(A) critically needed services to veterans 
who are unable to attend residential centers or 
are waiting to enter such a program; 
(B) a range of services, including training 
with living skills, mobility, and adaptation of 
manual skills; and 
(C) pre-admission screening and follow-up 
care for blind rehabilitation centers. 
(5) There are not enough Specialist positions to 
meet the increased numbers and needs of blind vet-
erans. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIALIST POSITIONS.— 
Not later than 30 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall estab-
lish a Specialist position at not fewer than 35 facilities 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs at which such a 
position does not exist as of the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(c) SELECTION OF FACILITIES.—In identifying the 
most appropriate facilities at which a Specialist position 
shall be established pursuant to subsection (b), the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) give priority to facilities with large numbers 
of enrolled legally blind veterans; 
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(2) ensure that each facility does not have such 
a position; and 
(3) ensure that each facility is in need of the 
services of such Specialists. 
(d) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall coordinate 
the provision of blind rehabilitation services for veterans 
with services for the care of the visually impaired offered 
by State and local agencies, especially if such State and 
local agencies can provide similar services to veterans in 
settings located closer to the residences of such veterans. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$3,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 
2012. 
SEC. 15. COMPLIANCE REPORT. 
Section 1706(b)(5)(A) is amended by striking 
‘‘2004’’ and inserting ‘‘2007’’. 
SEC. 16. HEALTH CARE AND SERVICES FOR VETERANS AF-
FECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA. 
(a) REQUIREMENT FOR HOSPITAL CARE AND MED-
ICAL SERVICES FOR PRIORITY 8 VETERANS AFFECTED BY 
HURRICANE KATRINA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law and any notwithstanding any pre-
vious decisions made by the Secretary of Veterans 
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Affairs pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38 United 
States Code, the Secretary shall provide necessary 
medical and health care services to any veteran af-
fected by Hurricane Katrina as if such veteran was 
enrolled for care under section 1705 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(2) STATUS OF VETERANS.—For purposes of 
managing the health care system, as required under 
section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, a vet-
eran who seeks care under paragraph (1) shall not 
be considered to be an enrollee of the health care 
system under such section unless the Secretary sub-
sequently designates such a veteran as such an en-
rollee. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS 
FOR VETERANS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA.— 
In furnishing hospital care and medical services to any 
veteran affected by Hurricane Katrina, the Secretary shall 
not collect from, or with respect to, such veteran any pay-
ment for such care and services otherwise required under 
any provision of law, including any copayment for medica-
tions otherwise required under section 1722A of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘veteran 
affected by Hurricane Katrina’’ means any veteran who, 
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as of August 29, 2005, resided in the catchment region 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in— 
(1) New Orleans, Louisiana; 
(2) Biloxi, Mississippi; or 
(3) Gulfport, Mississippi. 
(d) SUNSET PROVISION.—The authority under this 
section shall expire on January 31, 2007. 
SEC. 17. REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN VETERANS’ OUT-
STANDING 
EMERGENCY 
TREATMENT 
EX-
PENSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 17 is 
amended by inserting after section 1725 the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 1725A. Reimbursement for emergency treatment 
expenses for which certain veterans re-
main personally liable 
‘‘(a)(1) Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary may 
reimburse a veteran described in subsection (b) for ex-
penses resulting from emergency treatment furnished to 
the veteran in a non-Department facility for which the vet-
eran remains personally liable. 
‘‘(2) In any case in which reimbursement is author-
ized under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary, in the Sec-
retary’s discretion, may, in lieu of reimbursing the vet-
eran, make payment— 
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‘‘(A) to a hospital or other health care provider 
that furnished the treatment; or 
‘‘(B) to the person or organization that paid for 
such treatment on behalf of the veteran. 
‘‘(b) A veteran referred to in subsection (a) is an indi-
vidual who— 
‘‘(1) is enrolled in the health care system estab-
lished under section 1705(a) of this title; 
‘‘(2) received care under this chapter during the 
24-month period preceding the furnishing of such 
emergency treatment; 
‘‘(3) is entitled to care or services under a 
health-plan contract that partially reimburses the 
cost of the veteran’s emergency treatment; 
‘‘(4) is financially liable to the provider of emer-
gency care treatment for costs not covered by the 
veteran’s health-plan contract, including copayments 
and deductibles; and 
‘‘(5) is not eligible for reimbursement for med-
ical care or services under section 1725 or 1728 of 
this title. 
‘‘(c)(1) Any amount paid by the Secretary under sub-
section (a) shall exclude the amount of any payment the 
veteran would have been required to make to the United 
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States under this chapter if the veteran had received the 
emergency treatment from the Department. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may not provide reimbursement 
under this section with respect to any item or service— 
‘‘(A) provided or for which payment has been 
made, or can reasonably be expected to be made, 
under the veteran’s health-plan contract; or 
‘‘(B) for which payment has been made or can 
reasonably be expected to be made by a third party. 
‘‘(3)(A) Payment by the Secretary under this section 
on behalf of a veteran to a provider of emergency treat-
ment shall, unless rejected and refunded by the provider 
within 30 days of receipt, extinguish any liability on the 
part of the veteran for that treatment. 
‘‘(B) The absence of a contract or agreement between 
the Secretary and the provider, any provision of a contract 
or agreement, or an assignment to the contrary shall not 
operate to modify, limit, or negate the requirement under 
subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(4) In accordance with regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) establish criteria for determining the 
amount of reimbursement (which may include a 
maximum amount) payable under this section; and 
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‘‘(B) delineate the circumstances under which 
such payment may be made, including requirements 
for requesting reimbursement. 
‘‘(d)(1) In accordance with regulations prescribed by 
the Secretary, the United States shall have the inde-
pendent right to recover any amount paid under this sec-
tion if, and to the extent that, a third party subsequently 
makes a payment for the same emergency treatment. 
‘‘(2) Any amount paid by the United States to the 
veteran, the veteran’s personal representative, successor, 
dependents, or survivors, or to any other person or organi-
zation paying for such treatment shall constitute a lien 
in favor of the United States against any recovery the 
payee subsequently receives from a third party for the 
same treatment. 
‘‘(3) Any amount paid by the United States to the 
provider that furnished the veteran’s emergency treatment 
shall constitute a lien against any subsequent amount the 
provider receives from a third party for the same emer-
gency treatment for which the United States made pay-
ment. 
‘‘(4) The veteran or the veteran’s personal represent-
ative, successor, dependents, or survivors shall— 
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‘‘(A) ensure that the Secretary is promptly noti-
fied of any payment received from any third party 
for emergency treatment furnished to the veteran; 
‘‘(B) immediately forward all documents relat-
ing to a payment described in subparagraph (A); 
‘‘(C) cooperate with the Secretary in an inves-
tigation of a payment described in subparagraph 
(A); and 
‘‘(D) assist the Secretary in enforcing the 
United States right to recover any payment made 
under subsection (c)(3). 
‘‘(e) The Secretary may waive recovery of a payment 
made to a veteran under this section that is otherwise re-
quired under subsection (d)(1) if the Secretary determines 
that such waiver would be in the best interest of the 
United States, as defined by regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(f) For purposes of this section— 
‘‘(1) The term ‘health-plan contract’ includes— 
‘‘(A) an insurance policy or contract, med-
ical or hospital service agreement, membership 
or subscription contract, or similar arrange-
ment, under which health services for individ-
uals are provided or the expenses of such serv-
ices are paid; 
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‘‘(B) an insurance program described in 
section 1811 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395c) or established by section 1831 of 
that Act (42 U.S.C. 1395j); 
‘‘(C) a State plan for medical assistance 
approved under title XIX of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); and 
‘‘(D) a workers’ compensation law or plan 
described in section 1729(A)(2)(B) of this title. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘third party’ means— 
‘‘(A) a Federal entity; 
‘‘(B) a State or political subdivision of a 
State; 
‘‘(C) an employer or an employer’s insur-
ance carrier; and 
‘‘(D) a person or entity obligated to pro-
vide, or pay the expenses of, such emergency 
treatment. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘emergency treatment’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 1725 of this 
title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1725 the following new 
item: 
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‘‘1725A. Reimbursement for emergency treatment expenses for which certain 
veterans remain personally liable.’’. 
SEC. 18. CONVEYANCE OF FEDERAL LAND IN EXCHANGE 
FOR FAIR MARKET VALUE CONSIDERATION. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CITY.—The term ‘‘City’’ means the city of 
Fort Thomas, Kentucky. 
(2) FAIR
MARKET
VALUE
CONSIDERATION.— 
The term ‘‘fair market value consideration’’ means 
the monetary value of the Federal land as of the 
date of conveyance under subsection (b), as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(3) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 
means an approximately 11.75 acre parcel of feder-
ally-owned property, including the 15 structures lo-
cated on such property, which is managed by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and located in the 
northeastern portion of Tower Park in the City. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 
easements, and rights-of-way, the Secretary may convey 
all right, title, and interest of the United States in and 
to the Federal land to the City in exchange for fair market 
value consideration. 
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(c) RELEASE FROM LIABILITY.—Effective on the 
date of conveyance to the City of the parcel of Federal 
land under subsection (b), the United States shall not be 
liable for damages arising out of any act, omission, or oc-
currence relating to the Federal land and facilities con-
veyed, but shall continue to be liable for damages caused 
by acts of negligence committed by the United States or 
by any employee or agent of the United States before the 
date of conveyance, consistent with chapter 171 of title 
28, United States Code. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS.—All administrative 
costs relating to the conveyance of the Federal land under 
subsection (b) shall be paid by the City to the United 
States. 
SEC. 19. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS. 
(a) TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.—Title 38, 
United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) 
TYPOGRAPHICAL
ERROR.—Section 
1117(h)(1) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘nothwithstanding’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘notwith-
standing’’. 
(2) INSERTION
OF
MISSING
WORD.—Section 
1513(a) is amended by inserting ‘‘section’’ after 
‘‘prescribed by’’. 
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(3) 
CITATION
CORRECTION.—Section 
1718(c)(2) is amended by inserting ‘‘of 1938’’ after 
‘‘Act’’. 
(4) 
CITATION
CORRECTION.—Section 
1785(b)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘Robert B.’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Robert T.’’. 
(5) 
PUNCTUATION
CORRECTION.—Section 
2002(1) is amended by inserting a closing paren-
thesis before the period at the end. 
(6) 
PUNCTUATION
CORRECTION.—Section 
2011(a)(1)(C) is amended by inserting a period at 
the end. 
(7) CROSS REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Section 
2041(a)(3)(A)(i) is amended by striking ‘‘under this 
chapter’’ and inserting ‘‘established under section 
3722 of this title’’. 
(8) DELETION
OF
EXTRA
WORDS.—Section 
3012(a)(1)(C)(ii) is amended by striking ‘‘on or’’. 
(9) CROSS REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Section 
3017(b)(1)(D) is amended by striking ‘‘3011(c)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘3011(e)’’. 
(10) STYLISTIC AMENDMENTS.—Section 3018A 
is amended— 
(A) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking 
‘‘of this section’’ each place it appears; 
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(B) in subsections (a)(4), (a)(5), (d)(1), 
and (d)(3) by striking ‘‘of this subsection’’ each 
place it appears; and 
(C) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ‘‘of 
this chapter’’ and inserting ‘‘of this title’’. 
(11) CROSS REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Section 
3117(b)(1) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘section 8’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 4(b)(1)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘633(b)’’ and inserting 
‘‘633(b)(1)’’. 
(12) INSERTION
OF
MISSING
WORD.—Section 
3511(a)(1) is amended by inserting ‘‘sections’’ after 
‘‘under both’’. 
(13) SUBSECTION HEADINGS.— 
(A) Sections 3461, 3462, 3481, 3565, 
3680, and 3690 are each amended by revising 
each subsection heading for a subsection therein 
(appearing as a centered heading immediately 
before the text of the subsection) so that such 
heading appears immediately after the sub-
section designation and is set forth in capitals- 
and-small-capitals typeface, followed by a period 
and a one-em dash. 
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(B) Section 3461(c) is amended by insert-
ing after the subsection designation the fol-
lowing: ‘‘DURATION OF ENTITLEMENT.—’’. 
(C) Section 3462 is amended— 
(i) in subsection (d), by inserting after 
the subsection designation the following: 
‘‘PRISONERS OF WAR.—’’; and 
(ii) in subsection (e), by inserting 
after the subsection designation the fol-
lowing: ‘‘TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE.— 
’’. 
(14) CROSS REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Section 
3732(c)(10)(D) is amended by striking ‘‘clause (B) 
of paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (8) of this sub-
section’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (5)(B), (6), 
(7)(B), and (8)(B)’’. 
(15) DATE OF ENACTMENT REFERENCE.—Sec-
tion 3733(a)(7) is amended by striking ‘‘the date of 
the enactment of the Veterans’ Benefits Act of 
2003’’ and inserting ‘‘December 16, 2003’’. 
(16) REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISIONS.—Sec-
tion 4102A(c)(7) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘With respect to program 
years beginning during or after fiscal year 
2004, one percent of’’ and inserting ‘‘Of’’; and 
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(B) by striking ‘‘for the program year’’ 
and inserting ‘‘for any program year, one per-
cent’’. 
(17) REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISIONS.—Sec-
tion 4105(b) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘shall provide,’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘Affairs with’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘shall, on the 15th day of each month, pro-
vide the Secretary and the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs with updated information regard-
ing’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and shall’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘regarding the list’’. 
(18) CITATION CORRECTION.—Section 4110B is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘this Act’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Workforce Investment Act of 1998’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the Workforce Investment 
Act of 1998’’ and inserting ‘‘that Act (29 
U.S.C. 2822(b))’’. 
(19) CROSS-REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Section 
4331(b)(2)(C) is amended by striking ‘‘section 
2303(a)(2)(C)(ii)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘section 
2302(a)(2)(C)(ii)’’. 
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(20) CAPITALIZATION
CORRECTION.—Section 
7253(d)(5) is amended by striking ‘‘court’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Court’’. 
(21) 
CITATION
CORRECTION.—Section 
8111(b)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘into the stra-
tegic’’ and all that follows through ‘‘and Results 
Act’’ and inserting ‘‘into the strategic plan of each 
Department under section 306 of title 5 and the 
performance plan of each Department under section 
1115 of title 31’’. 
(22) REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISIONS.—Sec-
tion 8111 is amended further— 
(A) in subsection (d)— 
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘ef-
fective October 1, 2003,’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking 
the last sentence; and 
(B) in subsection (e)(2)— 
(i) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘shall be implemented no later than Octo-
ber 1, 2003, and’’; and 
(ii) in the third sentence, by striking 
‘‘, following implementation of the sched-
ule,’’. 
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(23) 
CITATION
CORRECTION.—Section 
8111A(a)(2)(B)(i) is amended by striking ‘‘Robert 
B.’’ and inserting ‘‘Robert T.’’. 
(b) PUBLIC LAW 107–296.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 1704(d) of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107– 
296; 116 Stat. 2315) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘101(25)(d)’’ and inserting 
‘‘101(25)(D)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(II)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(III)’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by paragraph (1) shall be effective as of November 
25, 2002. 
Æ 
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