the time of retirement.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘as
follows:
‘‘(A) In the case of a judge who is a recall-eligi-
ble retired judge under section 7257 of this title or
who was a recall-eligible retired judge under that
section and was removed from recall status under
subsection (b)(4) of that section by reason of dis-
ability, the retired pay of the judge shall be the pay
of a judge of the court (or of the chief judge, if the
individual retired from service as chief judge).
‘‘(B) In the case of a judge who at the time of
retirement did not provide notice under section 7257
of this title of availability for service in a recalled
status, the retired pay of the judge shall be the rate
of pay applicable to that judge at the time of retire-
ment.
‘‘(C) In the case of a judge who was a recall-
eligible retired judge under section 7257 of this title
and was removed from recall status under subsection
(b)(3) of that section, the retired pay of the judge
shall be the pay of the judge at the time of the re-
moval from recall status.’’.
(b) COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.—Subsection (f)
of such section is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph:
‘‘(3)(A) A cost-of-living adjustment provided by law
in annuities payable under civil service retirement laws
shall apply to retired pay under this section only in the
case of retired pay computed under paragraph (2) of sub-
section (c).
‘‘(B)(i) If such a cost-of-living adjustment would (but
for this subparagraph) result in the retired pay of a re-
tired chief judge being in excess of the annual rate of pay
in effect for the chief judge of the court as provided in
section 7253(e)(1) of this title, such adjustment may be
made in the retired pay of that retired chief judge only
in such amount as results in the retired pay of the retired
chief judge being equal to that annual rate of pay (as in
effect on the effective date of such adjustment).
‘‘(ii) If such a cost-of-living adjustment would (but
for this subparagraph) result in the retired pay of a re-
tired judge (other than a retired chief judge) being in ex-
cess of the annual rate of pay in effect for judges of the
court as provided in section 7253(e)(2) of this title, such
adjustment may be made only in such amount as results
in the retired pay of the retired judge being equal to that
annual rate of pay (as in effect on the effective date of
such adjustment).’’.
(c) 
COORDINATION
WITH
MILITARY
RETIRED
PAY.—Subsection (f) of such section is further amended
by adding after paragraph (3), as added by subsection (b),
the following new paragraph:
‘‘(4) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of section 5532
of title 5, if a regular or reserve member of a uniformed
service who is receiving retired or retainer pay becomes
a judge of the court, or becomes eligible therefor while
a judge of the court, such retired or retainer pay shall
not be paid during the judge’s regular active service on
the court, but shall be resumed or commenced without re-
duction upon retirement as a judge.’’.
SEC. 405. SURVIVOR ANNUITIES.
(a) SURVIVING SPOUSE.—Subsection (a)(5) of sec-
tion 7297 is amended by striking ‘‘two years’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘one year.’’
(b) ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE.—Subsection (b) of
such section is amended in the first sentence by inserting
before the period ‘‘or within six months after the date on
which the judge marries if the judge has retired under
section 7296 of this title’’.
(c) REDUCTION IN CONTRIBUTIONS.—Subsection (c)
of such section is amended by striking ‘‘3.5 percent of the
judge’s pay’’ and inserting ‘‘that percentage of the judge’s
pay that is the same as provided for the deduction from
the salary or retirement salary of a judge of the United
States Court of Federal Claims for the purpose of a sur-
vivor annuity under section 376(b)(1)(B) of title 28’’.
(d) INTEREST PAYMENTS.—Subsection (d) of such
section is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(d)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(2) The interest required under the first sentence
of paragraph (1) shall not be required for any period—
‘‘(A) during which a judge was separated from
any service described in section 376(d)(2) of title 28;
and
‘‘(B) during which the judge was not receiving
retired pay based on service as a judge or receiving
any retirement salary as described in section
376(d)(1) of title 28.’’.
(e) SERVICE ELIGIBILITY.—(1) Subsection (f) of
such section is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A)—
(i) by striking ‘‘at least 5 years’’ and in-
serting ‘‘last 18 months’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘last 5 years’’ and inserting
‘‘last 18 months’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(5) If a judge dies as a result of an assassination
and leaves a survivor or survivors who are otherwise enti-
tled to receive annuity payments under this section, the
18-month requirement in the matter in paragraph (1) pre-
ceding subparagraph (A) shall not apply.’’.
(2) Subsection (a) of such section is further
amended—
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘who is in
active service or who has retired under section 7296
of this title’’ after ‘‘Court’’;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘7296(c)’’
and inserting ‘‘7296’’;
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(8) The term ‘assassination’ as applied to a
judge shall have the meaning provided that term in
section 376(a)(7) of title 28 as applied to a judicial
official.’’.
(f) AGE REQUIREMENT OF SURVIVING SPOUSE.—
Subsection (f) of such section is further amended by strik-
ing ‘‘or following the surviving spouse’s attainment of the
age of 50 years, whichever is later’’ in paragraph (1)(A).
SEC. 406. LIMITATION ON ACTIVITIES OF RETIRED JUDGES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 72 is amended by adding
at the end the following new section:
‘‘§ 7299. Limitation on activities of retired judges
‘‘(a) A retired judge of the Court who is recall-eligible
under section 7257 of this title and who in the practice
of law represents (or supervises or directs the representa-
tion of) a client in making any claim relating to veterans’
benefits against the United States or any agency thereof
shall, pursuant to such section, be considered to have de-
clined recall service and be removed from the status of
a recall-eligible judge. The pay of such a judge, pursuant
to section 7296 of this title, shall be the pay of the judge
at the time of the removal from recall status.
‘‘(b) A recall-eligible judge shall be considered to be
an officer or employee of the United States, but only dur-
ing periods when the judge is serving in recall status. Any
prohibition, limitation, or restriction that would otherwise
apply to the activities of a recall-eligible judge shall apply
only during periods when the judge is serving in recall sta-
tus.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding
at the end the following new item:
‘‘7299. Limitation on activities of retired judges.’’.
SEC. 407. EARLY RETIREMENT AUTHORITY FOR CURRENT
JUDGES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR STAG-
GERED TERMS OF JUDGES.
(a) RETIREMENT AUTHORIZED.—One eligible judge
may retire in accordance with this section with respect to
each year beginning in 1999 and ending in 2003.
(b) ELIGIBLE JUDGES.—For purposes of this section,
an eligible judge is an associate judge of the United States
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims who—
(1) has at least 10 years of service creditable
under section 7296 of title 38, United States Code;
(2) has made an election to receive retired pay
under section 7296 of such title;
(3) has at least 20 years of service described in
section 7297(l) of such title; and
(4) is at least 55 years of age.
(c) MULTIPLE ELIGIBLE JUDGES.—If for any year
specified in subsection (a) more than one eligible judge
provides notice in accordance with subsection (d), the
judge who has the greatest seniority as a judge of the
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims shall
be the judge who is eligible to retire in accordance with
this section in that year.
(d) NOTICE.—An eligible judge who desires to retire
in accordance with this section with respect to any year
covered by subsection (a) shall provide to the President
and the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals
for Veterans Claims written notice to that effect not later
than April 1 of that year, except that in the case of an
eligible judge desiring to retire with respect to 1999, such
notice shall be provided not later than November 1, 1999,
or 15 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
whichever is later. Such a notice shall specify the retire-
ment date in accordance with subsection (e). Notice pro-
vided under this subsection shall be irrevocable.
(e) DATE OF RETIREMENT.—A judge who is eligible
to retire in accordance with this section shall be retired
during the fiscal year in which notice is provided pursuant
to subsection (d), but not earlier than 90 days after the
date on which that notice is provided, except that a judge
retired in accordance with this section with respect to
1999 shall be retired not earlier than 90 days, and not
later than 150 days, after the date on which notice is pro-
vided pursuant to subsection (d).
(f) APPLICABLE PROVISIONS.—Except as provided in
subsection (g), a judge retired in accordance with this sec-
tion shall be considered for all purposes to be retired under
section 7296(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code.
(g) RATE OF RETIRED PAY.—The rate of retired pay
for a judge retiring in accordance with this section is—
(1) the rate applicable to that judge under sec-
tion 7296(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, mul-
tiplied by
(2) the fraction (not in excess of 1) in which—
(A) the numerator is the sum of (i) the
number of years of service of the judge as a
judge of the United States Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims creditable under section 7296
of such title, and (ii) the age of the judge; and
(B) the denominator is 80.
(h) ADJUSTMENTS IN RETIRED PAY FOR JUDGES
AVAILABLE
FOR
RECALL.—Subject 
to 
section
7296(f)(3)(B) of title 38, United States Code, an adjust-
ment provided by law in annuities payable under civil serv-
ice retirement laws shall apply to retired pay under this
section in the case of a judge who is a recall-eligible retired
judge under section 7257 of such title, or who was a recall-
eligible retired judge under that section and was removed
from recall status under subsection (b)(4) of that section
by reason of disability.
(i) DUTY
OF
ACTUARY.—Section 7298(e)(2) is
amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (D); and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph:
‘‘(C) For purposes of subparagraph (B), the term
‘present value’ includes a value determined by an actuary
with respect to a payment that may be made under sub-
section (b) from the retirement fund within the contempla-
tion of law.’’.
TITLE V—OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 501. REPEAL OF CERTAIN SUNSET PROVISIONS
(a) ENHANCED LOAN ASSET SALE AUTHORITY.—
Section 3720(h) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(h)’’; and
(2) by striking paragraph (2).
(b) PROCEDURES
APPLICABLE
TO
LIQUIDATION
SALES ON DEFAULTED HOME LOANS.—Section 3732(c)
is amended by striking paragraph (11).
(c) INCOME
VERIFICATION
AUTHORITY.—Section
5317(g) is repealed.
SEC. 502. ENHANCED QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM
WITHIN THE VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINIS-
TRATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Chapter 77 is amended by
adding at the end the following new subchapter:
‘‘(3) such other information as the Secretary
considers appropriate.’’.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following
new items:
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—QUALITY ASSURANCE
‘‘7731. Establishment.
‘‘7732. Functions.
‘‘7733. Personnel.
‘‘7734. Annual report to Congress.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subchapter III of chapter 77
of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), shall take effect on the later of October 1, 1999, or
at the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 503. EXTENSION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MI-
NORITY VETERANS.
Section 544(e) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31,
1999’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2004’’.
SEC. 504. RECOGNITION OF VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) the organization now known as the Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the United States (the VFW)
was founded in Columbus, Ohio, on September 29,
1899;
(2) 
the 
VFW 
represents 
approximately
2,000,000 veterans of the Armed Forces who served
overseas in World War I, World War II, Korea,
Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, and Bosnia; and
(3) the VFW has, for the past 100 years, pro-
vided voluntary and unselfish service to the Armed
Forces and to veterans, communities, States, and
the Nation and has worked toward the betterment of
veterans in general and society as a whole.
(b) RECOGNITION.—The Congress—
(1) recognizes the historic significance of the
100th anniversary of the founding of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the United States;
(2) congratulates the VFW on achieving that
milestone;
(3) commends the approximately 2,000,000 vet-
erans who belong to the VFW and thanks them for
their service to their fellow veterans and the Nation;
and
(4) calls upon the President to issue a procla-
mation recognizing the anniversary of the VFW and
the contributions made by the VFW to veterans and
the Nation and calling upon the people of the United
States to observe such anniversary with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
SEC. 505. CODIFICATION OF RECURRING PROVISIONS IN
ANNUAL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS 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 2001.
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