H. R. 299 

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE FIRST SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen 

An Act 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the 

exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, 

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. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Blue Water Navy Vietnam 

Veterans Act of 2019’’. 

SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF PRESUMPTIONS OF EXPOSURE FOR VETERANS WHO SERVED IN VICINITY OF REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, 

is amended by inserting after section 1116 the following new section: 

‘‘§ 1116A. Presumptions of service connection for veterans 

who served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam 

‘‘(a) SERVICE CONNECTION.—For the purposes of section 1110 

of this title, and subject to section 1113 of this title, a disease 

covered by section 1116 of this title becoming manifest as specified 

in that section in a veteran who, during active military, naval, 

or air service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during 

the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 

7, 1975, shall be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated 

by such service, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence 

of such disease during the period of such service. 

‘‘(b) EXPOSURE.—A veteran who, during active military, naval, 

or air service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during 

the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 

7, 1975, shall be presumed to have been exposed during such 

service to an herbicide agent unless there is affirmative evidence 

to establish that the veteran was not exposed to any such agent 

during that service. 

‘‘(c) EFFECTIVE DATE OF AWARD.—(1) Except as provided by 

paragraph (2), the effective date of an award under this section 

shall be determined in accordance with section 5110 of this title. 

‘‘(2)(A) Notwithstanding subsection (g) of section 5110 of this 

title, the Secretary shall determine the effective date of an award 

based on a claim under this section for an individual described 

in subparagraph (B) by treating the date on which the individual 

filed the prior claim specified in clause (i) of such subparagraph 

as the date on which the individual filed the claim so awarded 

under this section. 
H. R. 299—2 

‘‘(B) An individual described in this subparagraph is a veteran, 

or a survivor of a veteran, who meets the following criteria: 

‘‘(i) The veteran or survivor submitted a claim for disability 

compensation on or after September 25, 1985, and before 

January 1, 2020, for a disease covered by this section, and 

the claim was denied by reason of the claim not establishing 

that the disease was incurred or aggravated by the service 

of the veteran. 

‘‘(ii) The veteran or survivor submits a claim for disability 

compensation on or after January 1, 2020, for the same condition covered by the prior claim under clause (i), and the claim 

is approved pursuant to this section. 

‘‘(d) DETERMINATION OF OFFSHORE.—Notwithstanding any other 

provision of law, for purposes of this section, the Secretary shall 

treat a location as being offshore of Vietnam if the location is 

not more than 12 nautical miles seaward of a line commencing 

on the southwestern demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam 

and Cambodia and intersecting the following points: 

‘‘Points Geographic Names Latitude 

North 

Longitude 

East 

At Hon Nhan Island, Tho Chu Archipelago Kien 

Giang Province 9°15.0′ 103°27.0′ 

At Hon Da Island southeast of Hon Khoai Island 

Minh Hai Province 8°22.8′ 104°52.4′ 

At Tai Lon Islet, Con Dao Islet in Con Dao-Vung 

Toa Special Sector 8°37.8′ 106°37.5′ 

At Bong Lai Islet, Con Dao Islet 8°38.9′ 106°40.3′ 

At Bay Canh Islet, Con Dao Islet 8°39.7′ 106°42.1′ 

At Hon Hai Islet (Phu Qui group of islands) Thuan 

Hai Province 9°58.0′ 109°5.0′ 

At Hon Doi Islet, Thuan Hai Province 12°39.0′ 109°28.0′ 

At Dai Lanh point, Phu Khanh Province 12°53.8′ 109°27.2′ 

At Ong Can Islet, Phu Khanh Province 13°54.0′ 109°21.0′ 

At Ly Son Islet, Nghia Binh Province 15°23.1′ 109° 9.0′ 

At Con Co Island, Binh Tri Thien Province 17°10.0′ 107°20.6′ 

‘‘(e) HERBICIDE AGENT.—In this section, the term ‘herbicide 

agent’ has the meaning given that term in section 1116(a)(3) of 

this title.’’. 
H. R. 299—3 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 

to section 1116 the following new item: 

‘‘1116A. Presumptions of service connection for veterans who served offshore of the 

Republic of Vietnam.’’. 

(c) IMPLEMENTATION.— 

(1) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, 

the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to implement section 1116A of title 38, United States Code, as added 

by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under 

such section. 

(2) UPDATES.—(A) Not later than 120 days after the date 

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

report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 

of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the 

Secretary— 

(i) to conduct outreach under subsection (d); and 

(ii) to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding 

claims for disability compensation under section 1116A 

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

(a) of this section. 

(B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on 

the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date 

on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section 

1116A, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate 

updates on the status of such regulations. 

(3) PENDING CASES.— 

(A) AUTHORITY TO STAY.—The Secretary may stay a 

claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on 

which the Secretary commences the implementation of such 

section 1116A. 

(B) CLAIMS DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this 

subparagraph is a claim for disability compensation— 

(i) relating to the service and diseases covered 

by such section 1116A; and 

(ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits 

Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on 

or after the date of the enactment of this Act and 

before the date on which the Secretary commences 

the implementation of such section 1116A. 

(d) OUTREACH.— 

(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

conduct outreach to inform veterans described in paragraph 

(2) of the ability to submit a claim for disability compensation 

under section 1116A of title 38, United States Code, as added 

by subsection (a). Such outreach shall include the following: 

(A) The Secretary shall publish on the website of the 

Department a notice that a veterans described in paragraph 

(2) may submit or resubmit a claim for disability compensation under such section 1116A. 

(B) The Secretary shall notify in writing the veteran 

service organization community of the ability of veterans 

described in paragraph (2) to submit or resubmit claims 

for disability compensation under such section 1116A. 
H. R. 299—4 

(2) VETERAN DESCRIBED.—A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who, during active military, naval, or air 

service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during the 

period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 

1975. 

(e) REPORTS.—Not later than January 1, 2021, and annually 

thereafter for 2 years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 

to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report regarding claims for disability compensation under section 1116A of title 38, United States Code, 

as added by subsection (a). Each report shall include, with respect 

to the calendar year preceding the report, disaggregated by the 

regional offices of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the following: 

(1) The number of claims filed under such section. 

(2) The number of such claims granted. 

(3) The number of such claims denied. 

(f) HEALTH CARE.—Section 1710(e)(4) of title 38, United States 

Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘(including offshore of such Republic 

as described in section 1116A(d) of this title)’’ after ‘‘served on 

active duty in the Republic of Vietnam’’. 

(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 

shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 

SEC. 3. PRESUMPTION OF HERBICIDE EXPOSURE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WHO SERVED IN KOREA. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, 

is amended by inserting after section 1116A, as added by section 

2, the following new section: 

‘‘§ 1116B. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in Korea 

‘‘(a) PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE-CONNECTION.—(1) For the purposes of section 1110 of this title, and subject to section 1113 

of this title, a disease specified in subsection (b) that becomes 

manifest as specified in that subsection in a veteran described 

in paragraph (2) shall be considered to have been incurred or 

aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or 

air service, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence 

of such disease during the period of such service. 

‘‘(2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who, 

during active military, naval, or air service, served in or near 

the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), during the period beginning 

on September 1, 1967, and ending on August 31, 1971. 

‘‘(b) DISEASES.—A disease specified in this subsection is— 

‘‘(1) a disease specified in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) 

of section 1116 of this title that becomes manifest as specified 

in that paragraph; or 

‘‘(2) any additional disease that— 

‘‘(A) the Secretary determines in regulations warrants 

a presumption of service-connection by reason of having 

positive association with exposure to an herbicide agent; 

and 

‘‘(B) becomes manifest within any period prescribed 

in such regulations. 

‘‘(c) HERBICIDE AGENT.—For purposes of this section, the term 

‘herbicide agent’ has the meaning given such term in section 1821(d) 

of this title.’’. 
H. R. 299—5 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 

to section 1116A, as added by section 2, the following new item: 

‘‘1116B. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in 

Korea.’’. 

(c) IMPLEMENTATION.— (1) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, 

the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to implement section 1116B of title 38, United States Code, as added 

by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under 

such section. 

(2) UPDATES.—(A) Not later than 120 days after the date 

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

report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 

of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the 

Secretary to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding 

claims for disability compensation under section 1116B of title 

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

section. 

(B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on 

the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date 

on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section 

1116B, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate 

updates on the status of such regulations. 

(3) PENDING CASES.— (A) AUTHORITY TO STAY.—The Secretary may stay a 

claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on 

which the Secretary commences the implementation of section 1116B of title 38, United States Code, as added by 

subsection (a). 

(B) CLAIMS DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this 

subparagraph is a claim for disability compensation— 

(i) relating to the service and diseases covered 

by such section 1116B; and 

(ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits 

Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on 

or after the date of the enactment of this Act and 

before the date on which the Secretary commences 

the implementation of such section 1116B. 

(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 

shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 

SEC. 4. BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN THAILAND SERVICE 

VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 18 of title 38, 

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

new section: 

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

‘‘(a) BENEFITS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may provide to any 

child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand who is suffering 

from spina bifida the health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance required to be paid to a child of 

a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida under subchapter I of this chapter as if such child of a veteran of covered 
H. R. 299—6 

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

suffering from spina bifida under such subchapter. 

‘‘(b) SPINA BIFIDA CONDITIONS COVERED.—This section applies 

with respect to all forms and manifestations of spina bifida, except 

spina bifida occulta. 

‘‘(c) VETERAN OF COVERED SERVICE IN THAILAND.—For purposes 

of this section, a veteran of covered service in Thailand is any 

individual, without regard to the characterization of that individual’s service, who— 

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

in Thailand, as determined by the Secretary in consultation 

with the Secretary of Defense, during the period beginning 

on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; and 

‘‘(2) is determined by the Secretary, in consultation with 

the Secretary of Defense, to have been exposed to a herbicide 

agent during such service in Thailand. 

‘‘(d) HERBICIDE AGENT.—For purposes of this section, the term 

‘herbicide agent’ means a chemical in a herbicide used in support 

of United States and allied military operations in Thailand, as 

determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary 

of Defense, during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and 

ending on May 7, 1975.’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO DEFINITION OF ‘‘CHILD’’.—Section 1831(1) of such title is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (B)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘subchapter III of this chapter’’ and 

inserting ‘‘section 1821 of this title’’; and 

(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘section 1821 of this title’’ 

and inserting ‘‘that section’’; and 

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

‘‘(C) For purposes of section 1822 of this title, an individual, regardless of age or marital status, who— 

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

service in Thailand (as determined for purposes of 

that section); and 

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

veteran first entered service described in subsection 

(c) of that section.’’. 

(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

(1) SUBCHAPTER HEADING.—The heading for subchapter III 

of chapter 18 of such title is amended by inserting ‘‘AND 

THAILAND’’ after ‘‘KOREA’’. 

(2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 18 of such title is amended— 

(A) by striking the item relating to subchapter III 

and inserting the following new item: 

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

BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA’’; 

and 

(B) by inserting after the item relating to section 1821 

the following new item: 

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

bifida.’’. 

(d) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
H. R. 299—7 

(1) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, 

the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to implement section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as added 

by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under 

such section. 

(2) UPDATES.—(A) Not later than 120 days after the date 

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

report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 

of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the 

Secretary to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding 

claims for disability compensation under section 1822 of title 

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

section. 

(B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on 

the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date 

on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section 

1822, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate 

updates on the status of such regulations. 

(3) PENDING CASES.— 

(A) AUTHORITY TO STAY.—The Secretary may stay a 

claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on 

which the Secretary commences the implementation of section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 

subsection (a). 

(B) CLAIMS DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this 

subparagraph is a claim for benefits— 

(i) relating to the spina bifida and service covered 

by such section 1822; and 

(ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits 

Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on 

or after the date of the enactment of this Act and 

before the date on which the Secretary commences 

the implementation of such section 1822. 

(e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the Committees 

on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate 

a report identifying— 

(1) the military installations of the United States located 

in Thailand during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, 

and ending on May 7, 1975, at which an herbicide agent (as 

defined in section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as 

added by subsection (a)) was actively used; and 

(2) the period of such use. 

(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 

shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 

SEC. 5. UPDATED REPORT ON CERTAIN GULF WAR ILLNESS STUDY. 

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 

Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 

and the Senate an updated report on the findings, as of the date 

of the updated report, of the Follow-up Study of a National Cohort 

of Gulf War and Gulf Era Veterans under the epidemiology program 

of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
H. R. 299—8 

SEC. 6. LOANS GUARANTEED UNDER HOME LOAN PROGRAM OF 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

(a) ADJUSTMENT OF LOAN LIMIT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3703(a)(1) of title 38, United 

States Code, is amended— 

(A) in subparagraph (A)— 

(i) in clause (i)(IV), by striking ‘‘the lesser of the 

maximum guaranty amount (as defined in subparagraph (C)) or’’; and 

(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘subparagraph (B) 

of this paragraph’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (B) 

or (C)’’; 

(B) in subparagraph (B)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘The maximum’’ and inserting ‘‘With 

respect to loans described in subclauses (I), (II), or 

(III) of subparagraph (A)(i), the maximum’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘or in the case’’ and all that follows 

through ‘‘subparagraph (C)),’’; and 

(C) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 

following new subparagraph (C): 

‘‘(C)(i) With respect to loans described in subclause (IV) of 

subparagraph (A)(i) made to a veteran not covered by clause (ii), 

the maximum amount of guaranty entitlement available to the 

veteran shall be 25 percent of the loan. 

‘‘(ii) With respect to loans described in subclause (IV) of 

subparagraph (A)(i) made to a covered veteran, the maximum 

amount of guaranty entitlement available to the veteran shall be 

25 percent of the Freddie Mac conforming loan limit, reduced by 

the amount of entitlement previously used by the veteran under 

this chapter and not restored as a result of the exclusion in section 

3702(b) of this title. 

‘‘(iii) In this subparagraph: 

‘‘(I) The term ‘covered veteran’ means a veteran who has 

previously used entitlement under this chapter and for whom 

the full amount of entitlement so used has not been restored 

as a result of the exclusion in section 3702(b) of this title. 

‘‘(II) The term ‘Freddie Mac conforming loan limit’ means 

the limit determined under section 305(a)(2) of the Federal 

Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2)) 

for a single-family residence, as adjusted for the year involved.’’. 

(2) LOANS TO NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS.—Section 3762(c) 

of such title is amended— 

(A) by striking paragraph (1); and 

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively. 

(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3710(d)(4) of such 

title is amended by striking ‘‘section 3703(a)(1)(B) of this title’’ 

and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 3703(a)(1) 

of this title’’. 

(b) ADJUSTMENT OF LOAN FEES.—Section 3729(b)(2) of title 

38, United States Code, is amended by striking the loan fee table 

and inserting the following: 
H. R. 299—9 

‘‘Type of loan 

Active 

duty 

veteran 

Reservist Other 

obligor 

(A)(i) Initial loan described in section 

3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) 

other than with 5-down or 10-down 

(closed on or after October 1, 2004, and 

before January 1, 2020) 

2.15 2.40 NA 

(A)(ii) Initial loan described in section 

3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) 

other than with 5-down or 10-down 

(closed on or after January 1, 2020, 

and before January 1, 2022) 

2.30 2.30 NA 

(A)(iii) Initial loan described in section 

3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) 

other than with 5-down or 10-down 

(closed on or after January 1, 2022, 

and before October 1, 2029) 

2.15 2.15 NA 

(A)(iv) Initial loan described in section 

3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) 

other than with 5-down or 10-down 

(closed on or after October 1, 2029) 

1.40 1.40 NA 

(B)(i) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other 

subsequent loan described in section 

3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 

2004, and before January 1, 2020) 

3.30 3.30 NA 

(B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other 

subsequent loan described in section 

3710(a) (closed on or after January 1, 

2020, and before January 1, 2022) 

3.60 3.60 NA 

(B)(iii) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other 

subsequent loan described in section 

3710(a) (closed on or after January 1, 

2022, and before October 1, 2029) 

3.30 3.30 NA 

(B)(iv) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other 

subsequent loan described in section 

3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 

2029) 

1.25 1.25 NA 
H. R. 299—10 

‘‘Type of loan 

Active 

duty 

veteran 

Reservist Other 

obligor 

(C)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to 

purchase or construct a dwelling with 

5-down (closed before January 1, 2020) 

1.50 1.75 NA 

(C)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 5-down (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 

2022) 

1.65 1.65 NA 

(C)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 5-down (closed on or after January 1, 2022, and before October 1, 

2029) 

1.50 1.50 NA 

(C)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 5-down (closed on or after October 

1, 2029) 

0.75 0.75 NA 

(D)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to 

purchase or construct a dwelling with 

10-down (closed before January 1, 

2020) 

1.25 1.50 NA 

(D)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 10-down (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 

2022) 

1.40 1.40 NA 

(D)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 10-down (closed on or after January 1, 2022, and before October 1, 

2029) 

1.25 1.25 NA 

(D)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2029) 

0.50 0.50 NA 

(E) Interest rate reduction refinancing 

loan 

0.50 0.50 NA 

(F) Direct loan under section 3711 1.00 1.00 NA 

(G) Manufactured home loan under section 3712 (other than an interest rate 

reduction refinancing loan) 

1.00 1.00 NA 

(H) Loan to Native American veteran 

under section 3762 (other than an interest rate reduction refinancing loan) 

1.25 1.25 NA 

(I) Loan assumption under section 3714 0.50 0.50 0.50 

(J) Loan under section 3733(a) 2.25 2.25 2.25’’. 

(c) WAIVER OF FEES FOR PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS.—Section 

3729(c)(1) of such title is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘or from a surviving spouse’’ and inserting 

‘‘, from a surviving spouse’’; and 
H. R. 299—11 

(2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: 

‘‘, or from a member of the Armed Forces who is serving 

on active duty and who provides, on or before the date of 

loan closing, evidence of having been awarded the Purple 

Heart’’. 

(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 

shall apply with respect to a loan guaranteed under section 3710 

of title 38, United States Code, on or after January 1, 2020. 

(e) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of title 38, United 

States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance 

to implement this section before prescribing new regulations under 

sections 3703, 3729, and 3762 of such title, as amended by this 

section. 

SEC. 7. INFORMATION GATHERING FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS HOME LOAN APPRAISALS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3731(b) of title 38, United States 

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 

‘‘(3) The Secretary shall permit an appraiser on a list developed 

and maintained under subsection (a)(3) to make an appraisal for 

the purposes of this chapter based solely on information gathered 

by a person with whom the appraiser has entered into an agreement 

for such services.’’. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 

shall apply with respect to an appraisal under section 3731 of 

such title, on or after January 1, 2020. 

(c) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to implement 

this section before prescribing new regulations under sections 3731 

of such title, as amended by subsection (a). 

SEC. 8. DETERMINATION 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. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.