†
HR 2297 EAS
ing into account recommendations, if any, of the Secretary
of Labor’’ after ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’
(2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall
apply with respect to offices established after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
TITLE IV—HOUSING BENEFITS
AND RELATED MATTERS
SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE ADAPTED HOUSING
ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN DISABLED MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO REMAIN
ON ACTIVE DUTY.
Section 2101 is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection:
‘‘(c)(1) The Secretary may provide assistance under
subsection (a) to a member of the Armed Forces serving on
active duty who is suffering from a disability described in
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of that subsection if such dis-
ability is the result of an injury incurred or disease con-
tracted in or aggravated in line of duty in the active mili-
tary, naval, or air service. Such assistance shall be provided
to the same extent as assistance is provided under that sub-
section to veterans eligible for assistance under that sub-
section and subject to the requirements of the second sen-
tence of that subsection.
†
HR 2297 EAS
‘‘(2) The Secretary may provide assistance under sub-
section (b) to a member of the Armed Forces serving on
active duty who is suffering from a disability described in
subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of that subsection
if such disability is the result of an injury incurred or dis-
ease contracted in or aggravated in line of duty in the ac-
tive military, naval, or air service. Such assistance shall
be provided to the same extent as assistance is provided
under that subsection to veterans eligible for assistance
under that subsection and subject to the requirements of
paragraph (2) of that subsection.’’.
SEC. 402. INCREASE IN AMOUNTS FOR CERTAIN ADAPTIVE
BENEFITS FOR DISABLED VETERANS.
(a) INCREASE
IN ASSISTANCE AMOUNT
FOR SPE-
CIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING.—Section 2102 is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of
subsection (a), by striking ‘‘$48,000’’ and inserting
‘‘$50,000’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘$9,250’’
and inserting ‘‘$10,000’’.
(b) INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FOR AUTO-
MOBILE AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DIS-
ABLED VETERANS.—Section 3902(a) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘$9,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$11,000’’.
†
HR 2297 EAS
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub-
sections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to assistance
furnished on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 403. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR HOUSING LOANS
FOR MEMBERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE.
Section 3702(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ‘‘For the
period’’ and all that follows through ‘‘each’’ and inserting
‘‘Each’’.
SEC. 404. REINSTATEMENT OF MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
FOR SALE OF VENDEE LOANS.
(a) REINSTATEMENT.—Subsection (a) of section 3733
is amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(7) During the period that begins on the date of the
enactment of the Veterans’ Benefits Act of 2003 and ends
on September 30, 2013, the Secretary shall carry out the
provisions of this subsection as if—
‘‘(A) the references in the first sentence of para-
graph (1) to ‘65 percent’ and ‘may be financed’ were
references to ‘85 percent’ and ‘shall be financed’, re-
spectively;
‘‘(B) the second sentence of paragraph (1) were
repealed; and
†
HR 2297 EAS
‘‘(C) the reference in paragraph (2) to ‘Sep-
tember 30, 1990,’ were a reference to ‘September 30,
2013,’.’’.
(b) STYLISTIC AMENDMENTS.—Such section is further
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘of this subsection’’ after—
(A) 
‘‘paragraph 
(1)’’ 
in 
subsections
(a)(4)(A), (a)(5), (a)(6), and (c)(2); and
(B) 
‘‘paragraph 
(5)’’ 
in 
subsection
(a)(4)(B)(i); and
(2) by striking ‘‘of this paragraph’’ each place it
appears in subsection (a)(4).
SEC. 405. ADJUSTMENT TO HOME LOAN FEES.
Effective January 1, 2004, paragraph (2) of section
3729(b) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(2) The loan fee table referred to in paragraph (1)
is as follows:
‘‘LOAN FEE TABLE
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 initial loan described in section
3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed before January 1,
2004) .............................................................................................................
2.00
2.75
NA
(A)(ii) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct
a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section
3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2004, and before October 1, 2004) ...................................................
2.20
2.40
NA
(A)(iii) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct
a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section
3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after October
1, 2004, and before October 1, 2011) ..........................................................
2.15
2.40
NA
(A)(iv) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct
a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section
3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after October
1, 2011) .........................................................................................................
1.40
1.65
NA
†
HR 2297 EAS
‘‘LOAN FEE TABLE—Continued
Type of loan
Active duty
veteran
Reservist
Other obligor
(B)(i) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or con-
struct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
in section 3710(a) (closed before January 1, 2004) ..................................
3.00
3.00
NA
(B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or con-
struct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
in section 3710(a) (closed on or after January 1, 2004, and before Oc-
tober 1, 2011) ...............................................................................................
3.30
3.30
NA
(B)(iii) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or con-
struct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 2011 and before Octo-
ber 1, 2013) ...................................................................................................
2.15
2.15
NA
(B)(iv) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or con-
struct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 2013) ............................
1.25
1.25
NA
(C)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwell-
ing with 5-down (closed before October 1, 2011) .......................................
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 October 1, 2011) ......................
0.75
1.00
NA
(D)(i) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a
dwelling with 10-down (closed before October 1, 2011) ............................
1.25
1.50
NA
(D)(ii) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct
a dwelling with 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2011) ................
0.50
0.75
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 section 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
interest 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’’.
SEC. 406. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF PROCEDURES ON LIQ-
UIDATION 
SALES 
OF 
DEFAULTED 
HOME
LOANS GUARANTEED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ‘‘October
1, 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2012’’.
TITLE V—BURIAL BENEFITS
SEC. 501. BURIAL PLOT ALLOWANCE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2303(b) is amended—
†
HR 2297 EAS
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ‘‘a burial allowance under such section 2302,
or under such subsection, who was discharged from
the active military, naval, or air service for a dis-
ability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, or who
is a veteran of any war’’ and inserting ‘‘burial in a
national cemetery under section 2402 of this title’’;
and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘(other than a
veteran whose eligibility for benefits under this sub-
section is based on being a veteran of any war)’’ and
inserting ‘‘is eligible for a burial allowance under sec-
tion 2302 of this title or under subsection (a) of this
section, or was discharged from the active military,
naval, or air service for a disability incurred or ag-
gravated in line of duty, and such veteran’’.
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 2307 is
amended in the last sentence by striking ‘‘and (b)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘and (b)(2)’’.
SEC. 502. ELIGIBILITY OF SURVIVING SPOUSES WHO RE-
MARRY FOR BURIAL IN NATIONAL CEME-
TERIES.
(a) ELIGIBILITY.—Section 2402(5) is amended by
striking ‘‘(which for purposes of this chapter includes an
unremarried surviving spouse who had a subsequent remar-
†
HR 2297 EAS
riage which was terminated by death or divorce)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(which for purposes of this chapter includes a sur-
viving spouse who had a subsequent remarriage)’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on
or after January 1, 2000.
SEC. 503. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR STATE CEMETERY
GRANTS PROGRAM.
(a) PERMANENT AUTHORITY.—Subsection (a) of sec-
tion 2408 is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(1)’’; and
(2) by striking paragraph (2).
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (e) of such
section is amended by striking ‘‘Sums appropriated under
subsection (a) of this section’’ and inserting ‘‘Amounts ap-
propriated to carry out this section’’.
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO REPEAL OBSOLETE
PROVISION.—Subsection (d)(1) of such section is amended
by striking ‘‘on or after November 21, 1997,’’.
TITLE VI—EXPOSURE TO
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
SEC. 601. RADIATION DOSE RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM
OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
(a) REVIEW OF MISSION, PROCEDURES, AND ADMINIS-
TRATION.—(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the
†
HR 2297 EAS
Secretary of Defense shall jointly conduct a review of the
mission, procedures, and administration of the Radiation
Dose Reconstruction Program of the Department of Defense.
(2) In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the
Secretaries shall—
(A) determine whether any additional actions
are required to ensure that the quality assurance and
quality control mechanisms of the Radiation Dose Re-
construction Program are adequate and sufficient for
purposes of the program; and
(B) determine the actions that are required to
ensure that the mechanisms of the Radiation Dose Re-
construction Program for communication and inter-
action with veterans are adequate and sufficient for
purposes of the program, including mechanisms to
permit veterans to review the assumptions utilized in
their dose reconstructions.
(3) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly submit to Con-
gress a report on the review under paragraph (1). The re-
port shall set forth—
(A) the results of the review;
(B) a plan for any actions determined to be re-
quired under paragraph (2); and
†
HR 2297 EAS
(C) such other recommendations for the improve-
ment of the mission, procedures, and administration
of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program as the
Secretaries jointly consider appropriate.
(b) ON-GOING REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT.—The Secre-
taries shall jointly take appropriate actions to ensure the
on-going independent review and oversight of the Radiation
Dose Reconstruction Program, including the establishment
of the advisory board required by subsection (c).
(c) ADVISORY BOARD.—(1) In taking actions under
subsection (b), the Secretaries shall jointly appoint an advi-
sory board to provide review and oversight of the Radiation
Dose Reconstruction Program.
(2) The advisory board under paragraph (1) shall be
composed of the following:
(A) At least one expert in historical dose recon-
struction of the type conducted under the Radiation
Dose Reconstruction Program.
(B) At least one expert in radiation health mat-
ters.
(C) At least one expert in risk communications
matters.
(D) A representative of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs.
†
HR 2297 EAS
(E) A representative of the Defense Threat Re-
duction Agency.
(F) At least three veterans, including at least one
veteran who is a member of an atomic veterans
group.
(3) The advisory board under paragraph (1) shall—
(A) conduct periodic, random audits of dose re-
constructions under the Radiation Dose Reconstruc-
tion Program and of decisions by the Department of
Veterans Affairs on claims for service connection of
radiogenic diseases;
(B) assist the Department of Veterans Affairs
and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in commu-
nicating to veterans information on the mission, pro-
cedures, and evidentiary requirements of the Radi-
ation Dose Reconstruction Program; and
(C) carry out such other activities with respect
to the review and oversight of the Radiation Dose Re-
construction Program as the Secretaries shall jointly
specify.
(4) The advisory board under paragraph (1) may
make such recommendations on modifications in the mis-
sion or procedures of the Radiation Dose Reconstruction
Program as the advisory board considers appropriate as a
result of the audits conducted under paragraph (3)(A).
†
HR 2297 EAS
SEC. 602. STUDY ON DISPOSITION OF AIR FORCE HEALTH
STUDY.
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall, in accordance with this section, carry out a
study to determine the appropriate disposition of the Air
Force Health Study, an epidemiologic study of Air Force
personnel who were responsible for conducting aerial spray
missions of herbicides during the Vietnam era.
(b) STUDY
THROUGH
NATIONAL
ACADEMY
OF
SCIENCES.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall seek to enter into
an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences, or
another appropriate scientific organization, to carry out the
study required by subsection (a).
(c) ELEMENTS.—Under the study under subsection
(a), the National Academy of Sciences, or other appropriate
scientific organization, shall address the following:
(1) The scientific merit of retaining and main-
taining the medical records, other study data, and
laboratory specimens collected in the course of the Air
Force Health Study after the currently-scheduled ter-
mination date of the study in 2006.
(2) Whether or not any obstacles exist to retain-
ing and maintaining the medical records, other study
data, and laboratory specimens referred to in para-
graph (1), including privacy concerns.
†
HR 2297 EAS
(3) The advisability of providing independent
oversight of the medical records, other study data, and
laboratory specimens referred to in paragraph (1),
and of any further study of such records, data, and
specimens, and, if so, the mechanism for providing
such oversight.
(4) The advisability of extending the Air Force
Health Study, including the potential value and rel-
evance of extending the study, the potential cost of ex-
tending the study, and the Federal or non-Federal en-
tity best suited to continue the study if extended.
(5) The advisability of making the laboratory
specimens of the Air Force Health Study available for
independent research, including the potential value
and relevance of such research, and the potential cost
of such research.
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after entering
into an agreement under subsection (b), the National Acad-
emy of Sciences, or other appropriate scientific organiza-
tion, shall submit to the Secretary and Congress a report
on the results of the study under subsection (a). The report
shall include the results of the study, including the matters
addressed under subsection (c), and such other recommenda-
tions as the Academy, or other appropriate scientific orga-
nization, considers appropriate as a result of the study.
†
HR 2297 EAS
SEC. 603. FUNDING OF MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP AGENCY OF IN-
STITUTE OF MEDICINE OF NATIONAL ACAD-
EMY OF SCIENCES FOR EPIDEMIOLOGICAL
RESEARCH ON MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES AND VETERANS.
(a) FUNDING.—(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
and the Secretary of Defense shall each make available to
the National Academy of Sciences in each of fiscal years
2004 through 2013 the amount of $250,000 for the Medical
Follow-Up Agency of the Institute of Medicine of the Acad-
emy for purposes of epidemiological research on members
of the Armed Forces and veterans.
(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make avail-
able amounts under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year from
amounts available for the Department of Veterans Affairs
for that fiscal year.
(3) The Secretary of Defense shall make available
amounts under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year from
amounts available for the Department of Defense for that
fiscal year.
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—The Medical Follow-Up Agency
shall use funds made available under subsection (a) for epi-
demiological research on members of the Armed Forces and
veterans.
(c) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—Amounts made
available to the Medical Follow-Up Agency under this sec-
†
HR 2297 EAS
tion for a fiscal year for the purposes referred to in sub-
section (b) are in addition to any other amount made avail-
able to the Agency for that fiscal year for those purposes.
TITLE VII—OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 701. TIME LIMITATIONS ON RECEIPT OF CLAIM INFOR-
MATION PURSUANT TO REQUESTS OF DE-
PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) INFORMATION TO COMPLETE CLAIMS APPLICA-
TIONS.—Section 5102 is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
‘‘(c) TIME LIMITATION.—(1) If information that a
claimant and the claimant’s representative, if any, are no-
tified under subsection (b) is necessary to complete an ap-
plication is not received by the Secretary within one year
from the date such notice is sent, no benefit may be paid
or furnished by reason of the claimant’s application.
‘‘(2) This subsection shall not apply to any application
or claim for Government life insurance benefits.’’.
(b) CONSTRUCTION OF LIMITATION ON INFORMATION
TO SUBSTANTIATE CLAIMS.—Section 5103(b) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘if such’’ and
all that follows through ‘‘application’’ and inserting
‘‘such information or evidence must be received by the
Secretary within one year from the date such notice
is sent’’; and
†
HR 2297 EAS
(2) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(3) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to
prohibit the Secretary from making a decision on a claim
before the expiration of the period referred to in that sub-
section.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this
section shall take effect as if enacted on November 9, 2000,
immediately after the enactment of the Veterans Claims As-
sistance Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–475; 114 Stat. 2096).
(d) PROCEDURES FOR READJUDICATION OF CERTAIN
CLAIMS.—(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall re-
adjudicate a claim of a qualified claimant if the request
for such readjudication is received not later than the end
of the one-year period that begins on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, a claimant is
qualified within the meaning of paragraph (1) if the
claimant—
(A) received notice under section 5103(a) of title
38, United States Code, requesting information or
evidence to substantiate a claim;
(B) did not submit such information or evidence
within a year after the date such notice was sent;
†
HR 2297 EAS
(C) did not file a timely appeal to the Board of
Veterans’ Appeals or the United States Court of Ap-
peals for Veterans Claims; and
(D) submits such information or evidence during
the one-year period referred to in paragraph (1).
(3) If the decision of the Secretary on a readjudication
under this subsection is in favor of the qualified claimant,
the award of the grant shall take effect as if the prior deci-
sion by the Secretary on the claim had not been made.
(4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to es-
tablish a duty on the part of the Secretary to identify or
readjudicate any claim that—
(A) is not submitted during the one-year period
referred to in paragraph (1); or
(B) has been the subject of a timely appeal to the
Board of Veterans’ Appeals or the United States
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
(e) CONSTRUCTION ON PROVIDING RENOTIFICATION.—
Nothing in this section, or the amendments made by this
section, shall be construed to require the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs—
(1) to provide notice under section 5103(a) of
such title with respect to a claim insofar as the Sec-
retary has previously provided such notice; or
†
HR 2297 EAS
(2) to provide for a special notice with respect
to this section and the amendments made by this sec-
tion.
SEC. 702. CLARIFICATION OF APPLICABILITY OF PROHIBI-
TION ON ASSIGNMENT OF VETERANS BENE-
FITS TO AGREEMENTS REQUIRING PAYMENT
OF FUTURE RECEIPT OF BENEFITS.
Section 5301(a) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’;
(2) by designating the last sentence as paragraph
(2); and
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(3)(A) This paragraph is intended to clarify that, in
any case where a beneficiary entitled to compensation, pen-
sion, or dependency and indemnity compensation enters
into an agreement with another person under which agree-
ment such other person acquires for consideration the right
to receive such benefit by payment of such compensation,
pension, or dependency and indemnity compensation, as
the case may be, except as provided in subparagraph (B),
and including deposit into a joint account from which such
other person may make withdrawals, or otherwise, such
agreement shall be deemed to be an assignment and is pro-
hibited.
†
HR 2297 EAS
‘‘(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), nothing in
this paragraph is intended to prohibit a loan involving a
beneficiary under the terms of which the beneficiary may
use the benefit to repay such other person as long as each
of the periodic payments made to repay such other person
is separately and voluntarily executed by the beneficiary
or is made by preauthorized electronic funds transfer pursu-
ant to the Electronic Funds Transfers Act (15 U.S.C. 1693
et seq.).
‘‘(C) Any agreement or arrangement for collateral for
security for an agreement that is prohibited under subpara-
graph (A) is also prohibited and is void from its incep-
tion.’’.
SEC. 703. SIX-YEAR EXTENSION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ON MINORITY VETERANS.
Section 544(e) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31,
2003’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2009’’.
SEC. 704. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY FOR PERFORMANCE OF
MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY
CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.
(a) AUTHORITY.—Using appropriated funds, other
than funds available for compensation and pension, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide for the conduct
of examinations with respect to the medical disabilities of
applicants for benefits under laws administered by the Sec-
†
HR 2297 EAS
retary by persons other than Department of Veterans Af-
fairs employees. The authority under this section is in addi-
tion to the authority provided in section 504(b) of the Vet-
erans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–
275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note).
(b) PERFORMANCE
BY
CONTRACT.—Examinations
under the authority provided in subsection (a) shall be con-
ducted pursuant to contracts entered into and administered
by the Under Secretary for Benefits.
(c) EXPIRATION.—The authority in subsection (a)
shall expire on December 31, 2009. No examination may
be carried out under the authority provided in that sub-
section after that date.
(d) REPORT.—Not later than four years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the use of the authority provided in
subsection (a). The Secretary shall include in the report an
assessment of the effect of examinations under that author-
ity on the cost, timeliness, and thoroughness of examina-
tions with respect to the medical disabilities of applicants
for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.
SEC. 705. FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS FOR SUBVERSIVE AC-
TIVITIES.
(a) ADDITION OF CERTAIN OFFENSES.—Paragraph
(2) of section 6105(b) is amended—
†
HR 2297 EAS
(1) by inserting ‘‘175, 229,’’ after ‘‘sections’’; and
(2) by inserting ‘‘831, 1091, 2332a, 2332b,’’ after
‘‘798,’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall apply to claims filed after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 706. TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF ROUND-DOWN RE-
QUIREMENT FOR COMPENSATION COST-OF-
LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.
Sections 1104(a) and 1303(a) are each amended by
striking ‘‘2011’’ and inserting ‘‘2013’’.
SEC. 707. CODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT FOR EXPEDI-
TIOUS TREATMENT OF CASES ON REMAND.
(a) CASES REMANDED BY BOARD OF VETERANS’ AP-
PEALS.—(1) Chapter 51 is amended by adding at the end
of subchapter I the following new section:
‘‘§ 5109B. Expedited treatment of remanded claims
‘‘The Secretary shall take such actions as may be nec-
essary to provide for the expeditious treatment by the ap-
propriate regional office of the Veterans Benefits Adminis-
tration of any claim that is remanded to a regional office
of the Veterans Benefits Administration by the Board of
Veterans’ Appeals.’’.
†
HR 2297 EAS
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chap-
ter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
5109A the following new item:
‘‘5109B. Expedited treatment of remanded claims.’’.
(b) CASES REMANDED BY COURT OF APPEALS FOR
VETERANS CLAIMS.—(1) Chapter 71 is amended by adding
at the end the following new section:
‘‘§ 7112. Expedited treatment of remanded claims
‘‘The Secretary shall take such actions as may be nec-
essary to provide for the expeditious treatment by the Board
of any claim that is remanded to the Secretary by the Court
of Appeals for Veterans Claims.’’.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chap-
ter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
‘‘7112. Expedited treatment of remanded claims.’’.
(c) REPEAL OF SOURCE SECTION.—Section 302 of the
Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 1994 (Public Law
103–446; 108 Stat. 4658; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is repealed.
SEC. 708. TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.
(a) MISCELLANEOUS
AMENDMENTS.—(1) Section
103(d) is amended—
(A) in paragraph (4)—
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ‘‘this subsection’’ and inserting
‘‘paragraph (2)(A) or (3)’’; and
†
HR 2297 EAS
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking
‘‘paragraph (2)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph
(2)(A)’’; and
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘Paragraphs
(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘Paragraphs (2)(A)’’.
(2) Section 1729A is amended—
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘after June 30,
1997,’’ in the matter preceding paragraph (1);
(B) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (3);
(C) by striking subsection (e); and
(D) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection
(e).
(3) Section 1804(c)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘sub-
section’’ and inserting ‘‘section’’.
(4) Section 1974(a)(5) is amended by striking ‘‘Sec-
retary of Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of
Homeland Security’’.
(b) AMENDMENTS RELATING TO THE JOBS FOR VET-
ERANS ACT.—(1)(A) Subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii) of section
4102A is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2002’’ and in-
serting ‘‘October 1, 2003’’.
(B) The amendment made by subparagraph (A) shall
take effect as if included in the enactment of section 4(a)
of the Jobs for Veterans Act (Public Law 107–288; 116 Stat.
2038).
†
HR 2297 EAS
(2) Subsection (f)(1) of section 4102A is amended by
striking ‘‘6 months after the date of the enactment of this
section,’’ and inserting ‘‘May 7, 2003,’’.
(c) AMENDMENTS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
AS
AN INDE-
PENDENT AGENCY.—(1) Section 1322 is amended—
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Secretary of
Health and Human Services’’ and all that follows
through the period and inserting ‘‘Commissioner of
Social Security, and shall be certified by the Commis-
sioner to the Secretary upon request of the Sec-
retary.’’; and
(B) in subsection (b)—
(i) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Health and
Human Services’’ in the first sentence and in-
serting ‘‘Commissioner of Social Security’’;
(ii) by striking ‘‘the two Secretaries’’ and
inserting ‘‘the Secretary and the Commissioner’’;
and
(iii) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Health and
Human Services’’ in the second sentence and in-
serting ‘‘Commissioner’’.
(2) Section 5101(a) is amended by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Health and Human Services’’ and inserting ‘‘Commis-
sioner of Social Security’’.
†
HR 2297 EAS
(3) Section 5317 is amended by striking ‘‘Secretary
of Health and Human Services’’ in subsections (a), (b), and
(g) and inserting ‘‘Commissioner of Social Security’’.
(4)(A) Section 5318 is amended—
(i) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Department of
Health and Human Services’’ and inserting ‘‘Social
Security Administration’’; and
(ii) in subsection (b)—
(I) by striking ‘‘Department of Health and
Human Services’’ and inserting ‘‘Social Security
Administration’’;
(II) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Health and
Human Services’’ the first place it appears and
inserting ‘‘Commissioner of Social Security’’;
(III) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Health and
Human Services’’ the second place it appears
and inserting ‘‘Commissioner’’; and
(IV) by striking ‘‘such Secretaries’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the Secretary and the Commissioner’’.
(B)(i) The heading of such section is amended to read
as follows: