II 

Calendar No. 336 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1315 

[Report No. 110–148] 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance life insurance benefits 

for disabled veterans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 7, 2007 

Mr. AKAKA introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

AUGUST 29, 2007 

Reported, under authority of the order of the Senate of August 3, 2007, by 

Mr. AKAKA, with an amendment and an amendment to the title 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance life 

insurance benefits for disabled veterans, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Disabled Veterans In5 surance Improvement Act of 2007’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ENHANCEMENT OF VETERANS’ MORTGAGE LIFE IN2 SURANCE. 

3 Section 2106(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 

4 amended by striking ‘‘$90,000’’ and inserting 

5 ‘‘$200,000’’. 

6 SEC. 3. LEVEL-PREMIUM TERM LIFE INSURANCE FOR VET7 ERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABIL8 ITIES. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 19 of title 38, United 

10 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1922A 

11 the following new section: 

12 ‘‘§ 1922B. Level-premium term life insurance for vet13 erans with service-connected disabilities 

14 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with the provi15 sions of this section, the Secretary shall grant insurance 

16 to each eligible veteran who seeks such insurance against 

17 the death of such veteran occurring while such insurance 

18 is in force. 

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

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

21 years of age who has a service-connected disability. 

22 ‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF INSURANCE.—(1) Subject to para23 graph (2), the amount of insurance granted an eligible vet24 eran under this section shall be $50,000 or such lesser 

25 amount as the veteran shall elect. The amount of insur26 ance so elected shall be evenly divisible by $10,000. 


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

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

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

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

5 OLDER.—In the case of a veteran insured under this sec6 tion who turns age 70, the amount of insurance of such 

7 veteran under this section after the date such veteran 

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

9 the amount of insurance of the veteran under this section 

10 as of the day before such date. 

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

12 under this section shall be based on the 2001 Commis13 sioners Standard Ordinary Basic Table of Mortality and 

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

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

16 for insurance under this section may not increase while 

17 such insurance is in force for such veteran. 

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

19 insurance under this section for a veteran as follows: 

20 ‘‘(A) A veteran who has a service-connected dis21 ability rated as total and is eligible for a waiver of 

22 premiums under section 1912 of this title. 

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

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

25 a nonparticipating basis and all premiums and other colVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Aug 30, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S1315.RS S1315

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1 lections therefor shall be credited directly to a revolving 

2 fund in the Treasury of the United States, and any pay3 ments on such insurance shall be made directly from such 

4 fund. Appropriations to such fund are hereby authorized. 

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

6 costs of the program of insurance under this section shall 

7 be paid from premiums credited to the fund under para8 graph (4), and payments for claims against the fund 

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

10 credited to such fund under that paragraph (after such 

11 administrative costs have been paid) shall be paid from 

12 appropriations to the fund. 

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

14 seeking insurance under this section shall file with the 

15 Secretary an application therefor. Such application shall 

16 be filed not later than the earlier of— 

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

18 on the date on which the Secretary notifies the vet19 eran that the veteran has a service-connected dis20 ability; and 

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

22 the date of the separation of the veteran from the 

23 Armed Forces, whichever is earlier.’’. 

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

25 at the beginning of chapter 19 of such title is amended 


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1 by inserting after the item related to section 1922A the 

2 following new item: 

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

disabilities.’’. 

3 (c) EXCHANGE OF SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS’ 

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

5 the date of the enactment of this Act, any veteran insured 

6 under section 1922 of title 38, United States Code, who 

7 is eligible for insurance under section 1922B of title 38, 

8 United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), may ex9 change insurance coverage under such section 1922 for 

10 insurance coverage under such section 1922B. 

11 SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF SERVICE DISABLED 

12 VETERANS’ INSURANCE. 

13 Section 1922(a) of title 38, United States Code, is 

14 amended by striking ‘‘date of such insurance’’ and insert15 ing ‘‘date of such insurance; (5) administrative costs to 

16 the Government for the costs of the program of insurance 

17 under this section shall be paid from premiums credited 

18 to the fund under paragraph (4), and payments for claims 

19 against the fund under paragraph (4) for amounts in ex20 cess of amounts credited to such fund under that para21 graph (after such administrative costs have been paid) 

22 shall be paid from appropriations to the fund’’. 


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1 SEC. 5. MODIFICATION OF SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE 

2 INSURANCE COVERAGE. 

3 (a) EXPANSION OF SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE

4 INSURANCE TO INCLUDE CERTAIN MEMBERS OF INDI5 VIDUAL READY RESERVE.— 

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

7 1967(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 

8 by striking ‘‘section 1965(5)(B) of this title’’ and in9 serting ‘‘subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(5) 

10 of this title’’. 

11 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph 

12 (5)(C) of such section 1967(a) is amended by strik13 ing ‘‘section 1965(5)(B) of this title’’ and inserting 

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

15 title’’. 

16 (b) REDUCTION IN PERIOD OF COVERAGE FOR DE17 PENDENTS AFTER MEMBER SEPARATES.—Section 

18 1968(a)(5)(B)(ii) of such title is amended by striking 

19 ‘‘120 days after’’. 

20 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

21 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Vet22 erans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007’’. 

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

24 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

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


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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. 

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. 


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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. 

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 of 

4 an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, 

5 the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 

6 other provision of title 38, United States Code. 


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1 TITLE I—INSURANCE MATTERS 

2 SEC. 101. LEVEL-PREMIUM TERM LIFE INSURANCE FOR VET3 ERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABIL4 ITIES. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 19 is amended by insert6 ing after section 1922A the following new section: 

7 ‘‘§ 1922B. Level-premium term life insurance for vet8 erans with service-connected disabilities 

9 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with the provisions 

10 of this section, the Secretary shall grant insurance to each 

11 eligible veteran who seeks such insurance against the death 

12 of such veteran occurring while such insurance is in force. 

13 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE VETERANS.—For purposes of this sec14 tion, an eligible veteran is any veteran less than 65 years 

15 of age who has a service-connected disability. 

16 ‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF INSURANCE.—(1) Subject to para17 graph (2), the amount of insurance granted an eligible vet18 eran under this section shall be $50,000 or such lesser 

19 amount as the veteran shall elect. The amount of insurance 

20 so elected shall be evenly divisible by $10,000. 

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

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

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

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

25 OLDER.—In the case of a veteran insured under this section 


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1 who turns age 70, the amount of insurance of such veteran 

2 under this section after the date such veteran turns age 70 

3 shall be the amount equal to 20 percent of the amount of 

4 insurance of the veteran under this section as of the day 

5 before such date. 

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

7 under this section shall be based on the 2001 Commissioners 

8 Standard Ordinary Basic Table of Mortality and interest 

9 at the rate of 4.5 per centum per annum. 

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

11 for insurance under this section may not increase while 

12 such insurance is in force for such veteran. 

13 ‘‘(3) The Secretary may not charge a premium for in14 surance under this section for a veteran as follows: 

15 ‘‘(A) A veteran who has a service-connected dis16 ability rated as total and is eligible for a waiver of 

17 premiums under section 1912 of this title. 

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

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

20 a nonparticipating basis and all premiums and other col21 lections therefor shall be credited directly to a revolving 

22 fund in the Treasury of the United States, and any pay23 ments on such insurance shall be made directly from such 

24 fund. Appropriations to such fund are hereby authorized. 


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1 ‘‘(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 under 

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

6 to such fund under that paragraph (after such administra7 tive costs have been paid) shall be paid from appropriations 

8 to the fund. 

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

10 seeking insurance under this section shall file with the Sec11 retary an application therefor. Such application shall be 

12 filed not later than the earlier of— 

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

14 the date on which the Secretary notifies the veteran 

15 that the veteran has a service-connected disability; 

16 and 

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

18 the date of the separation of the veteran from the 

19 Armed Forces, whichever is earlier.’’. 

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

21 the beginning of chapter 19 is amended by inserting after 

22 the item related to section 1922A the following new item: 

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

disabilities.’’. 

23 (c) EXCHANGE OF SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS’ IN24 SURANCE.—During the one-year period beginning on the efVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Aug 30, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1315.RS S1315

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1 fective date of this section under subsection (d), any veteran 

2 insured under section 1922 of title 38, United States Code, 

3 who is eligible for insurance under section 1922B of such 

4 title (as added by subsection (a)), may exchange insurance 

5 coverage under such section 1922 for insurance coverage 

6 under such section 1922B. 

7 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section, and the amend8 ments made by this section, shall take effect on June 1, 

9 2008. 

10 SEC. 102. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF SERVICE DISABLED 

11 VETERANS’ INSURANCE. 

12 Section 1922(a) is amended by striking ‘‘directly from 

13 such fund’’ and inserting ‘‘directly from such fund; and (5) 

14 administrative costs to the Government for the costs of the 

15 program of insurance under this section shall be paid from 

16 premiums credited to the fund under paragraph (4), and 

17 payments for claims against the fund under paragraph (4) 

18 for amounts in excess of amounts credited to such fund 

19 under that paragraph (after such administrative costs have 

20 been paid) shall be paid from appropriations to the fund’’. 

21 SEC. 103. MODIFICATION OF SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP 

22 LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE. 

23 (a) EXPANSION OF SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE

24 INSURANCE TO INCLUDE CERTAIN MEMBERS OF INDI25 VIDUAL READY RESERVE.— 


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

2 1967(a) is amended by striking ‘‘section 1965(5)(B) 

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

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

5 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph 

6 (5)(C) of such section 1967(a) is amended by striking 

7 ‘‘section 1965(5)(B) of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘sub8 paragraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(5) of this title’’. 

9 (b) REDUCTION IN PERIOD OF COVERAGE FOR DE10 PENDENTS AFTER MEMBER SEPARATES.—Section 

11 1968(a)(5)(B)(ii) is amended by striking ‘‘120 days after’’. 

12 SEC. 104. SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE FOR TOTALLY DIS13 ABLED VETERANS. 

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

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

16 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub17 section (a) shall take effect on January 1, 2008. 

18 SEC. 105. EXPANSION OF INDIVIDUALS QUALIFYING FOR 

19 RETROACTIVE BENEFITS FROM TRAUMATIC 

20 INJURY PROTECTION COVERAGE UNDER 

21 SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE. 

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

23 the Veterans’ Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improve24 ment Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–233; 120 Stat. 414; 38 

25 U.S.C. 1980A note) is amended by striking ‘‘, if, as deterVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Aug 30, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1315.RS S1315

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1 mined by the Secretary concerned, that loss was a direct 

2 result of a traumatic injury incurred in the theater of oper3 ations for Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi 

4 Freedom’’. 

5 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such 

6 section is amended by striking ‘‘IN OPERATION ENDURING

7 FREEDOM AND OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM’’. 

8 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 

9 section shall take effect on January 1, 2008. 

10 SEC. 106. CONSIDERATION OF LOSS DOMINANT HAND IN 

11 PRESCRIPTION OF SCHEDULE OF SEVERITY 

12 OF TRAUMATIC INJURY UNDER 

13 SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE. 

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

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

16 ‘‘(1) Payments under’’; and 

17 (2) by adding at the end the following new para18 graph: 

19 ‘‘(2) As the Secretary considers appropriate, the sched20 ule required by paragraph (1) may distinguish in speci21 fying payments for qualifying losses between the severity 

22 of a qualifying loss of a dominant hand and a qualifying 

23 loss of a non-dominant hand.’’. 

24 (b) PAYMENTS FOR QUALIFYING LOSSES INCURRED

25 BEFORE DATE OF ENACTMENT.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Af2 fairs shall prescribe in regulations mechanisms for 

3 payments under section 1980A of title 38, United 

4 States Code, for qualifying losses incurred before the 

5 date of the enactment of this Act by reason of the re6 quirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of such 

7 section (as amended by subsection (a)(2) of this sec8 tion). 

9 (2) QUALIFYING LOSS DEFINED.—In this sub10 section, the term ‘‘qualifying loss’’ means— 

11 (A) a loss specified in the second sentence of 

12 subsection (b)(1) of section 1980A of title 38, 

13 United States Code; and 

14 (B) any other loss specified by the Secretary 

15 of Veterans Affairs pursuant to the first sentence 

16 of that subsection. 

17 SEC. 107. DESIGNATION OF FIDUCIARY FOR TRAUMATIC IN18 JURY PROTECTION COVERAGE UNDER 

19 SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE 

20 IN CASE OF LOST MENTAL CAPACITY OR EX21 TENDED LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. 

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

23 consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, develop 

24 a form for the designation of a recipient for the funds dis25 tributed under section 1980A of title 38, United States 


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1 Code, as the fiduciary of a member of the Armed Forces 

2 in cases where the member is mentally incapacitated (as 

3 determined by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with 

4 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) or experiencing an ex5 tended loss of consciousness. 

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

7 require that a member may elect that— 

8 (1) an individual designated by the member be 

9 the recipient as the fiduciary of the member; or 

10 (2) a court of proper jurisdiction determine the 

11 recipient as the fiduciary of the member for purposes 

12 of this subsection. 

13 (c) COMPLETION AND UPDATE.—The form under sub14 section (a) shall be completed by an individual at the time 

15 of entry into the Armed Forces and updated periodically 

16 thereafter. 

17 SEC. 108. ENHANCEMENT OF VETERANS’ MORTGAGE LIFE 

18 INSURANCE. 

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

20 inserting ‘‘$150,000, or $200,000 after January 1, 2012,’’. 


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1 TITLE II—HOUSING MATTERS 

2 SEC. 201. HOME IMPROVEMENTS AND STRUCTURAL ALTER3 ATIONS FOR TOTALLY DISABLED MEMBERS 

4 OF THE ARMED FORCES BEFORE DISCHARGE 

5 OR RELEASE FROM THE ARMED FORCES. 

6 Section 1717 is amended by adding at the end the fol7 lowing new subsection: 

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

9 who, as determined by the Secretary, has a disability per10 manent in nature incurred or aggravated in the line of duty 

11 in the active military, naval, or air service, the Secretary 

12 may furnish improvements and structural alterations for 

13 such member for such disability or as otherwise described 

14 in subsection (a)(2) while such member is hospitalized or 

15 receiving outpatient medical care, services, or treatment for 

16 such disability if the Secretary determines that such mem17 ber is likely to be discharged or released from the Armed 

18 Forces for such disability. 

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

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

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

22 subsection (a)(2) shall be subject to the limitation specified 

23 in the applicable subparagraph.’’. 


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1 SEC. 202. ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 

2 BENEFITS AND ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS 

3 OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH SERVICE-CON4 NECTED DISABILITIES AND INDIVIDUALS RE5 SIDING OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. 

6 (a) ELIGIBILITY.—Chapter 21 is amended by inserting 

7 after section 2101 the following new section: 

8 ‘‘§ 2101A. Eligibility for benefits and assistance: mem9 bers of the Armed Forces with service-con10 nected disabilities; individuals residing 

11 outside the United States 

12 ‘‘(a) MEMBERS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABIL13 ITIES.—(1) The Secretary may provide assistance under 

14 this chapter to a member of the Armed Forces serving on 

15 active duty who is suffering from a disability that meets 

16 applicable criteria for benefits under this chapter if the dis17 ability is incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the ac18 tive military, naval, or air service. Such assistance shall 

19 be provided to the same extent as assistance is provided 

20 under this chapter to veterans eligible for assistance under 

21 this chapter and subject to the same requirements as vet22 erans under this chapter. 

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

24 veteran or eligible individual shall be treated as a reference 

25 to a member of the Armed Forces described in subsection 


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1 (a) who is similarly situated to the veteran or other eligible 

2 individual so referred to. 

3 ‘‘(b) BENEFITS AND ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS

4 RESIDING OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.—(1) Subject to 

5 paragraph (2), the Secretary may, at the Secretary’s discre6 tion, provide benefits and assistance under this chapter 

7 (other than benefits under section 2106 of this title) to any 

8 individual otherwise eligible for such benefits and assistance 

9 who resides outside the United States. 

10 ‘‘(2) The Secretary may provide benefits and assist11 ance to an individual under paragraph (1) only if— 

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

13 which the housing or residence involved is or will be 

14 located permits the individual to have or acquire a 

15 beneficial property interest (as determined by the Sec16 retary) in such housing or residence; and 

17 ‘‘(B) the individual has or will acquire a bene18 ficial property interest (as so determined) in such 

19 housing or residence. 

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

21 this chapter by reason of this section shall be provided in 

22 accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may pre23 scribe.’’. 

24 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 


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1 (1) REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED AUTHORITY.—Sec2 tion 2101 is amended— 

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

4 (B) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub5 section (c). 

6 (2) LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE.—Section 2102 

7 is amended— 

8 (A) in subsection (a)— 

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

10 appears and inserting ‘‘individual’’; and 

11 (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘vet12 eran’s’’ and inserting ‘‘individual’s’’; 

13 (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘a vet14 eran’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 

15 (C) in subsection (c)— 

16 (i) by striking ‘‘a veteran’’ and insert17 ing ‘‘an individual’’; and 

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

19 place it appears and inserting ‘‘the indi20 vidual’’; and 

21 (D) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘a vet22 eran’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘an 

23 individual’’. 


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1 (3) ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS TEMPORARILY

2 RESIDING IN HOUSING OF FAMILY MEMBER.—Section 

3 2102A is amended— 

4 (A) by striking ‘‘veteran’’ each place it ap5 pears (other than in subsection (b)) and insert6 ing ‘‘individual’’; 

7 (B) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘vet8 eran’s’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘in9 dividual’s’’; and 

10 (C) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘a vet11 eran’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘an 

12 individual’’. 

13 (4) FURNISHING OF PLANS AND SPECIFICA14 TIONS.—Section 2103 is amended by striking ‘‘vet15 erans’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘individ16 uals’’. 

17 (5) CONSTRUCTION OF BENEFITS.—Section 2104 

18 is amended— 

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

20 each place it appears and inserting ‘‘indi21 vidual’’; and 

22 (B) in subsection (b)— 

23 (i) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘A 

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


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1 (ii) in the second sentence, by striking 

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

3 and 

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

5 place it appears and inserting ‘‘such indi6 vidual’’. 

7 (6) VETERANS’ MORTGAGE LIFE INSURANCE.— 

8 Section 2106 is amended— 

9 (A) in subsection (a)— 

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

11 and inserting ‘‘any eligible individual’’; 

12 and 

13 (ii) by striking ‘‘the veterans’ ’’ and in14 serting ‘‘the individual’s’’; 

15 (B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘an eligi16 ble veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘an eligible indi17 vidual’’; 

18 (C) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘an eligi19 ble veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual’’; 

20 (D) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘each vet21 eran’’ and inserting ‘‘each individual’’; 

22 (E) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘the vet23 eran’s’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘the 

24 individual’s’’; 


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

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

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

4 appears and inserting ‘‘an individual’’. 

5 (7) HEADING AMENDMENTS.—(A) The heading of 

6 section 2101 is amended to read as follows: 

7 ‘‘§ 2101. Acquisition and adaptation of housing: eligi8 ble veterans’’. 

9 (B) The heading of section 2102A is amended to 

10 read as follows: 

11 ‘‘§ 2102A. Assistance for individuals residing tempo12 rarily in housing owned by a family mem13 ber’’. 

14 (8) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of sec15 tions at the beginning of chapter 21 is amended— 

16 (A) by striking the item relating to section 

17 2101 and inserting the following new item: 

‘‘2101. Acquisition and adaptation of housing: eligible veterans.’’; 

18 (B) by inserting after the item relating to 

19 section 2101, as so amended, the following new 

20 item: 

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

service-connected disabilities; individuals residing outside the 

United States.’’; 

21 and 

22 (C) by striking the item relating to section 

23 2102A and inserting the following new item: 


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

family member.’’. 

1 SEC. 203. SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR 

2 INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE BURN INJURIES. 

3 Section 2101 is amended— 

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

5 following new subparagraph: 

6 ‘‘(E) The disability is due to a severe burn in7 jury (as determined pursuant to regulations pre8 scribed by the Secretary).’’; and 

9 (2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

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

11 ‘‘any’’; and 

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

13 subparagraph: 

14 ‘‘(C) The disability is due to a severe burn in15 jury (as so determined).’’. 

16 SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS 

17 RESIDING TEMPORARILY IN HOUSING OWNED 

18 BY A FAMILY MEMBER. 

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

20 of the five-year period that begins on the date of the enact21 ment of the Veterans’ Housing Opportunity and Benefits 

22 Improvement Act of 2006’’ and inserting ‘‘after December 

23 31, 2011’’. 


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1 SEC. 205. SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 

2 BENEFITS FOR DISABLED VETERANS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 21 is amended by insert4 ing after section 2102A the following new section: 

5 ‘‘§ 2102B. Supplemental assistance 

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

7 funds specifically provided for purposes of this subsection 

8 in advance in an appropriations Act, whenever the Sec9 retary makes a payment in accordance with section 2102 

10 of this title to an individual authorized to receive such as11 sistance under section 2101 of this title for the acquisition 

12 of housing with special features or for special adaptations 

13 to a residence, the Secretary is also authorized and directed 

14 to pay such individual supplemental assistance under this 

15 section for such acquisition or adaptation. 

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

17 made under this subsection if the Secretary has expended 

18 all funds that were specifically provided for purposes of this 

19 subsection in an appropriations Act. 

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

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

22 2102(a) of this title, supplemental assistance required by 

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

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

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

26 title if applicable, if the amount described in section 


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

2 amount described in subsection (c)(1), over 

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

4 this section. 

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

6 section 2102(b) of this title, supplemental assistance re7 quired by subsection (a) is equal to the excess of— 

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

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

10 title if applicable, if the amount described in section 

11 2102(b)(2) of this title and section 2102(d)(2) of this 

12 title were increased to the adjusted amount described 

13 in subsection (c)(2), over 

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

15 this section. 

16 ‘‘(c) ADJUSTED AMOUNT.—(1) In the case of a pay17 ment made in accordance with section 2102(a) of this title, 

18 the adjusted amount is $60,000 (as adjusted from time to 

19 time under subsection (d)). 

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

21 section 2102(b) of this title, the adjusted amount is $12,000 

22 (as adjusted from time to time under subsection (d)). 

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

24 year (beginning in 2008), the Secretary shall increase the 


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1 adjusted amounts described in subsection (c) in accordance 

2 with this subsection. 

3 ‘‘(2) The increase in amounts under paragraph (1) to 

4 take effect on October 1 of any year shall be the percentage 

5 by which (A) the residential home cost-of-construction index 

6 for the preceding calendar year exceeds (B) the residential 

7 home cost-of-construction index for the year preceding that 

8 year. 

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

10 cost-of-construction index for the purposes of this subsection. 

11 The index shall reflect a uniform, national average increase 

12 in the cost of residential home construction, determined on 

13 a calendar year basis. The Secretary may use an index de14 veloped in the private sector that the Secretary determines 

15 is appropriate for purposes of this subsection. 

16 ‘‘(e) 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 assistance under this 

20 section to all eligible recipients for the remainder of 

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

22 and 

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

24 appropriate to provide all eligible recipients with 


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1 supplemental assistance under this section in the next 

2 fiscal year. 

3 ‘‘(2) On the dates described in paragraph (3), the Sec4 retary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con5 gress the estimates described in paragraph (1). 

6 ‘‘(3) The dates described in this paragraph are the fol7 lowing: 

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 es12 timated by the Secretary on which amounts appro13 priated for the purposes of this section for a fiscal 

14 year will be exhausted. 

15 ‘‘(f) 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 Rep22 resentatives.’’. 

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

24 the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after 

25 the item related to section 2102A the following new item: 

‘‘2102B. Supplemental assistance.’’. 


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1 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 

2 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans 

3 Affairs such sums as may be necessary to carry out the pro4 visions of section 2102B of title 38, United States Code (as 

5 added by subsection (a)). 

6 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 

7 section shall take effect on October 1, 2007, and shall apply 

8 with respect to payments made in accordance with section 

9 2102 of title 38, United States Code, on or after that date. 

10 SEC. 206. REPORT ON SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING FOR 

11 DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31, 2008, 

13 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Com14 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 

15 on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

16 that contains an assessment of the adequacy of the authori17 ties available to the Secretary under law to assist eligible 

18 disabled individuals in acquiring— 

19 (1) suitable housing units with special fixtures 

20 or movable facilities required for their disabilities, 

21 and necessary land therefor; 

22 (2) such adaptations to their residences as are 

23 reasonably necessary because of their disabilities; and 


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1 (3) residences already adapted with special fea2 tures determined by the Secretary to be reasonably 

3 necessary as a result of their disabilities. 

4 (b) FOCUS ON PARTICULAR DISABILITIES.—The report 

5 required by subsection (a) shall set forth a specific assess6 ment of the needs of— 

7 (1) veterans who have disabilities that are not 

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

9 2101 of title 38, United States Code; and 

10 (2) other disabled individuals eligible for spe11 cially adapted housing under chapter 21 of such title 

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

13 section 202(a) of this Act) who have disabilities that 

14 are not described in such subsections. 

15 SEC. 207. REPORT ON SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING AS16 SISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO RESIDE IN 

17 HOUSING OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER ON 

18 PERMANENT BASIS. 

19 Not later than December 31, 2008, the Secretary of Vet20 erans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

21 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af22 fairs of the House of Representatives a report on the advis23 ability of providing assistance under section 2102A of title 

24 38, United States Code, to veterans described in subsection 

25 (a) of such section, and to members of the Armed Forces 


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1 covered by such section 2102A by reason of section 2101A 

2 of title 38, United States Code (as added by section 202(a) 

3 of this Act), who reside with family members on a perma4 nent basis. 

5 TITLE III—LABOR AND 

6 EDUCATION MATTERS 

7 SEC. 301. COORDINATION OF APPROVAL ACTIVITIES IN THE 

8 ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATION BENEFITS. 

9 (a) COORDINATION.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3673 is amended— 

11 (A) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub12 section (c); and 

13 (B) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol14 lowing new subsection (b): 

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

16 shall take appropriate actions to ensure the coordination 

17 of approval activities performed by State approving agen18 cies under this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title 

19 and approval activities performed by the Department of 

20 Labor, the Department of Education, and other entities in 

21 order to reduce overlap and improve efficiency in the per22 formance of such activities.’’. 

23 (2) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

24 (A) The heading of such section is amended to read 

25 as follows: 


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1 ‘‘§ 3673. Approval activities: cooperation and coordi2 nation of activities’’. 

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

4 chapter 36 is amended by striking the item relating 

5 to section 3673 and inserting the following new item: 

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

6 (3) STYLISTIC AMENDMENTS.—Such section is 

7 further amended— 

8 (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘CO9 OPERATION IN ACTIVITIES.—’’ after ‘‘(a)’’; and 

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

11 paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection, by inserting 

12 ‘‘AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION MATERIAL.—’’ 

13 after ‘‘(c)’’. 

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

15 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Af16 fairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

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

18 House of Representatives a report setting forth the fol19 lowing: 

20 (1) The actions taken to establish outcome-ori21 ented performance standards for State approving 

22 agencies created or designated under section 3671 of 

23 title 38, United States Code, including a description 

24 of any plans for, and the status of the implementation 

25 of, such standards as part of the evaluations of State 


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1 approving agencies required by section 3674A of title 

2 38, United States Code. 

3 (2) The actions taken to implement a tracking 

4 and reporting system for resources expended for ap5 proval and outreach activities by such agencies. 

6 (3) Any recommendations for legislative action 

7 that the Secretary considers appropriate to achieve 

8 the complete implementation of the standards de9 scribed in paragraph (1). 

10 SEC. 302. MODIFICATION OF RATE OF REIMBURSEMENT OF 

11 STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES ADMIN12 ISTERING VETERANS EDUCATION BENEFITS. 

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

14 ‘‘$13,000,000’’ and all that follows through ‘‘fiscal year 

15 2007,’’. 

16 SEC. 303. WAIVER OF RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR DI17 RECTORS FOR VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT AND 

18 TRAINING. 

19 Section 4103(a)(2) is amended— 

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

21 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub22 paragraph: 

23 ‘‘(B) The Secretary may waive the requirement in sub24 paragraph (A) with respect to a Director for Veterans’ Em25 ployment and Training if the Secretary determines that the 


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1 waiver is in the public interest. Any such waiver shall be 

2 made on a case-by-case basis.’’. 

3 SEC. 304. MODIFICATION OF SPECIAL UNEMPLOYMENT 

4 STUDY TO COVER VETERANS OF POST 9/11 

5 GLOBAL OPERATIONS. 

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

7 section 4110A is amended— 

8 (1) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by 

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

10 annual study’’; 

11 (2) by redesignating subparagraph (A) as sub12 paragraph (F); 

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

14 the following new subparagraphs: 

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

16 while members of the National Guard or a Reserve 

17 Component. 

18 ‘‘(B) Veterans who served in combat or in a war 

19 zone in the Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters.’’; 

20 and 

21 (4) in subparagraph (C)— 

22 (A) by striking ‘‘Vietnam era’’ and insert23 ing ‘‘Post 9/11 Global Operations period’’; and 


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1 (B) by striking ‘‘the Vietnam theater of op2 erations’’ and inserting ‘‘the Post 9/11 Global 

3 Operations theaters’’. 

4 (b) DEFINITIONS.—Such section is further amended by 

5 adding at the end the following new subsection: 

6 ‘‘(c) In this section: 

7 ‘‘(1) The term ‘Post 9/11 Global Operations pe8 riod’ means the period of the Persian Gulf War begin9 ning on September 11, 2001, and ending on the date 

10 thereafter prescribed by Presidential proclamation or 

11 law. 

12 ‘‘(2) The term ‘Post 9/11 Global Operations thea13 ters’ means Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other theater in 

14 which the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary 

15 Medal is awarded for service.’’. 

16 SEC. 305. EXTENSION OF INCREASE IN BENEFIT FOR INDI17 VIDUALS PURSUING APPRENTICESHIP OR ON18 JOB TRAINING. 

19 Section 103 of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act 

20 of 2004 (Public Law 108–454; 118 Stat. 3600) is amended 

21 by striking ‘‘2008’’ each place it appears and inserting 

22 ‘‘2010’’. 


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1 TITLE IV—FILIPINO WORLD WAR 

2 II VETERANS MATTERS 

3 SEC. 401. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS PRO4 VIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF5 FAIRS FOR CERTAIN SERVICE IN THE ORGA6 NIZED MILITARY FORCES OF THE COMMON7 WEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PHIL8 IPPINE SCOUTS. 

9 (a) MODIFICATION OF STATUS OF CERTAIN SERV10 ICE.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 107 is amended to 

12 read as follows: 

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

14 to be active service 

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

16 shall be deemed to have been active military, naval, or air 

17 service for purposes of any law of the United States confer18 ring rights, privileges, or benefits upon any individual by 

19 reason of the service of such individual or the service of any 

20 other individual in the Armed Forces. 

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

22 subsection is service— 

23 ‘‘(1) before July 1, 1946, in the organized mili24 tary forces of the Government of the Commonwealth 

25 of the Philippines, while such forces were in the servVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Aug 30, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1315.RS S1315

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1 ice of the Armed Forces of the United States pursuant 

2 to the military order of the President dated July 26, 

3 1941, including among such military forces organized 

4 guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, des5 ignated, or subsequently recognized by the Com6 mander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or other 

7 competent authority in the Army of the United 

8 States; or 

9 ‘‘(2) in the Philippine Scouts under section 14 

10 of the Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 

11 1945 (59 Stat. 538). 

12 ‘‘(c) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION

13 FOR CERTAIN RECIPIENTS RESIDING OUTSIDE THE

14 UNITED STATES.—(1) Dependency and indemnity com15 pensation provided under chapter 13 of this title to an indi16 vidual described in paragraph (2) shall be made at a rate 

17 of $0.50 for each dollar authorized. 

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

19 individual who resides outside the United States and is en20 titled to dependency and indemnity compensation under 

21 chapter 13 of this title based on service described in sub22 section (b). 

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

24 CERTAIN RECIPIENTS RESIDING OUTSIDE THE UNITED

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


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

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

3 1514 of this title. 

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

5 individual who resides outside the United States and is en6 titled to a pension provided under subchapter II or III of 

7 chapter 15 of this title based on service described in sub8 section (b). 

9 ‘‘(e) UNITED STATES DEFINED.—In this section, the 

10 term ‘United States’ means the States, the District of Co11 lumbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin 

12 Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is13 lands, and any other possession or territory of the United 

14 States.’’. 

15 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec16 tions at the beginning of chapter 1 is amended by 

17 striking the item related to section 107 and inserting 

18 the following new item: 

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

19 (3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

20 this subsection shall apply with respect to the pay21 ment or provision of benefits on or after the date of 

22 the enactment of this Act. No benefits are payable or 

23 are required to be provided by reason of such amend24 ment for any period before such date. 


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1 (b) PENSION AND DEATH PENSION FOR CERTAIN

2 SERVICE.— 

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

4 amended by adding at the end the following new sec5 tion: 

6 ‘‘§ 1514. Certain recipients residing outside the United 

7 States 

8 ‘‘(a) SPECIAL RATES FOR PENSION BENEFITS FOR IN9 DIVIDUALS SERVING WITH PHILIPPINE FORCES AND SUR10 VIVORS.—(1) Payment under this subchapter to an indi11 vidual who resides outside the United States and is eligible 

12 for such payment because of service described in section 

13 107(b) of this title shall be made as follows: 

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

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

16 time under section 5312 of this title). 

17 ‘‘(B) For such an individual who is not married, 

18 at a rate of $3,600 per year (as increased from time 

19 to time under section 5312 of this title). 

20 ‘‘(2) Payment under subchapter III of this chapter to 

21 an individual who resides outside the United States and 

22 is eligible for such payment because of service described in 

23 section 107(b) of this title shall be made at a rate of $2,400 

24 per year (as increased from time to time under section 5312 

25 of this title). 


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1 ‘‘(3) An individual who is otherwise entitled to benefits 

2 under this chapter and resides outside the United States, 

3 and receives or would otherwise be eligible to receive a mon4 etary benefit from a foreign government, may not receive 

5 benefits under this chapter for service described in section 

6 107(b) of this title if receipt of such benefits under this 

7 chapter would reduce such monetary benefit from such for8 eign government. 

9 ‘‘(4) The provisions of sections 1503(a), 1506, 1522, 

10 and 1543 of this title shall not apply to benefits paid under 

11 this section. 

12 ‘‘(b) INDIVIDUALS LIVING OUTSIDE THE UNITED

13 STATES ENTITLED TO CERTAIN SOCIAL SECURITY BENE14 FITS INELIGIBLE.—An individual residing outside the 

15 United States who is receiving or is eligible to receive bene16 fits under title VIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

17 1001 et seq.) may not receive benefits under this chapter. 

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

19 term ‘United States’ means the States, the District of Co20 lumbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin 

21 Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is22 lands, and any other possession or territory of the United 

23 States.’’. 

24 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec25 tions at the beginning of chapter 15 is amended by 


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1 inserting after the item related to section 1513 the fol2 lowing new item: 

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

3 (3) FREQUENCY OF PAYMENT.—Section 1508 is 

4 amended by inserting ‘‘1514,’’ before ‘‘1521,’’ each 

5 place it appears. 

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

7 is amended by inserting ‘‘1514,’’ before ‘‘1521’’. 

8 (5) ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT OF BENEFIT RATES.— 

9 Section 5312 is amended— 

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

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

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

13 ‘‘1514,’’ before ‘‘1521,’’. 

14 (6) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 

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

16 for benefits filed on or after May 1, 2008. The amend17 ments made by paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) shall 

18 take effect on May 1, 2008. 

19 (c) PENSION AND DEATH PENSION BENEFIT PROTEC20 TION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vet21 eran with service described in section 107(b) of title 38, 

22 United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), who is 

23 receiving benefits under a Federal or federally assisted pro24 gram as of the date of the enactment of this Act, or a sur25 vivor of such veteran who is receiving such benefits as of 


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1 the date of the enactment of this Act, may not be required 

2 to apply for or receive benefits under chapter 15 of such 

3 title if the receipt of such benefits would— 

4 (1) make such veteran or survivor ineligible for 

5 any Federal or federally assisted program for which 

6 such veteran or survivor qualifies; or 

7 (2) reduce the amount of benefit such veteran or 

8 survivor would receive from any Federal or federally 

9 assisted program for which such veteran or survivor 

10 qualifies. 

11 SEC. 402. ELIGIBILITY OF CHILDREN OF CERTAIN PHIL12 IPPINE VETERANS FOR EDUCATIONAL AS13 SISTANCE. 

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

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

16 and inserting ‘‘except that a reference to a State approving 

17 agency shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary.’’. 

18 (b) REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISION.—Such section 

19 is further amended by striking subsection (c). 

20 TITLE V—COURT MATTERS 

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

22 STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 

23 CLAIMS. 

24 (a) REPEAL OF LIMIT ON SERVICE OF RECALLED RE25 TIRED JUDGES WHO VOLUNTARILY SERVE MORE THAN 90 


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1 DAYS.—Section 7257(b)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘or for 

2 more than a total of 180 days (or the equivalent) during 

3 any calendar year’’. 

4 (b) NEW JUDGES RECALLED AFTER RETIREMENT RE5 CEIVE PAY OF CURRENT JUDGES ONLY DURING PERIOD

6 OF RECALL.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 7296(c) is amended 

8 by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following 

9 new paragraph: 

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

11 of the enactment of the Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act 

12 of 2007 and who retires under subsection (b) and elects 

13 under subsection (d) to receive retired pay under this sub14 section shall (except as provided in paragraph (2)) receive 

15 retired pay as follows: 

16 ‘‘(i) In the case of a judge who is a recall-eligible 

17 retired judge under section 7257 of this title, the re18 tired pay of the judge shall (subject to section 

19 7257(d)(2) of this title) be the rate of pay applicable 

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

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

22 ‘‘(ii) In the case of a judge other than a recall23 eligible retired judge, the retired pay of the judge shall 

24 be the rate of pay applicable to that judge at the time 

25 of retirement. 


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1 ‘‘(B) A judge who retired before the date of the enact2 ment of the Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 

3 and elected under subsection (d) to receive retired pay under 

4 this subsection, or a judge who retires under subsection (b) 

5 and elects under subsection (d) to receive retired pay under 

6 this subsection, shall (except as provided in paragraph (2)) 

7 receive retired pay as follows: 

8 ‘‘(i) In the case of a judge who is a recall-eligible 

9 retired judge under section 7257 of this title or who 

10 was a recall-eligible retired judge under that section 

11 and was removed from recall status under subsection 

12 (b)(4) of that section by reason of disability, the re13 tired pay of the judge shall be the pay of a judge of 

14 the court. 

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

16 retirement did not provide notice under section 7257 

17 of this title of availability for service in a recalled 

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

19 of pay applicable to that judge at the time of retire20 ment. 

21 ‘‘(iii) In the case of a judge who was a recall22 eligible retired judge under section 7257 of this title 

23 and was removed from recall status under subsection 

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


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1 shall be the pay of the judge at the time of the re2 moval from recall status.’’. 

3 (2) COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR RETIRED

4 PAY OF NEW JUDGES WHO ARE RECALL-ELIGIBLE.— 

5 Section 7296(f)(3)(A) is amended by striking ‘‘para6 graph (2) of subsection (c)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph 

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

8 (3) PAY DURING PERIOD OF RECALL.—Sub9 section (d) of section 7257 is amended to read as fol10 lows: 

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

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

13 specified in that section. 

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

15 retired under chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 or to whom section 

16 7296(c)(1)(A) of this title applies shall be paid, during the 

17 period for which the judge serves in recall status, pay at 

18 the rate of pay in effect under section 7253(e) of this title 

19 for a judge performing active service, less the amount of 

20 the judge’s annuity under the applicable provisions of chap21 ter 83 or 84 of title 5 or the judge’s annuity under section 

22 7296(c)(1)(A) of this title, whichever is applicable.’’. 

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

24 7257(a)(1) is amended to read as follows: ‘‘Such a noVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Aug 30, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1315.RS S1315

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1 tice provided by a retired judge to whom section 

2 7296(c)(1)(B) of this title applies is irrevocable.’’. 

3 (c) LIMITATION ON INVOLUNTARY RECALLS.—Section 

4 7257(b)(3) is amended by adding at the end the following 

5 new sentence: ‘‘This paragraph shall not apply to a judge 

6 to whom section 7296(c)(1)(A) or 7296(c)(1)(B) of this title 

7 applies and who has, in the aggregate, served at least five 

8 years of recalled service on the Court under this section.’’. 

9 SEC. 502. ADDITIONAL DISCRETION IN IMPOSITION OF 

10 PRACTICE AND REGISTRATION FEES. 

11 Section 7285(a) is amended— 

12 (1) in the first sentence, by inserting ‘‘reason13 able’’ after ‘‘impose a’’; 

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

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

16 (3) in the third sentence, by inserting ‘‘reason17 able’’ after ‘‘impose a’’. 

18 SEC. 503. ANNUAL REPORTS ON WORKLOAD OF UNITED 

19 STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS 

20 CLAIMS. 

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

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

23 ‘‘§ 7288. Annual report 

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

25 submit annually to the appropriate committees of Congress 


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1 a report summarizing the workload of the Court for the last 

2 fiscal year that ended before the submission of such report. 

3 Such report shall include, with respect to such fiscal year, 

4 the following information: 

5 ‘‘(1) The number of appeals filed. 

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

7 ‘‘(3) The number of applications filed under sec8 tion 2412 of title 28. 

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

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

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

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

13 and petitions and of applications described in para14 graph (3). 

15 ‘‘(8) A summary of any service performed by re16 called retired judges during the fiscal year. 

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

19 of Congress’ means the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

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

21 House of Representatives.’’. 

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

23 the beginning of chapter 72 is amended by inserting after 

24 the item related to section 7287 the following new 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 findings: 

5 (1) The United States Court of Appeals for Vet6 erans Claims is currently located in the District of 

7 Columbia in a commercial office building that is also 

8 occupied by other Federal tenants. 

9 (2) In February 2006, the General Services Ad10 ministration provided Congress with a preliminary 

11 feasibility analysis of a dedicated Veterans Court12 house and Justice Center that would house the Court 

13 and other entities that work with the Court. 

14 (3) In February 2007, the Court notified Con15 gress that the ‘‘most cost-effective alternative appears 

16 to be leasing substantial additional space in the cur17 rent location’’, which would ‘‘require relocating other 

18 current government tenants’’ from that building. 

19 (4) The February 2006 feasibility report of the 

20 General Services Administration does not include an 

21 analysis of whether it would be feasible or desirable 

22 to locate a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center at 

23 the current location of the Court. 

24 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 

25 that— 


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1 (1) the United States Court of Appeals for Vet2 erans Claims should be provided with appropriate of3 fice space to meet its needs, as well as to provide the 

4 image, security, and stature befitting a court that 

5 provides justice to the veterans of the United States; 

6 and 

7 (2) in providing that space, Congress should 

8 avoid undue disruption, inconvenience, or cost to 

9 other Federal entities. 

10 (c) REPORT.— 

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

12 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Adminis13 trator of General Services shall submit to the Com14 mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 

15 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep16 resentatives a report on the feasibility of— 

17 (A) leasing additional space for the United 

18 States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 

19 within the building where the Court was located 

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

21 (B) using the entirety of such building as a 

22 Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center. 

23 (2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para24 graph (1) shall include a detailed analysis of the fol25 lowing: 


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1 (A) The impact that the matter analyzed in 

2 accordance with paragraph (1) would have on 

3 Federal tenants of the building used by the 

4 Court. 

5 (B) Whether it would be feasible to relocate 

6 such Federal tenants into office space that offers 

7 similar or preferable cost, convenience, and usa8 ble square footage. 

9 (C) If relocation of such Federal tenants is 

10 found to be feasible and desirable, an analysis of 

11 what steps should be taken to convert the build12 ing into a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Cen13 ter and a timeline for such conversion. 

14 (3) COMMENT PERIOD.—The Administrator shall 

15 provide an opportunity to such Federal tenants— 

16 (A) before the completion of the report re17 quired by paragraph (1), to comment on the sub18 ject of the report required by such paragraph; 

19 and 

20 (B) before the Administrator submits the re21 port required by paragraph (1) to the congres22 sional committees specified in such paragraph, 

23 to comment on a draft of such report. 


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1 TITLE VI—COMPENSATION AND 

2 PENSION MATTERS 

3 SEC. 601. ADDITION OF OSTEOPOROSIS TO DISABILITIES 

4 PRESUMED TO BE SERVICE-CONNECTED IN 

5 FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR WITH POST6 TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. 

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

8 the following new subparagraph: 

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

10 that the veteran was diagnosed with post-traumatic 

11 stress disorder (PTSD).’’. 

12 SEC. 602. COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE FOR TEMPORARY DE13 PENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION 

14 PAYABLE FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES WITH DE15 PENDENT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18. 

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

17 following new paragraph: 

18 ‘‘(5) Whenever there is an increase in benefit amounts 

19 payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

20 401 et seq.) as a result of a determination made under sec21 tion 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)), the Secretary 

22 shall, effective on the date of such increase in benefit 

23 amounts, increase the amount payable under paragraph 

24 (1), as such amount was in effect immediately prior to the 

25 date of such increase in benefit amounts, by the same perVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Aug 30, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1315.RS S1315

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1 centage as the percentage by which such benefit amounts 

2 are increased. Any increase in a dollar amount under this 

3 paragraph shall be rounded down to the next lower whole 

4 dollar amount.’’. 

5 SEC. 603. CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS 65 

6 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER FOR SERVICE PEN7 SION FOR A PERIOD OF WAR. 

8 Section 1513 is amended— 

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

10 1521’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘by sub11 section (b), (c), (f)(1), (f)(5), or (g) of that section, as 

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

13 under section 5312 of this title.’’; 

14 (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection 

15 (c); and 

16 (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following 

17 new subsection (b): 

18 ‘‘(b) The conditions in subsections (h) and (i) of sec19 tion 1521 of this title shall apply to determinations of in20 come and maximum payments of pension for purposes of 

21 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 in7 serting after section 2302 the following new section: 

8 ‘‘§ 2302A. Funeral expenses: supplemental benefits 

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

10 funds specifically provided for purposes of this subsection 

11 in advance in an appropriations Act, whenever the Sec12 retary makes a payment for the burial and funeral of a 

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

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

15 payment a supplemental payment under this section for the 

16 cost of such burial and funeral. 

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

18 this subsection if the Secretary has expended all funds that 

19 were specifically provided for purposes of this subsection in 

20 an appropriations Act. 

21 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—The amount of the supplemental pay22 ment required by subsection (a) for any death is $900 (as 

23 adjusted from time to time under subsection (c)). 

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

25 in any fiscal year after fiscal year 2008, the supplemental 


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1 payment described in subsection (b) shall be equal to the 

2 sum of— 

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

4 subsection (b) for the preceding fiscal year (deter5 mined after application of this subsection), plus 

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

7 2302(a) of this title and the amount under paragraph 

8 (1), multiplied by the percentage by which— 

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

10 United States city average) for the 12-month pe11 riod ending on the June 30 preceding the begin12 ning of the fiscal year for which the increase is 

13 made, exceeds 

14 ‘‘(B) such Consumer Price Index for the 12- 

15 month period preceding the 12-month period de16 scribed in subparagraph (A). 

17 ‘‘(d) ESTIMATES.—(1) From time to time, the Sec18 retary shall make an estimate of— 

19 ‘‘(A) the amount of funding that would be nec20 essary to provide supplemental payments under this 

21 section to all eligible recipients for the remainder of 

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

23 and 

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

25 appropriate to provide all eligible recipients with 


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1 supplemental payments under this section in the next 

2 fiscal year. 

3 ‘‘(2) On the dates described in paragraph (3), the Sec4 retary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con5 gress the estimates described in paragraph (1). 

6 ‘‘(3) The dates described in this paragraph are the fol7 lowing: 

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 es12 timated 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 Rep22 resentatives.’’. 

23 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec24 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 


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1 inserting after the item related to section 2302 the fol2 lowing new item: 

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

3 (3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

4 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec5 retary of Veterans Affairs such sums as may be nec6 essary to carry out the provisions of section 2302A of 

7 title 38, United States Code (as added by this sub8 section). 

9 (b) DEATH FROM SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 23 is amended by in11 serting after section 2307 the following new section: 

12 ‘‘§ 2307A. Death from service-connected disability: 

13 supplemental benefits for burial and fu14 neral expenses 

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

16 funds specifically provided for purposes of this subsection 

17 in advance in an appropriations Act, whenever the Sec18 retary makes a payment for the burial and funeral of a 

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

20 also authorized and directed to pay the recipient of such 

21 payment a supplemental payment under this section for the 

22 cost of such burial and funeral. 

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

24 this subsection if the Secretary has expended all funds that 


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1 were specifically provided for purposes of this subsection in 

2 an appropriations Act. 

3 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—The amount of the supplemental pay4 ment required by subsection (a) for any death is $2,100 

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

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

7 in any fiscal year after fiscal year 2008, the supplemental 

8 payment described in subsection (b) shall be equal to the 

9 sum of— 

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

11 subsection (b) for the preceding fiscal year (deter12 mined after application of this subsection), plus 

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

14 2307(1) of this title and the amount under paragraph 

15 (1), multiplied by the percentage by which— 

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

17 United States city average) for the 12-month pe18 riod ending on the June 30 preceding the begin19 ning of the fiscal year for which the increase is 

20 made, exceeds 

21 ‘‘(B) such Consumer Price Index for the 12- 

22 month period preceding the 12-month period de23 scribed in subparagraph (A). 

24 ‘‘(d) ESTIMATES.—(1) From time to time, the Sec25 retary shall make an estimate of— 


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1 ‘‘(A) the amount of funding that would be nec2 essary to provide supplemental payments under this 

3 section to all eligible recipients for the remainder of 

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

5 and 

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

7 appropriate to provide all eligible recipients with 

8 supplemental payments under this section in the next 

9 fiscal year. 

10 ‘‘(2) On the dates described in paragraph (3), the Sec11 retary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con12 gress the estimates described in paragraph (1). 

13 ‘‘(3) The dates described in this paragraph are the fol14 lowing: 

15 ‘‘(A) April 1 of each year. 

16 ‘‘(B) July 1 of each year. 

17 ‘‘(C) September 1 of each year. 

18 ‘‘(D) The date that is 60 days before the date es19 timated by the Secretary on which amounts appro20 priated for the purposes of this section for a fiscal 

21 year will be exhausted. 

22 ‘‘(e) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE23 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘appropriate committees 

24 of Congress’ means— 


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

2 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

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

4 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep5 resentatives.’’. 

6 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec7 tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 

8 inserting after the item related to section 2307 the fol9 lowing new item: 

‘‘2307A. Death from service-connected disability: supplemental benefits for burial 

and funeral expenses.’’. 

10 (3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

11 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec12 retary of Veterans Affairs such sums as may be nec13 essary to carry out the provisions of section 2307A of 

14 title 38, United States Code (as added by this sub15 section). 

16 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 

17 section shall take effect on October 1, 2007, and shall apply 

18 with respect to deaths occurring on or after that date. 

19 SEC. 702. SUPPLEMENTAL PLOT ALLOWANCES. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 23 is amended by insert21 ing after section 2303 the following new section: 

22 ‘‘§ 2303A. Supplemental plot allowance 

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

24 funds specifically provided for purposes of this subsection 


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1 in advance in an appropriations Act, whenever the Sec2 retary makes a payment for the burial and funeral of a 

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

4 burial of a veteran under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 

5 2303(b) of this title, the Secretary is also authorized and 

6 directed to pay the recipient of such payment a supple7 mental payment under this section for the cost of such bur8 ial and funeral or burial, as applicable. 

9 ‘‘(2) No supplemental plot allowance payment shall be 

10 made under this subsection if the Secretary has expended 

11 all funds that were specifically provided for purposes of this 

12 subsection in an appropriations Act. 

13 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—The amount of the supplemental pay14 ment required by subsection (a) for any death is $445 (as 

15 adjusted from time to time under subsection (c)). 

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

17 in any fiscal year after fiscal year 2008, the supplemental 

18 payment described in subsection (b) shall be equal to the 

19 sum of— 

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

21 subsection (b) for the preceding fiscal year (deter22 mined after application of this subsection), plus 

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

24 2303(a)(1)(A) of this title and the amount under 


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1 paragraph (1), multiplied by the percentage by 

2 which— 

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

4 United States city average) for the 12-month pe5 riod ending on the June 30 preceding the begin6 ning of the fiscal year for which the increase is 

7 made, exceeds 

8 ‘‘(B) such Consumer Price Index for the 12- 

9 month period preceding the 12-month period de10 scribed in subparagraph (A). 

11 ‘‘(d) ESTIMATES.—(1) From time to time, the Sec12 retary shall make an estimate of— 

13 ‘‘(A) the amount of funding that would be nec14 essary to provide supplemental plot allowance pay15 ments under this section to all eligible recipients for 

16 the remainder of the fiscal year in which such an esti17 mate is made; and 

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

19 appropriate to provide all eligible recipients with 

20 supplemental plot allowance payments under this sec21 tion in the next fiscal year. 

22 ‘‘(2) On the dates described in paragraph (3), the Sec23 retary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con24 gress the estimates described in paragraph (1). 


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1 ‘‘(3) The dates described in this paragraph are the fol2 lowing: 

3 ‘‘(A) April 1 of each year. 

4 ‘‘(B) July 1 of each year. 

5 ‘‘(C) September 1 of each year. 

6 ‘‘(D) The date that is 60 days before the date es7 timated by the Secretary on which amounts appro8 priated for the purposes of this section for a fiscal 

9 year will be exhausted. 

10 ‘‘(e) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE11 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘appropriate committees 

12 of Congress’ means— 

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

14 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

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

16 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep17 resentatives.’’. 

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

19 the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after 

20 the item related to section 2303 the following new item: 

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

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

22 section shall take effect on October 1, 2007, and shall apply 

23 with respect to deaths occurring on or after that date. 

24 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 

25 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans 


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1 Affairs such sums as may be necessary to carry out the pro2 visions of section 2303A of title 38, United States Code (as 

3 added by subsection (a)). 

4 TITLE VIII—OTHER MATTERS 

5 SEC. 801. ELIGIBILITY OF DISABLED VETERANS AND MEM6 BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH SEVERE 

7 BURN INJURIES FOR AUTOMOBILES AND 

8 ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT. 

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

10 amended— 

11 (1) in subparagraph (A)— 

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

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

14 (iv)’’; and 

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

16 clause: 

17 ‘‘(iv) A severe burn injury (as determined 

18 pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Sec19 retary).’’; and 

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

21 and inserting ‘‘(iii), or (iv)’’. 

22 (b) STYLISTIC AMENDMENTS.—Such section is further 

23 amended— 

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

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


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1 (2) in paragraph (1)— 

2 (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 

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

4 ‘‘means the following:’’; 

5 (B) in subparagraph (A)— 

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

7 by striking ‘‘any veteran’’ and inserting 

8 ‘‘Any veteran’’; 

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

10 the semicolon at the end and inserting a pe11 riod; and 

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

13 and inserting a period; and 

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

15 member’’ and inserting ‘‘Any member’’. 

16 SEC. 802. SUPPLEMENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROVIDING 

17 AUTOMOBILES OR OTHER CONVEYANCES TO 

18 CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 39 is amended by insert20 ing after section 3902 the following new section: 

21 ‘‘§ 3902A. Supplemental assistance for providing auto22 mobiles or other conveyances 

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

24 funds specifically provided for purposes of this subsection 

25 in advance in an appropriations Act, whenever the SecVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Aug 30, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1315.RS S1315

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1 retary makes a payment for the purchase of an automobile 

2 or other conveyance for an eligible person under section 

3 3902 of this title, the Secretary is also authorized and di4 rected to pay the recipient of such payment a supplemental 

5 payment under this section for the cost of such purchase. 

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

7 this subsection if the Secretary has expended all funds that 

8 were specifically provided for purposes of this subsection in 

9 an appropriations Act. 

10 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT OF SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT.—Supple11 mental payment required by subsection (a) is equal to the 

12 excess of— 

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

14 under section 3902 of this title if the amount de15 scribed in section 3902 of this title were increased to 

16 the adjusted amount described in subsection (c), over 

17 ‘‘(2) the payment determined under section 3902 

18 of this title without regard to this section. 

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

20 $22,484 (as adjusted from time to time under subsection 

21 (d)). 

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

23 year (beginning in 2008), the Secretary shall increase the 

24 adjusted amount described in subsection (c) to an amount 


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1 equal to 80 percent of the average retail cost of new auto2 mobiles for the preceding calendar year. 

3 ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall establish the method for deter4 mining the average retail cost of new automobiles for pur5 poses of this subsection. The Secretary may use data devel6 oped in the private sector if the Secretary determines the 

7 data is appropriate for purposes of this subsection. 

8 ‘‘(e) ESTIMATES.—(1) From time to time, the Sec9 retary shall make an estimate of— 

10 ‘‘(A) the amount of funding that would be nec11 essary to provide supplemental payment under this 

12 section for every eligible person for the remainder of 

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

14 and 

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

16 appropriate to provide every eligible person with sup17 plemental payment under this section in the next fis18 cal year. 

19 ‘‘(2) On the dates described in paragraph (3), the Sec20 retary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con21 gress the estimates described in paragraph (1). 

22 ‘‘(3) The dates described in this paragraph are the fol23 lowing: 

24 ‘‘(A) April 1 of each year. 

25 ‘‘(B) July 1 of each year. 


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1 ‘‘(C) September 1 of each year. 

2 ‘‘(D) The date that is 60 days before the date es3 timated by the Secretary on which amounts appro4 priated for the purposes of this section for a fiscal 

5 year will be exhausted. 

6 ‘‘(f) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE7 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘appropriate committees 

8 of Congress’ means— 

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

10 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

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

12 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep13 resentatives.’’. 

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

15 the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after 

16 the item related to section 3902 the following new item: 

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

17 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 

18 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans 

19 Affairs such sums as may be necessary to carry out the pro20 visions of section 3902A of title 38, United States Code (as 

21 added by subsection (a)). 

22 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 

23 section shall take effect on October 1, 2007, and shall apply 


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1 with respect to payments made in accordance with section 

2 3902 of title 38, United States Code, on or after that date. 

3 SEC. 803. CLARIFICATION OF PURPOSE OF THE OUTREACH 

4 SERVICES PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT 

5 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

6 (a) CLARIFICATION OF INCLUSION OF MEMBERS OF

7 THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE IN PROGRAM.—Sub8 section (a)(1) of section 6301 is amended by inserting ‘‘, 

9 or from the National Guard or Reserve,’’ after ‘‘active mili10 tary, naval, or air service’’. 

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

12 such section is amended— 

13 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 

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

15 (2) by inserting before paragraph (2) the fol16 lowing new paragraph (1): 

17 ‘‘(1) the term ‘outreach’ means the act or process 

18 of reaching out in a systematic manner to proactively 

19 provide information, services, and benefits counseling 

20 to veterans, and to the spouses, children, and parents 

21 of veterans who may be eligible to receive benefits 

22 under the laws administered by the Secretary, to en23 sure that such individuals are fully informed about, 

24 and assisted in applying for, any benefits and pro25 grams under such laws;’’. 


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1 SEC. 804. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF CONTRACTS 

2 FOR CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR 

3 SERVICEMEMBERS UNDERGOING DEPLOY4 MENT OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. 

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

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

7 by inserting after section 305 the following new section: 

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

9 FOR CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE. 

10 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A servicemember who receives or11 ders to deploy outside of the continental United States for 

12 not less than 90 days may request the termination or sus13 pension of any contract for cellular telephone service entered 

14 into by the servicemember before that date if the 

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

16 the service will be materially affected by that period of de17 ployment. The request shall include a copy of the 

18 servicemember’s military orders. 

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

20 servicemember under subsection (a), the cellular telephone 

21 service contractor concerned shall, at the election of the con22 tractor— 

23 ‘‘(1) grant the requested relief without imposi24 tion of an early termination fee for termination of the 

25 contract or a reactivation fee for suspension of the 

26 contract; or 


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

2 contract at no charge until the end of the deployment 

3 without requiring, whether as a condition of suspen4 sion or otherwise, that the contract be extended.’’. 

5 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents for 

6 that Act is amended by inserting after the item relating 

7 to section 305 the following new item: 

‘‘Sec. 305A. Termination or suspension of contracts for cellular telephone service.’’. 

8 SEC. 805. MAINTENANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND AVAILABILITY 

9 FOR RESEARCH OF ASSETS OF AIR FORCE 

10 HEALTH STUDY. 

11 (a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to ensure 

12 that the assets transferred to the Medical Follow-Up Agency 

13 from the Air Force Health Study are maintained, managed, 

14 and made available as a resource for future research for 

15 the benefit of veterans and their families, and for other hu16 manitarian purposes. 

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

18 purposes of this section, the assets transferred to the Medical 

19 Follow-Up Agency from the Air Force Health Study are 

20 the assets of the Air Force Health Study transferred to the 

21 Medical Follow-Up Agency under section 714 of the John 

22 Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 

23 2007 (Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2290), including elecVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Aug 30, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1315.RS S1315

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1 tronic data files and biological specimens on all partici2 pants in the study (including control subjects). 

3 (c) MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF TRANS4 FERRED ASSETS.—The Medical Follow-Up Agency shall 

5 maintain and manage the assets transferred to the Agency 

6 from the Air Force Health Study. 

7 (d) ADDITIONAL NEAR-TERM RESEARCH.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Medical Follow-Up Agen9 cy may, during the period beginning on October 1, 

10 2007, and ending on September 30, 2011, conduct 

11 such additional research on the assets transferred to 

12 the Agency from the Air Force Health Study as the 

13 Agency considers appropriate toward the goal of un14 derstanding the determinants of health, and pro15 moting wellness, in veterans. 

16 (2) RESEARCH.—In carrying out research au17 thorized by this subsection, the Medical Follow-Up 

18 Agency may, utilizing amounts available under sub19 section (f)(1)(B), make grants for such pilot studies 

20 for or in connection with such research as the Agency 

21 considers appropriate. 

22 (e) ADDITIONAL MEDIUM-TERM RESEARCH.— 

23 (1) REPORT.—Not later than March 31, 2011, 

24 the Medical Follow-Up Agency shall submit to Con25 gress a report assessing the feasability and advisVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Aug 30, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1315.RS S1315

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1 ability of conducting additional research on the assets 

2 transferred to the Agency from the Air Force Health 

3 Study after September 30, 2011. 

4 (2) DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.—If the report re5 quired by paragraph (1) includes an assessment that 

6 the research described in that paragraph would be 

7 feasible and advisable, the Agency shall, utilizing 

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

9 disposition of the assets transferred to the Agency 

10 from the Air Force Health Study as the Agency con11 siders appropriate in preparation for such research. 

12 (f) FUNDING.— 

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

14 each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011 for the Depart15 ment of Veterans Affairs for Medical and Prosthetic 

16 Research, amounts shall be available as follows: 

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

18 such fiscal year for maintenance, management, 

19 and operation (including maintenance of biologi20 cal specimens) of the assets transferred to the 

21 Medical Follow-Up Agency from the Air Force 

22 Health Study. 

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

24 fiscal year for the conduct of additional research 

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1 ing of pilot studies authorized by paragraph (2) 

2 of that subsection. 

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

4 available for fiscal year 2011 for the Department of 

5 Veterans Affairs for Medical and Prosthetic Research, 

6 $200,000 shall be available for the preparation of the 

7 report required by subsection (e)(1) and for the dis8 position, if any, of assets authorized by subsection 

9 (e)(2). 

10 SEC. 806. NATIONAL ACADEMIES STUDY ON RISK OF DEVEL11 OPING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AS A RESULT 

12 OF CERTAIN SERVICE IN THE PERSIAN GULF 

13 WAR AND POST 9/11 GLOBAL OPERATIONS 

14 THEATERS. 

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

16 shall enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine 

17 of the National Academies to conduct a comprehensive epi18 demiological study for purposes of identifying any in19 creased risk of developing multiple sclerosis as a result of 

20 service in the Armed Forces during the Persian Gulf War 

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

22 9/11 Global Operations theaters. 

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

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

25 following: 


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1 (1) Determine whether service in the Armed 

2 Forces during the Persian Gulf War in the Southwest 

3 Asia theater of operations, or in the Post 9/11 Global 

4 Operations theaters, increased the risk of developing 

5 multiple sclerosis. 

6 (2) Identify the incidence and prevalence of di7 agnosed neurological diseases, including multiple scle8 rosis, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral scle9 rosis, and brain cancers, as well as central nervous 

10 system abnormalities that are difficult to precisely di11 agnose, in each group as follows: 

12 (A) Members of the Armed Forces who 

13 served during the Persian Gulf War in the 

14 Southwest Asia theater of operations. 

15 (B) Members of the Armed Forces who 

16 served in the Post 9/11 Global Operations thea17 ters. 

18 (C) A non-deployed comparison group for 

19 those who served in the Persian Gulf War in the 

20 Southwest Asia theater of operations and the 

21 Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters. 

22 (3) Compare the incidence and prevalence of the 

23 named diagnosed neurological diseases and 

24 undiagnosed central nervous system abnormalities 

25 among veterans who served during the Persian Gulf 


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1 War in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, or 

2 in the Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters, in var3 ious locations during such periods, as determined by 

4 the Institute of Medicine. 

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

6 pesticide and other toxic exposures, to which veterans 

7 were exposed while serving during the Persian Gulf 

8 War in the Southwest Asia theater of operations or 

9 the Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters, or there10 after. 

11 (c) REPORTS.— 

12 (1) INTERIM REPORT.—The contract required by 

13 subsection (a) shall require the Institute of Medicine 

14 to submit to the Secretary, and to appropriate com15 mittees of Congress, interim progress reports on the 

16 study required under subsection (a). Such reports 

17 shall not be required to include a description of in18 terim results on the work under the study. 

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

20 the Institute of Medicine to submit to the Secretary, 

21 and to appropriate committees of Congress, a final re22 port on the study by not later than December 31, 

23 2010. The final report shall include such rec24 ommendations for legislative or administrative action 


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1 as the Institute considers appropriate in light of the 

2 results of the study. 

3 (d) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall provide the Insti4 tute of Medicine with such funds as are necessary to ensure 

5 the timely completion of the study required under subsection 

6 (a). 

7 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

8 (1) The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con9 gress’’ means— 

10 (A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

11 the Senate; and 

12 (B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

13 the House of Representatives. 

14 (2) The term ‘‘Persian Gulf War’’ has the mean15 ing given that term in section 101(33) of title 38, 

16 United States Code. 

17 (3) The term ‘‘Post 9/11 Global Operations thea18 ters’’ means Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other theater 

19 in which the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary 

20 Medal is awarded for service. 


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1 SEC. 807. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON ADEQUACY 

2 OF DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COM3 PENSATION TO MAINTAIN SURVIVORS OF 

4 VETERANS WHO DIE FROM SERVICE-CON5 NECTED DISABILITIES. 

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

7 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 

8 General of the United States shall submit to the Committees 

9 on Veterans’ Affairs and Appropriations of the Senate and 

10 the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and Appropriations of 

11 the House of Representatives a report on the adequacy of 

12 dependency and indemnity compensation payable under 

13 chapter 13 of title 38, United States Code, to surviving 

14 spouses and dependents of veterans who die as a result of 

15 a service-connected disability in replacing the deceased vet16 eran’s income. 

17 (b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) 

18 shall include— 

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

20 payment of dependency and indemnity compensation 

21 to surviving spouses and dependents described in sub22 section (a), including a statement of the rates of such 

23 compensation so payable; 

24 (2) an assessment of the adequacy of such pay25 ments in replacing the deceased veteran’s income; and 


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1 (3) such recommendations as the Comptroller 

2 General considers appropriate in order to improve or 

3 enhance the effects of such payments in replacing the 

4 deceased veteran’s income. 

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


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Calendar No. 336 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1315 

[Report No. 110

–148] 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance 

for other purposes. life insurance benefits for disabled veterans, and 

AUGUST 29, 2007 

Reported, under authority of the order of the Senate of 

ment to the title August 3, 2007, with an amendment and an amendVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:17 Aug 30, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\S1315.RS S1315

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