H. R. 1291—17
concerned shall (except as provided in paragraph (4)) provide for
individual preseparation counseling of each member of the armed
forces whose discharge or release from active duty is anticipated
as of a specific date.’’.
(2) Such section is further amended by adding at the end
the following new paragraphs:
‘‘(3)(A) In the case of an anticipated retirement, preseparation
counseling shall commence as soon as possible during the 24-month
period preceding the anticipated retirement date. In the case of
a separation other than a retirement, preseparation counseling
shall commence as soon as possible during the 12-month period
preceding the anticipated date. Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), in no event shall preseparation counseling commence later
than 90 days before the date of discharge or release.
‘‘(B) In the event that a retirement or other separation is
unanticipated until there are 90 or fewer days before the anticipated
retirement or separation date, preseparation counseling shall begin
as soon as possible within the remaining period of service.
‘‘(4)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary concerned
shall not provide preseparation counseling to a member who is
being discharged or released before the completion of that member’s
first 180 days of active duty.
‘‘(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in the case of a member
who is being retired or separated for disability.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The second sentence of section
1144(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking
‘‘during the 180-day period’’ and all that follows and inserting
‘‘within the time periods provided under paragraph (3) of section
1142(a) of this title, except that the Secretary concerned shall
not provide preseparation counseling to a member described in
paragraph (4)(A) of such section.’’.
SEC. 303. IMPROVEMENT IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING OUTREACH
SERVICES FOR SEPARATING SERVICEMEMBERS AND
VETERANS.
(a) PROVIDING OUTREACH THROUGH STATE APPROVING AGEN-
CIES.—Section 3672(d) is amended by inserting ‘‘and State
approving agencies’’ before ‘‘shall actively promote the development
of programs of training on the job’’.
(b) ADDITIONAL DUTY.—Such section is further amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(d)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(2) In conjunction with outreach services provided by the Sec-
retary under chapter 77 of this title for education and training
benefits, each State approving agency shall conduct outreach pro-
grams and provide outreach services to eligible persons and veterans
about education and training benefits available under applicable
Federal and State law.’’.
SEC. 304. IMPROVEMENT OF VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.
Section 7722(c) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(c)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) Whenever a veteran or dependent first applies for any
benefit under laws administered by the Secretary (including a
request for burial or related benefits or an application for life
insurance proceeds), the Secretary shall provide to the veteran
H. R. 1291—18
or dependent information concerning benefits and health care serv-
ices under programs administered by the Secretary. Such informa-
tion shall be provided not later than three months after the date
of such application.’’.
TITLE IV—HOUSING MATTERS
SEC. 401. INCREASE IN HOME LOAN GUARANTY AMOUNT FOR
CONSTRUCTION AND PURCHASE OF HOMES.
Section 3703(a)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘$50,750’’ each place
it appears in subparagraphs (A)(i)(IV) and (B) and inserting
‘‘$60,000’’.
SEC. 402. NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PILOT PRO-
GRAM.
(a) EXTENSION OF PILOT PROGRAM.—Section 3761(c) is amended
by striking ‘‘December 31, 2001’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2005’’.
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF THE USE OF CERTAIN FEDERAL MEMO-
RANDUMS
OF UNDERSTANDING.—Section 3762(a)(1) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘(1)’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon and inserting
‘‘or’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(B) the tribal organization that has jurisdiction over the
veteran has entered into a memorandum of understanding with
any department or agency of the United States with respect
to direct housing loans to Native Americans that the Secretary
determines substantially complies with the requirements of
subsection (b); and’’.
(c) EXTENSION OF ANNUAL REPORT.—Section 3762(j) is amended
by striking ‘‘2002’’ and inserting ‘‘2006’’.
SEC. 403. MODIFICATION OF LOAN ASSUMPTION NOTICE REQUIRE-
MENT.
Section 3714(d) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(d) With respect to a loan guaranteed, insured, or made under
this chapter, the Secretary shall provide, by regulation, that at
least one instrument evidencing either the loan or the mortgage
or deed of trust therefor, shall conspicuously contain, in such form
as the Secretary shall specify, a notice in substantially the following
form: ‘This loan is not assumable without the approval of the
Department of Veterans Affairs or its authorized agent’.’’.
SEC. 404. INCREASE IN ASSISTANCE AMOUNT FOR SPECIALLY
ADAPTED HOUSING.
Section 2102 is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection
(a), by striking ‘‘$43,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$48,000’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘$8,250’’ and inserting
‘‘$9,250’’.
SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF OTHER HOUSING AUTHORITIES.
(a) HOUSING
LOANS
FOR
MEMBERS
OF
THE
SELECTED
RESERVE.—Section 3702(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ‘‘September
30, 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2009’’.
H. R. 1291—19
(b) 
ENHANCED
LOAN
ASSET
SALE
AUTHORITY.—Section
3720(h)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2008’’ and
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2011’’.
(c) HOME
LOAN
FEE
AUTHORITIES.—The table in section
3729(b)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2008’’ each place
it appears and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2011’’.
(d) PROCEDURES
APPLICABLE
TO
LIQUIDATION
SALES
ON
DEFAULTED HOME LOANS GUARANTEED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.—Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking
‘‘October 1, 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2011’’.
SEC. 406. CLARIFYING AMENDMENT RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY OF
MEMBERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE FOR HOUSING
LOANS.
Section 3729(b)(4)(B) is amended by inserting before the period
the following: ‘‘who is eligible under section 3702(a)(2)(E) of this
title’’.
TITLE V—OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 501. INCREASE IN BURIAL BENEFITS.
(a) BURIAL AND FUNERAL EXPENSES.—(1) Clause (1) of section
2307 is amended by striking ‘‘$1,500’’ and inserting ‘‘$2,000’’.
(2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to
deaths occurring on or after September 11, 2001.
(b) PLOT ALLOWANCE.—(1) Section 2303(b) is amended by
striking ‘‘$150’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘$300’’.
(2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to
deaths occurring on or after December 1, 2001.
SEC. 502. GOVERNMENT MARKERS FOR MARKED GRAVES AT PRIVATE
CEMETERIES.
(a) GOVERNMENT MARKER BENEFIT.—Section 2306 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections
(e) and (f), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new sub-
section (d):
‘‘(d)(1) The Secretary shall furnish, when requested, an appro-
priate Government marker at the expense of the United States
for the grave of an individual described in paragraph (2) or (5)
of subsection (a) who is buried in a private cemetery, notwith-
standing that the grave is marked by a headstone or marker fur-
nished at private expense. Such a marker may be furnished only
if the individual making the request for the Government marker
certifies to the Secretary that the marker will be placed on the
grave for which the marker is requested.
‘‘(2) Any marker furnished under this subsection shall be deliv-
ered by the Secretary directly to the cemetery where the grave
is located.
‘‘(3) The authority to furnish a marker under this subsection
expires on December 31, 2006.
‘‘(4) Not later than February 1, 2006, the Secretary shall submit
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House
of Representatives a report on the use of the authority under
this subsection. The report shall include the following:
H. R. 1291—20
‘‘(A) The rate of use of the benefit under this subsection,
shown by fiscal year.
‘‘(B) An assessment as to the extent to which markers
furnished under this subsection are being delivered to ceme-
teries and placed on grave sites consistent with the provisions
of this subsection.
‘‘(C) The Secretary’s recommendation for extension or
repeal of the expiration date specified in paragraph (3).’’.
(b) DESIGN
OF MARKER.—Subsection (c) of such section is
amended by striking ‘‘subsection (a) or (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection
(a), (b), or (d)’’.
(c) CROSS REFERENCE CORRECTION.—Subsection (a)(5) of such
section is amended by striking ‘‘chapter 67’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter
1223’’.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsections
(a) and (b) shall apply with respect to markers for the graves
of individuals dying on or after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 503. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FOR AUTOMOBILE
AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DISABLED
VETERANS.
Section 3902(a) is amended by striking ‘‘$8,000’’ and inserting
‘‘$9,000’’.
SEC. 504. EXTENSION OF LIMITATION ON PENSION FOR CERTAIN
RECIPIENTS OF MEDICAID-COVERED NURSING HOME
CARE.
Paragraph (7) of subsection (d) of section 5503, as redesignated
by section 204(a), is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2008’’
and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2011’’.
SEC. 505. PROHIBITION ON PROVISION OF CERTAIN BENEFITS WITH
RESPECT TO PERSONS WHO ARE FUGITIVE FELONS.
(a) PROHIBITION.—(1) Chapter 53 is amended by inserting after
section 5313A the following new section:
‘‘§ 5313B. Prohibition on providing certain benefits with
respect to persons who are fugitive felons
‘‘(a) A veteran who is otherwise eligible for a benefit specified
in subsection (c) may not be paid or otherwise provided such benefit
for any period during which such veteran is a fugitive felon. A
dependent of a veteran who is otherwise eligible for a benefit
specified in subsection (c) may not be paid or otherwise provided
such benefit for any period during which such veteran or such
dependent is a fugitive felon.
‘‘(b) For purposes of this section:
‘‘(1) The term ‘fugitive felon’ means a person who is a
fugitive by reason of—
‘‘(A) fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confine-
ment after conviction, for an offense, or an attempt to
commit an offense, which is a felony under the laws of
the place from which the person flees; or
‘‘(B) violating a condition of probation or parole imposed
for commission of a felony under Federal or State law.
‘‘(2) The term ‘felony’ includes a high misdemeanor under
the laws of a State which characterizes as high misdemeanors
offenses that would be felony offenses under Federal law.