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beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and vet-
erans described in paragraphs (1) through (8) of section 
1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, including care and 
treatment in facilities not under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs and including medical sup-
plies and equipment and salaries and expenses of healthcare 
employees hired under title 38, United States Code, and aid 
to State homes as authorized by section 1741 of title 38, 
United States Code; $23,308,011,000, plus reimbursements, 
of which $1,977,000,000 are designated as an emergency re-
quirement pursuant to section 402 of House Concurrent 
Resolution 95 (109th Congress), the fiscal year 2006 budget 
resolution: Provided further, That of the emergency funds 
provided under this heading, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit for approval by the Committees on Ap-
propriations of both Houses of Congress, a financial plan 
outlining how the emergency funds will be obligated: Pro-
vided further, That the Department of Veterans Affairs shall 
include these emergency funds in their base request for the 
fiscal year 2007 budget submission: Provided further, That 
of the funds made available under this heading, not to ex-
ceed $1,500,000,000 shall be available until September 30, 
2007: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall es-
tablish a priority for treatment for veterans who are service-
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connected disabled, lower income, or have special needs: 
Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall give priority 
funding for the provision of basic medical benefits to vet-
erans in enrollment priority groups 1 through 6: Provided 
further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may authorize the dis-
pensing of prescription drugs from Veterans Health Admin-
istration facilities to enrolled veterans with privately writ-
ten prescriptions based on requirements established by the 
Secretary: Provided further, That the implementation of the 
program described in the previous proviso shall incur no 
additional cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs: Pro-
vided further, That for the Department of Defense/Veterans 
Affairs Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as authorized 
by section 721 of Public Law 107–314, a minimum of 
$15,000,000, to remain available until expended, for any 
purpose authorized by title 38, United States Code, section 
8111. 
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION 
For necessary expenses in the administration of the 
medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, 
supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; ad-
ministrative expenses in support of capital policy activities; 
uniforms or allowances therefore, as authorized by sections 
5901–5902 of title 5, United States Code; and administra-
HR 2528 PP 
tive and legal expenses of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs for collecting and recovering amounts owed the depart-
ment as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act 
(42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.); $2,858,442,000, plus reimburse-
ments, of which $250,000,000 shall be available until Sep-
tember 30, 2007. 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
For necessary expenses, $1,456,821,000 shall be avail-
able for the Department of Veterans Affairs Information 
Technology program: Provided, That within 90 days of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish an office for Information Technology (IT) with the 
authority and responsibility for all IT projects: Provided 
further, That this office shall report directly to the Deputy 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Provided further, That this 
new organizational structure shall be subject to approval 
of the Committees on Appropriations in both Houses of 
Congress: Provided further, That within this amount, no 
more than $100,000,000 from all sources shall be available 
for the HealtheVet project for fiscal year 2006: Provided fur-
ther, That none of the funds made available for the 
HealtheVet project may be obligated until such time that 
the Department of Veterans Affairs creates a single position 
with the responsibility for and the authority to manage the 
entire project, including budgetary authority: Provided fur-
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ther, That none of the funds made available for the 
HealtheVet project may be obligated until the Committees 
on Appropriations in both Houses of Congress approve a 
financial expenditure plan for the entire project. 
MEDICAL FACILITIES 
For necessary expenses for the maintenance and oper-
ation of hospitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facilities 
and other necessary facilities for the Veterans Health Ad-
ministration; for administrative expenses in support of 
planning, design, project management, real property acqui-
sition and disposition, construction and renovation of any 
facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs; for oversight, engineering and ar-
chitectural activities not charged to project costs; for repair-
ing, altering, improving or providing facilities in the sev-
eral hospitals and homes under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, 
either by contract or by the hire of temporary employees 
and purchase of materials; for leases of facilities; and for 
laundry and food services, $3,297,669,000, plus reimburse-
ments, of which $250,000,000 shall be available until Sep-
tember 30, 2007. 
MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH 
For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of 
medical and prosthetic research and development as author-
ized by chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code to remain
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available until September 30, 2007, $412,000,000, plus re-
imbursements, of which, not less than $15,000,000 shall be 
used for Gulf War Illness research. 
DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION 
GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES 
For necessary operating expenses of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including ad-
ministrative expenses in support of department-wide cap-
ital planning, management and policy activities, uniforms 
or allowances therefore; not to exceed $25,000 for official 
reception and representation expenses; hire of passenger 
motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General Services 
Administration for security guard services, and the Depart-
ment of Defense for the cost of overseas employee mail, 
$1,418,827,000: Provided, The Veterans Affairs shall con-
duct an information campaign in States with an average 
annual disability compensation payment of less than 
$7,300 (according to the report issued by the Department 
of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General on May 19, 
2005), to inform all veterans receiving disability compensa-
tion, by direct mail, of the history of below average dis-
ability compensation payments to veterans in such States, 
and to provide all veterans in each such State, through 
broadcast or print advertising, with the aforementioned his-
torical information and instructions for submitting new
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claims and requesting review of past disability claims and 
ratings: Provided further, That expenses for services and as-
sistance authorized under title 38, United States Code, sec-
tions 3104(a)(1), (2), (5), and (11) that the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs determines are necessary to enable entitled 
veterans: (1) to the maximum extent feasible, to become em-
ployable and to obtain and maintain suitable employment; 
or (2) to achieve maximum independence in daily living, 
shall be charged to this account: Provided further, That the 
Veterans Benefits Administration shall be funded at not less 
than $1,093,937,500: Provided further, That of the funds 
made available under this heading, not to exceed 
$71,000,000 shall be available for obligation until Sep-
tember 30, 2007. 
NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION 
For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Ad-
ministration for operations and maintenance, not otherwise 
provided for, including uniforms or allowances therefore; 
cemeterial expenses as authorized by law; purchase of one 
passenger motor vehicle for use in cemeterial operations; 
and hire of passenger motor vehicles, $156,447,000: Pro-
vided, That of the funds made available under this heading, 
not to exceed $7,800,000 shall be available until September 
30, 2007.
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OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector Gen-
eral in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector General 
Act of 1978, $70,174,000, to remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2007. 
CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS 
For constructing, altering, extending and improving 
any of the facilities including parking projects under the 
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 316, 
2404, 2406, 8102, 8103, 8106, 8108, 8109, 8110, and 8122 
of title 38, United States Code, including planning, archi-
tectural and engineering services, maintenance or guar-
antee period services costs associated with equipment guar-
antees provided under the project, services of claims ana-
lysts, offsite utility and storm drainage system construction 
costs, and site acquisition, where the estimated cost of a 
project is more than the amount set forth in title 38, United 
States Code, section 8104(a)(3)(A) or where funds for a 
project were made available in a previous major project ap-
propriation, $607,100,000, to remain available until ex-
pended, of which $539,800,000 shall be for Capital Asset 
Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) activities; 
and of which $2,500,000 shall be to make reimbursements 
as provided in title 41, United States Code, section 612 for 
claims paid for contract disputes: Provided, That except for
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advance planning activities, including needs assessments 
which may or may not lead to capital investments, and 
other capital asset management related activities, such as 
portfolio development and management activities, and in-
vestment strategy studies funded through the advance plan-
ning fund and the planning and design activities funded 
through the design fund and CARES funds, including needs 
assessments which may or may not lead to capital invest-
ments, none of the funds appropriated under this heading 
shall be used for any project which has not been approved 
by the Congress in the budgetary process: Provided further, 
That funds provided in this appropriation for fiscal year 
2006, for each approved project (except those for CARES 
activities referenced above) shall be obligated: (1) by the 
awarding of a construction documents contract by Sep-
tember 30, 2006; and (2) by the awarding of a construction 
contract by September 30, 2007: Provided further, That the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promptly report in writ-
ing to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress any approved major construction project in 
which obligations are not incurred within the time limita-
tions established above: Provided further, That none of the 
funds in this or any other Act may be used to modify or 
alter the mission, services or infrastructure of the 18 facili-
ties on the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Serv-
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ices (CARES) list requiring further study as specified by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS 
For constructing, altering, extending, and improving 
any of the facilities including parking projects under the 
jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, including planning and assessments of needs which 
may lead to capital investments, architectural and engi-
neering services, maintenance or guarantee period services 
costs associated with equipment guarantees provided under 
the project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility and 
storm drainage system construction costs, and site acquisi-
tion, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 316, 
2404, 2406, 8102, 8103, 8106, 8108, 8109, 8110, 8122, and 
8162 of title 38, United States Code, where the estimated 
cost of a project is equal to or less than the amount set 
forth in title 38, United States Code, section 8104(a)(3)(A), 
$208,937,000, to remain available until expended, along 
with unobligated balances of previous ‘‘Construction, minor 
projects’’ appropriations, of which $160,000,000 shall be for 
Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) 
activities: Provided, That from amounts appropriated 
under this heading, additional amounts may be used for 
CARES activities upon notification of and approval by the 
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: 
Provided further, That funds in this account shall be avail-
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able for: (1) repairs to any of the nonmedical facilities 
under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs which are necessary because of loss or dam-
age caused by any natural disaster or catastrophe; and (2) 
temporary measures necessary to prevent or to minimize 
further loss by such causes. 
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE EXTENDED CARE 
FACILITIES 
For grants to assist States to acquire or construct 
State nursing home and domiciliary facilities; and to re-
model, modify or alter existing hospital, nursing home and 
domiciliary facilities in State homes; and for furnishing 
care to veterans as authorized by title 38, United States 
Code, sections 8131–8137, $104,322,000, to remain avail-
able until expended. 
GRANTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF STATE VETERANS 
CEMETERIES 
For grants to aid States in establishing, expanding, 
or improving State veterans cemeteries as authorized by 
title 38, United States Code, section 2408, $32,000,000, to 
remain available until expended. 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 201. Any appropriation for the Veterans Benefits 
Administration for fiscal year 2006 for ‘‘Compensation and 
pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment benefits’’, and ‘‘Veterans insur-
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ance and indemnities’’ may be transferred as necessary to 
any other of the mentioned appropriations: Provided, That 
before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropria-
tions of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the 
transfer and an approval is issued, or absent a response, 
a period of 30 days has elapsed. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 202. Amounts made available for the Veterans 
Health Administration for fiscal year 2006 under the ‘‘Med-
ical services’’, ‘‘Medical administration’’, ‘‘Information 
technology’’, and ‘‘Medical facilities’’ accounts may be 
transferred between the mentioned accounts: Provided, That 
before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropria-
tions of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the 
transfer and an approval is issued, or absent a response, 
a period of 30 days has elapsed: Provided further, That no 
transfer may be made out of the ‘‘Medical and Prosthetic 
Research’’ account. 
SEC. 203. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Appropriations in both Houses 
of Congress a quarterly report on the financial status of 
the Veterans Health Administration. This report shall con-
tain, at a minimum, both planned and actual expenditure
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rates, unobligated balances, and any potential financial 
shortfalls. 
SEC. 204. No project for which funds have been appro-
priated in the ‘‘Construction, major projects’’ account may 
be canceled or altered in scope by more than 10 percent 
in cost without submitting a request to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress and an approval 
is issued, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has 
elapsed. 
SEC. 205. No appropriations in this Act for the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs shall be available for hos-
pitalization or examination of any persons (except bene-
ficiaries entitled under the laws bestowing such benefits to 
veterans, and persons receiving such treatment under 5 
U.S.C., sections 7901–7904 or 42 U.S.C., sections 5141– 
5204), unless reimbursement of cost is made to the ‘‘Medical 
services’’ account at such rates as may be fixed by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs. 
SEC. 206. Appropriations available to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2006 for ‘‘Compensation 
and pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment benefits’’, and ‘‘Veterans in-
surance and indemnities’’ shall be available for payment 
of prior year accrued obligations required to be recorded 
by law against the corresponding prior year accounts with-
in the last quarter of fiscal year 2005.
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SEC. 207. Appropriations accounts available to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2006 shall be 
available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding 
prior year appropriations accounts resulting from title X 
of the Competitive Equality Banking Act, Public Law 100– 
86, except that if such obligations are from trust fund ac-
counts they shall be payable from ‘‘Compensation and pen-
sions’’. 
SEC. 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
during fiscal year 2006, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall, from the National Service Life Insurance Fund (38 
U.S.C. 1920), the Veterans’ Special Life Insurance Fund 
(38 U.S.C. 1923), and the United States Government Life 
Insurance Fund (38 U.S.C. 1955), reimburse the ‘‘General 
operating expenses’’ account for the cost of administration 
of the insurance programs financed through those accounts: 
Provided, That reimbursement shall be made only from the 
surplus earnings accumulated in an insurance program in 
fiscal year 2006 that are available for dividends in that 
program after claims have been paid and actuarially deter-
mined reserves have been set aside: Provided further, That 
if the cost of administration of an insurance program ex-
ceeds the amount of surplus earnings accumulated in that 
program, reimbursement shall be made only to the extent 
of such surplus earnings: Provided further, That the Sec-
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retary of Veterans Affairs shall determine the cost of admin-
istration for fiscal year 2006 which is properly allocable 
to the provision of each insurance program and to the pro-
vision of any total disability income insurance included in 
such insurance program. 
SEC. 209. Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
and hereafter, the Department of Veterans Affairs shall con-
tinue the Franchise Fund established by title I of Public 
Law 104–204. 
SEC. 210. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use lease 
proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses incurred by 
that account during a prior fiscal year for providing en-
hanced-use lease services, may be obligated during the fiscal 
year in which the proceeds are received. 
SEC. 211. Funds available in any Department of Vet-
erans Affairs appropriation for fiscal year 2006 or funds 
for salaries and other administrative expenses shall also be 
available to reimburse the Office of Resolution Management 
and the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint 
Adjudication for all services provided at rates which will 
recover actual costs but not exceed $29,758,000 for the Office 
of Resolution Management and $3,059,000 for the Office of 
Employment and Discrimination Complaint Adjudication: 
Provided, That payments may be made in advance for serv-
ices to be furnished based on estimated costs: Provided fur-
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ther, That amounts received shall be credited to ‘‘General 
operating expenses’’ for use by the office that provided the 
service. 
SEC. 212. No appropriations in this Act for the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs shall be available to enter into 
any new lease of real property if the estimated annual rent-
al is more than $300,000 unless the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs submits a report which the Committees on Appro-
priations in both Houses of Congress approve within 30 
days following the date on which the report is received. 
SEC. 213. No funds of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs shall be available for hospital care, nursing home care, 
or medical services provided to any person under chapter 
17 of title 38, United States Code, for a non-service-con-
nected disability described in section 1729(a)(2) of such 
title, unless that person has disclosed to the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary may require, 
current, accurate third-party reimbursement information 
for purposes of section 1729 of such title: Provided, That 
the Secretary may recover, in the same manner as any other 
debt due the United States, the reasonable charges for such 
care or services from any person who does not make such 
disclosure as required: Provided further, That any amounts 
so recovered for care or services provided in a prior fiscal
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year may be obligated by the Secretary during the fiscal 
year in which amounts are received. 
SEC. 214. Amounts made available under the ‘‘Medical 
services’’ account are available— 
(1) for furnishing recreational facilities, sup-
plies, and equipment; and 
(2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and 
other expenses incidental to funerals and burials for 
beneficiaries receiving care in the department. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 215. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2006 for 
the Veterans Benefits Administration made available under 
the heading ‘‘General operating expenses’’ may be trans-
ferred to the ‘‘Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund 
Program Account’’ for the purpose of providing funds for 
the nationwide property management contract if the ad-
ministrative costs of such contract exceed $8,800,000 in the 
fiscal year. 
SEC. 216. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall allow veterans eligi-
ble under existing Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Care requirements and who reside in Alaska to obtain med-
ical care services from medical facilities supported by the 
Indian Health Services or tribal organizations. The Sec-
retary shall: (1) limit the application of this provision to 
rural Alaskan veterans in areas where an existing Depart-
HR 2528 PP 
ment of Veterans Affairs facility or Veterans Affairs-con-
tracted service is unavailable; (2) require participating vet-
erans and facilities to comply with all appropriate rules 
and regulations, as established by the Secretary; (3) require 
this provision to be consistent with Capital Asset Realign-
ment for Enhanced Services Activities; and (4) result in 
no additional cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs 
or the Indian Health Service. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 217. Such sums as may be deposited to the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursuant 
to title 38, United States Code, section 8118 may be trans-
ferred to the ‘‘Construction, major projects’’ and ‘‘Construc-
tion, minor projects’’ accounts, to remain available until 
expended for the purposes of these accounts. 
SEC. 218. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
at the discretion of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, pro-
ceeds or revenues derived from enhanced-use leasing activi-
ties (including disposal) may be deposited into the ‘‘Con-
struction, major projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, minor 
projects’’ accounts and be used for construction (including 
site acquisition and disposition), alterations and improve-
ments of any medical facility under the jurisdiction or for 
the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such sums 
as realized are in addition to the amount provided for in
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‘‘Construction, major projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, minor 
projects’’. 
SEC. 219. None of the funds made available in this 
Act may be used to implement any policy prohibiting the 
Directors of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks from 
conducting outreach or marketing to enroll new veterans 
within their respective Networks. 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
SEC. 220. That such sums as may be deposited to the 
Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A 
of title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the 
‘‘Medical services’’ account, to remain available until ex-
pended for the purposes of this account. 
SEC. 221. Appropriations available to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2006 for salaries and ex-
penses shall be available for services authorized by title 5, 
United States Code, section 3109; hire of passenger motor 
vehicles; lease of a facility or land or both; and uniforms 
or allowances therefor, as authorized by title 5, United 
States Code, sections 5901–5902. 
SEC. 222. REPORT ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO LOW- 
INCOME
VETERANS. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller 
General shall conduct a study on housing assistance to low- 
income veterans, including—
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(1) an estimate of the number of low-income, 
very low-income, and extremely low-income veteran 
households; 
(2) a description of the demographic and socio-
economic characteristics and health and disability 
status of such households; 
(3) an estimate of the number of such households 
experiencing a high cost burden in, overcrowding in, 
or poor quality of housing, or experiencing homeless-
ness; 
(4) an assessment of such households, including 
their current barriers to safe, quality, and affordable 
housing and levels of homelessness among such house-
holds; 
(5) the extent to which Federal housing assist-
ance programs provide benefits, including supportive 
services, to all veteran households and in particular 
to low-income, very low-income, and extremely-low 
income veteran households; 
(6) the number of units designated for or occu-
pied by veterans and low-income, very low-income, 
and extremely low-income veterans in Federally sub-
sidized or insured housing; 
(7) a summary description of the manner in 
which veteran compensation, veteran dependency and
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indemnity compensation, and veteran pension are 
considered as income or adjusted income for purposes 
of determining— 
(A) eligibility for Federal housing assist-
ance programs; and 
(B) the amount of rent paid by a veteran 
household for occupancy of a dwelling unit or 
housing assisted under Federal housing assist-
ance programs; 
(8) a summary description of the special consid-
erations made for veterans under— 
(A) public housing plans submitted under 
section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 
1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1); and 
(B) comprehensive housing affordability 
strategies submitted under section 105 of the 
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing 
Act (42 U.S.C. 12705); 
(9) the extent to which public housing authorities 
have established preferences for veterans for public 
housing and housing choice vouchers; 
(10) the number of homeless veterans provided 
assistance, cumulatively and currently, under the pro-
gram of housing choice vouchers for homeless veterans 
under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing
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Act of 1937 (42. U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)), and the current 
status of the program, including— 
(A) the number of vouchers the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development currently 
allocates to the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
(B) the monetary value of such vouchers; 
and 
(C) the names and locations of VA medical 
centers receiving such vouchers; and 
(11) a description of activities relating to vet-
erans of the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment. 
(b) ACQUISITION OF SUPPORTING INFORMATION.—In 
carrying out the study under this section, the Comptroller 
General shall seek to obtain views from the following per-
sons: 
(1) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment. 
(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
(3) Low-income, very low-income, and extremely 
low-income veterans. 
(4) Representatives of State and local housing 
assistance agencies.
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(5) Representatives of nonprofit low-income 
housing providers and homeless service providers, in-
cluding homeless veteran service providers. 
(6) National advocacy organizations concerned 
with veterans, homelessness, and low-income housing. 
(c) TIMING OF REPORT.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to Congress a report on the study con-
ducted under this section. 
SEC. 223. (a) Not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
after consultation with the National Association of County 
Veterans Service Officers, other veterans service organiza-
tions, and State departments of veterans affairs shall sub-
mit a report to the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate that describes a plan (including estimated costs) to 
provide an adequate supply of the 2006 edition of handbook 
entitled, Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents, and 
all subsequent editions, to all county veterans service offi-
cers in the United States. 
SEC. 224. None of the funds made available in this 
Act or any other Act may be used— 
(1) to revoke or reduce a veteran’s disability 
compensation for post traumatic stress disorder based 
on a finding that the Department of Veterans Affairs
100 
HR 2528 PP 
failed to collect justifying documentation unless such 
failure was the direct result of fraud by the applicant; 
or 
(2) for the implementation of Recommendation 3 
of VA Inspector General Report No. 05–00765–137 or 
any related review and investigation of post trau-
matic stress disorder unemployability and 100 sched-
uler percent ratings cases, until the Department of 
Veterans’ Affairs reports to the Committee on Appro-
priations on its plan for implementing this rec-
ommendation, and outlines the staffing and funding 
requirements. 
SEC. 225. CLINICAL TRAINING AND PROTOCOLS. (a) 
FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) the Iraq War Clinician Guide has tremen-
dous value; and 
(2) the Secretary of Defense and the National 
Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder should con-
tinue to work together to ensure that the mental 
health care needs of servicemembers and veterans are 
met. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—The National Center on Post 
Traumatic Stress Disorder shall collaborate with the Sec-
retary of Defense—
101 
HR 2528 PP 
(1) to enhance the clinical skills of military cli-
nicians through training, treatment protocols, web- 
based interventions, and the development of evidence- 
based interventions; and 
(2) to promote pre-deployment resilience and 
post-deployment readjustment among servicemembers 
serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation 
Enduring Freedom. 
(c) TRAINING.—The National Center on Post Trau-
matic Stress Disorder shall work with the Secretary of De-
fense to ensure that clinicians in the Department of Defense 
are provided with the training and protocols developed pur-
suant to subsection (b)(1). 
SEC. 226. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
immediately submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs 
and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on any Department of Veterans Affairs 
budget shortfall totaling 2 percent or more of the Depart-
ment’s total discretionary funding budget for a fiscal year. 
(b) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and Appro-
priations of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a comprehensive plan to improve long-term budget plan-
102 
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ning and actuarial forecasting at the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
SEC. 227. (a) In conducting advanced planning activi-
ties under this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
reevaluate Veterans Health Administration Handbook 
1006.1 and other guidance and procedures related to plan-
ning, activating, staffing, and maintaining community- 
based outpatient clinics. 
(b) In conducting such planning, the Secretary shall— 
(1) revise as appropriate existing policies to 
make them less disadvantageous to rural veterans; 
and 
(2) reexamine criteria used in planning, acti-
vating, staffing, and maintaining such clinics, in-
cluding geographic access, number of Priority 1–6 
veterans, market penetration, cost effectiveness, and 
distance to parent facilities, to determine whether 
such criteria are weighted in a manner that nega-
tively affects rural veterans. 
TITLE III—RELATED AGENCIES 
AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, of 
the American Battle Monuments Commission, including the 
acquisition of land or interest in land in foreign countries;