H. R. 1627—20 
grants received by recipients of grants described in such para-
graph from other departments and agencies of Federal and 
local governments and from private entities. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report on— 
(A) the findings of the Secretary with respect to the 
study required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1); 
(B) the methods developed under subparagraphs (B) 
and (C) of such paragraph; and 
(C) any recommendations of the Secretary for revising 
the method described in subparagraph (A) of such para-
graph and any legislative action the Secretary considers 
necessary to implement such method. 
SEC. 302. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROVISION OF TREAT-
MENT AND REHABILITATION TO CERTAIN VETERANS TO 
INCLUDE PROVISION OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITA-
TION TO HOMELESS VETERANS WHO ARE NOT SERIOUSLY 
MENTALLY ILL. 
Section 2031(a) is amended in the matter before paragraph 
(1) by striking ‘‘, including’’ and inserting ‘‘and to’’. 
SEC. 303. MODIFICATION OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VET-
ERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. 
(a) INCLUSION
OF ENTITIES ELIGIBLE
FOR COMPREHENSIVE 
SERVICE PROGRAM GRANTS AND PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES 
TO
HOMELESS
VETERANS.—Subsection (a) of section 2061 is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘to grant and per diem providers’’ and 
inserting ‘‘to entities eligible for grants and per diem payments 
under sections 2011 and 2012 of this title’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘by those facilities and providers’’ and 
inserting ‘‘by those facilities and entities’’. 
(b) INCLUSION
OF MALE HOMELESS VETERANS WITH MINOR 
DEPENDENTS.—Subsection (b) of such section is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, including women who 
have care of minor dependents’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘or’’; 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) individuals who have care of minor dependents.’’. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF PROVISION
OF SERVICES
TO DEPEND-
ENTS.—Such section is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new sub-
section (c): 
‘‘(c) PROVISION OF SERVICES TO DEPENDENTS.—A recipient of 
a grant under subsection (a) may use amounts under the grant 
to provide services directly to a dependent of a homeless veteran 
with special needs who is under the care of such homeless veteran 
while such homeless veteran receives services from the grant 
recipient under this section.’’.
H. R. 1627—21 
SEC. 304. COLLABORATION IN PROVISION OF CASE MANAGEMENT 
SERVICES 
TO 
HOMELESS 
VETERANS 
IN 
SUPPORTED 
HOUSING PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall con-
sider entering into contracts or agreements, under sections 513 
and 8153 of title 38, United States Code, with eligible entities 
to collaborate with the Secretary in the provision of case manage-
ment services to covered veterans as part of the supported housing 
program carried out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) to ensure that the 
homeless veterans facing the most significant difficulties in 
obtaining suitable housing receive the assistance they require to 
obtain such housing. 
(b) COVERED VETERANS.—For purposes of this section, a covered 
veteran is any veteran who, at the time of receipt of a housing 
voucher under such section 8(o)(19)— 
(1) requires the assistance of a case manager in obtaining 
suitable housing with such voucher; and 
(2) is having difficulty obtaining the amount of such assist-
ance the veteran requires, including because— 
(A) the veteran resides in an area that has a shortage 
of low-income housing and because of such shortage the 
veteran requires more assistance from a case manager 
than the Secretary otherwise provides; 
(B) the location in which the veteran resides is located 
at such distance from facilities of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs as makes the provision of case management 
services by the Secretary to such veteran impractical; or 
(C) the veteran resides in an area where veterans 
who receive case management services from the Secretary 
under such section have a significantly lower average rate 
of successfully obtaining suitable housing than the average 
rate of successfully obtaining suitable housing for all vet-
erans receiving such services. 
(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—For purposes of this section, an eligible 
entity is any State or local government agency, tribal organization 
(as such term is defined in section 4 of the Indian Self Determina-
tion and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)), or nonprofit 
organization that— 
(1) under a contract or agreement described in subsection 
(a), agrees— 
(A) to ensure access to case management services by 
covered veterans on an as-needed basis; 
(B) to maintain referral networks for covered veterans 
for purposes of assisting covered veterans in demonstrating 
eligibility for assistance and additional services under 
entitlement and assistance programs available for covered 
veterans, and to otherwise aid covered veterans in 
obtaining such assistance and services; 
(C) to ensure the confidentiality of records maintained 
by the entity on covered veterans receiving services through 
the supported housing program described in subsection 
(a); 
(D) to establish such procedures for fiscal control and 
fund accounting as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs con-
siders appropriate to ensure proper disbursement and
H. R. 1627—22 
accounting of funds under a contract or agreement entered 
into by the entity as described in subsection (a); 
(E) to submit to the Secretary each year, in such form 
and such manner as the Secretary may require, a report 
on the collaboration undertaken by the entity under a 
contract or agreement described in such subsection during 
the most recent fiscal year, including a description of, for 
the year covered by the report— 
(i) the services and assistance provided to covered 
veterans as part of such collaboration; 
(ii) the process by which covered veterans were 
referred to the entity for such services and assistance; 
(iii) the specific goals jointly set by the entity and 
the Secretary for the provision of such services and 
assistance and whether the entity achieved such goals; 
and 
(iv) the average length of time taken by a covered 
veteran who received such services and assistance to 
successfully obtain suitable housing and the average 
retention rate of such a veteran in such housing; and 
(F) to meet such other requirements as the Secretary 
considers appropriate for purposes of providing assistance 
to covered veterans in obtaining suitable housing; and 
(2) has demonstrated experience in— 
(A) identifying and serving homeless veterans, espe-
cially those who have the greatest difficulty obtaining suit-
able housing; 
(B) working collaboratively with the Department of 
Veterans Affairs or the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development; 
(C) conducting outreach to, and maintaining relation-
ships with, landlords to encourage and facilitate participa-
tion by landlords in supported housing programs similar 
to the supported housing program described in subsection 
(a); 
(D) mediating disputes between landlords and veterans 
receiving assistance under such supported housing pro-
gram; and 
(E) carrying out such other activities as the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—In considering entering into contracts or 
agreements as described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall consult with— 
(1) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and 
(2) third parties that provide services as part of the Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development continuum of care. 
(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR COLLABORATING ENTITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide training and 
technical assistance to entities with whom the Secretary 
collaborates in the provision of case management services to 
veterans as part of the supported housing program described 
in subsection (a). 
(2) GRANTS.—The Secretary may provide training and tech-
nical assistance under paragraph (1) through the award of 
grants or contracts to appropriate public and nonprofit private 
entities.
H. R. 1627—23 
(3) FUNDING.—From amounts appropriated or otherwise 
made available to the Secretary in the Medical Services account 
in a year, $500,000 shall be available to the Secretary in 
that year to carry out this subsection. 
(f) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 545 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than 
once each year thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall submit to Congress a report on the collaboration between 
the Secretary and eligible entities in the provision of case 
management services as described in subsection (a) during 
the most recently completed fiscal year. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report required by paragraph (1) 
shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following: 
(A) A discussion of each case in which a contract or 
agreement described in subsection (a) was considered by 
the Secretary, including a description of whether or not 
and why the Secretary chose or did not choose to enter 
into such contract or agreement. 
(B) The number and types of eligible entities with 
whom the Secretary has entered into a contract or agree-
ment as described in subsection (a). 
(C) A description of the geographic regions in which 
such entities provide case management services as 
described in such subsection. 
(D) A description of the number and types of covered 
veterans who received case management services from such 
entities under such contracts or agreements. 
(E) An assessment of the performance of each eligible 
entity with whom the Secretary entered into a contract 
or agreement as described in subsection (a). 
(F) An assessment of the benefits to covered veterans 
of such contracts and agreements. 
(G) A discussion of the benefits of increasing the ratio 
of case managers to recipients of vouchers under the sup-
ported housing program described in such subsection to 
veterans who reside in rural areas. 
(H) Such recommendations for legislative or adminis-
trative action as the Secretary considers appropriate for 
the improvement of collaboration in the provision of case 
management services under such supported housing pro-
gram. 
SEC. 305. EXTENSIONS OF PREVIOUSLY FULLY FUNDED AUTHORITIES 
AFFECTING HOMELESS VETERANS. 
(a) COMPREHENSIVE
SERVICE
PROGRAMS.—Section 2013 is 
amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following 
new paragraphs: 
‘‘(5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2013. 
‘‘(6) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each subsequent 
fiscal year.’’. 
(b) HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS.—Section 
2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2013’’. 
(c) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY 
LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING.—Section 
2044(e)(1) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
H. R. 1627—24 
‘‘(E) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.’’. 
(d) GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPECIAL 
NEEDS.—Section 2061(c)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘through 2012’’ 
and inserting ‘‘through 2013’’. 
TITLE IV—EDUCATION MATTERS 
SEC. 401. AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AVAIL-
ABLE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE BOTH SURVIVORS’ 
AND 
DEPENDENTS’ 
EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE 
AND 
OTHER VETERANS AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL ASSIST-
ANCE. 
(a) 
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT
AVAILABLE.—Section 
3695 
is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ‘‘35,’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) The aggregate period for which any person may receive 
assistance under chapter 35 of this title, on the one hand, and 
any of the provisions of law referred to in subsection (a), on the 
other hand, may not exceed 81 months (or the part-time equivalent 
thereof).’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect on October 1, 2013, and shall not operate to 
revive any entitlement to assistance under chapter 35 of title 38, 
United States Code, or the provisions of law referred to in section 
3695(a) of such title, as in effect on the day before such date, 
that was terminated by reason of the operation of section 3695(a) 
of such title, as so in effect, before such date. 
(c) REVIVAL OF ENTITLEMENT REDUCED BY PRIOR UTILIZATION 
OF CHAPTER 35 ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), in the case 
of an individual whose period of entitlement to assistance under 
a provision of law referred to in section 3695(a) of title 38, 
United States Code (other than chapter 35 of such title), as 
in effect on September 30, 2013, was reduced under such section 
3695(a), as so in effect, by reason of the utilization of entitle-
ment to assistance under chapter 35 of such title before October 
1, 2013, the period of entitlement to assistance of such indi-
vidual under such provision shall be determined without regard 
to any entitlement so utilized by the individual under chapter 
35 of such title. 
(2) LIMITATION.—The maximum period of entitlement to 
assistance of an individual under paragraph (1) may not exceed 
81 months. 
SEC. 402. ANNUAL REPORTS ON POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM AND SURVIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’ EDU-
CATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) REPORTS REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 33 is amended 
by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3325. Reporting requirement 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—For each academic year— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress 
a report on the operation of the program provided for in this 
chapter; and
H. R. 1627—25 
‘‘(2) the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
the operation of the program provided for in this chapter and 
the program provided for under chapter 35 of this title. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS OF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE REPORTS.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall include in each report submitted under 
this section— 
‘‘(1) information— 
‘‘(A) indicating the extent to which the benefit levels 
provided under this chapter are adequate to achieve the 
purposes of inducing individuals to enter and remain in 
the Armed Forces and of providing an adequate level of 
financial assistance to help meet the cost of pursuing a 
program of education; 
‘‘(B) indicating whether it is necessary for the purposes 
of maintaining adequate levels of well-qualified active-duty 
personnel in the Armed Forces to continue to offer the 
opportunity for educational assistance under this chapter 
to individuals who have not yet entered active-duty service; 
and 
‘‘(C) describing the efforts under section 3323(b) of 
this title to inform members of the Armed Forces of the 
active duty service requirements for entitlement to edu-
cational assistance under this chapter and the results from 
such efforts; and 
‘‘(2) such recommendations for administrative and legisla-
tive changes regarding the provision of educational assistance 
to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and their 
dependents, as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REPORTS.— 
The Secretary shall include in each report submitted under this 
section— 
‘‘(1) information concerning the level of utilization of edu-
cational assistance and of expenditures under this chapter and 
under chapter 35 of this title; 
‘‘(2) appropriate student outcome measures, such as the 
number of credit hours, certificates, degrees, and other quali-
fications earned by beneficiaries under this chapter and chapter 
35 of this title during the academic year covered by the report; 
and 
‘‘(3) such recommendations for administrative and legisla-
tive changes regarding the provision of educational assistance 
to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and their 
dependents, as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(d) TERMINATION.—No report shall be required under this sec-
tion after January 1, 2021.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 3324 the following new item: 
‘‘3325. Reporting requirement.’’. 
(3) DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL OF FIRST REPORT.—The first 
reports required under section 3325 of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall be submitted by not 
later than November 1, 2013. 
(b) REPEAL OF REPORT ON ALL VOLUNTEER-FORCE EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—
H. R. 1627—26 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 30 is amended by striking section 
3036. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of such chapter is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 3036. 
TITLE V—BENEFITS MATTERS 
SEC. 501. AUTOMATIC WAIVER OF AGENCY OF ORIGINAL JURISDIC-
TION REVIEW OF NEW EVIDENCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7105 is amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(e)(1) If, either at the time or after the agency of original 
jurisdiction receives a substantive appeal, the claimant or the claim-
ant’s representative, if any, submits evidence to either the agency 
of original jurisdiction or the Board of Veterans’ Appeals for consid-
eration in connection with the issue or issues with which disagree-
ment has been expressed, such evidence shall be subject to initial 
review by the Board unless the claimant or the claimant’s represent-
ative, as the case may be, requests in writing that the agency 
of original jurisdiction initially review such evidence. 
‘‘(2) A request for review of evidence under paragraph (1) shall 
accompany the submittal of the evidence.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (e) of such section, as added 
by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with 
respect to claims for which a substantive appeal is filed on or 
after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 502. AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS TO SIGN CLAIMS FILED 
WITH SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF 
CLAIMANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5101 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘A specific’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) A spe-
cific’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) If an individual has not attained the age of 18 years, 
is mentally incompetent, or is physically unable to sign a form, 
a form filed under paragraph (1) for the individual may be signed 
by a court-appointed representative, a person who is responsible 
for the care of the individual, including a spouse or other relative, 
or an attorney in fact or agent authorized to act on behalf of 
the individual under a durable power of attorney. If the individual 
is in the care of an institution, the manager or principal officer 
of the institution may sign the form.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, signs a form on behalf of an 
individual to apply for,’’ after ‘‘who applies for’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, or TIN in the case that the 
person is not an individual,’’ after ‘‘of such person’’; 
and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘dependent’’ and inserting ‘‘claim-
ant, dependent,’’; and
H. R. 1627—27 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or TIN’’ after ‘‘social 
security number’’ each place it appears; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘mentally incompetent’ with respect to an 
individual means that the individual lacks the mental 
capacity— 
‘‘(A) to provide substantially accurate information 
needed to complete a form; or 
‘‘(B) to certify that the statements made on a form 
are true and complete. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘TIN’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 7701(a)(41) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by subsection (a) 
shall apply with respect to claims filed on or after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 503. IMPROVEMENT OF PROCESS FOR FILING JOINTLY FOR 
SOCIAL SECURITY AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 
COMPENSATION. 
Section 5105 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘shall’’ the first place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘may’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Each such form’’ and inserting ‘‘Such 
forms’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘on such a form’’ and 
inserting ‘‘on any document indicating an intent to apply for 
survivor benefits’’. 
SEC. 504. AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION 
TO PROVIDE NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS FOR BENEFITS 
UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5103 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Upon receipt of a complete or substan-
tially complete application, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘notify’’ and inserting ‘‘provide to’’; and 
(C) by inserting ‘‘by the most effective means available, 
including electronic communication or notification in 
writing, notice’’ before ‘‘of any information’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
new paragraphs: 
‘‘(4) Nothing in this section shall require the Secretary to pro-
vide notice for a subsequent claim that is filed while a previous 
claim is pending if the notice previously provided for such pending 
claim— 
‘‘(A) provides sufficient notice of the information and evi-
dence necessary to substantiate such subsequent claim; and 
‘‘(B) was sent within one year of the date on which the 
subsequent claim was filed. 
‘‘(5)(A) This section shall not apply to any claim or issue where 
the Secretary may award the maximum benefit in accordance with 
this title based on the evidence of record. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘maximum benefit’ 
means the highest evaluation assignable in accordance with the 
evidence of record, as long as such evidence is adequate for rating
H. R. 1627—28 
purposes and sufficient to grant the earliest possible effective date 
in accordance with section 5110 of this title.’’. 
(b) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall be construed as eliminating any requirement with 
respect to the contents of a notice under section 5103 of title 
38, United States Code, that is required under regulations pre-
scribed pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of such section as of the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by subsection 
(a) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect 
to notification obligations of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
on or after such date. 
(2) CONSTRUCTION REGARDING APPLICABILITY.—Nothing in 
this section or the amendments made by this section shall 
be construed to require the Secretary to carry out notification 
procedures in accordance with requirements of section 5103 
of title 38, United States Code, as in effect on the day before 
the effective date established in paragraph (1) on or after 
such effective date. 
SEC. 505. DUTY TO ASSIST CLAIMANTS IN OBTAINING PRIVATE 
RECORDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (b) of section 5103A is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING PRIVATE RECORDS.—(1) As part 
of the assistance provided under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant private records that 
the claimant adequately identifies to the Secretary. 
‘‘(2)(A) Whenever the Secretary, after making such reasonable 
efforts, is unable to obtain all of the relevant records sought, the 
Secretary shall notify the claimant that the Secretary is unable 
to obtain records with respect to the claim. Such a notification 
shall— 
‘‘(i) identify the records the Secretary is unable to obtain; 
‘‘(ii) briefly explain the efforts that the Secretary made 
to obtain such records; and 
‘‘(iii) explain that the Secretary will decide the claim based 
on the evidence of record but that this section does not prohibit 
the submission of records at a later date if such submission 
is otherwise allowed. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall make not less than two requests to 
a custodian of a private record in order for an effort to obtain 
relevant private records to be treated as reasonable under this 
section, unless it is made evident by the first request that a second 
request would be futile in obtaining such records. 
‘‘(3)(A) This section shall not apply if the evidence of record 
allows for the Secretary to award the maximum benefit in accord-
ance with this title based on the evidence of record. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘maximum benefit’ 
means the highest evaluation assignable in accordance with the 
evidence of record, as long as such evidence is adequate for rating 
purposes and sufficient to grant the earliest possible effective date 
in accordance with section 5110 of this title. 
‘‘(4) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the Sec-
retary—