H. R. 299 
One Hundred Sixteenth Congress 
of the 
United States of America 
AT THE FIRST SESSION 
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, 
the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen 
An Act 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the 
exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Blue Water Navy Vietnam 
Veterans Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF PRESUMPTIONS OF EXPOSURE FOR VET-
ERANS WHO SERVED IN VICINITY OF REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 1116 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1116A. Presumptions of service connection for veterans 
who served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam 
‘‘(a) SERVICE CONNECTION.—For the purposes of section 1110 
of this title, and subject to section 1113 of this title, a disease 
covered by section 1116 of this title becoming manifest as specified 
in that section in a veteran who, during active military, naval, 
or air service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during 
the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 
7, 1975, shall be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated 
by such service, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence 
of such disease during the period of such service. 
‘‘(b) EXPOSURE.—A veteran who, during active military, naval, 
or air service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during 
the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 
7, 1975, shall be presumed to have been exposed during such 
service to an herbicide agent unless there is affirmative evidence 
to establish that the veteran was not exposed to any such agent 
during that service. 
‘‘(c) EFFECTIVE DATE OF AWARD.—(1) Except as provided by 
paragraph (2), the effective date of an award under this section 
shall be determined in accordance with section 5110 of this title. 
‘‘(2)(A) Notwithstanding subsection (g) of section 5110 of this 
title, the Secretary shall determine the effective date of an award 
based on a claim under this section for an individual described 
in subparagraph (B) by treating the date on which the individual 
filed the prior claim specified in clause (i) of such subparagraph 
as the date on which the individual filed the claim so awarded 
under this section.
H. R. 299—2 
‘‘(B) An individual described in this subparagraph is a veteran, 
or a survivor of a veteran, who meets the following criteria: 
‘‘(i) The veteran or survivor submitted a claim for disability 
compensation on or after September 25, 1985, and before 
January 1, 2020, for a disease covered by this section, and 
the claim was denied by reason of the claim not establishing 
that the disease was incurred or aggravated by the service 
of the veteran. 
‘‘(ii) The veteran or survivor submits a claim for disability 
compensation on or after January 1, 2020, for the same condi-
tion covered by the prior claim under clause (i), and the claim 
is approved pursuant to this section. 
‘‘(d) DETERMINATION OF OFFSHORE.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, for purposes of this section, the Secretary shall 
treat a location as being offshore of Vietnam if the location is 
not more than 12 nautical miles seaward of a line commencing 
on the southwestern demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam 
and Cambodia and intersecting the following points: 
‘‘Points Geographic Names 
Latitude 
North 
Longitude 
East 
At Hon Nhan Island, Tho Chu Archipelago Kien 
Giang Province 
9°15.0′ 
103°27.0′ 
At Hon Da Island southeast of Hon Khoai Island 
Minh Hai Province 
8°22.8′ 
104°52.4′ 
At Tai Lon Islet, Con Dao Islet in Con Dao-Vung 
Toa Special Sector 
8°37.8′ 
106°37.5′ 
At Bong Lai Islet, Con Dao Islet 
8°38.9′ 
106°40.3′ 
At Bay Canh Islet, Con Dao Islet 
8°39.7′ 
106°42.1′ 
At Hon Hai Islet (Phu Qui group of islands) Thuan 
Hai Province 
9°58.0′ 
109°5.0′ 
At Hon Doi Islet, Thuan Hai Province 
12°39.0′ 
109°28.0′ 
At Dai Lanh point, Phu Khanh Province 
12°53.8′ 
109°27.2′ 
At Ong Can Islet, Phu Khanh Province 
13°54.0′ 
109°21.0′ 
At Ly Son Islet, Nghia Binh Province 
15°23.1′ 
109° 9.0′ 
At Con Co Island, Binh Tri Thien Province 
17°10.0′ 
107°20.6′ 
‘‘(e) HERBICIDE AGENT.—In this section, the term ‘herbicide 
agent’ has the meaning given that term in section 1116(a)(3) of 
this title.’’.
H. R. 299—3 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 1116 the following new item: 
‘‘1116A. Presumptions of service connection for veterans who served offshore of the 
Republic of Vietnam.’’. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to imple-
ment section 1116A of title 38, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under 
such section. 
(2) UPDATES.—(A) Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a 
report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the 
Secretary— 
(i) to conduct outreach under subsection (d); and 
(ii) to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding 
claims for disability compensation under section 1116A 
of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a) of this section. 
(B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date 
on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section 
1116A, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
updates on the status of such regulations. 
(3) PENDING CASES.— 
(A) AUTHORITY TO STAY.—The Secretary may stay a 
claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on 
which the Secretary commences the implementation of such 
section 1116A. 
(B) CLAIMS
DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this 
subparagraph is a claim for disability compensation— 
(i) relating to the service and diseases covered 
by such section 1116A; and 
(ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits 
Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
before the date on which the Secretary commences 
the implementation of such section 1116A. 
(d) OUTREACH.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct outreach to inform veterans described in paragraph 
(2) of the ability to submit a claim for disability compensation 
under section 1116A of title 38, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a). Such outreach shall include the following: 
(A) The Secretary shall publish on the website of the 
Department a notice that a veterans described in paragraph 
(2) may submit or resubmit a claim for disability compensa-
tion under such section 1116A. 
(B) The Secretary shall notify in writing the veteran 
service organization community of the ability of veterans 
described in paragraph (2) to submit or resubmit claims 
for disability compensation under such section 1116A.
H. R. 299—4 
(2) VETERAN DESCRIBED.—A veteran described in this para-
graph is a veteran who, during active military, naval, or air 
service, served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam during the 
period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 
1975. 
(e) REPORTS.—Not later than January 1, 2021, and annually 
thereafter for 2 years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate a report regarding claims for disability com-
pensation under section 1116A of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a). Each report shall include, with respect 
to the calendar year preceding the report, disaggregated by the 
regional offices of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the following: 
(1) The number of claims filed under such section. 
(2) The number of such claims granted. 
(3) The number of such claims denied. 
(f) HEALTH CARE.—Section 1710(e)(4) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘(including offshore of such Republic 
as described in section 1116A(d) of this title)’’ after ‘‘served on 
active duty in the Republic of Vietnam’’. 
(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 
shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 
SEC. 3. PRESUMPTION OF HERBICIDE EXPOSURE FOR CERTAIN VET-
ERANS WHO SERVED IN KOREA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 1116A, as added by section 
2, the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1116B. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain vet-
erans who served in Korea 
‘‘(a) PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE-CONNECTION.—(1) For the pur-
poses of section 1110 of this title, and subject to section 1113 
of this title, a disease specified in subsection (b) that becomes 
manifest as specified in that subsection in a veteran described 
in paragraph (2) shall be considered to have been incurred or 
aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or 
air service, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence 
of such disease during the period of such service. 
‘‘(2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who, 
during active military, naval, or air service, served in or near 
the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), during the period beginning 
on September 1, 1967, and ending on August 31, 1971. 
‘‘(b) DISEASES.—A disease specified in this subsection is— 
‘‘(1) a disease specified in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) 
of section 1116 of this title that becomes manifest as specified 
in that paragraph; or 
‘‘(2) any additional disease that— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary determines in regulations warrants 
a presumption of service-connection by reason of having 
positive association with exposure to an herbicide agent; 
and 
‘‘(B) becomes manifest within any period prescribed 
in such regulations. 
‘‘(c) HERBICIDE AGENT.—For purposes of this section, the term 
‘herbicide agent’ has the meaning given such term in section 1821(d) 
of this title.’’.
H. R. 299—5 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 1116A, as added by section 2, the following new item: 
‘‘1116B. Presumption of herbicide exposure for certain veterans who served in 
Korea.’’. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to imple-
ment section 1116B of title 38, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under 
such section. 
(2) UPDATES.—(A) Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a 
report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the 
Secretary to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding 
claims for disability compensation under section 1116B of title 
38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this 
section. 
(B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date 
on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section 
1116B, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
updates on the status of such regulations. 
(3) PENDING CASES.— 
(A) AUTHORITY TO STAY.—The Secretary may stay a 
claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on 
which the Secretary commences the implementation of sec-
tion 1116B of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a). 
(B) CLAIMS
DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this 
subparagraph is a claim for disability compensation— 
(i) relating to the service and diseases covered 
by such section 1116B; and 
(ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits 
Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
before the date on which the Secretary commences 
the implementation of such section 1116B. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 
shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 
SEC. 4. BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF CERTAIN THAILAND SERVICE 
VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 18 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 1822. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service vet-
erans born with spina bifida 
‘‘(a) BENEFITS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may provide to any 
child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand who is suffering 
from spina bifida the health care, vocational training and rehabilita-
tion, and monetary allowance required to be paid to a child of 
a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida under sub-
chapter I of this chapter as if such child of a veteran of covered
H. R. 299—6 
service in Thailand were a child of a Vietnam veteran who is 
suffering from spina bifida under such subchapter. 
‘‘(b) SPINA BIFIDA CONDITIONS COVERED.—This section applies 
with respect to all forms and manifestations of spina bifida, except 
spina bifida occulta. 
‘‘(c) VETERAN OF COVERED SERVICE IN THAILAND.—For purposes 
of this section, a veteran of covered service in Thailand is any 
individual, without regard to the characterization of that individ-
ual’s service, who— 
‘‘(1) served in the active military, naval, or air service 
in Thailand, as determined by the Secretary in consultation 
with the Secretary of Defense, during the period beginning 
on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; and 
‘‘(2) is determined by the Secretary, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Defense, to have been exposed to a herbicide 
agent during such service in Thailand. 
‘‘(d) HERBICIDE AGENT.—For purposes of this section, the term 
‘herbicide agent’ means a chemical in a herbicide used in support 
of United States and allied military operations in Thailand, as 
determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary 
of Defense, during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and 
ending on May 7, 1975.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO DEFINITION OF ‘‘CHILD’’.—Sec-
tion 1831(1) of such title is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘subchapter III of this chapter’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section 1821 of this title’’; and 
(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘section 1821 of this title’’ 
and inserting ‘‘that section’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) For purposes of section 1822 of this title, an indi-
vidual, regardless of age or marital status, who— 
‘‘(i) is the natural child of a veteran of covered 
service in Thailand (as determined for purposes of 
that section); and 
‘‘(ii) was conceived after the date on which that 
veteran first entered service described in subsection 
(c) of that section.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) SUBCHAPTER HEADING.—The heading for subchapter III 
of chapter 18 of such title is amended by inserting ‘‘AND 
THAILAND’’ after ‘‘KOREA’’. 
(2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of chapter 18 of such title is amended— 
(A) by striking the item relating to subchapter III 
and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—CHILDREN OF CERTAIN KOREA AND THAILAND SERVICE VETERANS 
BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA’’; 
and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section 1821 
the following new item: 
‘‘1822. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born with spina 
bifida.’’. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—
H. R. 299—7 
(1) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to imple-
ment section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a), before prescribing new regulations under 
such section. 
(2) UPDATES.—(A) Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a 
report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate regarding the plans of the 
Secretary to respond to inquiries from veterans regarding 
claims for disability compensation under section 1822 of title 
38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this 
section. 
(B) On a quarterly basis during the period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date 
on which regulations are prescribed to carry out such section 
1822, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
updates on the status of such regulations. 
(3) PENDING CASES.— 
(A) AUTHORITY TO STAY.—The Secretary may stay a 
claim described in subparagraph (B) until the date on 
which the Secretary commences the implementation of sec-
tion 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a). 
(B) CLAIMS
DESCRIBED.—A claim described in this 
subparagraph is a claim for benefits— 
(i) relating to the spina bifida and service covered 
by such section 1822; and 
(ii) that is pending at the Veterans Benefits 
Administration or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
before the date on which the Secretary commences 
the implementation of such section 1822. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the Committees 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
a report identifying— 
(1) the military installations of the United States located 
in Thailand during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, 
and ending on May 7, 1975, at which an herbicide agent (as 
defined in section 1822 of title 38, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (a)) was actively used; and 
(2) the period of such use. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 
shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 
SEC. 5. UPDATED REPORT ON CERTAIN GULF WAR ILLNESS STUDY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate an updated report on the findings, as of the date 
of the updated report, of the Follow-up Study of a National Cohort 
of Gulf War and Gulf Era Veterans under the epidemiology program 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
H. R. 299—8 
SEC. 6. LOANS GUARANTEED UNDER HOME LOAN PROGRAM OF 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) ADJUSTMENT OF LOAN LIMIT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 3703(a)(1) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in clause (i)(IV), by striking ‘‘the lesser of the 
maximum guaranty amount (as defined in subpara-
graph (C)) or’’; and 
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘subparagraph (B) 
of this paragraph’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (B) 
or (C)’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The maximum’’ and inserting ‘‘With 
respect to loans described in subclauses (I), (II), or 
(III) of subparagraph (A)(i), the maximum’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘or in the case’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘subparagraph (C)),’’; and 
(C) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
following new subparagraph (C): 
‘‘(C)(i) With respect to loans described in subclause (IV) of 
subparagraph (A)(i) made to a veteran not covered by clause (ii), 
the maximum amount of guaranty entitlement available to the 
veteran shall be 25 percent of the loan. 
‘‘(ii) With respect to loans described in subclause (IV) of 
subparagraph (A)(i) made to a covered veteran, the maximum 
amount of guaranty entitlement available to the veteran shall be 
25 percent of the Freddie Mac conforming loan limit, reduced by 
the amount of entitlement previously used by the veteran under 
this chapter and not restored as a result of the exclusion in section 
3702(b) of this title. 
‘‘(iii) In this subparagraph: 
‘‘(I) The term ‘covered veteran’ means a veteran who has 
previously used entitlement under this chapter and for whom 
the full amount of entitlement so used has not been restored 
as a result of the exclusion in section 3702(b) of this title. 
‘‘(II) The term ‘Freddie Mac conforming loan limit’ means 
the limit determined under section 305(a)(2) of the Federal 
Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2)) 
for a single-family residence, as adjusted for the year involved.’’. 
(2) LOANS TO NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS.—Section 3762(c) 
of such title is amended— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1); and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as para-
graphs (1) and (2), respectively. 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3710(d)(4) of such 
title is amended by striking ‘‘section 3703(a)(1)(B) of this title’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 3703(a)(1) 
of this title’’. 
(b) ADJUSTMENT
OF LOAN FEES.—Section 3729(b)(2) of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by striking the loan fee table 
and inserting the following:
H. R. 299—9 
‘‘Type of loan 
Active 
duty 
veteran 
Reservist 
Other 
obligor 
(A)(i) Initial loan described in section 
3710(a) to purchase or construct a 
dwelling with 0-down, or any other ini-
tial loan described in section 3710(a) 
other than with 5-down or 10-down 
(closed on or after October 1, 2004, and 
before January 1, 2020) 
2.15 
2.40 
NA 
(A)(ii) Initial loan described in section 
3710(a) to purchase or construct a 
dwelling with 0-down, or any other ini-
tial loan described in section 3710(a) 
other than with 5-down or 10-down 
(closed on or after January 1, 2020, 
and before January 1, 2022) 
2.30 
2.30 
NA 
(A)(iii) Initial loan described in section 
3710(a) to purchase or construct a 
dwelling with 0-down, or any other ini-
tial loan described in section 3710(a) 
other than with 5-down or 10-down 
(closed on or after January 1, 2022, 
and before October 1, 2029) 
2.15 
2.15 
NA 
(A)(iv) Initial loan described in section 
3710(a) to purchase or construct a 
dwelling with 0-down, or any other ini-
tial loan described in section 3710(a) 
other than with 5-down or 10-down 
(closed on or after October 1, 2029) 
1.40 
1.40 
NA 
(B)(i) Subsequent loan described in sec-
tion 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 
dwelling with 0-down, or any other 
subsequent loan described in section 
3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 
2004, and before January 1, 2020) 
3.30 
3.30 
NA 
(B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in sec-
tion 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 
dwelling with 0-down, or any other 
subsequent loan described in section 
3710(a) (closed on or after January 1, 
2020, and before January 1, 2022) 
3.60 
3.60 
NA 
(B)(iii) Subsequent loan described in sec-
tion 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 
dwelling with 0-down, or any other 
subsequent loan described in section 
3710(a) (closed on or after January 1, 
2022, and before October 1, 2029) 
3.30 
3.30 
NA 
(B)(iv) Subsequent loan described in sec-
tion 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 
dwelling with 0-down, or any other 
subsequent loan described in section 
3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 
2029) 
1.25 
1.25 
NA
H. R. 299—10 
‘‘Type of loan 
Active 
duty 
veteran 
Reservist 
Other 
obligor 
(C)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to 
purchase or construct a dwelling with 
5-down (closed before January 1, 2020) 
1.50 
1.75 
NA 
(C)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 
to purchase or construct a dwelling 
with 5-down (closed on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2020, and before January 1, 
2022) 
1.65 
1.65 
NA 
(C)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 
to purchase or construct a dwelling 
with 5-down (closed on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2022, and before October 1, 
2029) 
1.50 
1.50 
NA 
(C)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) 
to purchase or construct a dwelling 
with 5-down (closed on or after October 
1, 2029) 
0.75 
0.75 
NA 
(D)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to 
purchase or construct a dwelling with 
10-down (closed before January 1, 
2020) 
1.25 
1.50 
NA 
(D)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 
to purchase or construct a dwelling 
with 10-down (closed on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2020, and before January 1, 
2022) 
1.40 
1.40 
NA 
(D)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 
to purchase or construct a dwelling 
with 10-down (closed on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2022, and before October 1, 
2029) 
1.25 
1.25 
NA 
(D)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) 
to purchase or construct a dwelling 
with 10-down (closed on or after Octo-
ber 1, 2029) 
0.50 
0.50 
NA 
(E) Interest rate reduction refinancing 
loan 
0.50 
0.50 
NA 
(F) Direct loan under section 3711 
1.00 
1.00 
NA 
(G) Manufactured home loan under sec-
tion 3712 (other than an interest rate 
reduction refinancing loan) 
1.00 
1.00 
NA 
(H) Loan to Native American veteran 
under section 3762 (other than an in-
terest rate reduction refinancing loan) 
1.25 
1.25 
NA 
(I) Loan assumption under section 3714 
0.50 
0.50 
0.50 
(J) Loan under section 3733(a) 
2.25 
2.25 
2.25’’. 
(c) WAIVER OF FEES FOR PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS.—Section 
3729(c)(1) of such title is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or from a surviving spouse’’ and inserting 
‘‘, from a surviving spouse’’; and
H. R. 299—11 
(2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: 
‘‘, or from a member of the Armed Forces who is serving 
on active duty and who provides, on or before the date of 
loan closing, evidence of having been awarded the Purple 
Heart’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 
shall apply with respect to a loan guaranteed under section 3710 
of title 38, United States Code, on or after January 1, 2020. 
(e) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of title 38, United 
States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance 
to implement this section before prescribing new regulations under 
sections 3703, 3729, and 3762 of such title, as amended by this 
section. 
SEC. 7. INFORMATION GATHERING FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS HOME LOAN APPRAISALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3731(b) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall permit an appraiser on a list developed 
and maintained under subsection (a)(3) to make an appraisal for 
the purposes of this chapter based solely on information gathered 
by a person with whom the appraiser has entered into an agreement 
for such services.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 
shall apply with respect to an appraisal under section 3731 of 
such title, on or after January 1, 2020. 
(c) GUIDANCE.—Notwithstanding section 501 of such title, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue guidance to implement 
this section before prescribing new regulations under sections 3731 
of such title, as amended by subsection (a). 
SEC. 8. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined 
by reference to the latest statement titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of 
PAYGO Legislation’’ for this Act, submitted for printing in the 
Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Com-
mittee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior 
to the vote on passage. 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.