IB 

Union Calendar No. 124 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3504 

[Report No. 116–164] 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to 

the specially adapted housing program of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2019 

Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself, Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee, and Mr. LEVIN

of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

JULY 22, 2019 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 

on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 26, 2019] 


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A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to the specially adapted housing program 

of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 

purposes. 


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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. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ryan Kules Specially 

5 Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PRIORITY IN AWARD OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUS7 ING GRANTS TO SERIOUSLY ILL VETERANS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2101 of title 38, United 

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

10 new subsection: 

11 ‘‘(d) PRIORITY FOR SERIOUSLY ILL VETERANS.—(1) 

12 In providing assistance under this section, the Secretary 

13 shall give priority to seriously ill veterans. 

14 ‘‘(2) In this section, the term ‘seriously ill veteran’ 

15 shall have the meaning given such term by the Secretary.’’. 

16 (b) DEFINITION OF SERIOUSLY ILL VETERAN.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—By not later than 90 days 

18 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec19 retary of Veterans Affairs shall— 

20 (A) determine the meaning of the term ‘‘se21 riously ill veteran’’ for purposes of subsection (d) 

22 of section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, 

23 as added by subsection (a); and 


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1 (B) submit to the Committees on Veterans’ 

2 Affairs of the Senate and House of Representa3 tives the meaning of such term as so determined. 

4 (2) APPLICABILITY.—The definition of ‘‘seriously 

5 ill veteran’’ as determined under paragraph (1) shall 

6 apply for purposes of such subsection (d) beginning 

7 on the date that is 30 days after the date on which 

8 the Secretary submits to the Committees on Veterans’ 

9 Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives the 

10 definition of such term as so determined. 

11 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub12 section (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2020, and apply 

13 with respect to assistance provided on or after that date. 

14 SEC. 3. INCREASE IN AMOUNTS OF ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. 

15 (a) INCREASE OF NUMBER OF GRANTS PER VET16 ERAN.—Section 2102(d)(3) of such title is amended by 

17 striking ‘‘three’’ and inserting ‘‘six’’. 

18 (b) INCREASE IN NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS AUTHOR19 IZED TO BE APPROVED.—Section 2101(a)(4) of such title 

20 is amended by striking ‘‘30 applications’’ and inserting 

21 ‘‘120 applications’’. 

22 (c) INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE

23 FOR ADAPTATION TO VETERAN’S RESIDENCE.—Section 

24 2102(b)(2) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘$12,000’’ 

25 and inserting ‘‘$19,733’’. 


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1 (d) INCREASE IN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE

2 FOR ACQUISITION OF HOUSING WITH SPECIAL FEA3 TURES.—Section 2102(d)(1) of such title is amended by 

4 striking ‘‘$63,780’’ and inserting ‘‘$98,492’’. 

5 (e) INCREASE IN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE

6 FOR ADAPTATIONS TO VETERANS’ RESIDENCES.—Section 

7 2102(d)(2) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘$12,756’’ 

8 and inserting ‘‘$19,733’’. 

9 (f) EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICATION.—The amend10 ments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 

11 2020. The amendments made by subsections (c) and (d) 

12 shall apply with respect to individuals who have not re13 ceived the maximum amount of assistance under section 

14 2101 of title 38, United States Code, before such date. 

15 SEC. 4. PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF SPE16 CIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR 

17 CERTAIN VETERANS. 

18 Section 2102 of such title is amended by adding at 

19 the end the following new subsection: 

20 ‘‘(f)(1) Notwithstanding the aggregate amounts speci21 fied in subsection (d), a covered veteran may apply for and 

22 receive an additional amount of assistance under subsection 

23 (a) or (b) of section 2101 of this title in an amount that 

24 does not exceed half of the amount specified in subsection 

25 (d). 


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1 ‘‘(2) In this subsection, a covered veteran is a veteran 

2 who— 

3 ‘‘(A) is described in section 2101(a)(2) of this 

4 title; 

5 ‘‘(B) first receives assistance under this chapter 

6 on or after October 1, 2020; 

7 ‘‘(C) as of the date of the veteran’s application 

8 for assistance under paragraph (1), most recently re9 ceived assistance under this chapter more than ten 

10 years before such date; and 

11 ‘‘(D) lives in a home that the Secretary deter12 mines does not have adaptations that are reasonably 

13 necessary because of the veteran’s disability.’’. 

14 SEC. 5. IMPROVEMENT TO WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE PRO15 GRAM. 

16 (a) PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCE.—Subsection (a) of sec17 tion 3485 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

18 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Individuals’’ 

19 and inserting ‘‘In accordance with paragraph (4), in20 dividuals’’; 

21 (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) 

22 as paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively; and 

23 (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol24 lowing new paragraph: 


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1 ‘‘(4)(A) The Secretary shall carry out this section by 

2 providing to educational institutions an annual amount for 

3 the institution to use in paying work-study allowance under 

4 paragraph (1) to individuals enrolled at the institution. 

5 ‘‘(B) With respect to an educational institution that 

6 participated in the work-study program under this section 

7 during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the 

8 Secretary shall determine the annual amount to provide to 

9 the educational institution under subparagraph (A) as fol10 lows: 

11 ‘‘(i) For the academic year beginning August 1, 

12 2020, the amount shall be the total amount the Sec13 retary paid under this section to individuals enrolled 

14 at such educational institution during the academic 

15 year beginning August 1, 2018. 

16 ‘‘(ii) Except as provided by subparagraph 

17 (D)(ii), for each academic year beginning on or after 

18 August 1, 2021, the amount shall be the total amount 

19 the educational institution paid under this section for 

20 work-study allowance to individuals enrolled at such 

21 educational institution during the previous academic 

22 year in which individuals participated in the work23 study program. 

24 ‘‘(C) With respect to an educational institution that 

25 did not participate in the work-study program under this 


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1 section during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, 

2 the Secretary shall determine the annual amount to provide 

3 to the educational institution under subparagraph (A) as 

4 follows: 

5 ‘‘(i) For the first academic year in which the 

6 educational institution participates in the work-study 

7 program beginning on or after August 1, 2020, the 

8 amount shall be an amount the Secretary determines 

9 appropriate based on amounts provided to similar 

10 educational institutions pursuant to subparagraph 

11 (B). 

12 ‘‘(ii) Except as provided by subparagraph 

13 (D)(ii), for each academic year occurring after the 

14 academic year specified in clause (i), the amount 

15 shall be the total amount the educational institution 

16 paid under this section for work-study allowance to 

17 individuals enrolled at such educational institution 

18 during the previous academic year in which individ19 uals enrolled at such educational institution partici20 pated in the work-study program. 

21 ‘‘(D)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), if the Sec22 retary provides an annual amount to an educational insti23 tution under subparagraph (B) or (C) that is more than 

24 the total amount the educational institution pays to indi25 viduals under paragraph (1), the educational institution 


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1 shall return to the Secretary the unpaid amount and the 

2 Secretary shall transfer such amount into the general fund 

3 of the Treasury. 

4 ‘‘(ii) If the annual amount provided to an educational 

5 institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) is more, but less 

6 than 25 percent more, than the total amount the edu7 cational institution pays to individuals under paragraph 

8 (1), and the educational institution plans to participate in 

9 the work-study program under this section during the subse10 quent academic year, the educational institution may re11 tain the amount of the overpayment if the educational insti12 tution notifies the Secretary of the amount of the overpay13 ment and the intention of the educational institution to re14 tain such amount. Any amount retained by an educational 

15 institution under this clause may only be used by the edu16 cational institution to provide work-study allowance to in17 dividuals enrolled at the educational institution. 

18 ‘‘(iii) At any time an educational institution may re19 quest the Secretary to increase the annual amount that the 

20 Secretary provides the educational institution under sub21 paragraph (B) or (C). 

22 ‘‘(E) Pursuant to section 3690(c), section 3693, and 

23 other provisions of chapter 36 of this title, the Secretary 

24 shall ensure that educational institutions carry out the 


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1 work-study allowance program in compliance with this sec2 tion.’’. 

3 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (e)(1) of 

4 such section is amended by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(4)’’ and 

5 inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(5)’’. 

6 (c) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by this sec7 tion shall apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, 

8 as applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2020. 

9 SEC. 6. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR FRY SCHOLARSHIP 

10 TO CHILDREN AND SPOUSES OF CERTAIN DE11 CEASED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (b) of section 3311 of 

13 title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

14 (1) by redesignating paragraph (10) as para15 graph (12); and 

16 (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the fol17 lowing new paragraphs (10) and (11): 

18 ‘‘(10) An individual who is the child or spouse 

19 of a person who, on or after September 11, 2001, dies 

20 in line of duty while serving on duty other than ac21 tive duty as a member of the Armed Forces. 

22 ‘‘(11) An individual who is the child or spouse 

23 of a member of the Selected Reserve who dies on or 

24 after September 11, 2001— 


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1 ‘‘(A) from a service-connected disability; 

2 and 

3 ‘‘(B) not later than four years after the date 

4 of the last discharge or release of that member 

5 from active duty or active duty for training.’’. 

6 (b) APPLICABILITY DATE.—The amendments made by 

7 subsection (a) apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or 

8 term, as applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2020. 

9 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

10 (1) Subsection (f) of such section is amended by 

11 striking ‘‘paragraph (9)’’ each place it appears and 

12 inserting ‘‘paragraphs (9), (10), and (11)’’. 

13 (2) Section 3322 of such title is amended— 

14 (A) in subsection (e), by striking both ‘‘sec15 tions 3311(b)(9) and 3319’’ and inserting ‘‘sec16 tion 3319 and paragraph (9), (10), or (11) of 

17 section 3311 of this title’’; 

18 (B) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘section 

19 3311(b)(9)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (9), (10), 

20 or (11) of section 3311 of this title’’; and 

21 (C) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ‘‘either 

22 section 3311(b)(9) or chapter 35’’ and inserting 

23 ‘‘either chapter 35 or paragraph (9), (10), or 

24 (11) of section 3311’’. 


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1 SEC. 7. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREPARATORY COURSES 

2 AS PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION FOR PUR3 POSES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF4 FAIRS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PRO5 GRAMS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 33 of title 38, United 

7 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3315A 

8 the following new section: 

9 ‘‘§ 3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certifi10 cation, or national tests 

11 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An individual entitled to edu12 cational assistance under this chapter shall also be entitled 

13 to payment for a preparatory course for a licensing or cer14 tification test that is required or used to enter into, main15 tain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and 

16 identified vocation or profession. 

17 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—The amount of educational assistance 

18 payable under this chapter for a course described in sub19 section (a) is the lesser of— 

20 ‘‘(1) the fee charged for the course; or 

21 ‘‘(2) the amount of entitlement available to the 

22 individual under this chapter at the time of payment 

23 for the course under this section. 

24 ‘‘(c) CHARGE AGAINST ENTITLEMENT.—The number 

25 of months of entitlement charged an individual under this 

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1 rated based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the 

2 course relative to the rate for 1 month payable— 

3 ‘‘(1) for the academic year beginning on August 

4 1, 2020, $1,460; or 

5 ‘‘(2) for an academic year beginning on any sub6 sequent August 1, the amount for the previous aca7 demic year beginning on August 1 under this sub8 section, as increased by the percentage increase equal 

9 to the most recent percentage increase determined 

10 under section 3015(h).’’. 

11 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

12 the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after 

13 the item relating to section 3315A the following new item: 

‘‘3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or national tests.’’. 

14 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 3532(g) of 

15 title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

16 (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or a pre17 paratory course described in section 3315B(a) of this 

18 title’’ after ‘‘or national test providing an oppor19 tunity for course credit at institutions of higher 

20 learning described in section 3501(a)(5) of this title’’; 

21 and 

22 (2) in paragraphs (2) and (3), by inserting ‘‘or 

23 preparatory course’’ after ‘‘test’’ everywhere it ap24 pears. 


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1 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub2 section (a) shall apply with respect to months beginning 

3 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

4 SEC. 8. ADJUSTMENT OF LOAN FEES. 

5 Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is 

6 amended by striking the loan fee table and inserting the 

7 following: 

‘‘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 

October 1, 2027) 

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 October 1, 2027, 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 October 1, 2027) 

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 October 1, 2027, 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 


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‘‘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 

October 1, 2027) 

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 October 1, 2027, 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 

October 1, 2027) 

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 October 1, 2027, 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’’. 

1 SEC. 9. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

2 TO ASSIST BLIND VETERANS WHO HAVE NOT 

3 LOST USE OF A LEG IN ACQUIRING SPE4 CIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING. 

5 Section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, is amend6 ed— 

7 (1) in subsection (a)(2)(B)(ii)— 

8 (A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), 

9 by striking ‘‘due to—’’ and inserting ‘‘due to 


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1 blindness in both eyes, having central visual acu2 ity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the 

3 use of a standard correcting lens. For the pur4 poses of this clause, an eye with a limitation in 

5 the fields of vision such that the widest diameter 

6 of the visual field subtends an angle no greater 

7 than 20 degrees shall be considered as having a 

8 central visual acuity of 20/200 or less.’’; and 

9 (B) by striking subclauses (I) and (II); and 

10 (2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

11 (A) by striking subparagraph (A); and 

12 (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 

13 and (C) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respec14 tively. 

Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to amend title 

38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to 

the specially adapted housing program and educational 

assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 124 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3504 

[Report No. 116–164] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide 

fairs, and for other purposes. ing program of the Department of Veterans Affor improvements to the specially adapted housJULY 22, 2019 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 

dered to be printed of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and orVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:24 Jul 22, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\H3504.RH H3504

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