110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 1315

AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance veterans’ 

insurance and housing benefits, to improve benefits and 

services for transitioning servicemembers, and for other 

purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

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

3 ‘‘Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007’’. 

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

5 this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

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

TITLE I—INSURANCE MATTERS 

Sec. 101. Level-premium term life insurance for veterans with service-connected 

disabilities. 

Sec. 102. Administrative costs of service disabled veterans’ insurance. 

Sec. 103. Modification of servicemembers’ group life insurance coverage. 

Sec. 104. Supplemental insurance for totally disabled veterans. 

Sec. 105. Expansion of individuals qualifying for retroactive benefits from traumatic injury protection coverage under Servicemembers’ Group 

Life Insurance. 

Sec. 106. Consideration of loss dominant hand in prescription of schedule of severity of traumatic injury under Servicemembers’ Group Life 

Insurance. 

Sec. 107. Designation of fiduciary for traumatic injury protection coverage 

under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance in case of lost 

mental capacity or extended loss of consciousness. 

Sec. 108. Enhancement of veterans’ mortgage life insurance. 

TITLE II—HOUSING MATTERS 

Sec. 201. Home improvements and structural alterations for totally disabled 

members of the Armed Forces before discharge or release from 

the Armed Forces. 

Sec. 202. Eligibility for specially adapted housing benefits and assistance for 

members of the Armed Forces with service-connected disabilities and individuals residing outside the United States. 

Sec. 203. Specially adapted housing assistance for individuals with severe burn 

injuries. 

Sec. 204. Extension of assistance for individuals residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member. 

Sec. 205. Supplemental specially adapted housing benefits for disabled veterans. 

Sec. 206. Report on specially adapted housing for disabled individuals. 

Sec. 207. Report on specially adapted housing assistance for individuals who reside in housing owned by a family member on permanent basis. 

TITLE III—LABOR AND EDUCATION MATTERS 

Sec. 301. Coordination of approval activities in the administration of education 

benefits. 

Sec. 302. Modification of rate of reimbursement of State and local agencies administering veterans education benefits. 
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Sec. 303. Waiver of residency requirement for Directors for Veterans’ Employment and Training. 

Sec. 304. Modification of special unemployment study to cover veterans of Post 

9/11 Global Operations. 

Sec. 305. Extension of increase in benefit for individuals pursuing apprenticeship or on-job training. 

TITLE IV—FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS MATTERS 

Sec. 401. Expansion of eligibility for benefits provided by Department of Veterans Affairs for certain service in the organized military forces 

of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine 

Scouts. 

Sec. 402. Eligibility of children of certain Philippine veterans for educational 

assistance. 

TITLE V—COURT MATTERS 

Sec. 501. Recall of retired judges of the United States Court of Appeals for 

Veterans Claims. 

Sec. 502. Additional discretion in imposition of practice and registration fees. 

Sec. 503. Annual reports on workload of United States Court of Appeals for 

Veterans Claims. 

Sec. 504. Report on expansion of facilities for United States Court of Appeals 

for Veterans Claims. 

TITLE VI—COMPENSATION AND PENSION MATTERS 

Sec. 601. Addition of osteoporosis to disabilities presumed to be service-connected in former prisoners of war with post-traumatic stress 

disorder. 

Sec. 602. Cost-of-living increase for temporary dependency and indemnity compensation payable for surviving spouses with dependent children under the age of 18. 

Sec. 603. Clarification of eligibility of veterans 65 years of age or older for 

service pension for a period of war. 

TITLE VII—BURIAL AND MEMORIAL MATTERS 

Sec. 701. Supplemental benefits for veterans for funeral and burial expenses. 

Sec. 702. Supplemental plot allowances. 

TITLE VIII—OTHER MATTERS 

Sec. 801. Eligibility of disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces 

with severe burn injuries for automobiles and adaptive equipment. 

Sec. 802. Supplemental assistance for providing automobiles or other conveyances to certain disabled veterans. 

Sec. 803. Clarification of purpose of the outreach services program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 804. Termination or suspension of contracts for cellular telephone service 

for servicemembers undergoing deployment outside the United 

States. 

Sec. 805. Maintenance, management, and availability for research of assets of 

Air Force Health Study. 
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Sec. 806. National Academies study on risk of developing multiple sclerosis as 

a result of certain service in the Persian Gulf War and Post 

9/11 Global Operations theaters. 

Sec. 807. Comptroller General report on adequacy of dependency and indemnity 

compensation to maintain survivors of veterans who die from 

service-connected disabilities.

1 SEC. 2. REFERENCE 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 TITLE I—INSURANCE MATTERS 

8 SEC. 101. LEVEL-PREMIUM TERM LIFE INSURANCE FOR 

9 VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DIS10 ABILITIES. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 19 is amended by insert12 ing after section 1922A the following new section: 

13 ‘‘§ 1922B. Level-premium term life insurance for vet14 erans with service-connected disabilities 

15 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with the provi16 sions of this section, the Secretary shall grant insurance 

17 to each eligible veteran who seeks such insurance against 

18 the death of such veteran occurring while such insurance 

19 is in force. 

20 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE VETERANS.—For purposes of this 

21 section, an eligible veteran is any veteran less than 65 

22 years of age who has a service-connected disability. 
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1 ‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF INSURANCE.—(1) Subject to para2 graph (2), the amount of insurance granted an eligible vet3 eran under this section shall be $50,000 or such lesser 

4 amount as the veteran shall elect. The amount of insur5 ance so elected shall be evenly divisible by $10,000. 

6 ‘‘(2) The aggregate amount of insurance of an eligible 

7 veteran under this section, section 1922 of this title, and 

8 section 1922A of this title may not exceed $50,000. 

9 ‘‘(d) REDUCED AMOUNT FOR VETERANS AGE 70 OR

10 OLDER.—In the case of a veteran insured under this sec11 tion who turns age 70, the amount of insurance of such 

12 veteran under this section after the date such veteran 

13 turns age 70 shall be the amount equal to 20 percent of 

14 the amount of insurance of the veteran under this section 

15 as of the day before such date. 

16 ‘‘(e) PREMIUMS.—(1) Premium rates for insurance 

17 under this section shall be based on the 2001 Commis18 sioners Standard Ordinary Basic Table of Mortality and 

19 interest at the rate of 4.5 per centum per annum. 

20 ‘‘(2) The amount of the premium charged a veteran 

21 for insurance under this section may not increase while 

22 such insurance is in force for such veteran. 

23 ‘‘(3) The Secretary may not charge a premium for 

24 insurance under this section for a veteran as follows: 
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1 ‘‘(A) A veteran who has a service-connected dis2 ability rated as total and is eligible for a waiver of 

3 premiums under section 1912 of this title. 

4 ‘‘(B) A veteran who is 70 years of age or older. 

5 ‘‘(4) Insurance granted under this section shall be on 

6 a nonparticipating basis and all premiums and other col7 lections therefor shall be credited directly to a revolving 

8 fund in the Treasury of the United States, and any pay9 ments on such insurance shall be made directly from such 

10 fund. Appropriations to such fund are hereby authorized. 

11 ‘‘(5) Administrative costs to the Government for the 

12 costs of the program of insurance under this section shall 

13 be paid from premiums credited to the fund under para14 graph (4), and payments for claims against the fund 

15 under paragraph (4) for amounts in excess of amounts 

16 credited to such fund under that paragraph (after such 

17 administrative costs have been paid) shall be paid from 

18 appropriations to the fund. 

19 ‘‘(f) APPLICATION REQUIRED.—An eligible veteran 

20 seeking insurance under this section shall file with the 

21 Secretary an application therefor. Such application shall 

22 be filed not later than the earlier of—

23 ‘‘(1) the end of the two-year period beginning 

24 on the date on which the Secretary notifies the vet-
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1 eran that the veteran has a service-connected dis2 ability; and 

3 ‘‘(2) the end of the 10-year period beginning on 

4 the date of the separation of the veteran from the 

5 Armed Forces, whichever is earlier.’’. 

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

7 at the beginning of chapter 19 is amended by inserting 

8 after the item related to section 1922A the following new 

9 item:

‘‘1922B. Level-premium term life insurance for veterans with service-connected 

disabilities.’’.

10 (c) EXCHANGE OF SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS’ 

11 INSURANCE.—During the one-year period beginning on 

12 the effective date of this section under subsection (d), any 

13 veteran insured under section 1922 of title 38, United 

14 States Code, who is eligible for insurance under section 

15 1922B of such title (as added by subsection (a)), may ex16 change insurance coverage under such section 1922 for 

17 insurance coverage under such section 1922B. 

18 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section, and the amend19 ments made by this section, shall take effect on April 1, 

20 2009. 

21 SEC. 102. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF SERVICE DISABLED 

22 VETERANS’ INSURANCE. 

23 Section 1922(a) is amended by striking ‘‘directly 

24 from such fund’’ and inserting ‘‘directly from such fund; 
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1 and (5) administrative costs to the Government for the 

2 costs of the program of insurance under this section shall 

3 be paid from premiums credited to the fund under para4 graph (4), and payments for claims against the fund 

5 under paragraph (4) for amounts in excess of amounts 

6 credited to such fund under that paragraph (after such 

7 administrative costs have been paid) shall be paid from 

8 appropriations to the fund’’. 

9 SEC. 103. MODIFICATION OF SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP 

10 LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE. 

11 (a) EXPANSION OF SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE

12 INSURANCE TO INCLUDE CERTAIN MEMBERS OF INDI13 VIDUAL READY RESERVE.—

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1)(C) of section 

15 1967(a) is amended by striking ‘‘section 1965(5)(B) 

16 of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (B) or (C) 

17 of section 1965(5) of this title’’. 

18 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph 

19 (5)(C) of such section 1967(a) is amended by strik20 ing ‘‘section 1965(5)(B) of this title’’ and inserting 

21 ‘‘subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(5) of this 

22 title’’. 

23 (b) REDUCTION IN PERIOD OF COVERAGE FOR DE24 PENDENTS AFTER MEMBER SEPARATES.—Section 
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1 1968(a)(5)(B)(ii) is amended by striking ‘‘120 days 

2 after’’. 

3 SEC. 104. SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE FOR TOTALLY DIS4 ABLED VETERANS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1922A(a) is amended by 

6 striking ‘‘$20,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$30,000’’. 

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

8 subsection (a) shall take effect on January 1, 2009. 

9 SEC. 105. EXPANSION OF INDIVIDUALS QUALIFYING FOR 

10 RETROACTIVE BENEFITS FROM TRAUMATIC 

11 INJURY PROTECTION COVERAGE UNDER 

12 SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) of section 501(b) 

14 of the Veterans’ Housing Opportunity and Benefits Im15 provement Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–233; 120 Stat. 

16 414; 38 U.S.C. 1980A note) is amended by striking ‘‘, 

17 if, as determined by the Secretary concerned, that loss was 

18 a direct result of a traumatic injury incurred in the the19 ater of operations for Operation Enduring Freedom or 

20 Operation Iraqi Freedom’’. 

21 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The heading of 

22 such section is amended by striking ‘‘IN OPERATION EN23 DURING FREEDOM AND OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM’’. 

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

25 this section shall take effect on January 1, 2009. 
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1 SEC. 106. CONSIDERATION OF LOSS DOMINANT HAND IN 

2 PRESCRIPTION OF SCHEDULE OF SEVERITY 

3 OF TRAUMATIC INJURY UNDER 

4 SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1980A(d) is amended—

6 (1) by striking ‘‘Payments under’’ and inserting 

7 ‘‘(1) Payments under’’; and 

8 (2) by adding at the end the following new 

9 paragraph: 

10 ‘‘(2) As the Secretary considers appropriate, the 

11 schedule required by paragraph (1) may distinguish in 

12 specifying payments for qualifying losses between the se13 verity of a qualifying loss of a dominant hand and a quali14 fying loss of a non-dominant hand.’’. 

15 (b) PAYMENTS FOR QUALIFYING LOSSES INCURRED

16 BEFORE DATE OF ENACTMENT.—

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

18 Affairs shall prescribe in regulations mechanisms for 

19 payments under section 1980A of title 38, United 

20 States Code, for qualifying losses incurred before the 

21 date of the enactment of this Act by reason of the 

22 requirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of 

23 such section (as amended by subsection (a)(2) of 

24 this section). 

25 (2) QUALIFYING LOSS DEFINED.—In this sub26 section, the term ‘‘qualifying loss’’ means—
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1 (A) a loss specified in the second sentence 

2 of subsection (b)(1) of section 1980A of title 

3 38, United States Code; and 

4 (B) any other loss specified by the Sec5 retary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to the first 

6 sentence of that subsection. 

7 SEC. 107. DESIGNATION OF FIDUCIARY FOR TRAUMATIC IN8 JURY PROTECTION COVERAGE UNDER 

9 SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE 

10 IN CASE OF LOST MENTAL CAPACITY OR EX11 TENDED LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall, 

13 in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, de14 velop a form for the designation of a recipient for the 

15 funds distributed under section 1980A of title 38, United 

16 States Code, as the fiduciary of a member of the Armed 

17 Forces in cases where the member is mentally incapaci18 tated (as determined by the Secretary of Defense in con19 sultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) or experi20 encing an extended loss of consciousness. 

21 (b) ELEMENTS.—The form under subsection (a) shall 

22 require that a member may elect that—

23 (1) an individual designated by the member be 

24 the recipient as the fiduciary of the member; or 
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1 (2) a court of proper jurisdiction determine the 

2 recipient as the fiduciary of the member for pur3 poses of this subsection. 

4 (c) COMPLETION AND UPDATE.—The form under 

5 subsection (a) shall be completed by an individual at the 

6 time of entry into the Armed Forces and updated periodi7 cally thereafter. 

8 SEC. 108. ENHANCEMENT OF VETERANS’ MORTGAGE LIFE 

9 INSURANCE. 

10 Section 2106(b) is amended by striking ‘‘$90,000’’ 

11 and inserting ‘‘$150,000, or $200,000 after January 1, 

12 2012,’’. 

13 TITLE II—HOUSING MATTERS 

14 SEC. 201. HOME IMPROVEMENTS AND STRUCTURAL ALTER15 ATIONS FOR TOTALLY DISABLED MEMBERS 

16 OF THE ARMED FORCES BEFORE DISCHARGE 

17 OR RELEASE FROM THE ARMED FORCES. 

18 Section 1717 is amended by adding at the end the 

19 following new subsection: 

20 ‘‘(d)(1) In the case of a member of the Armed Forces 

21 who, as determined by the Secretary, has a disability per22 manent in nature incurred or aggravated in the line of 

23 duty in the active military, naval, or air service, the Sec24 retary may furnish improvements and structural alter25 ations for such member for such disability or as otherwise 
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1 described in subsection (a)(2) while such member is hos2 pitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, or 

3 treatment for such disability if the Secretary determines 

4 that such member is likely to be discharged or released 

5 from the Armed Forces for such disability. 

6 ‘‘(2) The furnishing of improvements and alterations 

7 under paragraph (1) in connection with the furnishing of 

8 medical services described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of 

9 subsection (a)(2) shall be subject to the limitation speci10 fied in the applicable subparagraph.’’. 

11 SEC. 202. ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 

12 BENEFITS AND ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS 

13 OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH SERVICE-CON14 NECTED DISABILITIES AND INDIVIDUALS RE15 SIDING OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. 

16 (a) ELIGIBILITY.—Chapter 21 is amended by insert17 ing after section 2101 the following new section: 

18 ‘‘§ 2101A. Eligibility for benefits and assistance: mem19 bers of the Armed Forces with service20 connected disabilities; individuals resid21 ing outside the United States 

22 ‘‘(a) MEMBERS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DIS23 ABILITIES.—(1) The Secretary may provide assistance 

24 under this chapter to a member of the Armed Forces serv25 ing on active duty who is suffering from a disability that 
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1 meets applicable criteria for benefits under this chapter 

2 if the disability is incurred or aggravated in line of duty 

3 in the active military, naval, or air service. Such assistance 

4 shall be provided to the same extent as assistance is pro5 vided under this chapter to veterans eligible for assistance 

6 under this chapter and subject to the same requirements 

7 as veterans under this chapter. 

8 ‘‘(2) For purposes of this chapter, any reference to 

9 a veteran or eligible individual shall be treated as a ref10 erence to a member of the Armed Forces described in sub11 section (a) who is similarly situated to the veteran or other 

12 eligible individual so referred to. 

13 ‘‘(b) BENEFITS AND ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS

14 RESIDING OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.—(1) Subject 

15 to paragraph (2), the Secretary may, at the Secretary’s 

16 discretion, provide benefits and assistance under this 

17 chapter (other than benefits under section 2106 of this 

18 title) to any individual otherwise eligible for such benefits 

19 and assistance who resides outside the United States. 

20 ‘‘(2) The Secretary may provide benefits and assist21 ance to an individual under paragraph (1) only if—

22 ‘‘(A) the country or political subdivision in 

23 which the housing or residence involved is or will be 

24 located permits the individual to have or acquire a 
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1 beneficial property interest (as determined by the 

2 Secretary) in such housing or residence; and 

3 ‘‘(B) the individual has or will acquire a bene4 ficial property interest (as so determined) in such 

5 housing or residence. 

6 ‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—Benefits and assistance under 

7 this chapter by reason of this section shall be provided 

8 in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may 

9 prescribe.’’. 

10 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

11 (1) REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED AUTHORITY.—

12 Section 2101 is amended—

13 (A) by striking subsection (c); and 

14 (B) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub15 section (c). 

16 (2) LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE.—Section 

17 2102 is amended—

18 (A) in subsection (a)—

19 (i) by striking ‘‘veteran’’ each place it 

20 appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; and 

21 (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘vet22 eran’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’; 

23 (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘a 

24 veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 

25 (C) in subsection (c)—
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1 (i) by striking ‘‘a veteran’’ and insert2 ing ‘‘an individual’’; and 

3 (ii) by striking ‘‘the veteran’’ each 

4 place it appears and inserting ‘‘the indi5 vidual’’; and 

6 (D) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘a vet7 eran’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘an 

8 individual’’. 

9 (3) ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS TEMPO10 RARILY RESIDING IN HOUSING OF FAMILY MEM11 BER.—Section 2102A is amended—

12 (A) by striking ‘‘veteran’’ each place it ap13 pears (other than in subsection (b)) and insert14 ing ‘‘individual’’; 

15 (B) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘vet16 eran’s’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘in17 dividual’s’’; and 

18 (C) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘a vet19 eran’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘an 

20 individual’’. 

21 (4) FURNISHING OF PLANS AND SPECIFICA22 TIONS.—Section 2103 is amended by striking ‘‘vet23 erans’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘individ24 uals’’. 
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1 (5) CONSTRUCTION OF BENEFITS.—Section 

2 2104 is amended—

3 (A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘veteran’’ 

4 each place it appears and inserting ‘‘indi5 vidual’’; and 

6 (B) in subsection (b)—

7 (i) in the first sentence, by striking 

8 ‘‘A veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘An individual’’; 

9 (ii) in the second sentence, by striking 

10 ‘‘a veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 

11 and 

12 (iii) by striking ‘‘such veteran’’ each 

13 place it appears and inserting ‘‘such indi14 vidual’’. 

15 (6) VETERANS’ MORTGAGE LIFE INSURANCE.—

16 Section 2106 is amended—

17 (A) in subsection (a)—

18 (i) by striking ‘‘any eligible veteran’’ 

19 and inserting ‘‘any eligible individual’’; and 

20 (ii) by striking ‘‘the veterans’ ’’ and 

21 inserting ‘‘the individual’s’’; 

22 (B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘an eligi23 ble veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘an eligible indi24 vidual’’; 
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1 (C) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘an eligi2 ble veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 

3 (D) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘each 

4 veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘each individual’’; 

5 (E) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘the vet6 eran’s’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘the 

7 individual’s’’; 

8 (F) by striking ‘‘the veteran’’ each place it 

9 appears and inserting ‘‘the individual’’; and 

10 (G) by striking ‘‘a veteran’’ each place it 

11 appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 

12 (7) HEADING AMENDMENTS.—(A) The heading 

13 of section 2101 is amended to read as follows: 

14 ‘‘§ 2101. Acquisition and adaptation of housing: eligi15 ble veterans’’. 

16 (B) The heading of section 2102A is amended 

17 to read as follows: 

18 ‘‘§ 2102A. Assistance for individuals residing tempo19 rarily in housing owned by a family mem20 ber’’. 

21 (8) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of sec22 tions at the beginning of chapter 21 is amended—

23 (A) by striking the item relating to section 

24 2101 and inserting the following new item:

‘‘2101. Acquisition and adaptation of housing: eligible veterans.’’;
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1 (B) by inserting after the item relating to 

2 section 2101, as so amended, the following new 

3 item:

‘‘2101A. Eligibility for benefits and assistance: members of the Armed Forces 

with service-connected disabilities; individuals residing outside 

the United States.’’;

4 and 

5 (C) by striking the item relating to section 

6 2102A and inserting the following new item:

‘‘2102A. Assistance for individuals residing temporarily in housing owned by a 

family member.’’.

7 SEC. 203. SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR 

8 INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE BURN INJURIES. 

9 Section 2101 is amended—

10 (1) in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end 

11 the following new subparagraph: 

12 ‘‘(E) The disability is due to a severe burn in13 jury (as determined pursuant to regulations pre14 scribed by the Secretary).’’; and 

15 (2) in subsection (b)(2)—

16 (A) by striking ‘‘either’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘any’’; and 

18 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

19 subparagraph: 

20 ‘‘(C) The disability is due to a severe burn in21 jury (as so determined).’’. 
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1 SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS 

2 RESIDING TEMPORARILY IN HOUSING 

3 OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER. 

4 Section 2102A(e) is amended by striking ‘‘after the 

5 end of the five-year period that begins on the date of the 

6 enactment of the Veterans’ Housing Opportunity and 

7 Benefits Improvement Act of 2006’’ and inserting ‘‘after 

8 December 31, 2011’’. 

9 SEC. 205. SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 

10 BENEFITS FOR DISABLED VETERANS. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 21 is amended by insert12 ing after section 2102A the following new section: 

13 ‘‘§ 2102B. Supplemental assistance 

14 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Subject to the availability of 

15 funds specifically provided for purposes of this subsection 

16 in advance in an appropriations Act, whenever the Sec17 retary makes a payment in accordance with section 2102 

18 of this title to an individual authorized to receive such as19 sistance under section 2101 of this title for the acquisition 

20 of housing with special features or for special adaptations 

21 to a residence, the Secretary is also authorized and di22 rected to pay such individual supplemental assistance 

23 under this section for such acquisition or adaptation. 

24 ‘‘(2) No supplemental assistance payment shall be 

25 made under this subsection if the Secretary has expended 
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1 all funds that were specifically provided for purposes of 

2 this subsection in an appropriations Act. 

3 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT OF SUPPLEMENTAL ASSISTANCE.—(1) 

4 In the case of a payment made in accordance with section 

5 2102(a) of this title, supplemental assistance required by 

6 subsection (a) is equal to the excess of—

7 ‘‘(A) the payment which would be determined 

8 under section 2102(a) of this title, and 2102A of 

9 this title if applicable, if the amount described in 

10 section 2102(d)(1) of this title were increased to the 

11 adjusted amount described in subsection (c)(1), over 

12 ‘‘(B) the payment determined without regard to 

13 this section. 

14 ‘‘(2) In the case of a payment made in accordance 

15 with section 2102(b) of this title, supplemental assistance 

16 required by subsection (a) is equal to the excess of—

17 ‘‘(A) the payment which would be determined 

18 under section 2102(b) of this title, and 2102A of 

19 this title if applicable, if the amount described in 

20 section 2102(b)(2) of this title and section 

21 2102(d)(2) of this title were increased to the ad22 justed amount described in subsection (c)(2), over 

23 ‘‘(B) the payment determined without regard to 

24 this section. 
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1 ‘‘(c) ADJUSTED AMOUNT.—(1) In the case of a pay2 ment made in accordance with section 2102(a) of this 

3 title, the adjusted amount is $60,000 (as adjusted from 

4 time to time under subsection (d)). 

5 ‘‘(2) In the case of a payment made in accordance 

6 with section 2102(b) of this title, the adjusted amount is 

7 $12,000 (as adjusted from time to time under subsection 

8 (d)). 

9 ‘‘(d) ADJUSTMENT.—(1) Effective on October 1 of 

10 each year (beginning in 2008), the Secretary shall increase 

11 the adjusted amounts described in subsection (c) in ac12 cordance with this subsection. 

13 ‘‘(2) The increase in amounts under paragraph (1) 

14 to take effect on October 1 of any year shall be the per15 centage by which (A) the residential home cost-of-con16 struction index for the preceding calendar year exceeds 

17 (B) the residential home cost-of-construction index for the 

18 year preceding that year. 

19 ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall establish a residential home 

20 cost-of-construction index for the purposes of this sub21 section. The index shall reflect a uniform, national average 

22 increase in the cost of residential home construction, de23 termined on a calendar year basis. The Secretary may use 

24 an index developed in the private sector that the Secretary 

25 determines is appropriate for purposes of this subsection. 
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1 ‘‘(e) ESTIMATES.—(1) From time to time, the Sec2 retary shall make an estimate of—

3 ‘‘(A) the amount of funding that would be nec4 essary to provide supplemental assistance under this 

5 section to all eligible recipients for the remainder of 

6 the fiscal year in which such an estimate is made; 

7 and 

8 ‘‘(B) the amount that Congress would need to 

9 appropriate to provide all eligible recipients with 

10 supplemental assistance under this section in the 

11 next fiscal year. 

12 ‘‘(2) On the dates described in paragraph (3), the 

13 Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 

14 Congress the estimates described in paragraph (1). 

15 ‘‘(3) The dates described in this paragraph are the 

16 following: 

17 ‘‘(A) April 1 of each year. 

18 ‘‘(B) July 1 of each year. 

19 ‘‘(C) September 1 of each year. 

20 ‘‘(D) The date that is 60 days before the date 

21 estimated by the Secretary on which amounts appro22 priated for the purposes of this section for a fiscal 

23 year will be exhausted. 
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1 ‘‘(f) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE2 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘appropriate committees 

3 of Congress’ means—

4 ‘‘(1) the Committee on Appropriations and the 

5 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

6 ‘‘(2) the Committee on Appropriations and the 

7 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

8 Representatives.’’. 

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

10 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 

11 after the item related to section 2102A the following new 

12 item:

‘‘2102B. Supplemental assistance.’’.

13 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

14 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Vet15 erans Affairs such sums as may be necessary to carry out 

16 the provisions of section 2102B of title 38, United States 

17 Code (as added by subsection (a)). 

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

19 this section shall take effect on October 1, 2008, and shall 

20 apply with respect to payments made in accordance with 

21 section 2102 of title 38, United States Code, on or after 

22 that date. 
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1 SEC. 206. REPORT ON SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING FOR 

2 DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31, 

4 2009, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 

5 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 

6 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep7 resentatives a report that contains an assessment of the 

8 adequacy of the authorities available to the Secretary 

9 under law to assist eligible disabled individuals in acquir10 ing—

11 (1) suitable housing units with special fixtures 

12 or movable facilities required for their disabilities, 

13 and necessary land therefor; 

14 (2) such adaptations to their residences as are 

15 reasonably necessary because of their disabilities; 

16 and 

17 (3) residences already adapted with special fea18 tures determined by the Secretary to be reasonably 

19 necessary as a result of their disabilities. 

20 (b) FOCUS ON PARTICULAR DISABILITIES.—The re21 port required by subsection (a) shall set forth a specific 

22 assessment of the needs of—

23 (1) veterans who have disabilities that are not 

24 described in subsections (a)(2) and (b)(2) of section 

25 2101 of title 38, United States Code; and 
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1 (2) other disabled individuals eligible for spe2 cially adapted housing under chapter 21 of such title 

3 by reason of section 2101A of such title (as added 

4 by section 202(a) of this Act) who have disabilities 

5 that are not described in such subsections. 

6 SEC. 207. REPORT ON SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING AS7 SISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO RESIDE IN 

8 HOUSING OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER ON 

9 PERMANENT BASIS. 

10 Not later than December 31, 2009, the Secretary of 

11 Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Vet12 erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet13 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

14 on the advisability of providing assistance under section 

15 2102A of title 38, United States Code, to veterans de16 scribed in subsection (a) of such section, and to members 

17 of the Armed Forces covered by such section 2102A by 

18 reason of section 2101A of title 38, United States Code 

19 (as added by section 202(a) of this Act), who reside with 

20 family members on a permanent basis. 

21 TITLE III—LABOR AND 

22 EDUCATION MATTERS 

23 SEC. 301. COORDINATION OF APPROVAL ACTIVITIES IN THE 

24 ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATION BENEFITS. 

25 (a) COORDINATION.—
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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3673 is amended—

2 (A) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub3 section (c); and 

4 (B) by inserting after subsection (a) the 

5 following new subsection (b): 

6 ‘‘(b) COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary 

7 shall take appropriate actions to ensure the coordination 

8 of approval activities performed by State approving agen9 cies under this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this 

10 title and approval activities performed by the Department 

11 of Labor, the Department of Education, and other entities 

12 in order to reduce overlap and improve efficiency in the 

13 performance of such activities.’’. 

14 (2) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMEND15 MENTS.—(A) The heading of such section is amend16 ed to read as follows: 

17 ‘‘§ 3673. Approval activities: cooperation and coordi18 nation of activities’’. 

19 (B) The table of sections at the beginning of 

20 chapter 36 is amended by striking the item relating 

21 to section 3673 and inserting the following new 

22 item:

‘‘3673. Approval activities: cooperation and coordination of activities.’’.

23 (3) STYLISTIC AMENDMENTS.—Such section is 

24 further amended—
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1 (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘CO2 OPERATION IN ACTIVITIES.—’’ after ‘‘(a)’’; and 

3 (B) in subsection (c), as redesignated by 

4 paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection, by insert5 ing ‘‘AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION MATE6 RIAL.—’’ after ‘‘(c)’’. 

7 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 

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

9 Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

10 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

11 the House of Representatives a report setting forth the 

12 following: 

13 (1) The actions taken to establish outcome-ori14 ented performance standards for State approving 

15 agencies created or designated under section 3671 of 

16 title 38, United States Code, including a description 

17 of any plans for, and the status of the implementa18 tion of, such standards as part of the evaluations of 

19 State approving agencies required by section 3674A 

20 of title 38, United States Code. 

21 (2) The actions taken to implement a tracking 

22 and reporting system for resources expended for ap23 proval and outreach activities by such agencies. 

24 (3) Any recommendations for legislative action 

25 that the Secretary considers appropriate to achieve 
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1 the complete implementation of the standards de2 scribed in paragraph (1). 

3 SEC. 302. MODIFICATION OF RATE OF REIMBURSEMENT OF 

4 STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES ADMIN5 ISTERING VETERANS EDUCATION BENEFITS. 

6 Section 3674(a)(4) is amended by striking 

7 ‘‘$13,000,000’’ and all that follows through ‘‘fiscal year 

8 2007,’’. 

9 SEC. 303. WAIVER OF RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR DI10 RECTORS FOR VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT AND 

11 TRAINING. 

12 Section 4103(a)(2) is amended—

13 (1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘(2)’’; and 

14 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub15 paragraph: 

16 ‘‘(B) The Secretary may waive the requirement in 

17 subparagraph (A) with respect to a Director for Veterans’ 

18 Employment and Training if the Secretary determines 

19 that the waiver is in the public interest. Any such waiver 

20 shall be made on a case-by-case basis.’’. 

21 SEC. 304. MODIFICATION OF SPECIAL UNEMPLOYMENT 

22 STUDY TO COVER VETERANS OF POST 9/11 

23 GLOBAL OPERATIONS. 

24 (a) MODIFICATION OF STUDY.—Subsection (a)(1) of 

25 section 4110A is amended—
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1 (1) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by 

2 striking ‘‘a study every two years’’ and inserting ‘‘an 

3 annual study’’; 

4 (2) by redesignating subparagraph (A) as sub5 paragraph (F); 

6 (3) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting 

7 the following new subparagraphs: 

8 ‘‘(A) Veterans who were called to active duty 

9 while members of the National Guard or a Reserve 

10 Component. 

11 ‘‘(B) Veterans who served in combat or in a 

12 war zone in the Post 9/11 Global Operations thea13 ters.’’; and 

14 (4) in subparagraph (C)—

15 (A) by striking ‘‘Vietnam era’’ and insert16 ing ‘‘Post 9/11 Global Operations period’’; and 

17 (B) by striking ‘‘the Vietnam theater of 

18 operations’’ and inserting ‘‘the Post 9/11 Global 

19 Operations theaters’’. 

20 (b) DEFINITIONS.—Such section is further amended 

21 by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

22 ‘‘(c) In this section: 

23 ‘‘(1) The term ‘Post 9/11 Global Operations pe24 riod’ means the period of the Persian Gulf War be25 ginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on the 
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1 date thereafter prescribed by Presidential proclama2 tion or law. 

3 ‘‘(2) The term ‘Post 9/11 Global Operations 

4 theaters’ means Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other the5 ater in which the Global War on Terrorism Expedi6 tionary Medal is awarded for service.’’. 

7 SEC. 305. EXTENSION OF INCREASE IN BENEFIT FOR INDI8 VIDUALS PURSUING APPRENTICESHIP OR 

9 ON-JOB TRAINING. 

10 Section 103 of the Veterans Benefits Improvement 

11 Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–454; 118 Stat. 3600) is 

12 amended by striking ‘‘2008’’ each place it appears and 

13 inserting ‘‘2010’’. The amendment made by the preceding 

14 sentence shall take effect on October 1, 2008, and shall 

15 expire on January 1, 2010. 

16 TITLE IV—FILIPINO WORLD WAR 

17 II VETERANS MATTERS 

18 SEC. 401. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS PRO19 VIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF20 FAIRS FOR CERTAIN SERVICE IN THE ORGA21 NIZED MILITARY FORCES OF THE COMMON22 WEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE 

23 PHILIPPINE SCOUTS. 

24 (a) MODIFICATION OF STATUS OF CERTAIN SERV25 ICE.—
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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 107 is amended to 

2 read as follows: 

3 ‘‘§ 107. Certain service with Philippine forces deemed 

4 to be active service 

5 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Service described in subsection 

6 (b) shall be deemed to have been active military, naval, 

7 or air service for purposes of any law of the United States 

8 conferring rights, privileges, or benefits upon any indi9 vidual by reason of the service of such individual or the 

10 service of any other individual in the Armed Forces. 

11 ‘‘(b) SERVICE DESCRIBED.—Service described in this 

12 subsection is service—

13 ‘‘(1) before July 1, 1946, in the organized mili14 tary forces of the Government of the Commonwealth 

15 of the Philippines, while such forces were in the 

16 service of the Armed Forces of the United States 

17 pursuant to the military order of the President 

18 dated July 26, 1941, including among such military 

19 forces organized guerrilla forces under commanders 

20 appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by 

21 the Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or 

22 other competent authority in the Army of the United 

23 States; or 
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1 ‘‘(2) in the Philippine Scouts under section 14 

2 of the Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 

3 1945 (59 Stat. 538). 

4 ‘‘(c) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION

5 FOR CERTAIN RECIPIENTS RESIDING OUTSIDE THE

6 UNITED STATES.—(1) Dependency and indemnity com7 pensation provided under chapter 13 of this title to an 

8 individual described in paragraph (2) shall be made at a 

9 rate of $0.50 for each dollar authorized. 

10 ‘‘(2) An individual described in this paragraph is an 

11 individual who resides outside the United States and is 

12 entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation under 

13 chapter 13 of this title based on service described in sub14 section (b). 

15 ‘‘(d) MODIFIED PENSION AND DEATH PENSION FOR

16 CERTAIN RECIPIENTS RESIDING OUTSIDE THE UNITED

17 STATES.—(1) Any pension provided under subchapter II 

18 or III of chapter 15 of this title to an individual described 

19 in paragraph (2) shall be made only as specified in section 

20 1514 of this title. 

21 ‘‘(2) An individual described in this paragraph is an 

22 individual who resides outside the United States and is 

23 entitled to a pension provided under subchapter II or III 

24 of chapter 15 of this title based on service described in 

25 subsection (b). 
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1 ‘‘(e) UNITED STATES DEFINED.—In this section, the 

2 term ‘United States’ means the States, the District of Co3 lumbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin 

4 Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is5 lands, and any other possession or territory of the United 

6 States.’’. 

7 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec8 tions at the beginning of chapter 1 is amended by 

9 striking the item related to section 107 and insert10 ing the following new item:

‘‘107. Certain service with Philippine forces deemed to be active service.’’.

11 (3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 

12 by this subsection shall apply with respect to the 

13 payment or provision of benefits on or after April 1, 

14 2009. No benefits are payable or are required to be 

15 provided by reason of such amendment for any pe16 riod before such date. 

17 (b) PENSION AND DEATH PENSION FOR CERTAIN

18 SERVICE.—

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 15 

20 is amended by adding at the end the following new 

21 section: 

22 ‘‘§ 1514. Certain recipients residing outside the 

23 United States 

24 ‘‘(a) SPECIAL RATES FOR PENSION BENEFITS FOR

25 INDIVIDUALS SERVING WITH PHILIPPINE FORCES AND
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1 SURVIVORS.—(1) Payment under this subchapter to an in2 dividual who resides outside the United States and is eligi3 ble for such payment because of service described in sec4 tion 107(b) of this title shall be made as follows: 

5 ‘‘(A) For such an individual who is married, at 

6 a rate of $4,500 per year (as increased from time 

7 to time under section 5312 of this title). 

8 ‘‘(B) For such an individual who is not mar9 ried, at a rate of $3,600 per year (as increased from 

10 time to time under section 5312 of this title). 

11 ‘‘(2) Payment under subchapter III of this chapter 

12 to an individual who resides outside the United States and 

13 is eligible for such payment because of service described 

14 in section 107(b) of this title shall be made at a rate of 

15 $2,400 per year (as increased from time to time under 

16 section 5312 of this title). 

17 ‘‘(3) An individual who is otherwise entitled to bene18 fits under this chapter and resides outside the United 

19 States, and receives or would otherwise be eligible to re20 ceive a monetary benefit from a foreign government, may 

21 not receive benefits under this chapter for service de22 scribed in section 107(b) of this title if receipt of such 

23 benefits under this chapter would reduce such monetary 

24 benefit from such foreign government. 
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1 ‘‘(4) The provisions of sections 1503(a), 1506, 1522, 

2 and 1543 of this title shall not apply to benefits paid 

3 under this section. 

4 ‘‘(b) INDIVIDUALS LIVING OUTSIDE THE UNITED

5 STATES ENTITLED TO CERTAIN SOCIAL SECURITY BENE6 FITS INELIGIBLE.—An individual residing outside the 

7 United States who is receiving or is eligible to receive ben8 efits under title VIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

9 1001 et seq.) may not receive benefits under this chapter. 

10 ‘‘(c) UNITED STATES DEFINED.—In this section, the 

11 term ‘United States’ means the States, the District of Co12 lumbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin 

13 Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is14 lands, and any other possession or territory of the United 

15 States.’’. 

16 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec17 tions at the beginning of chapter 15 is amended by 

18 inserting after the item related to section 1513 the 

19 following new item:

‘‘1514. Certain recipients residing outside the United States.’’.

20 (3) FREQUENCY OF PAYMENT.—Section 1508 

21 is amended by inserting ‘‘1514,’’ before ‘‘1521,’’ 

22 each place it appears. 

23 (4) ROUNDING DOWN OF RATES.—Section 5123 

24 is amended by inserting ‘‘1514,’’ before ‘‘1521’’. 
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1 (5) ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT OF BENEFIT

2 RATES.—Section 5312 is amended—

3 (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘1514,’’ 

4 before ‘‘1521,’’ the first place it appears; and 

5 (B) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting 

6 ‘‘1514,’’ before ‘‘1521,’’. 

7 (6) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 

8 by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply to applications 

9 for benefits filed on or after April 1, 2009. The 

10 amendments made by paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) 

11 shall take effect on April 1, 2009. 

12 (c) PENSION AND DEATH PENSION BENEFIT PRO13 TECTION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 

14 veteran with service described in section 107(b) of title 

15 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), who 

16 is receiving benefits under a Federal or federally assisted 

17 program as of April 1, 2009, or a survivor of such veteran 

18 who is receiving such benefits as of that date, may not 

19 be required to apply for or receive benefits under chapter 

20 15 of such title if the receipt of such benefits would—

21 (1) make such veteran or survivor ineligible for 

22 any Federal or federally assisted program for which 

23 such veteran or survivor qualifies; or 

24 (2) reduce the amount of benefit such veteran 

25 or survivor would receive from any Federal or feder-
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1 ally assisted program for which such veteran or sur2 vivor qualifies. 

3 SEC. 402. ELIGIBILITY OF CHILDREN OF CERTAIN PHIL4 IPPINE VETERANS FOR EDUCATIONAL AS5 SISTANCE. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (b) of section 3565 is 

7 amended by striking ‘‘except that—’’ and all that follows 

8 and inserting ‘‘except that a reference to a State approv9 ing agency shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary.’’. 

10 (b) REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISION.—Such sec11 tion is further amended by striking subsection (c). 

12 TITLE V—COURT MATTERS 

13 SEC. 501. RECALL OF RETIRED JUDGES OF THE UNITED 

14 STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 

15 CLAIMS. 

16 (a) REPEAL OF LIMIT ON SERVICE OF RECALLED

17 RETIRED JUDGES WHO VOLUNTARILY SERVE MORE

18 THAN 90 DAYS.—Section 7257(b)(2) is amended by strik19 ing ‘‘or for more than a total of 180 days (or the equiva20 lent) during any calendar year’’. 

21 (b) NEW JUDGES RECALLED AFTER RETIREMENT

22 RECEIVE PAY OF CURRENT JUDGES ONLY DURING PE23 RIOD OF RECALL.—
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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 7296(c) is amended 

2 by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following 

3 new paragraph: 

4 ‘‘(1)(A) A judge who is appointed on or after the date 

5 of the enactment of the Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement 

6 Act of 2007 and who retires under subsection (b) and 

7 elects under subsection (d) to receive retired pay under 

8 this subsection shall (except as provided in paragraph (2)) 

9 receive retired pay as follows: 

10 ‘‘(i) In the case of a judge who is a recall-eligi11 ble retired judge under section 7257 of this title, the 

12 retired pay of the judge shall (subject to section 

13 7257(d)(2) of this title) be the rate of pay applicable 

14 to that judge at the time of retirement, as adjusted 

15 from time to time under subsection (f)(3). 

16 ‘‘(ii) In the case of a judge other than a recall17 eligible retired judge, the retired pay of the judge 

18 shall be the rate of pay applicable to that judge at 

19 the time of retirement. 

20 ‘‘(B) A judge who retired before the date of the en21 actment of the Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 

22 2007 and elected under subsection (d) to receive retired 

23 pay under this subsection, or a judge who retires under 

24 subsection (b) and elects under subsection (d) to receive 
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1 retired pay under this subsection, shall (except as provided 

2 in paragraph (2)) receive retired pay as follows: 

3 ‘‘(i) In the case of a judge who is a recall-eligi4 ble retired judge under section 7257 of this title or 

5 who was a recall-eligible retired judge under that 

6 section and was removed from recall status under 

7 subsection (b)(4) of that section by reason of dis8 ability, the retired pay of the judge shall be the pay 

9 of a judge of the court. 

10 ‘‘(ii) In the case of a judge who at the time of 

11 retirement did not provide notice under section 7257 

12 of this title of availability for service in a recalled 

13 status, the retired pay of the judge shall be the rate 

14 of pay applicable to that judge at the time of retire15 ment. 

16 ‘‘(iii) In the case of a judge who was a recall17 eligible retired judge under section 7257 of this title 

18 and was removed from recall status under subsection 

19 (b)(3) of that section, the retired pay of the judge 

20 shall be the pay of the judge at the time of the re21 moval from recall status.’’. 

22 (2) COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR RE23 TIRED PAY OF NEW JUDGES WHO ARE RECALL-ELI24 GIBLE.—Section 7296(f)(3)(A) is amended by strik-
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1 ing ‘‘paragraph (2) of subsection (c)’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘paragraph (1)(A)(i) or (2) of subsection (c)’’. 

3 (3) PAY DURING PERIOD OF RECALL.—Sub4 section (d) of section 7257 is amended to read as 

5 follows: 

6 ‘‘(d)(1) The pay of a recall-eligible retired judge to 

7 whom section 7296(c)(1)(B) of this title applies is the pay 

8 specified in that section. 

9 ‘‘(2) A judge who is recalled under this section who 

10 retired under chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 or to whom sec11 tion 7296(c)(1)(A) of this title applies shall be paid, dur12 ing the period for which the judge serves in recall status, 

13 pay at the rate of pay in effect under section 7253(e) of 

14 this title for a judge performing active service, less the 

15 amount of the judge’s annuity under the applicable provi16 sions of chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 or the judge’s annuity 

17 under section 7296(c)(1)(A) of this title, whichever is ap18 plicable.’’. 

19 (4) NOTICE.—The last sentence of section 

20 7257(a)(1) is amended to read as follows: ‘‘Such a 

21 notice provided by a retired judge to whom section 

22 7296(c)(1)(B) of this title applies is irrevocable.’’. 

23 (c) LIMITATION ON INVOLUNTARY RECALLS.—Sec24 tion 7257(b)(3) is amended by adding at the end the fol25 lowing new sentence: ‘‘This paragraph shall not apply to 
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1 a judge to whom section 7296(c)(1)(A) or 7296(c)(1)(B) 

2 of this title applies and who has, in the aggregate, served 

3 at least five years of recalled service on the Court under 

4 this section.’’. 

5 SEC. 502. ADDITIONAL DISCRETION IN IMPOSITION OF 

6 PRACTICE AND REGISTRATION FEES. 

7 Section 7285(a) is amended—

8 (1) in the first sentence, by inserting ‘‘reason9 able’’ after ‘‘impose a’’; 

10 (2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘, except 

11 that such amount may not exceed $30 per year’’; 

12 and 

13 (3) in the third sentence, by inserting ‘‘reason14 able’’ after ‘‘impose a’’. 

15 SEC. 503. ANNUAL REPORTS ON WORKLOAD OF UNITED 

16 STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 

17 CLAIMS. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 72 is 

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

20 ‘‘§ 7288. Annual report 

21 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The chief judge of the Court 

22 shall submit annually to the appropriate committees of 

23 Congress a report summarizing the workload of the Court 

24 for the last fiscal year that ended before the submission 
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1 of such report. Such report shall include, with respect to 

2 such fiscal year, the following information: 

3 ‘‘(1) The number of appeals filed. 

4 ‘‘(2) The number of petitions filed. 

5 ‘‘(3) The number of applications filed under 

6 section 2412 of title 28. 

7 ‘‘(4) The number and type of dispositions. 

8 ‘‘(5) The median time from filing to disposition. 

9 ‘‘(6) The number of oral arguments. 

10 ‘‘(7) The number and status of pending appeals 

11 and petitions and of applications described in para12 graph (3). 

13 ‘‘(8) A summary of any service performed by 

14 recalled retired judges during the fiscal year. 

15 ‘‘(b) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE16 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘appropriate committees 

17 of Congress’ means the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

18 of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

19 the House of Representatives.’’. 

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

21 at the beginning of chapter 72 is amended by inserting 

22 after the item related to section 7287 the following new 

23 item:

‘‘7288. Annual report.’’.
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1 SEC. 504. REPORT ON EXPANSION OF FACILITIES FOR 

2 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR 

3 VETERANS CLAIMS. 

4 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find5 ings: 

6 (1) The United States Court of Appeals for 

7 Veterans Claims is currently located in the District 

8 of Columbia in a commercial office building that is 

9 also occupied by other Federal tenants. 

10 (2) In February 2006, the General Services Ad11 ministration provided Congress with a preliminary 

12 feasibility analysis of a dedicated Veterans Court13 house and Justice Center that would house the 

14 Court and other entities that work with the Court. 

15 (3) In February 2007, the Court notified Con16 gress that the ‘‘most cost-effective alternative ap17 pears to be leasing substantial additional space in 

18 the current location’’, which would ‘‘require relo19 cating other current government tenants’’ from that 

20 building. 

21 (4) The February 2006 feasibility report of the 

22 General Services Administration does not include an 

23 analysis of whether it would be feasible or desirable 

24 to locate a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center 

25 at the current location of the Court. 
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1 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con2 gress that—

3 (1) the United States Court of Appeals for Vet4 erans Claims should be provided with appropriate of5 fice space to meet its needs, as well as to provide the 

6 image, security, and stature befitting a court that 

7 provides justice to the veterans of the United States; 

8 and 

9 (2) in providing that space, Congress should 

10 avoid undue disruption, inconvenience, or cost to 

11 other Federal entities. 

12 (c) REPORT.—

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

14 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad15 ministrator of General Services shall submit to the 

16 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 

17 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

18 Representatives a report on the feasibility of—

19 (A) leasing additional space for the United 

20 States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 

21 within the building where the Court was located 

22 on the date of the enactment of this Act; and 

23 (B) using the entirety of such building as 

24 a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center. 
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1 (2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para2 graph (1) shall include a detailed analysis of the fol3 lowing: 

4 (A) The impact that the matter analyzed 

5 in accordance with paragraph (1) would have 

6 on Federal tenants of the building used by the 

7 Court. 

8 (B) Whether it would be feasible to relo9 cate such Federal tenants into office space that 

10 offers similar or preferable cost, convenience, 

11 and usable square footage. 

12 (C) If relocation of such Federal tenants is 

13 found to be feasible and desirable, an analysis 

14 of what steps should be taken to convert the 

15 building into a Veterans Courthouse and Jus16 tice Center and a timeline for such conversion. 

17 (3) COMMENT PERIOD.—The Administrator 

18 shall provide an opportunity to such Federal ten19 ants—

20 (A) before the completion of the report re21 quired by paragraph (1), to comment on the 

22 subject of the report required by such para23 graph; and 

24 (B) before the Administrator submits the 

25 report required by paragraph (1) to the con-
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1 gressional committees specified in such para2 graph, to comment on a draft of such report. 

3 TITLE VI—COMPENSATION AND 

4 PENSION MATTERS 

5 SEC. 601. ADDITION OF OSTEOPOROSIS TO DISABILITIES 

6 PRESUMED TO BE SERVICE-CONNECTED IN 

7 FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR WITH POST8 TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. 

9 Section 1112(b)(2) is amended by adding at the end 

10 the following new subparagraph: 

11 ‘‘(F) Osteoporosis, if the Secretary determines 

12 that the veteran was diagnosed with post-traumatic 

13 stress disorder (PTSD).’’. 

14 SEC. 602. COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE FOR TEMPORARY DE15 PENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION 

16 PAYABLE FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES WITH DE17 PENDENT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18. 

18 Section 1311(f) is amended by adding at the end the 

19 following new paragraph: 

20 ‘‘(5) Whenever there is an increase in benefit 

21 amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act 

22 (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) as a result of a determination 

23 made under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)), 

24 the Secretary shall, effective on the date of such increase 

25 in benefit amounts, increase the amount payable under 
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1 paragraph (1), as such amount was in effect immediately 

2 prior to the date of such increase in benefit amounts, by 

3 the same percentage as the percentage by which such ben4 efit amounts are increased. Any increase in a dollar 

5 amount under this paragraph shall be rounded down to 

6 the next lower whole dollar amount.’’. 

7 SEC. 603. CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS 65 

8 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER FOR SERVICE PEN9 SION FOR A PERIOD OF WAR. 

10 Section 1513 is amended—

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

12 1521’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘by sub13 section (b), (c), (f)(1), (f)(5), or (g) of that section, 

14 as the case may be and as increased from time to 

15 time under section 5312 of this title.’’; 

16 (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub17 section (c); and 

18 (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol19 lowing new subsection (b): 

20 ‘‘(b) The conditions in subsections (h) and (i) of sec21 tion 1521 of this title shall apply to determinations of in22 come and maximum payments of pension for purposes of 

23 this section.’’. 
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1 TITLE VII—BURIAL AND 

2 MEMORIAL MATTERS 

3 SEC. 701. SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS FOR 

4 FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES. 

5 (a) FUNERAL EXPENSES.—

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 23 is amended by 

7 inserting after section 2302 the following new sec8 tion: 

9 ‘‘§ 2302A. Funeral expenses: supplemental benefits 

10 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Subject to the availability of 

11 funds specifically provided for purposes of this subsection 

12 in advance in an appropriations Act, whenever the Sec13 retary makes a payment for the burial and funeral of a 

14 veteran under section 2302(a) of this title, the Secretary 

15 is also authorized and directed to pay the recipient of such 

16 payment a supplemental payment under this section for 

17 the cost of such burial and funeral. 

18 ‘‘(2) No supplemental payment shall be made under 

19 this subsection if the Secretary has expended all funds 

20 that were specifically provided for purposes of this sub21 section in an appropriations Act. 

22 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—The amount of the supplemental 

23 payment required by subsection (a) for any death is $900 

24 (as adjusted from time to time under subsection (c)). 
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1 ‘‘(c) ADJUSTMENT.—With respect to deaths that 

2 occur in any fiscal year after fiscal year 2008, the supple3 mental payment described in subsection (b) shall be equal 

4 to the sum of—

5 ‘‘(1) the supplemental payment in effect under 

6 subsection (b) for the preceding fiscal year (deter7 mined after application of this subsection), plus 

8 ‘‘(2) the sum of the amount described in section 

9 2302(a) of this title and the amount under para10 graph (1), multiplied by the percentage by which—

11 ‘‘(A) the Consumer Price Index (all items, 

12 United States city average) for the 12-month 

13 period ending on the June 30 preceding the be14 ginning of the fiscal year for which the increase 

15 is made, exceeds 

16 ‘‘(B) such Consumer Price Index for the 

17 12-month period preceding the 12-month period 

18 described in subparagraph (A). 

19 ‘‘(d) ESTIMATES.—(1) From time to time, the Sec20 retary shall make an estimate of—

21 ‘‘(A) the amount of funding that would be nec22 essary to provide supplemental payments under this 

23 section to all eligible recipients for the remainder of 

24 the fiscal year in which such an estimate is made; 

25 and 
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1 ‘‘(B) the amount that Congress would need to 

2 appropriate to provide all eligible recipients with 

3 supplemental payments under this section in the 

4 next fiscal year. 

5 ‘‘(2) On the dates described in paragraph (3), the 

6 Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 

7 Congress the estimates described in paragraph (1). 

8 ‘‘(3) The dates described in this paragraph are the 

9 following: 

10 ‘‘(A) April 1 of each year. 

11 ‘‘(B) July 1 of each year. 

12 ‘‘(C) September 1 of each year. 

13 ‘‘(D) The date that is 60 days before the date 

14 estimated by the Secretary on which amounts appro15 priated for the purposes of this section for a fiscal 

16 year will be exhausted. 

17 ‘‘(e) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE18 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘appropriate committees 

19 of Congress’ means—

20 ‘‘(1) the Committee on Appropriations and the 

21 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

22 ‘‘(2) the Committee on Appropriations and the 

23 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

24 Representatives.’’. 
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1 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec2 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

3 by inserting after the item related to section 2302 

4 the following new item:

‘‘2302A. Funeral expenses: supplemental benefits.’’.

5 (3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

6 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec7 retary of Veterans Affairs such sums as may be nec8 essary to carry out the provisions of section 2302A 

9 of title 38, United States Code (as added by this 

10 subsection). 

11 (b) DEATH FROM SERVICE-CONNECTED DIS12 ABILITY.—

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 23 is amended by 

14 inserting after section 2307 the following new sec15 tion: 

16 ‘‘§ 2307A. Death from service-connected disability: 

17 supplemental benefits for burial and fu18 neral expenses 

19 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Subject to the availability of 

20 funds specifically provided for purposes of this subsection 

21 in advance in an appropriations Act, whenever the Sec22 retary makes a payment for the burial and funeral of a 

23 veteran under section 2307(1) of this title, the Secretary 

24 is also authorized and directed to pay the recipient of such 
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1 payment a supplemental payment under this section for 

2 the cost of such burial and funeral. 

3 ‘‘(2) No supplemental payment shall be made under 

4 this subsection if the Secretary has expended all funds 

5 that were specifically provided for purposes of this sub6 section in an appropriations Act. 

7 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—The amount of the supplemental 

8 payment required by subsection (a) for any death is 

9 $2,100 (as adjusted from time to time under subsection 

10 (c)). 

11 ‘‘(c) ADJUSTMENT.—With respect to deaths that 

12 occur in any fiscal year after fiscal year 2008, the supple13 mental payment described in subsection (b) shall be equal 

14 to the sum of—

15 ‘‘(1) the supplemental payment in effect under 

16 subsection (b) for the preceding fiscal year (deter17 mined after application of this subsection), plus 

18 ‘‘(2) the sum of the amount described in section 

19 2307(1) of this title and the amount under para20 graph (1), multiplied by the percentage by which—

21 ‘‘(A) the Consumer Price Index (all items, 

22 United States city average) for the 12-month 

23 period ending on the June 30 preceding the be24 ginning of the fiscal year for which the increase 

25 is made, exceeds 
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1 ‘‘(B) such Consumer Price Index for the 

2 12-month period preceding the 12-month period 

3 described in subparagraph (A). 

4 ‘‘(d) ESTIMATES.—(1) From time to time, the Sec5 retary shall make an estimate of—

6 ‘‘(A) the amount of funding that would be nec7 essary to provide supplemental payments under this 

8 section to all eligible recipients for the remainder of 

9 the fiscal year in which such an estimate is made; 

10 and 

11 ‘‘(B) the amount that Congress would need to 

12 appropriate to provide all eligible recipients with 

13 supplemental payments under this section in the 

14 next fiscal year. 

15 ‘‘(2) On the dates described in paragraph (3), the 

16 Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 

17 Congress the estimates described in paragraph (1). 

18 ‘‘(3) The dates described in this paragraph are the 

19 following: 

20 ‘‘(A) April 1 of each year. 

21 ‘‘(B) July 1 of each year. 

22 ‘‘(C) September 1 of each year. 

23 ‘‘(D) The date that is 60 days before the date 

24 estimated by the Secretary on which amounts appro-
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1 priated for the purposes of this section for a fiscal 

2 year will be exhausted. 

3 ‘‘(e) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE4 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘appropriate committees 

5 of Congress’ means—

6 ‘‘(1) the Committee on Appropriations and the 

7 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

8 ‘‘(2) the Committee on Appropriations and the 

9 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

10 Representatives.’’. 

11 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec12 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 

13 by inserting after the item related to section 2307 

14 the following new item:

‘‘2307A. Death from service-connected disability: supplemental benefits for burial and funeral expenses.’’.

15 (3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

16 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec17 retary of Veterans Affairs such sums as may be nec18 essary to carry out the provisions of section 2307A 

19 of title 38, United States Code (as added by this 

20 subsection). 

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

22 this section shall take effect on October 1, 2008, and shall 

23 apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after that 

24 date. 
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1 SEC. 702. SUPPLEMENTAL PLOT ALLOWANCES. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 23 is amended by insert3 ing after section 2303 the following new section: 

4 ‘‘§ 2303A. Supplemental plot allowance 

5 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Subject to the availability of 

6 funds specifically provided for purposes of this subsection 

7 in advance in an appropriations Act, whenever the Sec8 retary makes a payment for the burial and funeral of a 

9 veteran under section 2303(a)(1)(A) of this title, or for 

10 the burial of a veteran under paragraph (1) or (2) of sec11 tion 2303(b) of this title, the Secretary is also authorized 

12 and directed to pay the recipient of such payment a sup13 plemental payment under this section for the cost of such 

14 burial and funeral or burial, as applicable. 

15 ‘‘(2) No supplemental plot allowance payment shall 

16 be made under this subsection if the Secretary has ex17 pended all funds that were specifically provided for pur18 poses of this subsection in an appropriations Act. 

19 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—The amount of the supplemental 

20 payment required by subsection (a) for any death is $445 

21 (as adjusted from time to time under subsection (c)). 

22 ‘‘(c) ADJUSTMENT.—With respect to deaths that 

23 occur in any fiscal year after fiscal year 2008, the supple24 mental payment described in subsection (b) shall be equal 

25 to the sum of—
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1 ‘‘(1) the supplemental payment in effect under 

2 subsection (b) for the preceding fiscal year (deter3 mined after application of this subsection), plus 

4 ‘‘(2) the sum of the amount described in section 

5 2303(a)(1)(A) of this title and the amount under 

6 paragraph (1), multiplied by the percentage by 

7 which—

8 ‘‘(A) the Consumer Price Index (all items, 

9 United States city average) for the 12-month 

10 period ending on the June 30 preceding the be11 ginning of the fiscal year for which the increase 

12 is made, exceeds 

13 ‘‘(B) such Consumer Price Index for the 

14 12-month period preceding the 12-month period 

15 described in subparagraph (A). 

16 ‘‘(d) ESTIMATES.—(1) From time to time, the Sec17 retary shall make an estimate of—

18 ‘‘(A) the amount of funding that would be nec19 essary to provide supplemental plot allowance pay20 ments under this section to all eligible recipients for 

21 the remainder of the fiscal year in which such an es22 timate is made; and 

23 ‘‘(B) the amount that Congress would need to 

24 appropriate to provide all eligible recipients with 
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1 supplemental plot allowance payments under this 

2 section in the next fiscal year. 

3 ‘‘(2) On the dates described in paragraph (3), the 

4 Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 

5 Congress the estimates described in paragraph (1). 

6 ‘‘(3) The dates described in this paragraph are the 

7 following: 

8 ‘‘(A) April 1 of each year. 

9 ‘‘(B) July 1 of each year. 

10 ‘‘(C) September 1 of each year. 

11 ‘‘(D) The date that is 60 days before the date 

12 estimated by the Secretary on which amounts appro13 priated for the purposes of this section for a fiscal 

14 year will be exhausted. 

15 ‘‘(e) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE16 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘appropriate committees 

17 of Congress’ means—

18 ‘‘(1) the Committee on Appropriations and the 

19 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

20 ‘‘(2) the Committee on Appropriations and the 

21 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

22 Representatives.’’. 

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

24 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
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1 after the item related to section 2303 the following new 

2 item:

‘‘2303A. Supplemental plot allowance.’’.

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

4 this section shall take effect on October 1, 2008, and shall 

5 apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after that 

6 date. 

7 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

8 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Vet9 erans Affairs such sums as may be necessary to carry out 

10 the provisions of section 2303A of title 38, United States 

11 Code (as added by subsection (a)). 

12 TITLE VIII—OTHER MATTERS 

13 SEC. 801. ELIGIBILITY OF DISABLED VETERANS AND MEM14 BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH SEVERE 

15 BURN INJURIES FOR AUTOMOBILES AND 

16 ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT. 

17 (a) ELIGIBILITY.—Paragraph (1) of section 3901 is 

18 amended—

19 (1) in subparagraph (A)—

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

21 striking ‘‘or (iii) below’’ and inserting ‘‘(iii), or 

22 (iv)’’; and 

23 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

24 clause: 
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1 ‘‘(iv) A severe burn injury (as determined 

2 pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Sec3 retary).’’; and 

4 (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘or (iii)’’ 

5 and inserting ‘‘(iii), or (iv)’’. 

6 (b) STYLISTIC AMENDMENTS.—Such section is fur7 ther amended—

8 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 

9 striking ‘‘chapter—’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter:’’; 

10 (2) in paragraph (1)—

11 (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 

12 (A), by striking ‘‘means—’’ and inserting 

13 ‘‘means the following:’’; 

14 (B) in subparagraph (A)—

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

16 by striking ‘‘any veteran’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘Any veteran’’; 

18 (ii) in clauses (i) and (ii), by striking 

19 the semicolon at the end and inserting a 

20 period; and 

21 (iii) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘or’’ 

22 and inserting a period; and 

23 (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘any 

24 member’’ and inserting ‘‘Any member’’. 
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1 SEC. 802. SUPPLEMENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROVIDING 

2 AUTOMOBILES OR OTHER CONVEYANCES TO 

3 CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 39 is amended by insert5 ing after section 3902 the following new section: 

6 ‘‘§ 3902A. Supplemental assistance for providing auto7 mobiles or other conveyances 

8 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Subject to the availability of 

9 funds specifically provided for purposes of this subsection 

10 in advance in an appropriations Act, whenever the Sec11 retary makes a payment for the purchase of an automobile 

12 or other conveyance for an eligible person under section 

13 3902 of this title, the Secretary is also authorized and di14 rected to pay the recipient of such payment a supple15 mental payment under this section for the cost of such 

16 purchase. 

17 ‘‘(2) No supplemental payment shall be made under 

18 this subsection if the Secretary has expended all funds 

19 that were specifically provided for purposes of this sub20 section in an appropriations Act. 

21 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT OF SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT.—Sup22 plemental payment required by subsection (a) is equal to 

23 the excess of—

24 ‘‘(1) the payment which would be determined 

25 under section 3902 of this title if the amount de26 scribed in section 3902 of this title were increased 
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1 to the adjusted amount described in subsection (c), 

2 over 

3 ‘‘(2) the payment determined under section 

4 3902 of this title without regard to this section. 

5 ‘‘(c) ADJUSTED AMOUNT.—The adjusted amount is 

6 $22,484 (as adjusted from time to time under subsection 

7 (d)). 

8 ‘‘(d) ADJUSTMENT.—(1) Effective on October 1 of 

9 each year (beginning in 2008), the Secretary shall increase 

10 the adjusted amount described in subsection (c) to an 

11 amount equal to 80 percent of the average retail cost of 

12 new automobiles for the preceding calendar year. 

13 ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall establish the method for de14 termining the average retail cost of new automobiles for 

15 purposes of this subsection. The Secretary may use data 

16 developed in the private sector if the Secretary determines 

17 the data is appropriate for purposes of this subsection. 

18 ‘‘(e) ESTIMATES.—(1) From time to time, the Sec19 retary shall make an estimate of—

20 ‘‘(A) the amount of funding that would be nec21 essary to provide supplemental payment under this 

22 section for every eligible person for the remainder of 

23 the fiscal year in which such an estimate is made; 

24 and 
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1 ‘‘(B) the amount that Congress would need to 

2 appropriate to provide every eligible person with sup3 plemental payment under this section in the next fis4 cal year. 

5 ‘‘(2) On the dates described in paragraph (3), the 

6 Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 

7 Congress the estimates described in paragraph (1). 

8 ‘‘(3) The dates described in this paragraph are the 

9 following: 

10 ‘‘(A) April 1 of each year. 

11 ‘‘(B) July 1 of each year. 

12 ‘‘(C) September 1 of each year. 

13 ‘‘(D) The date that is 60 days before the date 

14 estimated by the Secretary on which amounts appro15 priated for the purposes of this section for a fiscal 

16 year will be exhausted. 

17 ‘‘(f) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE18 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘appropriate committees 

19 of Congress’ means—

20 ‘‘(1) the Committee on Appropriations and the 

21 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

22 ‘‘(2) the Committee on Appropriations and the 

23 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

24 Representatives.’’. 
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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

2 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 

3 after the item related to section 3902 the following new 

4 item:

‘‘3902A. Supplemental assistance for providing automobiles or other conveyances.’’.

5 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

6 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Vet7 erans Affairs such sums as may be necessary to carry out 

8 the provisions of section 3902A of title 38, United States 

9 Code (as added by subsection (a)). 

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

11 this section shall take effect on October 1, 2008, and shall 

12 apply with respect to payments made in accordance with 

13 section 3902 of title 38, United States Code, on or after 

14 that date. 

15 SEC. 803. CLARIFICATION OF PURPOSE OF THE OUTREACH 

16 SERVICES PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT 

17 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

18 (a) CLARIFICATION OF INCLUSION OF MEMBERS OF

19 THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE IN PROGRAM.—

20 Subsection (a)(1) of section 6301 is amended by inserting 

21 ‘‘, or from the National Guard or Reserve,’’ after ‘‘active 

22 military, naval, or air service’’. 

23 (b) DEFINITION OF OUTREACH.—Subsection (b) of 

24 such section is amended—
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1 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 

2 paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and 

3 (2) by inserting before paragraph (2) the fol4 lowing new paragraph (1): 

5 ‘‘(1) the term ‘outreach’ means the act or proc6 ess of reaching out in a systematic manner to 

7 proactively provide information, services, and bene8 fits counseling to veterans, and to the spouses, chil9 dren, and parents of veterans who may be eligible to 

10 receive benefits under the laws administered by the 

11 Secretary, to ensure that such individuals are fully 

12 informed about, and assisted in applying for, any 

13 benefits and programs under such laws;’’. 

14 SEC. 804. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF CONTRACTS 

15 FOR CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR 

16 SERVICEMEMBERS UNDERGOING DEPLOY17 MENT OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Servicemembers 

19 Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 531 et seq.) is amended 

20 by inserting after section 305 the following new section: 

21 ‘‘SEC. 305A. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF CONTRACTS 

22 FOR CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE. 

23 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A servicemember who receives 

24 orders to deploy outside of the continental United States 

25 for not less than 90 days may request the termination or 
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1 suspension of any contract for cellular telephone service 

2 entered into by the servicemember before that date if the 

3 servicemember’s ability to satisfy the contract or to utilize 

4 the service will be materially affected by that period of 

5 deployment. The request shall include a copy of the 

6 servicemember’s military orders. 

7 ‘‘(b) RELIEF.—Upon receiving the request of a 

8 servicemember under subsection (a), the cellular telephone 

9 service contractor concerned shall, at the election of the 

10 contractor—

11 ‘‘(1) grant the requested relief without imposi12 tion of an early termination fee for termination of 

13 the contract or a reactivation fee for suspension of 

14 the contract; or 

15 ‘‘(2) permit the servicemember to suspend the 

16 contract at no charge until the end of the deploy17 ment without requiring, whether as a condition of 

18 suspension or otherwise, that the contract be ex19 tended.’’. 

20 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

21 for that Act is amended by inserting after the item relat22 ing to section 305 the following new item:

‘‘Sec. 305A. Termination or suspension of contracts for cellular telephone service.’’.
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1 SEC. 805. MAINTENANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND AVAIL2 ABILITY FOR RESEARCH OF ASSETS OF AIR 

3 FORCE HEALTH STUDY. 

4 (a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to en5 sure that the assets transferred to the Medical Follow-Up 

6 Agency from the Air Force Health Study are maintained, 

7 managed, and made available as a resource for future re8 search for the benefit of veterans and their families, and 

9 for other humanitarian purposes. 

10 (b) ASSETS FROM AIR FORCE HEALTH STUDY.—For 

11 purposes of this section, the assets transferred to the Med12 ical Follow-Up Agency from the Air Force Health Study 

13 are the assets of the Air Force Health Study transferred 

14 to the Medical Follow-Up Agency under section 714 of the 

15 John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fis16 cal Year 2007 (Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2290), in17 cluding electronic data files and biological specimens on 

18 all participants in the study (including control subjects). 

19 (c) MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF TRANS20 FERRED ASSETS.—The Medical Follow-Up Agency shall 

21 maintain and manage the assets transferred to the Agency 

22 from the Air Force Health Study. 

23 (d) ADDITIONAL NEAR-TERM RESEARCH.—

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Medical Follow-Up 

25 Agency may, during the period beginning on October 

26 1, 2008, and ending on September 30, 2012, con-
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1 duct such additional research on the assets trans2 ferred to the Agency from the Air Force Health 

3 Study as the Agency considers appropriate toward 

4 the goal of understanding the determinants of 

5 health, and promoting wellness, in veterans. 

6 (2) RESEARCH.—In carrying out research au7 thorized by this subsection, the Medical Follow-Up 

8 Agency may, utilizing amounts available under sub9 section (f)(1)(B), make grants for such pilot studies 

10 for or in connection with such research as the Agen11 cy considers appropriate. 

12 (e) ADDITIONAL MEDIUM-TERM RESEARCH.—

13 (1) REPORT.—Not later than March 31, 2012, 

14 the Medical Follow-Up Agency shall submit to Con15 gress a report assessing the feasability and advis16 ability of conducting additional research on the as17 sets transferred to the Agency from the Air Force 

18 Health Study after September 30, 2012. 

19 (2) DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.—If the report re20 quired by paragraph (1) includes an assessment that 

21 the research described in that paragraph would be 

22 feasible and advisable, the Agency shall, utilizing 

23 amounts available under subsection (f)(2), make any 

24 disposition of the assets transferred to the Agency 
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1 from the Air Force Health Study as the Agency con2 siders appropriate in preparation for such research. 

3 (f) FUNDING.—

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts available for 

5 each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for the De6 partment of Veterans Affairs for Medical and Pros7 thetic Research, amounts shall be available as fol8 lows: 

9 (A) $1,200,000 shall be available in each 

10 such fiscal year for maintenance, management, 

11 and operation (including maintenance of bio12 logical specimens) of the assets transferred to 

13 the Medical Follow-Up Agency from the Air 

14 Force Health Study. 

15 (B) $250,000 shall be available in each 

16 such fiscal year for the conduct of additional re17 search authorized by subsection (d), including 

18 the funding of pilot studies authorized by para19 graph (2) of that subsection. 

20 (2) MEDIUM-TERM RESEARCH.—From amounts 

21 available for fiscal year 2012 for the Department of 

22 Veterans Affairs for Medical and Prosthetic Re23 search, $200,000 shall be available for the prepara24 tion of the report required by subsection (e)(1) and 
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1 for the disposition, if any, of assets authorized by 

2 subsection (e)(2). 

3 SEC. 806. NATIONAL ACADEMIES STUDY ON RISK OF DE4 VELOPING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AS A RE5 SULT OF CERTAIN SERVICE IN THE PERSIAN 

6 GULF WAR AND POST 9/11 GLOBAL OPER7 ATIONS THEATERS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

9 shall enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine 

10 of the National Academies to conduct a comprehensive ep11 idemiological study for purposes of identifying any in12 creased risk of developing multiple sclerosis as a result of 

13 service in the Armed Forces during the Persian Gulf War 

14 in the Southwest Asia theater of operations or in the Post 

15 9/11 Global Operations theaters. 

16 (b) ELEMENTS.—In conducting the study required 

17 under subsection (a), the Institute of Medicine shall do 

18 the following: 

19 (1) Determine whether service in the Armed 

20 Forces during the Persian Gulf War in the South21 west Asia theater of operations, or in the Post 9/11 

22 Global Operations theaters, increased the risk of de23 veloping multiple sclerosis. 

24 (2) Identify the incidence and prevalence of di25 agnosed neurological diseases, including multiple 
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1 sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral 

2 sclerosis, and brain cancers, as well as central nerv3 ous system abnormalities that are difficult to pre4 cisely diagnose, in each group as follows: 

5 (A) Members of the Armed Forces who 

6 served during the Persian Gulf War in the 

7 Southwest Asia theater of operations. 

8 (B) Members of the Armed Forces who 

9 served in the Post 9/11 Global Operations thea10 ters. 

11 (C) A non-deployed comparison group for 

12 those who served in the Persian Gulf War in 

13 the Southwest Asia theater of operations and 

14 the Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters. 

15 (3) Compare the incidence and prevalence of 

16 the named diagnosed neurological diseases and 

17 undiagnosed central nervous system abnormalities 

18 among veterans who served during the Persian Gulf 

19 War in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, or 

20 in the Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters, in var21 ious locations during such periods, as determined by 

22 the Institute of Medicine. 

23 (4) Collect information on risk factors, such as 

24 pesticide and other toxic exposures, to which vet25 erans were exposed while serving during the Persian 
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1 Gulf War in the Southwest Asia theater of oper2 ations or the Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters, 

3 or thereafter. 

4 (c) REPORTS.—

5 (1) INTERIM REPORT.—The contract required 

6 by subsection (a) shall require the Institute of Medi7 cine to submit to the Secretary, and to appropriate 

8 committees of Congress, interim progress reports on 

9 the study required under subsection (a). Such re10 ports shall not be required to include a description 

11 of interim results on the work under the study. 

12 (2) FINAL REPORT.—The contract shall require 

13 the Institute of Medicine to submit to the Secretary, 

14 and to appropriate committees of Congress, a final 

15 report on the study by not later than December 31, 

16 2011. The final report shall include such rec17 ommendations for legislative or administrative action 

18 as the Institute considers appropriate in light of the 

19 results of the study. 

20 (d) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall provide the Insti21 tute of Medicine with such funds as are necessary to en22 sure the timely completion of the study required under 

23 subsection (a). 

24 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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1 (1) The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con2 gress’’ means—

3 (A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

4 the Senate; and 

5 (B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

6 the House of Representatives. 

7 (2) The term ‘‘Persian Gulf War’’ has the 

8 meaning given that term in section 101(33) of title 

9 38, United States Code. 

10 (3) The term ‘‘Post 9/11 Global Operations the11 aters’’ means Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other the12 ater in which the Global War on Terrorism Expedi13 tionary Medal is awarded for service. 

14 SEC. 807. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON ADEQUACY 

15 OF DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COM16 PENSATION TO MAINTAIN SURVIVORS OF 

17 VETERANS WHO DIE FROM SERVICE-CON18 NECTED DISABILITIES. 

19 (a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 10 months 

20 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp21 troller General of the United States shall submit to the 

22 Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and Appropriations of 

23 the Senate and the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and 

24 Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report 

25 on the adequacy of dependency and indemnity compensa-
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1 tion payable under chapter 13 of title 38, United States 

2 Code, to surviving spouses and dependents of veterans who 

3 die as a result of a service-connected disability in replacing 

4 the deceased veteran’s income. 

5 (b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 

6 (a) shall include—

7 (1) a description of the current system for the 

8 payment of dependency and indemnity compensation 

9 to surviving spouses and dependents described in 

10 subsection (a), including a statement of the rates of 

11 such compensation so payable; 

12 (2) an assessment of the adequacy of such pay13 ments in replacing the deceased veteran’s income; 

14 and 

15 (3) such recommendations as the Comptroller 

16 General considers appropriate in order to improve or 

17 enhance the effects of such payments in replacing 

18 the deceased veteran’s income. 

Passed the Senate April 24, 2008. 

Attest:

Secretary. 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 1315

AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance 

servicemembers, and for other purposes.prove benefits and services for transitioning veterans’ insurance and housing benefits, to im-