REVAMP Act of 2017

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide grants to veterans service organizations for upgrading local chapter facilities, including technology at such facilities, in rural areas, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Renovate and Enhance Veterans Meeting Halls and Posts Act of 2017 REVAMP Act of 2017 2. Grants to veterans service organizations for facility rehabilitation and technology in rural areas (a) Pilot program The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to award grants to eligible veterans service organizations. (b) Eligible activities and uses An eligible veterans service organization may use a grant made under this section only for— (1) repairs or rehabilitation of a facility in a rural area of an eligible veterans service organization; and (2) acquiring or upgrading computers and technology for such a facility. (c) Applications An application for a grant under this section— (1) shall be in such form and submitted in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary shall establish; and (2) shall include a plan for the proposed repair, rehabilitation, or technology upgrading and acquisition activities to be conducted using the grant amounts. (d) Selection criteria The Secretary shall select applications to receive grants under the pilot program pursuant to a competition and using criteria that include— (1) the extent of need for such grants; (2) the quality of the plan proposed for repair or rehabilitation of the facility involved or for acquiring or upgrading computers and technology for such a facility; (3) the capacity or potential capacity of the applicant to successfully carry out the plan; and (4) other factors as the Secretary determines appropriate. (e) Limitations (1) Amount An eligible veterans service organization may not receive a grant under this section during any fiscal year in an amount exceeding the lesser of— (A) the aggregate cost of the proposed activities and uses under subsection (b) for which the grant amounts will be used; or (B) $75,000. (2) Timing An eligible veterans service organization that receives a grant under this section for a fiscal year shall be ineligible for any grant under this section for any of the succeeding five fiscal years. (f) Prohibition of new construction or acquisition A grant under this section may not be used for the construction or acquisition of a new facility. (g) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe regulations necessary to carry out the pilot program not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (h) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section— (1) for fiscal year 2018, $5,000,000; and (2) for subsequent fiscal years, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the pilot program. (i) Definition For purposes of this section, the term eligible veterans service organization (1) of any organization that is chartered under part B of subtitle II of title 36, United States Code, and that has as among its primary purposes honoring, promoting, advocating for, providing services for, or providing assistance to veterans or any group of veterans, as determined by the Secretary; and (2) that is located in a rural area, as determined by the Secretary.

Summary: Renovate and Enhance Veterans Meeting Halls and Posts Act of 2017 or the REVAMP Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a pilot program to award grants to veterans service organizations in rural areas to: (1) repair or rehabilitate a facility in a rural area, and (2) acquire or upgrade computers and technology for such a facility. An organization may not receive a grant in any fiscal year in an amount exceeding the lesser of: (1) the aggregate cost of such proposed activities and uses, or (2) $75,000. An organization that receives such a grant for a fiscal year shall be ineligible for any such grant for the next five fiscal years. Grants awarded under this bill may not be used for the construction or acquisition of new facilities.