H. R. 5404 

One Hundred Thirteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and fourteen 

An Act 

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. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 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. 
H. R. 5404—2 

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. 

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. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers. 

Sec. 407. Extension of authority for agreement with National Academy of Sciences. 

Sec. 408. Health professionals education debt reduction. 

Sec. 409. Amendments to Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. 

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE. 

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act 

an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment 

to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall 

be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 

38, United States Code. 

SEC. 3. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

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

with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined 

by reference to the latest statement titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of 

PAYGO Legislation’’ for this Act, submitted for printing in the 

Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior 

to the vote on passage. 

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. 

Section 1710A(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 

SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VETERANS 

NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE IN THE ARMED 

FORCES. 

(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (d) of section 203 

of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 

2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1143; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) 

is amended to read as follows: 

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

under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2015.’’. 

(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Subsection (f) of such 

section is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2010 and 2011’’ and 

inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2015’’. 
H. R. 5404—3 

SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS 

RECEIVING HEALTH CARE. 

(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (e) of section 205 

of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 

2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1144; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) 

is amended to read as follows: 

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

under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2015.’’. 

(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Subsection (h) of such 

section is amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ and inserting ‘‘2015’’. 

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

SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF 

HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS. 

Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 

Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1154; 38 

U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ and inserting 

‘‘2015’’. 

SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON ACTIVITIES 

OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTERAGENCY PROGRAM OFFICE. 

Section 1635(h)(1) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of 

Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 460; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended 

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

SEC. 106. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF 

MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT 

PHYSICIANS. 

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

Law 108–183; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking 

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

SEC. 107. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR HOSPITAL CARE AND NURSING HOME CARE. 

Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 

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

SEC. 108. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY FROM THIRD 

PARTIES OF COST OF CARE AND SERVICES FURNISHED 

TO VETERANS WITH HEALTH-PLAN CONTRACTS FOR NONSERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY. 

Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2015’’. 

TITLE II—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY 

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS 

SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL FOR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. 

Section 2013(7) is amended by striking ‘‘$150,000,000’’ and 

inserting ‘‘$250,000,000’’. 
H. R. 5404—4 

SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS. 

Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ and 

inserting ‘‘2015’’. 

SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REFERRAL AND 

COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AT RISK 

OF HOMELESSNESS. 

(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (d) of section 2023 

is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Subsection (c)(3) of such section 

is amended by striking ‘‘enter into contracts’’ and inserting ‘‘make 

grants’’. 

SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TREATMENT AND 

REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY 

ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS. 

(a) GENERAL TREATMENT.—Section 2031(b) is amended by 

striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 

(b) ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS.—Section 

2033(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ and inserting 

‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 

SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS. 

Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 

SEC. 206. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME 

VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING. 

Section 2044(e)(1)(E) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2013 

and 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2013 through 2015’’. 

SEC. 207. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR 

HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. 

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

‘‘2015’’. 

SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

ON HOMELESS VETERANS. 

Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 

TITLE III—EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY 

RELATING TO BENEFITS 

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

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. 

Section 3692(c) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 

SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING NET VALUE 

OF REAL PROPERTY AT TIME OF FORECLOSURE. 

Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2015’’. 
H. R. 5404—5 

SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS. 

Section 3733(a)(7) is amended— 

(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 

‘‘September 30, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’; and 

(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘September 30, 2014,’’ 

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

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. 

Section 111A(a)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 

SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF THE 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE 

IN MANILA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. 

Section 315(b) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 

SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE REPORTS TO 

CONGRESS REGARDING EQUITABLE RELIEF IN THE CASE 

OF ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR. 

Section 503(c) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 

SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 

MINORITY VETERANS. 

Section 544(e) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 

SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY EXPANSION 

OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 

ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES 

CAUSING DIFFICULTY AMBULATING. 

Section 2101(a)(4) is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘September 30, 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’; and 

(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2014’’ 

and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015’’. 

SEC. 406. RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS. 

During the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the second sentence of section 3684(c) shall be 

applied— 

(1) by substituting ‘‘$9’’ for ‘‘$12’’; and 

(2) by substituting ‘‘$13’’ for ‘‘$15’’. 

SEC. 407. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR AGREEMENT WITH 

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 

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

102–4; 105 Stat. 13; 38 U.S.C. 1116 note) is amended by striking 

‘‘October 1, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 
H. R. 5404—6 

SEC. 408. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION DEBT REDUCTION. 

Section 7683 is amended— 

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

new subsection: 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Education debt reduction payments under 

the Education Debt Reduction Program shall consist of— 

‘‘(1) payments to individuals selected to participate in the 

program of principal and interest on loans described in section 

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

‘‘(2) payments for the principal and interest on such loans 

of such individuals to the holders of such loans.’’; 

(2) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking ‘‘payments to’’ 

both places it appears and inserting ‘‘payments to or for’’; 

and 

(3) in subsection (d)— 

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘made to’’ and 

inserting ‘‘made to or for’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘payable to that’’ 

and inserting ‘‘payable to or for that’’. 

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

ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2014. 

(a) EXPANDED AVAILABILITY OF HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL

SERVICES.—Section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and 

Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 

note) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (c)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘provide the veteran an appointment that exceeds the wait-time goals 

described in such subsection or’’ before ‘‘place such’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘(or other digital 

channel)’’ after ‘‘website’’; 

(2) in subsection (d)(1)(A), by adding at the end the following new sentences: ‘‘An agreement entered into pursuant 

to this subparagraph may not be treated as a Federal contract 

for the acquisition of goods or services and is not subject to 

any provision of law governing Federal contracts for the acquisition of goods or services. Before entering into an agreement 

pursuant to this subparagraph, the Secretary shall, to the 

maximum extent practicable and consistent with the requirements of this section, furnish such care and services to such 

veterans under this section with such entities pursuant to 

sharing agreements, existing contracts entered into by the Secretary, or other processes available at medical facilities of the 

Department.’’; 

(3) in subsection (l)(1), by inserting ‘‘a copy of’’ before ‘‘any 

medical record’’; and 

(4) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(t) WAIVER OF CERTAIN PRINTING REQUIREMENTS.—Section 501 

of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply in carrying out 

this section.’’. 

(b) COLLABORATION BETWEEN VA AND INDIAN HEALTH

SERVICE.—Section 102 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) 

is amended— 
H. R. 5404—7 

(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘The Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs shall establish’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Indian Health 

Service shall jointly establish and implement’’; 

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

new paragraph: 

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

and the Indian Health Service described in paragraph (2)(A) 

with respect to the effect of such agreement on the priority 

access of any Indian to health care services provided through 

the Indian Health Service, the eligibility of any Indian to 

receive health services through the Indian Health Service, and 

the quality of health care services provided to any Indian 

through the Indian Health Service.’’; and 

(3) by striking subsection (d). 

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

Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 

U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘section 1315’’ and 

inserting ‘‘part 1315’’; 

(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘chapter 39’’ and 

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

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

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

(d) IMPROVEMENT OF ACCESS TO MOBILE VET CENTERS.—Section 

204 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 

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

(1) in subsection (a)— 

(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and readjustment 

counseling services’’ after ‘‘other health care’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2)— 

(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘and events’’ 

after ‘‘locations’’; and 

(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘and outreach 

contacts’’ after ‘‘appointments’’; and 

(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

(A) in subparagraph (A)— 

(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting 

‘‘and readjustment counseling’’ after ‘‘telemedicine 

services’’; and 

(ii) in clause (iii), by inserting ‘‘and outreach contacts’’ after ‘‘appointments’’; 

(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘and readjustment counseling’’ after ‘‘health care services’’; and 

(C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘mobile vet centers 

and’’. 

(e) IMPROVED TRANSPARENCY.—Section 206(b) of the Veterans 

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

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

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘comprehensive database’’ 

and inserting ‘‘comprehensive, machine-readable data set’’; 

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

of the reason’’ and inserting ‘‘notice of the reason’’; and 

(3) in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), by striking ‘‘database’’ 

each place it appears and inserting ‘‘data’’. 

(f) INFORMATION ON CREDENTIALS.—Section 207 of the Veterans 

Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113– 
H. R. 5404—8 

146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by striking ‘‘successor database’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘successor data set’’. 

(g) REPORT ON STAFFING SHORTAGES.—Section 301(b)(3) of the 

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

Law 113–146) is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Not later’’ and all 

that follows through ‘‘2019’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘On 

October 1 of each year beginning in 2015 and ending in 2019’’; 

and 

(2) in subparagraph (B)— 

(A) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘at each’’ and all that 

follows through the period at the end and inserting the 

following: ‘‘or guidelines of the Department with respect 

to determining the ratio of residents to staff supervising 

residents.’’; and 

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

new clause: 

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

the submittal of the report, to recruit and retain medical residents to work for the Veterans Health Administration as full-time employees.’’. 

(h) PROJECT ARCH.—Section 403(j) of the Veterans’ Mental 

Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (Public Law 

110–387; 38 U.S.C. 1703 note) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘In carrying out’’ and inserting ‘‘Notwithstanding any provision of law relating to the use of competitive 

procedures in entering into contracts, in carrying out’’; and 

(2) by inserting ‘‘under this section’’ after ‘‘make use of 

contracts entered into’’. 

(i) CLARIFICATION OF APPROVAL OF COURSES OF EDUCATION

PROVIDED BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND INSTATE TUITION RATE FOR VETERANS.—Paragraph (1) of section 

3679(c) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and 

subject to paragraphs (3) through (6), the Secretary shall disapprove 

a course of education provided by a public institution of higher 

learning if the institution charges tuition and fees for that course 

for covered individuals who are pursuing the course with educational assistance under chapter 30 or 33 of this title while living 

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

is higher than the rate the institution charges for tuition and 
H. R. 5404—9 

fees for that course for residents of the State in which the institution 

is located, regardless of the covered individual’s State of residence.’’. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.