IB 

Union Calendar No. 366 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5360 

[Report No. 111–626] 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the standard of visual 

acuity required for eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance 

provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 20, 2010 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN (for herself and Mr. BOOZMAN) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010 

Additional sponsors: Mr. TEAGUE and Ms. SLAUGHTER

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010 

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] 


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A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for specially 

adapted housing assistance provided by the Secretary 

of Veterans Affairs. 


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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 ‘‘Blinded Veterans 

5 Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2010’’. 

6 SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF STANDARD OF VISUAL ACUITY 

7 REQUIRED FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY 

8 ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROVIDED 

9 BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2101(b)(2)(A) of title 38, 

11 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘5/200 visual 

12 acuity or less’’ and inserting ‘‘20/200 best corrected visual 

13 acuity or less or a peripheral field of 20 degrees or less’’. 

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

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

16 housing assistance provided on or after the date of the 

17 enactment of this Act. 

18 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

20 ‘‘Housing, Employment, and Living Programs for Veterans 

21 Act of 2010’’ or the ‘‘HELP Veterans Act of 2010’’. 

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

23 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. 


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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 internships 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 service-disabled veterans teaching in rural areas. 

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

program. 

Sec. 21. Promoting jobs for veterans through the use of sole source contracts by 

Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting the contracting goals and preferences of the Department of Veterans Affairs for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. 

Sec. 22. Veterans entrepreneurial development summit. 

Sec. 23. Increase in the maximum amount of specially adapted housing assistance authorized to be provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 24. Department of Veterans Affairs housing loans for construction of energy 

efficient dwellings. 

Sec. 25. Pilot program on specially adapted housing assistance for veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member. 

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 of 

4 an amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other proviVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:43 Sep 28, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H5360.RH H5360

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1 sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section 

2 or other provision of title 38, United States Code. 

3 SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF STANDARD OF VISUAL ACUITY 

4 REQUIRED FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY 

5 ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROVIDED 

6 BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2101(b)(2)(A) is amended 

8 by striking ‘‘with 5/200’’ and all that follows through the 

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

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

11 standard correcting lenses (for purposes of this subpara12 graph, an eye which is accompanied by a limitation in the 

13 fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual 

14 field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees shall be 

15 treated as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or 

16 less).’’. 

17 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub18 section (a) shall apply with respect to specially adapted 

19 housing assistance provided on or after the date of the en20 actment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 4. AUTHORITIES REGARDING HOUSING LOANS GUAR2 ANTEED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

3 AFFAIRS. 

4 (a) COVENANTS AND LIENS IN RESPONSE TO DIS5 ASTER-RELIEF ASSISTANCE.—Paragraph (3) of section 

6 3703(d) is amended to read as follows: 

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

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

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

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

11 for subordination to a superior lien that— 

12 ‘‘(i) is created by a duly recorded covenant run13 ning with the realty in favor of— 

14 ‘‘(I) a public entity that provides assistance 

15 in response to a major disaster as determined by 

16 the President under the Robert T. Stafford Dis17 aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

18 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); or 

19 ‘‘(II) a private entity to secure an obliga20 tion to such entity for the homeowner’s share of 

21 the costs of the management, operation, or main22 tenance of property, services, or programs within 

23 and for the benefit of the development or commu24 nity in which the veteran’s realty is located; and 


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

2 the interests of the veteran borrower and of the Gov3 ernment by the operation of such a covenant. 

4 ‘‘(B) In respect to a superior lien described by sub5 paragraph (A) that is created after June 6, 1969, the Sec6 retary’s determination must have been made prior to the 

7 recordation of the covenant.’’. 

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

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

10 ‘‘2011’’ and inserting ‘‘2016’’. 

11 SEC. 5. REAUTHORIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF DE12 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SMALL 

13 BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM. 

14 (a) REAUTHORIZATION.— 

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

16 striking section 3751. 

17 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec18 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 

19 striking the item relating to section 3751. 

20 (3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3749 is 

21 amended by striking subsection (e). 

22 (b) EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS

23 LOANS.—Chapter 37 is further amended— 

24 (1) in section 3741— 

25 (A) by striking paragraph (2); and 


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1 (B) by striking ‘‘this subchapter—’’ and all 

2 that follows through ‘‘ ‘disabled veteran’ ’’ and in3 serting ‘‘this subchapter, the term ‘disabled vet4 eran’ ’’; and 

5 (2) in section 3742(a)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘vet6 erans of the Vietnam era or’’. 

7 (c) REPEAL OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE DIRECT

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

9 (b), is further amended— 

10 (1) in section 3742— 

11 (A) in subsection (a)— 

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

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

14 inserting ‘‘loan guaranties’’; and 

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

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

17 concern must be owned by disabled veterans 

18 in order for such concern to qualify for a 

19 direct loan’’; 

20 (B) in subsection (b)— 

21 (i) by striking paragraph (1) and re22 designating paragraphs (2) through (4) as 

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

24 and 


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1 (ii) in paragraph (2), as so redesig2 nated, by striking ‘‘make or’’; 

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

4 or’’; 

5 (D) in subsection (d)— 

6 (i) by striking paragraph (2); 

7 (ii) by striking ‘‘(1) Except as pro8 vided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, 

9 the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; and 

10 (iii) by striking ‘‘make or’’; and 

11 (E) in subsection (e)— 

12 (i) in paragraph (1)— 

13 (I) in the first sentence, by strik14 ing ‘‘or, if the loan was a direct loan 

15 made by the Secretary, may suspend 

16 such obligation’’; and 

17 (II) in the second sentence, by 

18 striking ‘‘or while such obligation is 

19 suspended’’; 

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

21 place it appears; 

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

23 place it appears; 

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

25 place it appears; and 


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1 (v) by striking ‘‘or suspended’’ each 

2 place it appears; 

3 (2) in section 3743— 

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

5 loan under this subchapter, or’’; 

6 (B) by striking the comma between ‘‘sub7 chapter’’ and ‘‘shall’’; 

8 (C) by striking ‘‘direct or’’; and 

9 (D) by striking ‘‘for the amount of such di10 rect loan or, in the case of a guaranteed loan,’’; 

11 (3) in section 3746, by striking ‘‘made or’’ both 

12 places it appears; 

13 (4) in section 3749(b), by striking ‘‘and direct 

14 loan’’; and 

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

16 (d) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT.—Sec17 tion 3742, as amended by subsection (c), is further amended 

18 by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

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

20 appropriate entity for the purpose of carrying out the pro21 gram under this subchapter.’’. 

22 (e) LOAN FEE.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 37 is further amend24 ed by inserting after section 3749 the following new 

25 section: 


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1 ‘‘§ 3749A. Loan Fee 

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

3 shall— 

4 ‘‘(A) collect a fee from each veterans’ small busi5 ness concern obtaining a loan guaranteed under this 

6 subchapter; and 

7 ‘‘(B) deposit such fee in the fund established 

8 under section 3749 of this title. 

9 ‘‘(2) No loan may be guaranteed under this subchapter 

10 until the fee payable under this section has been remitted 

11 to the Secretary. 

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

13 under this subchapter and paid from the proceeds thereof. 

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

15 shall be an amount necessary to ensure the solvency of the 

16 fund established under section 3749 of this title, as deter17 mined by the Secretary.’’. 

18 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec19 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 

20 inserting after the item relating to section 3749 the 

21 following new item: 

‘‘3749A. Loan fee.’’. 

22 (3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph (2) 

23 of section 3749(c) is amended by inserting ‘‘, fees col24 lected under section 3749A of this title,’’ after ‘‘prin25 cipal and interest’’. 


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1 SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE FOR FLIGHT TRAINING. 

2 Subsection (e)(1) of section 3032 is amended by strik3 ing ‘‘60 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘75 percent’’. 

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

5 FOR INDIVIDUALS PURSUING INTERNSHIPS 

6 OR ON-JOB TRAINING. 

7 During the seven-year period beginning on the date of 

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

9 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’’; and 

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

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

4 Code— 

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

6 ‘‘80 percent’’ for ‘‘75 percent’’; 

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

8 ‘‘60 percent’’ for ‘‘55 percent’’; and 

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

10 ‘‘40 percent’’ for ‘‘35 percent’’. 

11 SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN QUALI12 FYING WORK-STUDY ACTIVITIES FOR PUR13 POSES OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 

14 PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VET15 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

16 Paragraph (4) of section 3485(a) is amended by strik17 ing ‘‘June 30, 2010’’ each place it appears and inserting 

18 ‘‘June 30, 2020’’. 

19 SEC. 9. EXPANSION OF WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE TO IN20 CLUDE CERTAIN OUTREACH SERVICES CON21 DUCTED THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL OF22 FICES. 

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

24 the following new subparagraph: 


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

2 offices of Members of Congress for such Members: 

3 ‘‘(i) The distribution of information to 

4 members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and 

5 their dependents about the benefits and services 

6 under laws administered by the Secretary and 

7 other appropriate governmental and non-govern8 mental programs. 

9 ‘‘(ii) The provision of assistance in 

10 ascertaining the status of claims (including ap11 peals) for benefits under laws administered by 

12 the Secretary, as well as other constituent serv13 ices for veterans as the Secretary determines ap14 propriate.’’. 

15 SEC. 10. TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF REQUIRED AMOUNT 

16 OF WAGES FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PRO17 GRAMS. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.— 

19 (1) REDUCING REQUIREMENT.—Section 

20 3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) is amended by striking ‘‘85 per cen21 tum’’ and inserting ‘‘60 percent’’. 

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

23 paragraph (1) shall take effect on October 1, 2010, 

24 and shall apply to a veteran who enrolls in a pro25 gram of training on the job approved under section 


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1 3677 of title 38, United States Code, on or after such 

2 date. 

3 (b) SUNSET.— 

4 (1) REVERSION.—Effective October 1, 2013, sec5 tion 3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) of such title, as amended by 

6 subsection (a) of this section, is amended by striking 

7 ‘‘60 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘85 percent’’. 

8 (2) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by 

9 paragraph (1) shall apply to a veteran who enrolls in 

10 a program of training on the job approved under sec11 tion 3677 of title 38, United States Code, on or after 

12 October 1, 2013. 

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

14 the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 

15 Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 

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

17 the effects of eliminating the requirement under section 

18 3677(b)(1)(A)(ii) of title 38, United States Code, for a pri19 vate employer to provide wage increases to veterans enrolled 

20 in a program of training on the job approved under section 

21 3677 of such title. 

22 SEC. 11. REAUTHORIZATION OF VETERANS’ ADVISORY COM23 MITTEE ON EDUCATION. 

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

25 2009’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2020’’. 


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1 SEC. 12. HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS AND HOMELESS 

2 VETERANS WITH CHILDREN REINTEGRATION 

3 GRANT PROGRAM. 

4 (a) GRANT PROGRAM.—Chapter 20 is amended by in5 serting after section 2021 the following new section: 

6 ‘‘§ 2021A. Homeless women veterans and homeless vet7 erans with children reintegration grant 

8 program 

9 ‘‘(a) GRANTS.—Subject to the availability of appro10 priations provided for such purpose, the Secretary of Labor 

11 shall make grants to programs and facilities that the Sec12 retary determines provide dedicated services for homeless 

13 women veterans and homeless veterans with children. 

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

15 be used to provide job training, counseling, placement serv16 ices (including job readiness and literacy and skills train17 ing) and child care services to expedite the reintegration 

18 of homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with 

19 children into the labor force. 

20 ‘‘(c) REQUIREMENT TO MONITOR EXPENDITURES OF

21 FUNDS.—(1) The Secretary of Labor shall collect such in22 formation as that Secretary considers appropriate to mon23 itor and evaluate the distribution and expenditure of funds 

24 appropriated to carry out this section. The information 

25 shall include data with respect to the results or outcomes 


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1 of the services provided to each homeless veteran under this 

2 section. 

3 ‘‘(2) Information under paragraph (1) shall be fur4 nished in such form and manner as the Secretary of Labor 

5 may specify. 

6 ‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE ASSISTANT

7 SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT AND

8 TRAINING.—The Secretary of Labor shall carry out this sec9 tion through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ 

10 Employment and Training. 

11 ‘‘(e) BIENNIAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary 

12 of Labor shall include as part of the report required under 

13 section 2021(d) of this title an evaluation of the grant pro14 gram under this section, which shall include an evaluation 

15 of services furnished to veterans under this section and an 

16 analysis of the information collected under subsection (c). 

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

18 amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 

19 2021 of this title, there is authorized to be appropriated 

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

21 2011 through 2016. 

22 ‘‘(2) Funds appropriated to carry out this section shall 

23 remain available until expended. Funds obligated in any 

24 fiscal year to carry out this section may be expended in 

25 that fiscal year and the succeeding fiscal year.’’. 


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

2 the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after 

3 the item relating to section 2021 the following new item: 

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

4 SEC. 13. TECHNOLOGY REVIEW AND GRANT PROGRAM. 

5 (a) REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF NEW TECH6 NOLOGY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish 

7 a team of individuals from appropriate disciplines to be 

8 responsible for reviewing new technologies, processes, and 

9 products and for determining which such technologies, proc10 esses, and products may be beneficial to the Department of 

11 Veterans Affairs or to the veterans served by the Depart12 ment. Upon completion of the review under this subsection, 

13 the team shall submit the review to the Secretary, who shall 

14 disseminate the review within the Department, as appro15 priate. 

16 (b) SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTIVE TECH17 NOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.— 

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

19 adding at the end the following new section: 

20 ‘‘§ 2108. Specially adapted housing assistive tech21 nology grant program 

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

23 shall make grants to encourage the development of new as24 sistive technologies for specially adapted housing. 


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

2 grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an 

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

4 Secretary shall specify. 

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

6 section shall be in an amount of not more than $250,000 

7 per year. 

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

9 this section shall use the grant to develop assistive tech10 nologies for use in specially adapted housing. 

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

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

13 Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing in14 formation related to each grant awarded under this section 

15 during the preceding calendar year, including— 

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

17 ‘‘(2) the amount of the grant; and 

18 ‘‘(3) the goal of the grant. 

19 ‘‘(f) FUNDING.—From amounts authorized to be ap20 propriated to the Department for each fiscal year for which 

21 the Secretary is authorized to make a grant under this sec22 tion, $1,500,000 shall be available for that fiscal year for 

23 the purposes of the program under this section. 


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

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

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

4 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec5 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 

6 adding at the end the following new item: 

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

7 (3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Secretary of Vet8 erans Affairs shall begin making grants under section 

9 2108 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 

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

11 date of the enactment of this Act. 

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

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

14 at the end the following new sections: 

15 ‘‘§ 3123. Child care assistance for single parents 

16 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Pursuant to regulations pre17 scribed by the Secretary to carry out this section, the Sec18 retary shall provide reimbursements for the actual cost of 

19 child care provided by a licensed provider to a veteran 

20 who— 

21 ‘‘(1) is participating in a vocational rehabilita22 tion program under this chapter; 

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

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

25 child care. 


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1 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT AND DURATION.—The amount of the re2 imbursement for the actual cost for child care under this 

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

4 month the veteran is participating in a vocational rehabili5 tation program under this chapter. 

6 ‘‘§ 3124. Information included in support of Presi7 dent’s budget 

8 ‘‘The Secretary shall include in documents submitted 

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

10 budget for each fiscal year submitted under section 1105 

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

12 ‘‘(1) For the calendar year preceding the submis13 sion— 

14 ‘‘(A) the percentage of veterans receiving as15 sistance under this chapter who became em16 ployed; and 

17 ‘‘(B) the percentage of veterans receiving as18 sistance under this chapter who achieved inde19 pendence in daily living. 

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

21 measuring or calculating the performance of the de22 partment under this chapter.’’. 

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

24 the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the 

25 end the following: 


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‘‘3123. Child care assistance for single parents. 

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

1 SEC. 15. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF REPORTING FEE PAY2 ABLE TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT 

3 ENROLL VETERANS RECEIVING EDU4 CATIONAL ASSISTANCE. 

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

6 section 3684 is amended— 

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

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

9 (b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Subsection (a) of such 

10 section is amended by striking the second comma after 

11 ‘‘34’’. 

12 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub13 sections (a) and (b) shall take effect on January 1, 2011. 

14 SEC. 16. MODIFICATION OF ADVANCE PAYMENT OF INITIAL 

15 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE OR SUBSISTENCE 

16 ALLOWANCE. 

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

18 by inserting after the third sentence the following new sen19 tence: ‘‘For purposes of the entitlement to educational as20 sistance of the veteran or person receiving an advance pay21 ment under this subsection, the advance payment shall be 

22 charged against the final month of the entitlement of the 

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

24 month. In no event may any veteran or person receive more 


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1 than one advance payment under this subsection during 

2 any academic year.’’. 

3 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub4 section (a) shall apply with respect to an advance payment 

5 of educational assistance made on or after September 1, 

6 2010. 

7 SEC. 17. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF SUBSISTENCE ALLOW8 ANCE PAYABLE TO VETERANS PARTICI9 PATING IN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION 

10 PROGRAM. 

11 (a) INCREASE IN SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE.—Section 

12 3108(b)(1) is amended by striking the table and inserting 

13 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 ......... $576.01 $714.50 $841.98 $61.37 

Three-quarter 

time.

$432.80 $536.65 $629.50 $47.19 

Half-time ........ $289.59 $358.81 $421.77 $31.49’’. 

14 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub15 section (a) shall apply with respect to a payment made for 

16 the third month beginning after the date of the enactment 

17 of this Act and each subsequent month. 


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1 SEC. 18. EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF EMPLOYMENT AS2 SISTANCE ALLOWANCE FOR VETERANS USING 

3 EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. 

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

5 as follows: 

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

7 disability who the Secretary determines has reached a point 

8 of employability and who is participating only in a pro9 gram of employment services provided under section 

10 3104(a)(5) of this title, the Secretary shall pay the veteran 

11 a subsistence allowance as prescribed in this section for 

12 three months while the veteran is satisfactorily pursuing 

13 such program.’’. 

14 SEC. 19. PROMOTING JOBS FOR SERVICE-DISABLED VET15 ERANS TEACHING IN RURAL AREAS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 36 is amended by adding 

17 at the end the following new section: 

18 ‘‘§ 3698. Assistance allowance for rural veteran teach19 ers 

20 ‘‘(a) REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.—The Sec21 retary may pay to a rural veteran teacher a monthly assist22 ance allowance of $500. 

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

24 Secretary may pay a rural veteran teacher a monthly as25 sistance allowance under subsection (a) may not exceed 24 

26 months. 


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

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

3 who— 

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

5 Forces under honorable conditions; 

6 ‘‘(2) is employed to teach full-time at an accred7 ited elementary or secondary school that is located in 

8 a rural area (as determined by the Bureau of the 

9 Census); 

10 ‘‘(3) on the date on which the veteran applies for 

11 a monthly assistance allowance under subsection (a), 

12 is enrolled in an accredited course leading to certifi13 cation as a teacher; 

14 ‘‘(4) has not been previously employed to teach 

15 full-time at an accredited elementary or secondary 

16 school; and 

17 ‘‘(5) is entitled to compensation under section 

18 1110 of this title. 

19 ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

20 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

21 $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year there22 after.’’. 

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

24 the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after 

25 the item relating to section 3697A the following new item: 

‘‘3698. Assistance allowance for rural veteran teachers.’’. 


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1 SEC. 20. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 

2 ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNSHIP PRO3 GRAM. 

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

5 at the end the following new section: 

6 ‘‘§ 712. Internship program 

7 ‘‘(a) INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.—The Secretary may 

8 carry out an internship program through which the Sec9 retary shall award internships to up to 2,000 veterans each 

10 year in accordance with this section. The recipient of an 

11 internship under this section shall be employed in the Vet12 erans Benefits Administration for the duration of the in13 ternship. 

14 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive an intern15 ship under this section a veteran shall have completed a 

16 rehabilitation program under chapter 31 of this title. In 

17 awarding internships under this section, the Secretary shall 

18 give a preference to a veteran who has completed a program 

19 of long-term education or training, as determined by the 

20 Secretary. 

21 ‘‘(c) SALARY; BENEFITS.—(1) Each recipient of an in22 ternship under this section shall be paid at a rate deter23 mined by the Secretary, except that such rate shall be at 

24 least the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for 

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

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1 imum annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS–5 

2 of such schedule. Payments under this paragraph shall be 

3 derived from amounts available in the ‘General operating 

4 expenses’ account of the Department. 

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

6 the same basis as employees of the Department who are paid 

7 at the same annual rate, except that such recipient may 

8 not be reimbursed for any unused leave at the end of the 

9 internship. 

10 ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall furnish hospital care, medical 

11 services, and nursing home care to each recipient of an in12 ternship under this section on the same basis as a veteran 

13 described in subsection (B) of paragraph (2) of subsection 

14 (a) of section 1710 of this title unless the recipient is eligible 

15 for such care and services under subparagraph (A) of such 

16 paragraph or under paragraph (1) of such subsection. 

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

18 may receive an allowance under section 3108 of this title 

19 if such recipient is entitled to such an allowance. 

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

21 shall exceed 12 months in duration. 

22 ‘‘(e) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall notify each par23 ticipant in a rehabilitation program under chapter 31 of 

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


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

2 the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after 

3 the item relating to section 711 the following new item: 

‘‘712. Internship program.’’. 

4 SEC. 21. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 

5 USE OF SOLE SOURCE CONTRACTS BY DE6 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR PUR7 POSES OF MEETING THE CONTRACTING 

8 GOALS AND PREFERENCES OF THE DEPART9 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR SMALL 

10 BUSINESS CONCERNS OWNED AND CON11 TROLLED BY VETERANS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8127(c) is amended by 

13 striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 

14 (b) DEADLINE FOR INTERIM POLICY GUIDANCE.—By 

15 not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of 

16 this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall issue in17 terim policy guidance to carry out the amendment made 

18 by subsection (a). 

19 SEC. 22. VETERANS ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT 

20 SUMMIT. 

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

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


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1 ‘‘§ 8129. Veterans entrepreneurial development sum2 mit 

3 ‘‘(a) VETERANS ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT

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

5 year, to provide networking opportunities, outreach, edu6 cation, training, and support to small business concerns 

7 owned and controlled by veterans, veterans service organiza8 tions, and other entities as determined appropriate by the 

9 Secretary. 

10 ‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

11 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 

12 $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2021.’’. 

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

14 the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the 

15 end of the items relating to subchapter II the following: 

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

16 SEC. 23. INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SPE17 CIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE AU18 THORIZED TO BE PROVIDED BY THE SEC19 RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

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

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

22 and inserting ‘‘$13,756’’; and 

23 (2) in subsection (d)— 

24 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$60,000’’ 

25 and inserting ‘‘$65,780’’; and 


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

2 ‘‘$12,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$13,756’’. 

3 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub4 section (a) shall apply with respect to assistance furnished 

5 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

6 SEC. 24. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING 

7 LOANS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ENERGY EFFI8 CIENT DWELLINGS. 

9 (a) LOANS AUTHORIZED.—Section 3710(d) is amend10 ed— 

11 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

12 (A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and insert13 ing ‘‘(A) The Secretary’’; 

14 (B) by striking ‘‘for the acquisition of’’ and 

15 all that follows through the end and inserting 

16 ‘‘for any of the following purposes:’’; 

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

18 clauses: 

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

20 the cost of making energy efficiency improvements to 

21 the dwelling. 

22 ‘‘(ii) The construction of a new dwelling and the 

23 cost of making energy efficiency improvements to the 

24 dwelling. 


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1 ‘‘(iii) Energy efficiency improvements to a dwell2 ing owned and occupied by a veteran.’’; and 

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

4 subparagraphs: 

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

6 a loan may be guaranteed under this subsection only if it 

7 meets the requirements of this chapter. 

8 ‘‘(C) The Secretary shall determine appropriate energy 

9 efficiency standards for purposes of this subsection and 

10 shall require that dwellings purchased, constructed, or im11 proved using a loan guaranteed under this subsection meet 

12 such standards.’’; and 

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

14 (A) and (B) and inserting the following new subpara15 graphs (A) and (B): 

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

17 the property, dwelling, and improvements; or 

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

19 provided by the Secretary.’’. 

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

21 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guid22 ance on appraising the value of energy efficiency improve23 ments for purposes of section 3710(d) of title 38, United 

24 States Code, as amended by this Act. 

25 (c) REGULATIONS.— 


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1 (1) INTERIM POLICY GUIDANCE.—Not later than 

2 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

3 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe in4 terim policy guidance on energy efficiency audits and 

5 the conditions under which the performance of such 

6 audits may be included in the amount guaranteed by 

7 the Secretary under section 3710(d) of title 38, 

8 United States Code, as amended by subsection (a). 

9 (2) REGULATIONS.—Not later than one year 

10 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec11 retary shall prescribe regulations to carry out the 

12 amendments made by subsection (a). 

13 (3) ENERGY EFFICIENCY AUDIT DEFINED.—For 

14 purposes of this subsection, the term ‘‘energy effi15 ciency audit’’ means a measurement of the effects of 

16 an improvement made to a dwelling for the purpose 

17 of reducing energy consumption or increasing energy 

18 efficiency that is carried out by a certified profes19 sional auditor, as determined by the Secretary. 

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

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

22 secured on or after January 1, 2011. 


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1 SEC. 25. PILOT PROGRAM ON SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUS2 ING ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS RESIDING 

3 TEMPORARILY IN HOUSING OWNED BY A FAM4 ILY MEMBER. 

5 (a) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN LIMITATIONS.—Notwith6 standing subsection (d) of section 2102 of title 38, United 

7 States Code, and subject to subsection (b), a grant under 

8 section 2102A of such title shall not count toward the dollar 

9 amount limitations specified in that subsection. 

10 (b) TERMINATION.—Subsection (a) shall apply only to 

11 the first 25 grants made during fiscal year 2011. 

Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill 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.’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 366 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5360 

[Report No. 111–626] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify 

provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. bility for specially adapted housing assistance the standard of visual acuity required for eligiSEPTEMBER 28, 2010 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 

dered to be printed of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and orVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:43 Sep 28, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\H5360.RH H5360

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