enrolled in 
H. R. 5985—8 

such a course of education notice of the status of the course of 

education.’’. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.