I 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5404 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions 

of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014 

Mr. DENHAM (for himself and Mr. MILLER of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services and the Budget, 

for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 

for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 

committee concerned 

A BILL 

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

expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary 

of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

5 ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act 

6 of 2014’’. 


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

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

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

Sec. 3. Scoring of budgetary effects. 

TITLE I—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH 

CARE 

Sec. 101. Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities. 

Sec. 102. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the 

Armed Forces. 

Sec. 103. Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for child care 

for certain veterans receiving health care. 

Sec. 104. Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans. 

Sec. 105. Extension of requirement for report on activities of Department of 

Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program 

Office. 

Sec. 106. Extension of authority for the performance of medical disabilities examinations by contract physicians. 

Sec. 107. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for hospital care 

and nursing home care. 

Sec. 108. Extension of authority for recovery from third parties of cost of care 

and services furnished to veterans with health-plan contracts 

for non-service-connected disability. 

TITLE II—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO 

HOMELESSNESS 

Sec. 201. Extension of current funding level for comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans. 

Sec. 202. Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration programs. 

Sec. 203. Extension of authority to provide referral and counseling services for 

certain veterans at risk of homelessness. 

Sec. 204. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation services for 

seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans. 

Sec. 205. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for homeless veterans. 

Sec. 206. Extension of authority to provide financial assistance for supportive 

services for very low-income veteran families in permanent 

housing. 

Sec. 207. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans with 

special needs. 

Sec. 208. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans. 

TITLE III—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS 

Sec. 301. Extension of authority for the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education. 


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Sec. 302. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real property at 

time of foreclosure. 

Sec. 303. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans. 

Sec. 304. Extension of authority to provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to members of the Armed Forces with severe injuries or 

illnesses. 

TITLE IV—OTHER EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER 

MATTERS 

Sec. 401. Extension of authority to transport certain individuals to and from 

Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. 

Sec. 402. Extension of authority for operation of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines. 

Sec. 403. Extension of requirement to provide reports to Congress regarding 

equitable relief in the case of administrative error. 

Sec. 404. Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. 

Sec. 405. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating. 

Sec. 406. Extension of authority for agreement with National Academy of 

Sciences. 

Sec. 407. Assistance and enforcement of USERRA rights with respect to employers that are Federal departments and agencies. 

Sec. 408. Health professionals education debt reduction. 

Sec. 409. Amendments to Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 

2014. 

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 repeal of, a section or other provi5 sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 

6 section or other provision of title 38, United States Code. 

7 SEC. 3. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

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

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

10 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 

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

12 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. 

4 TITLE I—EXTENSIONS OF AU5 THORITY RELATING TO 

6 HEALTH CARE 

7 SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE 

8 NURSING HOME CARE TO CERTAIN VET9 ERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABIL10 ITIES. 

11 Section 1710A(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 

12 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 

13 SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM 

14 ON COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR 

15 WOMEN VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM 

16 SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES. 

17 (a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (d) of 

18 section 203 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 

19 Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 

20 Stat. 1143; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended to read 

21 as follows: 

22 ‘‘(d) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out a 

23 pilot program under this section shall terminate on De24 cember 31, 2015.’’. 


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1 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Sub2 section (f) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal 

3 years 2010 and 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2010, 

4 2011, and 2015’’. 

5 SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM 

6 ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CER7 TAIN VETERANS RECEIVING HEALTH CARE. 

8 (a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (e) of 

9 section 205 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus 

10 Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 

11 Stat. 1144; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended to read as 

12 follows: 

13 ‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out a 

14 pilot program under this section shall terminate on De15 cember 31, 2015.’’. 

16 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Sub17 section (h) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ 

18 and inserting ‘‘2015’’. 

19 SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO 

20 VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR 

21 TRANSPORTATION OF HIGHLY RURAL VET22 ERANS. 

23 Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omni24 bus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 


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1 124 Stat. 1154; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by 

2 striking ‘‘2014’’ and inserting ‘‘2015’’. 

3 SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON 

4 ACTIVITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE5 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTER6 AGENCY PROGRAM OFFICE. 

7 Section 1635(h)(1) of the Wounded Warrior Act 

8 (title XVI of Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 460; 10 

9 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ and in10 serting ‘‘2015’’. 

11 SEC. 106. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE PERFORM12 ANCE OF MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINA13 TIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS. 

14 Section 704(c) of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 

15 (Public Law 108–183; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended 

16 by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘Decem17 ber 31, 2015’’. 

18 SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION OF 

19 COPAYMENTS FOR HOSPITAL CARE AND 

20 NURSING HOME CARE. 

21 Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ‘‘Sep22 tember 30, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 


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1 SEC. 108. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY FROM 

2 THIRD PARTIES OF COST OF CARE AND SERV3 ICES FURNISHED TO VETERANS WITH 

4 HEALTH-PLAN CONTRACTS FOR NON-SERV5 ICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY. 

6 Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ‘‘Octo7 ber 1, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2015’’. 

8 TITLE II—EXTENSIONS OF AU9 THORITY RELATING TO 

10 HOMELESSNESS 

11 SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL FOR 

12 COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR 

13 HOMELESS VETERANS. 

14 Section 2013(7) is amended by striking 

15 ‘‘$150,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$250,000,000’’. 

16 SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VET17 ERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS. 

18 Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking 

19 ‘‘2014’’ and inserting ‘‘2015’’. 

20 SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REFER21 RAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CER22 TAIN VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. 

23 Section 2023(d) is amended by striking ‘‘September 

24 30, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 


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1 SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TREATMENT AND 

2 REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR SERIOUSLY 

3 MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS. 

4 (a) GENERAL TREATMENT.—Section 2031(b) is 

5 amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ and inserting 

6 ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 

7 (b) ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT CERTAIN LOCA8 TIONS.—Section 2033(d) is amended by striking ‘‘Decem9 ber 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 

10 SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUS11 ING ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. 

12 Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ‘‘December 

13 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 

14 SEC. 206. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINAN15 CIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERV16 ICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMI17 LIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING. 

18 Section 2044(e)(1)(E) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal 

19 years 2013 and 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2013 

20 through 2015’’. 

21 SEC. 207. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PRO22 GRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPE23 CIAL NEEDS. 

24 Section 2061(d)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ 

25 and inserting ‘‘2015’’. 


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1 SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY 

2 COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS. 

3 Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 

4 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

5 TITLE III—EXTENSIONS OF AU6 THORITY RELATING TO BENE7 FITS 

8 SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE VETERANS’ 

9 ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. 

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

11 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

12 SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING 

13 NET VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AT TIME OF 

14 FORECLOSURE. 

15 Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ‘‘October 

16 1, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2015’’. 

17 SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VEND18 EE LOANS. 

19 Section 3733(a)(7) is amended— 

20 (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 

21 by striking ‘‘September 30, 2014’’ and inserting 

22 ‘‘September 30, 2015’’; and 

23 (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘Sep24 tember 30, 2014,’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 

25 2015,’’. 


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1 SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REHA2 BILITATION AND VOCATIONAL BENEFITS TO 

3 MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH SE4 VERE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES. 

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

6 XVI of Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 458; 10 U.S.C. 

7 1071 note) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ 

8 and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 

9 TITLE IV—OTHER EXTENSIONS 

10 OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER 

11 MATTERS 

12 SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSPORT CER13 TAIN INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM DEPART14 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES. 

15 Section 111A(a)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘Decem16 ber 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 

17 SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF 

18 THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

19 REGIONAL OFFICE IN MANILA, THE REPUB20 LIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. 

21 Section 315(b) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 

22 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 


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1 SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE RE2 PORTS TO CONGRESS REGARDING EQUI3 TABLE RELIEF IN THE CASE OF ADMINISTRA4 TIVE ERROR. 

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

6 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 

7 SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COM8 MITTEE ON MINORITY VETERANS. 

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

10 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 

11 SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY EX12 PANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY 

13 ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CER14 TAIN VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES CAUSING 

15 DIFFICULTY AMBULATING. 

16 Section 2101(a)(4) is amended— 

17 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Sep18 tember 30, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 

19 2015’’; and 

20 (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘fiscal 

21 year 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 2014 

22 and 2015’’. 

23 SEC. 406. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR AGREEMENT 

24 WITH NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 

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

26 Law 102–4; 105 Stat. 13; 38 U.S.C. 1116 note) is amendVerDate Mar 15 2010 03:28 Sep 09, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5404.IH H5404

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1 ed by striking ‘‘October 1, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘Decem2 ber 31, 2015’’. 

3 SEC. 407. ASSISTANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF USERRA 

4 RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO EMPLOYERS THAT 

5 ARE FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGEN6 CIES. 

7 (a) ASSISTANCE.—Section 4321 is amended— 

8 (1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 

9 ‘‘(a) STATE AND PRIVATE EMPLOYERS.—The Sec10 retary’’; 

11 (2) by inserting after ‘‘this chapter’’ the fol12 lowing: ‘‘with respect to a State (as an employer) or 

13 a private employer’’; and 

14 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub15 section: 

16 ‘‘(b) FEDERAL EMPLOYERS.—The Office of Special 

17 Counsel established by section 1211 of title 5 shall provide 

18 assistance to any person with respect to the employment 

19 and reemployment rights and benefits to which such per20 son is entitled under this chapter with respect to a Federal 

21 executive agency or the Office of Personnel Management. 

22 In providing such assistance, the Special Counsel may re23 quest the assistance of existing Federal and State agencies 

24 engaged in similar or related activities and utilize the as25 sistance of volunteers.’’. 


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1 (b) INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT.—Section 

2 4324 is amended— 

3 (1) in subsection (a)— 

4 (A) by striking paragraph (1) and insert5 ing the following new paragraph (1): 

6 ‘‘(1)(A) A person described in subparagraph (B) may 

7 file a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel estab8 lished by section 1211 of title 5, and the Special Counsel 

9 shall investigate such complaint. 

10 ‘‘(B) A person described in this subparagraph is a 

11 person who claims that— 

12 ‘‘(i) such person is entitled under this chapter 

13 to employment or reemployment rights or benefits 

14 with respect to employment by an employer that is 

15 a Federal executive agency; and 

16 ‘‘(ii) such employer or the Office of Personnel 

17 Management has failed or refused, or is about to fail 

18 or refuse, to comply with the provisions of this chap19 ter. 

20 ‘‘(C) Such a complaint shall be in writing, be in such 

21 form as the Special Counsel may prescribe, include the 

22 name and address of the employer against whom the com23 plaint is filed, and contain a summary of the allegations 

24 that form the basis for the complaint.’’; and 

25 (B) in paragraph (2)— 


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1 (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

2 ‘‘the person on whose behalf a complaint is 

3 referred’’ and inserting ‘‘a person who sub4 mits a complaint’’; and 

5 (ii) in subparagraph (B)— 

6 (I) by striking ‘‘60 days’’ and in7 serting ‘‘90 days’’; and 

8 (II) by striking ‘‘receives a refer9 ral’’ and inserting ‘‘receives a person’s 

10 complaint’’; 

11 (2) in subsection (b)— 

12 (A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2); 

13 and 

14 (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and 

15 (4) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and 

16 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub17 section: 

18 ‘‘(e) This subchapter does not apply to any action re19 lating to benefits to be provided under the Thrift Savings 

20 Plan under title 5.’’. 

21 (c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

22 Chapter 43 is amended— 

23 (1) in section 4322— 

24 (A) in subsection (a)— 


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1 (i) in paragraph (1), by inserting after 

2 ‘‘an employer’’ the following: ‘‘that is a 

3 State or a private employer’’; and 

4 (ii) in paragraph (2)— 

5 (I) by striking ‘‘(A)’’; 

6 (II) by striking ‘‘; or’’ and insert7 ing a comma; and 

8 (III) by striking subparagraph 

9 (B); 

10 (B) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘or 

11 4324, as the case may be’’; 

12 (C) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ‘‘(in 

13 the case of a person submitting a complaint 

14 against a State or private employer) or section 

15 4324 (in the case of a person submitting a com16 plaint against a Federal executive agency or the 

17 Office of Personnel Management)’’; 

18 (D) by striking subsection (g); and 

19 (E) by striking the section heading and in20 serting the following: ‘‘Investigation and 

21 resolution of claims with respect to a 

22 State or private employer’’; 

23 (2) in section 4325(d)— 

24 (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or the 

25 Special Counsel’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’; and 


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1 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, the 

2 Special Counsel,’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’; 

3 (3) in section 4326— 

4 (A) in subsection (a)— 

5 (i) by striking ‘‘the Secretary’s duly 

6 authorized representatives’’ and inserting 

7 ‘‘the duly authorized representatives of the 

8 Secretary or the Special Counsel, as the 

9 case may be,’’ and 

10 (ii) by striking ‘‘the Secretary con11 siders’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary or the 

12 Special Counsel, as the case may be, con13 siders’’; 

14 (B) in subsection (b), by inserting after 

15 ‘‘Secretary’’ both places it appears the fol16 lowing: ‘‘(or the Special Counsel, as the case 

17 may be)’’; and 

18 (C) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘or the 

19 Special Counsel’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’ each place 

20 it appears; 

21 (4) in section 4327— 

22 (A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking 

23 ‘‘4324(a)(1),’’; and 

24 (B) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘the 

25 Special Counsel,’’ after ‘‘the Secretary,’’; and 


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1 (5) in section 4332(b)(3)— 

2 (A) by striking ‘‘received a referral’’ and 

3 inserting ‘‘received a complaint submitted’’; and 

4 (B) by striking ‘‘for such referral’’. 

5 (d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

6 at the beginning of chapter 43 is amended by striking the 

7 item relating to section 4322 and inserting the following 

8 new item: 

‘‘4322. Investigation and resolution of claims with respect to a State or private 

employer.’’. 

9 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—This section and the amend11 ments made by this section shall take effect on the 

12 date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment 

13 of this Act. 

14 (2) TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS; FUNDING.— 

15 During the 90-day period following the date of the 

16 enactment of this Act, the Special Counsel shall 

17 enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Labor 

18 to transfer to the Special Counsel such sums as may 

19 be necessary to carry out the functions reassigned to 

20 the Special Counsel pursuant to this section. The 

21 Director of the Office of Management and Budget 

22 shall coordinate with the Special Counsel and the 

23 Secretary of Labor in entering into and carrying out 

24 such agreement. No funds may be transferred under 


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1 an agreement entered into under this paragraph on 

2 or after the first day of any period for which appro3 priations are provided for the Office of Special 

4 Counsel in an appropriations Act (other than a con5 tinuing resolution) enacted subsequent to the date of 

6 the enactment of this Act. 

7 SEC. 408. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION DEBT RE8 DUCTION. 

9 Section 7683 is amended— 

10 (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 

11 following new subsection: 

12 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Education debt reduction pay13 ments under the Education Debt Reduction Program shall 

14 consist of— 

15 ‘‘(1) payments to individuals selected to partici16 pate in the program of amounts to reimburse such 

17 individuals for payments by such individuals of prin18 cipal and interest on loans described in section 

19 7682(a)(2) of this title; or 

20 ‘‘(2) payments for the principal and interest on 

21 such loans of such individuals to the holders of such 

22 loans.’’; 

23 (2) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking ‘‘pay24 ments to’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘pay25 ments to or for’’; and 


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1 (3) in subsection (d)— 

2 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘made 

3 to’’ and inserting ‘‘made to or for’’; and 

4 (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘pay5 able to that’’ and inserting ‘‘payable to or for 

6 that’’. 

7 SEC. 409. AMENDMENTS TO VETERANS ACCESS, CHOICE, 

8 AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2014. 

9 (a) EXPANDED AVAILABILITY OF HOSPITAL CARE

10 AND MEDICAL SERVICES.—Section 101 of the Veterans 

11 Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public 

12 Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 

13 (1) in subsection (c)— 

14 (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘pro15 vide the veteran an appointment that exceeds 

16 the wait-time goals described in such subsection 

17 or’’ before ‘‘place such’’; and 

18 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘(or 

19 other digital channel)’’ after ‘‘website’’; 

20 (2) in subsection (d)— 

21 (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by adding at the 

22 end the following new sentence: ‘‘An agreement 

23 entered into pursuant to this subparagraph may 

24 not be treated as a public contract for the ac25 quisition of goods or services and is not subject 


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1 to any provision of law governing public con2 tracts or the acquisition of goods or services. 

3 Before entering into an agreement pursuant to 

4 this subparagraph, the Secretary shall, to the 

5 maximum extent practicable and consistent with 

6 the requirements of this section, furnish such 

7 care and services to such veterans under this 

8 section with such entities pursuant to sharing 

9 agreements, existing contracts entered into by 

10 the Secretary, or other processes available at 

11 medical facilities of the Department.’’; and 

12 (B) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii)— 

13 (i) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘The 

14 Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as pro15 vided by subclause (III), the Secretary’’; 

16 and 

17 (ii) by adding at the end the following 

18 new subclause: 

19 ‘‘(III) SPECIAL RULES FOR ALAS20 KA AND MARYLAND.—With respect to 

21 furnishing care or services under this 

22 section in Alaska, the Secretary shall 

23 negotiate a rate in accordance with 

24 the Alaska Fee Schedule of the De25 partment of Veterans Affairs except 


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1 in instances where the Secretary en2 ters into another agreement, including 

3 a contract or provider agreement. 

4 With respect to furnishing care or 

5 services under this section in Mary6 land, in the event of an all-payer 

7 Medicare waiver under section 1115A 

8 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

9 1315a), the Secretary shall ensure 

10 that rates are negotiated in accord11 ance with rates established pursuant 

12 to such waiver, except in instances 

13 where the Secretary enters into an14 other payment agreement.’’; 

15 (3) in subsection (l)(1), by inserting ‘‘a copy 

16 of’’ before ‘‘any medical record’’; and 

17 (4) by adding at the end the following new sub18 section: 

19 ‘‘(t) WAIVER OF CERTAIN PRINTING REQUIRE20 MENTS.—Section 501 of title 44, United States Code, 

21 shall not apply in carrying out this section.’’. 

22 (b) COLLABORATION BETWEEN VA AND INDIAN

23 HEALTH SERVICE.—Section 102 of the Veterans Access, 

24 Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113– 

25 146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 


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1 (1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘The Sec2 retary of Veterans Affairs shall establish’’ and in3 serting the following: ‘‘The Secretary of Veterans 

4 Affairs and the Director of the Indian Health Serv5 ice shall jointly establish and implement’’; 

6 (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 

7 following new paragraph: 

8 ‘‘(3) Entering into an agreement between the 

9 Department and the Indian Health Service described 

10 in paragraph (2)(A) with respect to the effect of 

11 such agreement on the priority access of any Indian 

12 to health care services provided through the Indian 

13 Health Service, the eligibility of any Indian to re14 ceive health services through the Indian Health 

15 Service, and the quality of health care services pro16 vided to any Indian through the Indian Health Serv17 ice.’’; and 

18 (3) by striking subsection (d). 

19 (c) PROMPT PAYMENT.—Section 105 of the Veterans 

20 Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public 

21 Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 

22 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘section 

23 1315’’ and inserting ‘‘part 1315’’; 

24 (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘chapter 

25 39’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 39 of title 31’’; and 


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1 (3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘required by 

2 subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘required by sub3 section (c)’’. 

4 (d) IMPROVEMENT OF ACCESS TO MOBILE VET CEN5 TERS.—Section 204 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and 

6 Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 

7 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 

8 (1) in subsection (a)— 

9 (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and re10 adjustment counseling services’’ after ‘‘other 

11 health care’’; and 

12 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

13 (i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 

14 ‘‘and events’’ after ‘‘locations’’; and 

15 (ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting 

16 ‘‘and outreach contacts’’ after ‘‘appoint17 ments’’; and 

18 (2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

19 (A) in subparagraph (A)— 

20 (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), 

21 by inserting ‘‘and readjustment coun22 seling’’ after ‘‘telemedicine services’’; and 

23 (ii) in clause (iii), by inserting ‘‘and 

24 outreach contracts’’ after ‘‘appointments’’; 


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1 (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 

2 ‘‘and readjustment counseling’’ after ‘‘health 

3 care services’’; and 

4 (C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘mo5 bile vet centers and’’. 

6 (e) IMPROVED TRANSPARENCY.—Section 206(b) of 

7 the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 

8 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is 

9 amended— 

10 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘comprehen11 sive database’’ and inserting ‘‘comprehensive, ma12 chine-readable data set’’; 

13 (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘notice in the 

14 database of the reason’’ and inserting ‘‘notice of the 

15 reason’’; and 

16 (3) in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), by striking 

17 ‘‘database’’ each place it appears and inserting 

18 ‘‘data’’. 

19 (f) INFORMATION ON CREDENTIALS.—Section 207 of 

20 the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 

21 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is 

22 amended by striking ‘‘successor database’’ each place it 

23 appears and inserting ‘‘successor data set’’. 


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1 (g) REPORT ON STAFFING SHORTAGES.—Section 

2 301(b)(3) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Account3 ability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146) is amended— 

4 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Not 

5 later’’ and all that follows through ‘‘2019’’ and in6 serting the following: ‘‘On October 1 of each year 

7 beginning in 2015 and ending in 2019’’; and 

8 (2) in subparagraph (B)— 

9 (A) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘at each’’ 

10 and all that follows through the period at the 

11 end and inserting the following: ‘‘or guidelines 

12 of the Department with respect to determining 

13 the ratio of residents to staff supervising resi14 dents.’’; and 

15 (B) by striking clause (v) and inserting the 

16 following new clause: 

17 ‘‘(v) Efforts of the Department, as of 

18 the date of the submittal of the report, to 

19 recruit and retain medical residents to 

20 work for the Veterans Health Administra21 tion as full-time employees.’’. 

22 (h) PROJECT ARCH.—Section 403(j) of the Vet23 erans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act 

24 of 2008 (Public Law 110–387; 38 U.S.C. 1703 note) is 

25 amended— 


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1 (1) by striking ‘‘In carrying out’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘Notwithstanding any provision of law relating to 

3 the use of competitive procedures in entering into 

4 contracts, in carrying out’’; and 

5 (2) by inserting ‘‘under this section’’ after 

6 ‘‘make use of contracts entered into’’. 

7 (i) CLARIFICATION OF APPROVAL OF COURSES OF

8 EDUCATION PROVIDED BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF

9 HIGHER LEARNING AND IN-STATE TUITION RATE FOR

10 VETERANS.—Paragraph (1) of section 3679(c) is amend11 ed to read as follows: 

12 ‘‘(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 

13 chapter and subject to paragraphs (3) through (6), the 

14 Secretary shall disapprove a course of education provided 

15 by a public institution of higher learning if the institution 

16 charges tuition and fees for that course for covered indi17 viduals who are pursuing the course with educational as18 sistance under chapter 30 or 33 of this title while living 

19 in the State in which the institution is located at a rate 

20 that is higher than the rate the institution charges for tui21 tion and fees for that course for residents of the State 

22 in which the institution is located, regardless of the cov23 ered individual’s State of residence.’’. 

Æ 


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