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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veteran Engagement 
Teams Act’’ or ‘‘VET Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS 
VETERAN 
ENGAGEMENT 
TEAM 
EVENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) PILOT PROGRAM.—Beginning not later than 
October 1, 2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall carry out a 3-year pilot program under which 
the Secretary shall carry out events, to be known as 
‘‘Veteran Engagement Team events’’. The Secretary 
shall ensure that such events are carried out— 
(A) during the first year during which the 
Secretary carries out the pilot program, at least 
once a month in a location within the jurisdic-
tion of each of 10 regional offices of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs, including at least 
2 regional offices in each of the 5 districts of 
the Veterans Benefits Administration under the 
organization of such Administration in effect as 
of the date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(B) during each of the second and third 
years during which the Secretary carries out 
the pilot program, at least once a month in a 
location within the jurisdiction of each of 15 re-
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gional offices of the Department, including at 
least 3 regional offices in each such district. 
(2) VETERAN ENGAGEMENT TEAM EVENTS.— 
During each Veteran Engagement Team event, the 
Secretary shall provide assistance to veterans in 
completing and adjudicating claims for disability 
compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United 
States Code, and for pension under chapter 15 of 
such title. The Secretary shall ensure that— 
(A) all Veteran Engagement Team events 
occur during the normal business hours of the 
sponsoring regional office; 
(B) the events are carried out at different 
locations within the jurisdiction of each regional 
office and at least 50 miles from any regional 
office; 
(C) a sufficient number of physicians (to 
be available for opinions only), veteran service 
representatives and rating veteran service rep-
resentatives, and other personnel are available 
at the events to initiate, update, and finalize 
the completion and adjudication of claims; 
(D) veterans service organizations have ac-
cess to the events for purposes of providing as-
sistance to veterans; and 
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(E) a veteran who is unable to complete 
and adjudicate a claim at an event is informed 
of what additional information or actions are 
needed to finalize the claim. 
(b) LOCATION.—In selecting locations for Veteran 
Engagement Team events under this section, the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) coordinate with veteran service organiza-
tions and State and local veterans agencies; and 
(2) seek to select locations that are community- 
based and easily accessible. 
(c) TRANSFER OF PERSONNEL.— 
(1) PHYSICIANS.—The Secretary may not per-
manently transfer any physician employed by the 
Veterans Health Administration for the purpose of 
staffing a Veteran Engagement Team event. 
(2) PAYMENT OF SALARIES.—Any amount pay-
able to an employee of the Department for work per-
formed at a Veteran Engagement Team event is 
payable only from amounts otherwise available for 
the payment of the salary of the employee. No addi-
tional amounts are authorized to be appropriated 
under this section for the payment of salaries for 
Department employee. 
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(d) OTHER AUTHORITIES.—In carrying out the pilot 
program under this section, the Secretary may— 
(1) coordinate with States, local governments, 
nonprofit organizations, and private sector entities 
to use facilities to host Veteran Engagement Team 
events for no or minimal costs; and 
(2) accept, on a without compensation basis, 
services provided by non-Department physicians in 
rendering medical opinions relating to claims for 
compensation and pension. 
(e) CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEYS.—In car-
rying out the pilot program under this section, the Sec-
retary shall collect and analyze information about the cus-
tomer satisfaction of veterans who have received assist-
ance at an Veteran Engagement Team event. 
(f) REPORTS.—Not later than April 30, 2017, and 
annually thereafter beginning on October 1, 2017, for the 
duration of the program, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report on the implementation and effectiveness 
of the events. Such report shall include— 
(1) the number and types of claims completed 
and adjudicated at the events; 
(2) the number and types of claims for which 
assistance was sought at the events that were not 
completed or adjudicated at the events and the rea-
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sons such claims were not completed or adjudicated; 
and 
(3) an analysis of the customer satisfaction of 
veterans who have received assistance at an event 
based on the information collected under subsection 
(e). 
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION TO LIMITATION ON AWARDS AND 
BONUSES. 
Section 705 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Ac-
countability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 
703 note) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 705. LIMITATION ON AWARDS AND BONUSES PAID TO 
EMPLOYEES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS. 
‘‘The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that 
the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses paid by the 
Secretary in a fiscal year under chapter 45 or 53 of title 
5, United States Code, or any other awards or bonuses 
authorized under such title or title 38, United States 
Code, does not exceed the following amounts: 
‘‘(1) With respect to fiscal year 2017, 
$250,000,000. 
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‘‘(2) With respect to each of fiscal years 2018 
through 2024, $360,000,000.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives June 21, 2016. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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