IIB 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5360 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 

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

AN ACT 

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

improvements in the laws 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 ‘‘Housing, Employment, and Living Programs for Vet4 erans Act of 2010’’ or the ‘‘HELP Veterans Act of 2010’’. 

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. Modification of standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary of 

Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 4. Authorities regarding housing loans guaranteed by the Department of 

Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 5. Reauthorization and improvement of Department of Veterans Affairs 

small business loan program. 

Sec. 6. Assistance for flight training. 

Sec. 7. Seven-year increase in amount of assistance for individuals pursuing apprenticeships or on-job training. 

Sec. 8. Extension of authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for 

purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 9. Expansion of work-study allowance to include certain outreach services 

conducted through congressional offices. 

Sec. 10. Temporary reduction of required amount of wages for on-the-job training programs. 

Sec. 11. Reauthorization of Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education. 

Sec. 12. Homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration grant program. 

Sec. 13. Technology review and grant program. 

Sec. 14. Child care; President’s Budget. 

Sec. 15. Increase in amount of reporting fee payable to educational institutions 

that enroll veterans receiving educational assistance. 

Sec. 16. Modification of advance payment of initial educational assistance or 

subsistence allowance. 

Sec. 17. Increase in amount of subsistence allowance payable to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation program. 

Sec. 18. Expansion of availability of employment assistance allowance for veterans using employment services. 

Sec. 19. Promoting jobs for veterans teaching in rural areas. 

Sec. 20. Promoting jobs for veterans through the establishment of an internship program. 

Sec. 21. Veterans entrepreneurial development summit. 

Sec. 22. Increase in the maximum amount of specially adapted housing assistance authorized to be provided by the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs. 

Sec. 23. Department of Veterans Affairs housing loans for construction of energy efficient dwellings. 


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Sec. 24. Pilot program on specially adapted housing assistance for veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member. 

Sec. 25. Compliance with Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010. 

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 a repeal of, a section or other 

5 provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to 

6 a section or other provision of title 38, United States 

7 Code. 

8 SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF STANDARD OF VISUAL ACUITY 

9 REQUIRED FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY 

10 ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROVIDED 

11 BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2101(b)(2)(A) is amend13 ed by striking ‘‘with 5/200’’ and all that follows through 

14 the period and inserting the following: ‘‘with central visual 

15 acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use 

16 of standard correcting lenses (for purposes of this sub17 paragraph, an eye which is accompanied by a limitation 

18 in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of 

19 the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 de20 grees shall be treated as having a central visual acuity of 

21 20/200 or less).’’. 

22 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

23 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to specially adapted 


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1 housing assistance provided on or after the date of the 

2 enactment of this Act. 

3 SEC. 4. AUTHORITIES REGARDING HOUSING LOANS GUAR4 ANTEED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

5 AFFAIRS. 

6 (a) COVENANTS AND LIENS IN RESPONSE TO DIS7 ASTER-RELIEF ASSISTANCE.—Paragraph (3) of section 

8 3703(d) is amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘(3)(A) Any real estate housing loan (other than for 

10 repairs, alterations, or improvements) shall be secured by 

11 a first lien on the realty. In determining whether a loan 

12 is so secured, the Secretary may either disregard or allow 

13 for subordination to a superior lien that— 

14 ‘‘(i) is created by a duly recorded covenant run15 ning with the realty in favor of— 

16 ‘‘(I) a public entity that provides assist17 ance in response to a major disaster as deter18 mined by the President under the Robert T. 

19 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist20 ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); or 

21 ‘‘(II) a private entity to secure an obliga22 tion to such entity for the homeowner’s share of 

23 the costs of the management, operation, or 

24 maintenance of property, services, or programs 

25 within and for the benefit of the development or 


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1 community in which the veteran’s realty is lo2 cated; and 

3 ‘‘(ii) the Secretary determines will not prejudice 

4 the interests of the veteran borrower and of the Gov5 ernment by the operation of such a covenant. 

6 ‘‘(B) In respect to a superior lien described by sub7 paragraph (A) that is created after June 6, 1969, the Sec8 retary’s determination must have been made prior to the 

9 recordation of the covenant.’’. 

10 (b) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO POOL LOANS.— 

11 Paragraph (2) of section 3720(h) is amended by striking 

12 ‘‘2011’’ and inserting ‘‘2016’’. 

13 SEC. 5. REAUTHORIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF DE14 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SMALL 

15 BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM. 

16 (a) REAUTHORIZATION.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 37 is amended by 

18 striking section 3751. 

19 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec20 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

21 by striking the item relating to section 3751. 

22 (b) EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SMALL BUSI23 NESS LOANS.—Chapter 37 is further amended— 

24 (1) in section 3741, by striking paragraph (2); 

25 and 


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1 (2) in section 3742(a)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘vet2 erans of the Vietnam era or’’. 

3 (c) REPEAL OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE DIRECT

4 LOANS.—Chapter 37, as amended by subsections (a) and 

5 (b), is further amended— 

6 (1) in section 3742— 

7 (A) in subsection (a)— 

8 (i) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘(A) 

9 loan guaranties, or (B) direct loans’’ and 

10 inserting ‘‘loan guaranties’’; and 

11 (ii) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking 

12 ‘‘and that at least 51 percent of a business 

13 concern must be owned by disabled vet14 erans in order for such concern to qualify 

15 for a direct loan’’; 

16 (B) in subsection (b)— 

17 (i) by striking paragraph (1) and re18 designating paragraphs (2) through (4) as 

19 paragraphs (1) through (3), respectively; 

20 and 

21 (ii) in paragraph (2), as so redesig22 nated, by striking ‘‘make or’’; 

23 (C) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘made 

24 or’’; 

25 (D) in subsection (d)— 


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1 (i) by striking paragraph (2); 

2 (ii) by striking ‘‘(1) Except as pro3 vided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, 

4 the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; and 

5 (iii) by striking ‘‘make or’’; and 

6 (E) in subsection (e)— 

7 (i) in paragraph (1)— 

8 (I) in the first sentence, by strik9 ing ‘‘or, if the loan was a direct loan 

10 made by the Secretary, may suspend 

11 such obligation’’; and 

12 (II) in the second sentence, by 

13 striking ‘‘or while such obligation is 

14 suspended’’; 

15 (ii) by striking ‘‘or suspend’’ each 

16 place it appears; 

17 (iii) by striking ‘‘or suspension’’ each 

18 place it appears; 

19 (iv) by striking ‘‘or suspends’’ each 

20 place it appears; and 

21 (v) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘or 

22 suspended’’ each place it appears; 

23 (2) in section 3743— 

24 (A) by striking ‘‘that is provided a direct 

25 loan under this subchapter, or’’; 


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1 (B) by striking the comma between ‘‘sub2 chapter’’ and ‘‘shall’’; 

3 (C) by striking ‘‘direct or’’; and 

4 (D) by striking ‘‘for the amount of such 

5 direct loan or, in the case of a guaranteed 

6 loan,’’; 

7 (3) in section 3745— 

8 (A) by striking ‘‘(a)’’; and 

9 (B) by striking subsection (b); 

10 (4) in section 3746, by striking ‘‘made or’’ both 

11 places it appears; and 

12 (5) in section 3750, by striking ‘‘made or’’. 

13 (d) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT.—Sec14 tion 3742, as amended by subsection (c), is further 

15 amended by adding at the end the following new sub16 section: 

17 ‘‘(f) The Secretary shall enter into a contract with 

18 an appropriate entity for the purpose of carrying out the 

19 program under this subchapter.’’. 

20 (e) FUNDING.—Section 3742(b), as amended by sub21 section (c), is further amended by adding at the end the 

22 following new paragraph: 

23 ‘‘(4) The Secretary may only guarantee a loan 

24 under this subchapter to the extent that a limitation 


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1 commitment to guarantee loans for a fiscal year has 

2 been provided in advance in an appropriations Act.’’. 

3 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3749 is amended to 

5 read as follows: 

6 ‘‘§ 3749. Authorization of appropriations 

7 ‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

8 this subchapter such sums as may be necessary.’’. 

9 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec10 tions at the beginning of chapter 37 is amended by 

11 striking the item relating to section 3749 and insert12 ing the following new item: 

‘‘3749. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 

13 (g) LOAN FEE.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 37 is further 

15 amended by inserting after section 3749 the fol16 lowing new section: 

17 ‘‘§ 3749A. Loan Fee 

18 ‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT OF FEE.—(1) The Secretary 

19 shall collect a fee from each veterans’ small business con20 cern obtaining a loan guaranteed under this subchapter. 

21 ‘‘(2) No loan may be guaranteed under this sub22 chapter until the fee payable under this section has been 

23 remitted to the Secretary. 

24 ‘‘(3) The fee may be included in the loan guaranteed 

25 under this subchapter and paid from the proceeds thereof. 


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1 ‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF FEE.—The amount of the 

2 fee shall be the full cost of the loan guarantee plus an 

3 additional amount determined by the Secretary as suffi4 cient to cover applicable administrative expenses.’’. 

5 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec6 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

7 by inserting after the item relating to section 3749 

8 the following new item: 

‘‘3749A. Loan fee.’’. 

9 (h) DEFINITIONS.—Section 3741 is amended by add10 ing at the end the following new paragraphs: 

11 ‘‘(2) The term ‘cost ’ has the meaning given the 

12 term ‘cost of a loan guarantee’ within the meaning 

13 of section 502(5)(C) of the Federal Credit Reform 

14 Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a(5)(C)). 

15 ‘‘(3) The term ‘guarantee’— 

16 ‘‘(A) has the meaning given the term ‘loan 

17 guarantee’ in section 502 of the Federal Credit 

18 Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a); and 

19 ‘‘(B) includes a loan guarantee commit20 ment (as defined in section 502 of the Federal 

21 Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a)). 

22 ‘‘(4) The term ‘obligation’ means the loan or 

23 other debt obligation that is guaranteed under this 

24 subchapter.’’. 


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1 SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE FOR FLIGHT TRAINING. 

2 Subsection (e)(1) of section 3032 is amended by 

3 striking ‘‘60 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘75 percent’’. 

4 SEC. 7. SEVEN-YEAR INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE 

5 FOR INDIVIDUALS PURSUING APPRENTICE6 SHIPS OR ON-JOB TRAINING. 

7 During the seven-year period beginning on the date 

8 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 

9 Affairs shall apply— 

10 (1) section 3032(c)(1) of title 38, United States 

11 Code— 

12 (A) in subparagraph (A), by substituting 

13 ‘‘80 percent’’ for ‘‘75 percent’’; 

14 (B) in subparagraph (B), by substituting 

15 ‘‘60 percent’’ for ‘‘55 percent’’; and 

16 (C) in subparagraph (C), by substituting 

17 ‘‘40 percent’’ for ‘‘35 percent’’; 

18 (2) section 3233(a) of such title— 

19 (A) in paragraph (1), by substituting ‘‘80 

20 percent’’ for ‘‘75 percent’’; 

21 (B) in paragraph (2), by substituting ‘‘60 

22 percent’’ for ‘‘55 percent’’; and 

23 (C) in paragraph (3), by substituting ‘‘40 

24 percent’’ for ‘‘35 percent’’; 

25 (3) section 3687(b)(2) of such title— 

26 (A) by substituting ‘‘$603’’ for ‘‘$574’’; 


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1 (B) by substituting ‘‘$450’’ for ‘‘$429’’; 

2 and 

3 (C) by substituting ‘‘$299’’ for ‘‘$285’’; 

4 and 

5 (4) section 16131(d)(1) of title 10, United 

6 States Code— 

7 (A) in subparagraph (A), by substituting 

8 ‘‘80 percent’’ for ‘‘75 percent’’; 

9 (B) in subparagraph (B), by substituting 

10 ‘‘60 percent’’ for ‘‘55 percent’’; and 

11 (C) in subparagraph (C), by substituting 

12 ‘‘40 percent’’ for ‘‘35 percent’’. 

13 SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN QUALI14 FYING WORK-STUDY ACTIVITIES FOR PUR15 POSES OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 

16 PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VET17 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

18 Paragraph (4) of section 3485(a) is amended by 

19 striking ‘‘June 30, 2010’’ each place it appears and insert20 ing ‘‘June 30, 2020’’. 


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1 SEC. 9. EXPANSION OF WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE TO IN2 CLUDE CERTAIN OUTREACH SERVICES CON3 DUCTED THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL OF4 FICES. 

5 Section 3485(a)(4) is amended by adding at the end 

6 the following new subparagraph: 

7 ‘‘(G) The following activities carried out at the 

8 offices of Members of Congress for such Members: 

9 ‘‘(i) The distribution of information to 

10 members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and 

11 their dependents about the benefits and services 

12 under laws administered by the Secretary and 

13 other appropriate governmental and non-gov14 ernmental programs. 

15 ‘‘(ii) The provision of assistance in 

16 ascertaining the status of claims (including ap17 peals) for benefits under laws administered by 

18 the Secretary, as well as other constituent serv19 ices for veterans as the Secretary determines 

20 appropriate.’’. 

21 SEC. 10. TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF REQUIRED AMOUNT 

22 OF WAGES FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PRO23 GRAMS. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.— 


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1 (1) REDUCING REQUIREMENT.—Section 

2 3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) is amended by striking ‘‘85 per 

3 centum’’ and inserting ‘‘60 percent’’. 

4 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 

5 by paragraph (1) shall take effect on October 1, 

6 2010, and shall apply to a veteran who enrolls in a 

7 program of training on the job approved under sec8 tion 3677 of title 38, United States Code, on or 

9 after such date. 

10 (b) SUNSET.— 

11 (1) REVERSION.—Effective October 1, 2013, 

12 section 3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) of such title, as amended 

13 by subsection (a) of this section, is amended by 

14 striking ‘‘60 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘85 percent’’. 

15 (2) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by 

16 paragraph (1) shall apply to a veteran who enrolls 

17 in a program of training on the job approved under 

18 section 3677 of title 38, United States Code, on or 

19 after October 1, 2013. 

20 (c) GAO REPORT.—Not later than October 1, 2013, 

21 the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee 

22 on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and 

23 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate a report 

24 on the effects of eliminating the requirement under section 

25 3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) of title 38, United States Code, for a 


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1 private employer to provide wage increases to veterans en2 rolled in a program of training on the job approved under 

3 section 3677 of such title. 

4 SEC. 11. REAUTHORIZATION OF VETERANS’ ADVISORY 

5 COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. 

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

7 31, 2009’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2020’’. 

8 SEC. 12. HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS AND HOMELESS 

9 VETERANS WITH CHILDREN REINTEGRATION 

10 GRANT PROGRAM. 

11 (a) GRANT PROGRAM.—Chapter 20 is amended by in12 serting after section 2021 the following new section: 

13 ‘‘§ 2021A. Homeless women veterans and homeless 

14 veterans with children reintegration 

15 grant program 

16 ‘‘(a) GRANTS.—Subject to the availability of appro17 priations provided for such purpose, the Secretary of 

18 Labor shall make grants to programs and facilities that 

19 the Secretary determines provide dedicated services for 

20 homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with chil21 dren. 

22 ‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants under this section 

23 shall be used to provide job training, counseling, place24 ment services (including job readiness and literacy and 

25 skills training) and child care services to expedite the reVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Oct 01, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5360.RFS H5360

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1 integration of homeless women veterans and homeless vet2 erans with children into the labor force. 

3 ‘‘(c) REQUIREMENT TO MONITOR EXPENDITURES OF

4 FUNDS.—(1) The Secretary of Labor shall collect such in5 formation as that Secretary considers appropriate to mon6 itor and evaluate the distribution and expenditure of funds 

7 appropriated to carry out this section. The information 

8 shall include data with respect to the results or outcomes 

9 of the services provided to each homeless veteran under 

10 this section. 

11 ‘‘(2) Information under paragraph (1) shall be fur12 nished in such form and manner as the Secretary of Labor 

13 may specify. 

14 ‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE ASSISTANT

15 SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT

16 AND TRAINING.—The Secretary of Labor shall carry out 

17 this section through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 

18 Veterans’ Employment and Training. 

19 ‘‘(e) BIENNIAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Sec20 retary of Labor shall include as part of the report required 

21 under section 2021(d) of this title an evaluation of the 

22 grant program under this section, which shall include an 

23 evaluation of services furnished to veterans under this sec24 tion and an analysis of the information collected under 

25 subsection (c). 


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1 ‘‘(f) APPROPRIATED FUNDS.—(1) In addition to any 

2 amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 

3 2021 of this title, there is authorized to be appropriated 

4 to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 

5 years 2011 through 2016. 

6 ‘‘(2) Funds appropriated to carry out this section 

7 shall remain available until expended. Funds obligated in 

8 any fiscal year to carry out this section may be expended 

9 in that fiscal year and the succeeding fiscal year.’’. 

10 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

11 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 

12 after the item relating to section 2021 the following new 

13 item: 

‘‘2021A. Homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration grant program.’’. 

14 SEC. 13. TECHNOLOGY REVIEW AND GRANT PROGRAM. 

15 (a) REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF NEW TECH16 NOLOGY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall estab17 lish a team of individuals from appropriate disciplines to 

18 be responsible for reviewing new technologies, processes, 

19 and products and for determining which such technologies, 

20 processes, and products may be beneficial to the Depart21 ment of Veterans Affairs or to the veterans served by the 

22 Department. Upon completion of the review under this 

23 subsection, the team shall submit the review to the SecVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Oct 01, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5360.RFS H5360

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1 retary, who shall disseminate the review within the De2 partment, as appropriate. 

3 (b) SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTIVE TECH4 NOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 21 is amended by 

6 adding at the end the following new section: 

7 ‘‘§ 2108. Specially adapted housing assistive tech8 nology grant program 

9 ‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.—The Secretary 

10 shall make grants to encourage the development of new 

11 assistive technologies for specially adapted housing. 

12 ‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—A person or entity seeking a 

13 grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an 

14 application for the grant in such form and manner as the 

15 Secretary shall specify. 

16 ‘‘(c) GRANT FUNDS.—Each grant awarded under 

17 this section shall be in an amount of not more than 

18 $250,000 per year. 

19 ‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—The recipient of a grant under 

20 this section shall use the grant to develop assistive tech21 nologies for use in specially adapted housing. 

22 ‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than March 1 of each year 

23 following a year in which the Secretary makes a grant, 

24 the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing 


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1 information related to each grant awarded under this sec2 tion during the preceding calendar year, including— 

3 ‘‘(1) the name of the grant recipient; 

4 ‘‘(2) the amount of the grant; and 

5 ‘‘(3) the goal of the grant. 

6 ‘‘(f) FUNDING.—From amounts authorized to be ap7 propriated to the Department for each fiscal year for 

8 which the Secretary is authorized to make a grant under 

9 this section, $1,500,000 shall be available for that fiscal 

10 year for the purposes of the program under this section. 

11 ‘‘(g) TERMINATION.—The authority to make a grant 

12 under this section shall terminate on the date that is five 

13 years after the date of the enactment of this section.’’. 

14 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec15 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

16 by adding at the end the following new item: 

‘‘2108. Specially adapted housing assistive technology grant program.’’. 

17 (3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Secretary of Vet18 erans Affairs shall begin making grants under sec19 tion 2108 of title 38, United States Code, as added 

20 by paragraph (1), by not later than 1 year after the 

21 date of the enactment of this Act. 

22 SEC. 14. CHILD CARE; PRESIDENT’S BUDGET. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 31 is amended by adding 

24 at the end the following new sections: 


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1 ‘‘§ 3123. Child care assistance for single parents 

2 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Pursuant to regulations pre3 scribed by the Secretary to carry out this section, the Sec4 retary shall provide reimbursements for the actual cost of 

5 child care provided by a licensed provider to a veteran 

6 who— 

7 ‘‘(1) is participating in a vocational rehabilita8 tion program under this chapter; 

9 ‘‘(2) is the sole caretaker of a child; and 

10 ‘‘(3) would not otherwise be able to afford such 

11 child care. 

12 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT AND DURATION.—The amount of the 

13 reimbursement for the actual cost for child care under this 

14 section shall be not more than $2,000 per month for each 

15 month the veteran is participating in a vocational rehabili16 tation program under this chapter. 

17 ‘‘§ 3124. Information included in support of Presi18 dent’s budget 

19 ‘‘The Secretary shall include in documents submitted 

20 to Congress by the Secretary in support of the President’s 

21 budget for each fiscal year submitted under section 1105 

22 of title 31, United States Code, the following: 

23 ‘‘(1) For the calendar year preceding the sub24 mission— 


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1 ‘‘(A) the percentage of veterans receiving 

2 assistance under this chapter who became em3 ployed; and 

4 ‘‘(B) the percentage of veterans receiving 

5 assistance under this chapter who achieved 

6 independence in daily living. 

7 ‘‘(2) Any changes made by the Secretary in 

8 measuring or calculating the performance of the de9 partment under this chapter.’’. 

10 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

11 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 

12 at the end the following: 

‘‘3123. Child care assistance for single parents. 

‘‘3124. Information included in support of President’s budget.’’. 

13 SEC. 15. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF REPORTING FEE PAY14 ABLE TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT 

15 ENROLL VETERANS RECEIVING EDU16 CATIONAL ASSISTANCE. 

17 (a) INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF FEE.—Subsection (c) 

18 of section 3684 is amended— 

19 (1) by striking ‘‘$7’’ and inserting ‘‘$16’’; and 

20 (2) by striking ‘‘$11’’ and inserting ‘‘$16’’. 

21 (b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Subsection (a) of 

22 such section is amended by striking the second comma 

23 after ‘‘34’’. 


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1 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

2 subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect on January 1, 

3 2011. 

4 SEC. 16. MODIFICATION OF ADVANCE PAYMENT OF INITIAL 

5 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE OR SUBSISTENCE 

6 ALLOWANCE. 

7 (a) MODIFICATION.—Section 3680(d)(2) is amended 

8 by inserting after the third sentence the following new sen9 tence: ‘‘For purposes of the entitlement to educational as10 sistance of the veteran or person receiving an advance pay11 ment under this subsection, the advance payment shall be 

12 charged against the final month of the entitlement of the 

13 person or veteran and, if necessary, the penultimate such 

14 month. In no event may any veteran or person receive 

15 more than one advance payment under this subsection 

16 during any academic year.’’. 

17 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

18 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an advance pay19 ment of educational assistance made on or after January 

20 1, 2011. 


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1 SEC. 17. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF SUBSISTENCE ALLOW2 ANCE PAYABLE TO VETERANS PARTICI3 PATING IN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION 

4 PROGRAM. 

5 (a) INCREASE IN SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE.—Sec6 tion 3108(b)(1) is amended by striking the table and in7 serting the following new table: 

‘‘Column 

I 

Column 

II 

Column 

III 

Column 

IV Column V 

Type of 

program 

No 

dependents 

One 

dependent 

Two 

dependents 

More than 

two dependents 

....................... .................. ................ .................. The amount in column 

IV, plus the following 

for each dependent in 

excess of two: 

Full-time ....... $585.87 $726.72 $856.39 $62.42 

Three-quarter 

time.

$440.21 $545.83 $640.27 $48.00 

Half-time ...... $294.55 $364.94 $428.98 $32.03’’. 

8 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

9 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a payment made 

10 for the third month beginning after the date of the enact11 ment of this Act and each subsequent month. 

12 SEC. 18. EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF EMPLOYMENT 

13 ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE FOR VETERANS 

14 USING EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. 

15 Paragraph (2) of section 3108(a) is amended to read 

16 as follows: 

17 ‘‘(2) In the case of a veteran with a service-connected 

18 disability who the Secretary determines has reached a 

19 point of employability and who is participating only in a 


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1 program of employment services provided under section 

2 3104(a)(5) of this title, the Secretary shall pay the veteran 

3 a subsistence allowance as prescribed in this section for 

4 three months while the veteran is satisfactorily pursuing 

5 such program.’’. 

6 SEC. 19. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS TEACHING IN 

7 RURAL AREAS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Part III is amended by adding at 

9 the end the following new chapter: 

10 ‘‘CHAPTER 44—VETERAN TEACHERS 

‘‘Sec. 

‘‘4401. Assistance allowance for rural veteran teachers. 

11 ‘‘§ 4401. Assistance allowance for rural veteran teach12 ers 

13 ‘‘(a) REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.—The 

14 Secretary may pay to a rural veteran teacher a monthly 

15 assistance allowance of $500. 

16 ‘‘(b) DURATION.—The aggregate period for which the 

17 Secretary may pay a rural veteran teacher a monthly as18 sistance allowance under subsection (a) may not exceed 

19 24 months. 

20 ‘‘(c) RURAL VETERAN TEACHER DEFINED.—In this 

21 section, the term ‘rural veteran teacher’ means a veteran 

22 who— 

23 ‘‘(1) is discharged from service in the Armed 

24 Forces under honorable conditions; 


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1 ‘‘(2) has not been employed as a teacher prior 

2 to receiving assistance under this section; 

3 ‘‘(3) is employed to teach full-time at an ac4 credited elementary or secondary school that is lo5 cated in a rural area (as determined by the Bureau 

6 of the Census); and 

7 ‘‘(4) on the date on which the veteran applies 

8 for a monthly assistance allowance under subsection 

9 (a), is enrolled in a State-approved course leading to 

10 certification as a teacher. 

11 ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

12 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

13 $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year 

14 thereafter.’’. 

15 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The tables of chap16 ters at the beginning of title 38, United States Code, and 

17 of part III, are each amended by inserting after the item 

18 relating to chapter 43 the following new item: 

‘‘44. Assistance allowance for rural veteran teachers ............................... 4401’’. 

19 SEC. 20. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 

20 ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNSHIP PRO21 GRAM. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 is amended by adding 

23 at the end the following new section: 


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1 ‘‘§ 712. Internship program 

2 ‘‘(a) INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.—From amounts avail3 able in the ‘General operating expenses’ account of the De4 partment, the Secretary may carry out an internship pro5 gram through which the Secretary shall award internships 

6 to up to 2,000 veterans each year in accordance with this 

7 section. The recipient of an internship under this section 

8 shall be employed in the Veterans Benefits Administration 

9 for the duration of the internship. 

10 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive an in11 ternship under this section a veteran shall have completed 

12 a rehabilitation program under chapter 31 of this title. 

13 In awarding internships under this section, the Secretary 

14 shall give a preference to a veteran who has completed 

15 a program of long-term education or training, as deter16 mined by the Secretary. 

17 ‘‘(c) SALARY; BENEFITS.—(1) Each recipient of an 

18 internship under this section shall be paid at a rate deter19 mined by the Secretary, except that such rate shall be at 

20 least the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for 

21 grade GS–3 of the General Schedule under section 5332 

22 of title 5, United States Code, and shall not exceed the 

23 maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS– 

24 5 of such schedule. Payments under this paragraph shall 

25 be derived from amounts available in the ‘General oper26 ating expenses’ account of the Department. 


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1 ‘‘(2) Each such recipient shall be entitled to leave on 

2 the same basis as employees of the Department who are 

3 paid at the same annual rate, except that such recipient 

4 may not be reimbursed for any unused leave at the end 

5 of the internship. 

6 ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall furnish hospital care, med7 ical services, and nursing home care to each recipient of 

8 an internship under this section on the same basis as a 

9 veteran described in subsection (B) of paragraph (2) of 

10 subsection (a) of section 1710 of this title unless the re11 cipient is eligible for such care and services under sub12 paragraph (A) of such paragraph or under paragraph (1) 

13 of such subsection. 

14 ‘‘(4) The recipient of an internship under this section 

15 may receive an allowance under section 3108 of this title 

16 if such recipient is entitled to such an allowance. 

17 ‘‘(d) DURATION.—No internship under this section 

18 shall exceed 12 months in duration. 

19 ‘‘(e) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall notify each 

20 participant in a rehabilitation program under chapter 31 

21 of this title of the internship program under this section.’’. 

22 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

23 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 

24 after the item relating to section 711 the following new 

25 item: 

‘‘712. Internship program.’’. 


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1 SEC. 21. VETERANS ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT 

2 SUMMIT. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 81 is 

4 amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

5 ‘‘§ 8129. Veterans entrepreneurial development sum6 mit 

7 ‘‘(a) VETERANS ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT

8 SUMMIT.—The Secretary may hold an event, once every 

9 year, to provide networking opportunities, outreach, edu10 cation, training, and support to small business concerns 

11 owned and controlled by veterans, veterans service organi12 zations, and other entities as determined appropriate by 

13 the Secretary. 

14 ‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

15 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sub16 section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 

17 2021.’’. 

18 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

19 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 

20 at the end of the items relating to subchapter II the fol21 lowing: 

‘‘8129. Veterans entrepreneurial development summit.’’. 


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1 SEC. 22. INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SPE2 CIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE AU3 THORIZED TO BE PROVIDED BY THE SEC4 RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2102 is amended— 

6 (1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘$12,000’’ 

7 and inserting ‘‘$13,756’’; and 

8 (2) in subsection (d)— 

9 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking 

10 ‘‘$60,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$65,780’’; and 

11 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking 

12 ‘‘$12,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$13,756’’. 

13 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

14 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to assistance fur15 nished after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

16 SEC. 23. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING 

17 LOANS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ENERGY EF18 FICIENT DWELLINGS. 

19 (a) LOANS AUTHORIZED.—Section 3710(d) is 

20 amended— 

21 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

22 (A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and in23 serting ‘‘(A) The Secretary’’; 

24 (B) by striking ‘‘for the acquisition of’’ 

25 and all that follows through the end and insert26 ing ‘‘for any of the following purposes:’’; 


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1 (C) by adding at the end the following new 

2 clauses: 

3 ‘‘(i) The acquisition of an existing dwelling and 

4 the cost of making energy efficiency improvements 

5 to the dwelling. 

6 ‘‘(ii) The construction of a new dwelling and 

7 the cost of making energy efficiency improvements 

8 to the dwelling. 

9 ‘‘(iii) Energy efficiency improvements to a 

10 dwelling owned and occupied by a veteran.’’; and 

11 (D) by adding at the end the following new 

12 subparagraphs: 

13 ‘‘(B) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, 

14 a loan may be guaranteed under this subsection only if 

15 it meets the requirements of this chapter. 

16 ‘‘(C) The Secretary shall determine appropriate en17 ergy efficiency standards for purposes of this subsection 

18 and shall require that dwellings purchased, constructed, 

19 or improved using a loan guaranteed under this subsection 

20 meet such standards.’’; and 

21 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraphs 

22 (A) and (B) and inserting the following new sub23 paragraphs (A) and (B): 

24 ‘‘(A) five percent of the total established value 

25 of the property, dwelling, and improvements; or 


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1 ‘‘(B) $6,000, or a higher amount specifically 

2 provided by the Secretary.’’. 

3 (b) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 180 days after the 

4 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 

5 guidance on appraising the value of energy efficiency im6 provements for purposes of section 3710(d) of title 38, 

7 United States Code, as amended by this Act. 

8 (c) REGULATIONS.— 

9 (1) INTERIM POLICY GUIDANCE.—Not later 

10 than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 

11 Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe 

12 interim policy guidance on energy efficiency audits 

13 and the conditions under which the performance of 

14 such audits may be included in the amount guaran15 teed by the Secretary under section 3710(d) of title 

16 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection 

17 (a). 

18 (2) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after 

19 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

20 shall prescribe regulations to carry out the amend21 ments made by subsection (a). 

22 (3) ENERGY EFFICIENCY AUDIT DEFINED.— 

23 For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘‘energy 

24 efficiency audit’’ means a measurement of the ef25 fects of an improvement made to a dwelling for the 


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1 purpose of reducing energy consumption or increas2 ing energy efficiency that is carried out by a cer3 tified professional auditor, as determined by the Sec4 retary. 

5 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

6 subsections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to a loan 

7 secured on or after January 1, 2011. 

8 SEC. 24. PILOT PROGRAM ON SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUS9 ING ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS RESIDING 

10 TEMPORARILY IN HOUSING OWNED BY A 

11 FAMILY MEMBER. 

12 (a) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN LIMITATIONS.—Not13 withstanding subsection (d) of section 2102 of title 38, 

14 United States Code, and subject to subsection (b), a grant 

15 under section 2102A of such title shall not count toward 

16 the dollar amount limitations specified in that subsection. 

17 (b) TERMINATION.—Subsection (a) shall apply only 

18 to the first 25 grants made during fiscal year 2011. 

19 SEC. 25. COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTORY PAY-AS-YOU-GO 

20 ACT OF 2010. 

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

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

23 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 

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

25 Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 


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1 by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro2 vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 

3 vote on passage. 

Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 

2010. 

Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, 

Clerk. 


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