from whom the individual’s eligibility is derived) if that
date is more than one year before the date such rating
decision is made.
‘‘(2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is a
person who is eligible for educational assistance under
chapter 35 of this title by reason of subparagraph (A)(i),
(A)(ii), (B), or (D) of section 3501(a)(1) of this title
who—
‘‘(A) submits to the Secretary an original appli-
cation under such section 3513 for such educational
assistance within one year of the effective date of
the rating decision referred to in paragraph (1);
‘‘(B) claims such educational assistance for an
approved program of education for months preceding
the one-year period ending on the date on which the
individual’s application under such section was re-
ceived by the Secretary; and
‘‘(C) would have been entitled to such edu-
cational assistance for such course pursuit for such
months, without regard to this subsection, if the in-
dividual had submitted such an application on the
effective date from which the Secretary determined
the individual was eligible for such educational as-
sistance.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
subsection (a) shall apply to applications first made under
section 3513 of title 38, United States Code, that—
(1) are received on or after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, or
(2) on the date of the enactment of this Act,
are pending (A) with the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs or (B) exhaustion of available administrative
and judicial remedies.
SEC. 6. REVISION OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE INTERVAL
PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subclause (C) of the third sen-
tence of section 3680(a) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(C) during periods between school terms where
the educational institution certifies the enrollment of
the eligible veteran or eligible person on an indi-
vidual term basis if (i) the period between such
terms does not exceed eight weeks, and (ii) both the
terms preceding and following the period are not
shorter in length than the period.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to payments of edu-
cational assistance under title 38, United States Code, for
months beginning on or after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
SEC. 7. AVAILABILITY OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS
FOR PAYMENT FOR LICENSING OR CERTIFI-
CATION TESTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3452(b) is amended by
adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘Such term
also includes licensing or certification tests required for
vocations or professions, such tests offered by a licensing
and credentialing organization or entity approved by the
Secretary pursuant to procedures established by the Sec-
retary.’’.
(b) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—Section 3032 of such
title is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
‘‘(g) The amount of educational assistance payable
under this chapter for a licensing or certification test de-
scribed in section 3452(b) of this title is the fee charged
for the test.’’.
(c) REGULATIONS.—In promulgating regulations to
establish procedures to approve licensing and credentialing
organizations under section 3452(b) of title 38, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a), the Secretary
shall consult with such organizations with demonstrated
expertise in licensing and credentialing that the Secretary
determines appropriate. The Secretary shall make a de-
tailed summary of any consultation under the previous
sentence part of the record of the regulation promulgated
under this section.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2000, and apply
with respect to licensing and certification tests approved
by the Secretary offered on or after such date.
SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN TEMPORARY AUTHORI-
TIES.
(a) ENHANCED LOAN ASSET SALE AUTHORITY.—
Section 3720(h)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31,
2002’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2008’’.
(b) 
HOME
LOAN
FEES.—Section 
3729(a) 
is
amended—
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘October 1,
2002’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2008’’; and
(2) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking ‘‘October
1, 2002’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2008’’.
(c) PROCEDURES
APPLICABLE
TO
LIQUIDATION
SALES ON DEFAULTED HOME LOANS GUARANTEED BY
THE DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.—Section
3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2002’’
and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2008’’.
(d) INCOME
VERIFICATION
AUTHORITY.—Section
5317(g) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2002’’
and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2008’’.
(e) LIMITATION ON PENSION FOR CERTAIN RECIPI-
ENTS OF MEDICAID-COVERED NURSING HOME CARE.—
Section 5503(f)(7) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30,
2002’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2008’’.
SEC. 9. CODIFICATION OF RECURRING PROVISIONS IN AN-
NUAL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
APPROPRIATIONS ACTS.
(a) CODIFICATION OF RECURRING PROVISIONS.—(1)
Section 313 is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsections:
‘‘(c) COMPENSATION AND PENSION.—Funds appro-
priated for Compensation and Pensions are available for
the following purposes:
‘‘(1) The payment of compensation benefits to
or on behalf of veterans as authorized by section 107
and chapters 11, 13, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of this title.
‘‘(2) Pension benefits to or on behalf of vet-
erans as authorized by chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and
61 of this title and section 306 of the Veterans’ and
Survivors’ Pension Improvement Act of 1978.
‘‘(3) The payment of benefits as authorized
under chapter 18 of this title.
‘‘(4) Burial benefits, emergency and other offi-
cers’ retirement pay, adjusted-service credits and
certificates, payments of premiums due on commer-
cial life insurance policies guaranteed under the pro-
visions of article IV of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’
Civil Relief Act of 1940 (50 U.S.C. App. 540 et
seq.), and other benefits as authorized by sections
107, 1312, 1977, and 2106 and chapters 23, 51, 53,
55, and 61 of this title and the World War Adjusted
Compensation Act (43 Stat. 122, 123), the Act of
May 24, 1928 (Public Law No. 506 of the 70th
Congress; 45 Stat. 735), and Public Law 87–875
(76 Stat. 1198).
‘‘(d) MEDICAL CARE.—Funds appropriated for Med-
ical Care are available for the following purposes:
‘‘(1) The maintenance and operation of hos-
pitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facilities.
‘‘(2) Furnishing, as authorized by law, inpatient
and outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of
the Department, including care and treatment in fa-
cilities not under the jurisdiction of the Department.
‘‘(3) Furnishing recreational facilities, supplies,
and equipment.
‘‘(4) Funeral and burial expenses and other ex-
penses incidental to funeral and burial expenses for
beneficiaries receiving care from the Department.
‘‘(5) Administrative expenses in support of
planning, design, project management, real property
acquisition and disposition, construction, and ren-
ovation of any facility under the jurisdiction or for
the use of the Department.
‘‘(6) Oversight, engineering, and architectural
activities not charged to project cost.
‘‘(7) Repairing, altering, improving, or pro-
viding facilities in the medical facilities and homes
under the jurisdiction of the Department, not other-
wise provided for, either by contact or by the hire
of temporary employees and purchase of materials.
‘‘(8) Uniforms or uniform allowances, as au-
thorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of title 5.
‘‘(9) Aid to State homes, as authorized by sec-
tion 1741 of this title.
‘‘(10) Administrative and legal expenses of the
Department for collecting and recovering amounts
owed the Department as authorized under chapter
17 of this title and Public Law 87–693, popularly
known as the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act
(42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.).
‘‘(e) MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
AND MISCELLA-
NEOUS OPERATING EXPENSES.—Funds appropriated for
Medical Administration and Miscellaneous Operating Ex-
penses are available for the following purposes:
‘‘(1) The administration of medical, hospital,
nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and
research activities authorized by law.
‘‘(2) Administrative expenses in support of
planning, design, project management, architectural
work, engineering, real property acquisition and dis-
position, construction, and renovation of any facility
under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Depart-
ment, including site acquisition.
‘‘(3) Engineering and architectural activities
not charged to project costs.
‘‘(4) Research and development in building con-
struction technology.
‘‘(f) GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES.—Funds ap-
propriated for General Operating Expenses are available
for the following purposes:
‘‘(1) Uniforms or allowances therefor.
‘‘(2) Hire of passenger motor vehicles.
‘‘(3) Reimbursement of the General Services
Administration for security guard services.
‘‘(4) Reimbursement of the Department of De-
fense for the cost of overseas employee mail.
‘‘(5) Administration of the Service Members
Occupational Conversion and Training Act of 1992
(10 U.S.C. 1143 note).
‘‘(g) CONSTRUCTION.—Funds appropriated for Con-
struction, Major Projects, and for Construction, Minor
Projects, are available, with respect to a project, for the
following purposes:
‘‘(1) Planning.
‘‘(2) Architectural and engineering services.
‘‘(3) Maintenance or guarantee period services
costs associated with equipment guarantees provided
under the project.
‘‘(4) Services of claims analysts.
‘‘(5) Offsite utility and storm drainage system
construction costs.
‘‘(6) Site acquisition.
‘‘(h) CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS.—In addi-
tion to the purposes specified in subsection (g), funds ap-
propriated for Construction, Minor Projects, are available
for—
‘‘(1) repairs to any of the nonmedical facilities
under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Depart-
ment which are necessary because of loss or damage
caused by a natural disaster or catastrophe; and
‘‘(2) temporary measures necessary to prevent
or to minimize further loss by such causes.’’.
(2)(A) Chapter 1 is amended by adding at the end
the following new section:
‘‘§ 116. Definition of cost of direct and guaranteed
loans
‘‘For the purpose of any provision of law appro-
priating funds to the Department for the cost of direct
or guaranteed loans, the cost of any such loan, including
the cost of modifying any such loan, shall be as defined
in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
(2 U.S.C. 661a).’’.
(B) The table of sections at the beginning of such
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following
new item:
‘‘116. Definition of cost of direct and guaranteed loans.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsections (c) through (h)
of section 313 of title 38, United States Code, as added
by subsection (a)(1), and section 116 of such title, as
added by subsection (a)(2), shall take effect with respect
to funds appropriated for fiscal year 2002.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENTS.
(a) INAPPLICABILITY OF PRIOR REPORTS TERMI-
NATION PROVISION TO CERTAIN REPORTS OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.—Section 3003(a)(1)
of the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of
1995 (31 U.S.C. 1113 note) does not apply to any report
required to be submitted under any of the following sec-
tions of title 38, United States Code: sections 503(c), 529,
541(c), 542(c), 3036, and 7312(d).
(b) REPEAL OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TERMI-
NATED BY PRIOR LAW.—Sections 8111A(f) and 8201(h)
are repealed.
(c) SUNSET
OF CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENTS.—
(1) ANNUAL REPORT ON EQUITABLE RELIEF
CASES.—Section 503(c) is amended by adding at the
end the following new sentence: ‘‘No report shall be
required under this subsection after December 31,
2004.’’.
(2) BIENNIAL
REPORT
OF
ADVISORY
COM-
MITTEE ON FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR.—Section
541(c)(1) is amended by inserting ‘‘through 2003’’
after ‘‘each odd-numbered year’’.
(3) BIENNIAL
REPORT
OF
ADVISORY
COM-
MITTEE ON WOMEN VETERANS.—Section 542(c)(1)
is amended by inserting ‘‘through 2003’’ after ‘‘each
odd-numbered year’’.
(4) BIENNIAL
REPORTS
ON
MONTGOMERY
GI
BILL.—Subsection (d) of section 3036 is amended to
read as follows:
‘‘(d) No report shall be required under this section
after January 1, 2005.’’.
(5) ANNUAL REPORT OF SPECIAL MEDICAL AD-
VISORY
GROUP.—Section 7312(d) is amended by
adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘No
report shall be required under this subsection after
December 31, 2004.’’.
(d) COST INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED WITH
EACH REPORT REQUIRED BY CONGRESS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—(A) Chapter 1 is amended
by adding at the end the following new section:
‘‘§ 117. Reports to Congress: cost information
‘‘Whenever the Secretary submits to Congress, or any
committee of Congress, a report that is required by law
or by a joint explanatory statement of a committee of con-
ference of the Congress, the Secretary shall include with
the report—
‘‘(1) a statement of the cost of preparing the
report; and
‘‘(2) a brief explanation of the methodology
used in preparing that cost statement.’’.
(B) The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the
following new item:
‘‘117. Reports to Congress: cost information.’’.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 117 of title 38,
United States Code, as added by paragraph (1) of
this subsection, shall apply with respect to any re-