I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1982
To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to increase benefits for 
members of the Armed Forces who, after September 11, 2001, serve 
on active duty outside the United States or its territories or possessions 
as part of a contingency operation (including a humanitarian operation, 
peacekeeping operation, or similar operation) or a combat operation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 28, 2005
Mr. EMANUEL (for himself, Mr. MURTHA, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Ms. DELAURO, 
Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. KILDEE, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. SLAUGH-
TER, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. OWENS, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. 
PALLONE, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. BROWN of 
Ohio, Mr. SANDERS, Mrs. MALONEY, Ms. CARSON, Ms. HOOLEY, and Mr. 
HONDA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to increase 
benefits for members of the Armed Forces who, after 
September 11, 2001, serve on active duty outside the 
United States or its territories or possessions as part 
of a contingency operation (including a humanitarian 
operation, peacekeeping operation, or similar operation) 
or a combat operation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Welcome Home G.I. Bill Act of 2005’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—IMPROVEMENTS IN EDUCATION AND HOUSING 
BENEFITS 
Sec. 101. Montgomery G.I. Bill improvements. 
Sec. 102. Improved education benefits for reserve component members sup-
porting contingency operations and certain other operations. 
Sec. 103. Increase in Home Purchase Benefits. 
TITLE II—IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH BENEFITS 
Sec. 201. Extension of transitional health care for certain uninsured veterans. 
Sec. 202. Clarification of predeployment and postdeployment medical exams.
TITLE 
I—IMPROVEMENTS 
IN 
EDUCATION 
AND 
HOUSING 
BENEFITS 
SEC. 101. MONTGOMERY G.I. BILL IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) INCREASE IN BENEFITS AND EXTENSION OF DU-
RATION OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 3015 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (i); 
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing new subsection (h):
‘‘(h)(1) The amount of basic educational allowance 
payable under this chapter to an individual referred to in 
paragraph (2) of this subsection is equal to 150 percent 
of the amount determined under subsection (a) or (b), as 
the case may be. 
‘‘(2)(A) Paragraph (1) of this subsection applies to 
an individual entitled to an educational assistance allow-
ance under section 3011 or 3012 of this title who, during 
the period described in paragraph (5), serves on active 
duty outside the United States or its territories or posses-
sions as part of a contingency operation (including a hu-
manitarian operation, peacekeeping operation, or similar 
operation) or combat operation for a period of at least 6 
consecutive months is entitled to increased basic edu-
cational assistance under this section. 
‘‘(B) The requirement of 6 consecutive months of 
service under paragraph (1) is not applicable to an indi-
vidual who is discharged or released, during such 6 
months, from active duty in the Armed Forces—
‘‘(i) for a service-connected disability, 
‘‘(ii) for a medical condition which preexisted 
such service on active duty and which the Secretary 
determines is not service connected, 
‘‘(iii) for hardship,
‘‘(iv) in the case of an individual discharged or 
released after 5 months of such service, for the con-
venience of the Government, 
‘‘(v) involuntarily for the convenience of the 
Government as a result of a reduction in force, as 
determined by the Secretary of the military depart-
ment concerned in accordance with regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary of Defense or by the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security with respect to the 
Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service 
in the Navy, or 
‘‘(vi) for a physical or mental condition that 
was not characterized as a disability, as described in 
section 3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(I) of this title. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary of Defense shall refund to each 
individual referred to in paragraph (2) all amounts re-
duced from the basic pay of, or collected by the Secretary 
from, the individual under section 3011(b) or 3012(c) of 
this title, as the case may be. 
‘‘(4)(A) Upon completion of an approved course of 
education, an individual referred to paragraph (2) may 
apply amounts of increased basic educational assistance 
otherwise available to the individual under this section to 
repay some or all of any Federal student loan balance 
owed by the individual.
‘‘(B) In no event shall payment of basic educational 
assistance under this paragraph exceed the amount of the 
individual’s available entitlement under this chapter. 
‘‘(5) The period referred to in paragraph (2)(A) is 
the period which begins on September 11, 2001, and ends 
on the date that is five years after the date of the enact-
ment of the Welcome Home G.I. Bill Act of 2005.’’; and 
(3) in subsections (a)(1)(D) and (b)(1)(D), by strik-
ing ‘‘under subsection (h)’’ and and inserting ‘‘under sub-
section (i)’’. 
(b) DURATION OF PAYMENTS.—Section 3013 of such 
title is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(g) In the case of an individual referred to in section 
3015(h)(2) of this title, the preceding provisions of this 
section shall be applied by substituting ‘48’ for ‘36’ each 
place it appears.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—(1) Subsection 
(b)(2)(B) of section 3014 of such title is amended by in-
serting ‘‘(or 48 in the case of an individual referred to 
in section 3015(h)(2) of this title)’’ after ‘‘36’’. 
(2) Subsection (b)(2) of section 3017 of such title is 
amended—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(C) the amount of any refund under section 
3015(h)(3) of this title.’’. 
(3) Subsection (a) of section 3695 of such title is 
amended by inserting ‘‘(or 60 months in the case of an 
individual referred to in section 3015(g)(2) of this title).’’. 
SEC. 102. IMPROVED EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR RESERVE 
COMPONENT MEMBERS SUPPORTING CON-
TINGENCY 
OPERATIONS 
AND 
CERTAIN 
OTHER OPERATIONS. 
(a) INCREASE IN RATE OF EDUCATIONAL ASSIST-
ANCE.—Subsection (c) of section 16162 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) Notwithstanding paragraphs (2), (3), and 
(4), the educational assistance allowance provided 
under this chapter for a member of the reserve com-
ponent called or ordered to active service in response 
to a war or national emergency declared by the 
President or the Congress who performed active 
duty service for 180 consecutive days before the date 
which is the last day of the five-year period that be-
gins on the date of the enactment of the Welcome 
Home G.I. Bill Act of 2005 is the greater of (A) the 
monthly rate of $1562.50 or (B) the monthly rate 
otherwise applicable under this chapter.’’. 
(b) EXTENSION OF DURATION OF EDUCATIONAL AS-
SISTANCE.—Paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of such sec-
tion is amended by inserting ‘‘, or 48 in the case of edu-
cational assistance allowance paid under subsection 
(c)(5),’’ after ‘‘under this chapter is 36’’. 
(c) USE OF ENTITLEMENT FOR PAYMENT OF FED-
ERAL STUDENT LOANS.—Such section is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(e) USE OF ENTITLEMENT FOR PAYMENT OF FED-
ERAL STUDENT LOANS.—(1) Upon completion of a pro-
gram of education authorized under subsection (b), a 
member of the reserve components entitled to educational 
assistance under this chapter may apply amounts of edu-
cational assistance otherwise available to the member 
under this chapter to repay some or all of any Federal 
student loan balance owed by the member. 
‘‘(2) In no event shall payment of educational assist-
ance under this subsection exceed the amount of the mem-
ber’s available entitlement under this chapter.
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘Federal student 
loan’ means any loan made under title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).’’. 
SEC. 103. INCREASE IN HOME PURCHASE BENEFITS. 
(a) PAYMENT TO CERTAIN VETERANS FOR DOWN-
PAYMENT TOWARD HOME PURCHASE.—(1) Title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
3708 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3709. Provision of downpayment toward home pur-
chase for veterans performing eligible 
service 
‘‘(a) PAYMENT FOR DOWNPAYMENT ON HOME PUR-
CHASE.—Subject to subsections (b) and (c), in the case 
of a veteran who performs eligible service, the Secretary 
of Defense shall provide for a payment of $5,000 on behalf 
of the veteran to be used as a downpayment toward the 
purchase or construction of a residential dwelling to be 
owned and occupied by the veteran. 
‘‘(b) TIME LIMITATION FOR USE.—The period dur-
ing which the Secretary of Defense may provide for a pay-
ment under subsection (a) to a veteran who performs eligi-
ble service expires on the date that is five years after the 
date on which such eligible service is completed. 
‘‘(c) USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH FIRST-TIME HOME 
PURCHASE UNDER THIS CHAPTER.—The Secretary of
Defense shall only provide payment under subsection (a) 
if the veteran demonstrates to the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs that the veteran has not previously obtained a loan 
guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter, as the 
case may be. 
‘‘(d) ELIGIBLE SERVICE.—In this subsection, the 
term ‘eligible service’ means active duty service performed 
after September 11, 2001, outside the United States or 
its territories or possessions as part of a contingency oper-
ation (including a humanitarian operation, peacekeeping 
operation, or similar operation) or combat operation for 
a period of at least 6 consecutive months (or for a lesser 
period of time in the case of such an individual who is 
discharged or released from active duty for a service-con-
nected disability).’’. 
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 
37 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 3708 the following new item:
‘‘3709. Provision of downpayment toward home purchase for veterans per-
forming eligible service.’’.
(b) BENEFIT EXCLUDED FROM GROSS INCOME.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subsection (b) of section 
134 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating 
to qualified military benefit) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) VETERANS HOUSING BENEFITS.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘qualified 
military benefit’ includes payments made under 
section 3709 of title 38, United States Code 
(relating to provision of downpayment toward 
home purchase for veterans performing eligible 
service), as in effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this paragraph. 
‘‘(B) DENIAL OF DOUBLE BENEFIT.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of this sub-
title, no increase in the basis or adjusted basis 
of any property shall result from any amount 
excluded under this section by reason of sub-
paragraph (A).’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by this subsection shall apply to payments made 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, in tax-
able years ending after such date. 
TITLE II—IMPROVEMENT IN 
HEALTH BENEFITS 
SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF TRANSITIONAL HEALTH CARE 
FOR CERTAIN UNINSURED VETERANS. 
Section 1145 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and 
(e) as subsections (d), (e), and (f), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(c) SPECIAL RULE FOR CERTAIN UNINSURED VET-
ERANS.—(1) Transitional health care shall be available 
under subsection (a) for any period during the five-year 
period beginning on the date on which the veteran is sepa-
rated from active duty during which the veteran dem-
onstrates to the Secretary of Defense that the veteran is 
not covered under any group health plan provided by an 
employer or spouse’s employer. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘eligible veteran’ 
means a person—
‘‘(A) who served in the active military, naval, or 
air service (as defined in section 101 of title 38); 
‘‘(B) who, after September 11, 2001, is de-
ployed outside the United States or its territories or 
possessions as part of a contingency operation (in-
cluding a humanitarian operation, peacekeeping op-
eration, or similar operation) or combat operation 
for a period of at least 6 consecutive months (or for 
a lesser period of time in the case of such an indi-
vidual who is discharged or released from active 
duty for a service-connected disability); and 
‘‘(C) who was discharged or released from such 
service under conditions other than dishonorable.’’.
SEC. 
202. 
CLARIFICATION 
OF 
PREDEPLOYMENT 
AND 
POSTDEPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAMS. 
Subsection (b) of section 1074f of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS OF SYSTEM.—(1) The system de-
scribed in subsection (a) shall include the use of 
predeployment medical examinations and postdeployment 
medical examinations, in accordance with this subsection, 
to accurately record the medical condition of members be-
fore their deployment and any changes in their medical 
condition during the course of their deployment. 
‘‘(2) PREDEPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS.—
A predeployment medical examination shall consist of a 
self-administered survey followed by a clinical examination 
conducted by medical personnel of the Department of De-
fense. The survey and clinical examination shall include—
‘‘(A) the collection of clinical data (such as vital 
signs and the drawing of blood samples); 
‘‘(B) the collection of information (including in-
formation on immunizations) on current and past 
physical or mental health conditions that might af-
fect the ability of the member to perform duties; 
‘‘(C) an assessment of mental health; 
‘‘(D) screening for diseases that are prevalent 
in members of the armed forces; and