In the Senate of the United States,
November 19, 2003.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 2297) entitled ‘‘An Act to amend title 38, United
States Code, to improve benefits under laws administered by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.’’,
do pass with the following
AMENDMENT:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Vet-
erans Benefits Act of 2003’’.
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.
TITLE I—SURVIVOR BENEFITS
Sec. 101. Retention of certain veterans survivor benefits for surviving spouses re-
marrying after age 57.
Sec. 102. Benefits for children with spina bifida of veterans of certain service in
Korea.
Sec. 103. Alternative beneficiaries for National Service Life Insurance and
United States Government Life Insurance.
Sec. 104. Payment of benefits accrued and unpaid at time of death.
TITLE II—BENEFITS FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR AND FOR
FILIPINO VETERANS
SUBTITLE A—FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR
Sec. 201. Presumptions of service-connection relating to diseases and disabilities
of former prisoners of war.
SUBTITLE B—FILIPINO VETERANS
Sec. 211. Rate of payment of benefits for certain Filipino veterans and their sur-
vivors residing in the United States.
Sec. 212. Burial benefits for new Philippine Scouts residing in the United States.
Sec. 213. Extension of authority to maintain regional office in the Republic of
the Philippines.
TITLE III—EDUCATION BENEFITS, EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS, AND
RELATED MATTERS
Sec. 301. Expansion of Montgomery GI Bill education benefits for certain self-
employment training.
Sec. 302. Increase in rates of survivors’ and dependents’ educational assistance.
Sec. 303. Restoration of survivors’ and dependents’ education benefits of individ-
uals being ordered to full-time National Guard duty.
Sec. 304. Rounding down of certain cost-of-living adjustments on educational as-
sistance.
Sec. 305. Authorization for State approving agencies to approve certain entrepre-
neurship courses.
Sec. 306. Repeal of provisions relating to obsolete education loan program.
Sec. 307. Six-year extension of the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education.
Sec. 308. Procurement program for small business concerns owned and controlled
by service-disabled veterans.
Sec. 309. Outstationing of Transition Assistance Program personnel.
TITLE IV—HOUSING BENEFITS AND RELATED MATTERS
Sec. 401. Authorization to provide adapted housing assistance to certain disabled
members of the Armed Forces who remain on active duty.
Sec. 402. Increase in amounts for certain adaptive benefits for disabled veterans.
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TITLE I—SURVIVOR BENEFITS
SEC. 101. RETENTION OF CERTAIN VETERANS SURVIVOR
BENEFITS FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES REMAR-
RYING AFTER AGE 57.
(a) EXCEPTION TO TERMINATION OF BENEFITS UPON
REMARRIAGE.—Section 103(d)(2)(B) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘The remarriage after age 55’’ and inserting ‘‘The re-
marriage after age 57 of the surviving spouse of a veteran
shall not bar the furnishing of benefits specified in para-
graph (5) to such person as the surviving spouse of the vet-
eran. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the remarriage
after age 55’’.
(b) COORDINATION OF BENEFITS.—Section 1311 is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(e) In the case of an individual who is eligible for
dependency and indemnity compensation under this section
by reason of section 103(d)(2)(B) of this title who is also
eligible for benefits under another provision of law by rea-
son of such individual’s status as the surviving spouse of
a veteran, then, notwithstanding any other provision of law
(other than section 5304(b)(3) of this title), no reduction
in benefits under such other provision of law shall be made
by reason of such individual’s eligibility for benefits under
this section.’’.
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SEC. 102. BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPINA BIFIDA OF
VETERANS OF CERTAIN SERVICE IN KOREA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 18 is amended—
(1) by redesignating subchapter III, and sections
1821, 1822, 1823, and 1824, as subchapter IV, and
sections 1831, 1832, 1833, and 1834, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subchapter II the following
new subchapter III:
‘‘SUBCHAPTER 
III—CHILDREN 
OF 
CERTAIN
KOREA SERVICE VETERANS BORN WITH
SPINA BIFIDA
‘‘§ 1821. Benefits for children of certain Korea service
veterans born with spina bifida
‘‘(a) BENEFITS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may
provide to any child of a veteran of covered service in Korea
who is suffering from spina bifida the health care, voca-
tional training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance
required to be paid to a child of a Vietnam veteran who
is suffering from spina bifida under subchapter I of this
chapter as if such child of a veteran of covered service in
Korea were a child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering
from spina bifida under such subchapter.
‘‘(b) SPINA BIFIDA CONDITIONS COVERED.—This sec-
tion applies with respect to all forms and manifestations
of spina bifida, except spina bifida occulta.
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‘‘(c) VETERAN OF COVERED SERVICE IN KOREA.—For
purposes of this section, a veteran of covered service in
Korea is any individual, without regard to the character-
ization of that individual’s service, who—
‘‘(1) served in the active military, naval, or air
service in or near the Korean demilitarized zone
(DMZ), as determined by the Secretary in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Defense, during the period
beginning on September 1, 1967, and ending on Au-
gust 31, 1971; and
‘‘(2) is determined by the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Defense, to have been ex-
posed to a herbicide agent during such service in or
near the Korean demilitarized zone.
‘‘(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 oper-
ations in or near the Korean demilitarized zone, as deter-
mined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary
of Defense, during the period beginning on September 1,
1967, and ending on August 31, 1971.’’.
(b) CHILD DEFINED.—Section 1831, as redesignated
by subsection (a) of this section, is amended by striking
paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraph
(1):
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‘‘(1) The term ‘child’ means the following:
‘‘(A) For purposes of subchapters I and II
of this chapter, an individual, regardless of age
or marital status, who—
‘‘(i) is the natural child of a Vietnam
veteran; and
‘‘(ii) was conceived after the date on
which that veteran first entered the Repub-
lic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.
‘‘(B) For purposes of subchapter III of this
chapter, an individual, regardless of age or mar-
ital status, who—
‘‘(i) is the natural child of a veteran of
covered service in Korea (as determined for
purposes of section 1821 of this title); and
‘‘(ii) was conceived after the date on
which that veteran first entered service de-
scribed in subsection (c) of that section.’’.
(c) NONDUPLICATION OF BENEFITS.—Subsection (a) of
section 1834, as redesignated by subsection (a) of this sec-
tion, is amended by adding at the end the following new
sentence: ‘‘In the case of a child eligible for benefits under
subchapter I or II of this chapter who is also eligible for
benefits under subchapter III of this chapter, a monetary
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allowance shall be paid under the subchapter of this chapter
elected by the child.’’.
(d) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—(1) 
Section
1811(1)(A) is amended by striking ‘‘section 1821(1)’’ and
inserting ‘‘section 1831(1)’’.
(2) The heading for chapter 18 is amended to read as
follows:
‘‘CHAPTER 18—BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN
OF VIETNAM VETERANS AND CERTAIN
OTHER VETERANS’’.
(e) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—(1) The table of sections
at the beginning of chapter 18 is amended by striking the
items relating to subchapter III and sections 1821, 1822,
1823, and 1824 and inserting the following new items:
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—CHILDREN OF CERTAIN KOREA SERVICE
VETERANS BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA
‘‘1821. Benefits for children of certain Korea service veterans born with spina
bifida.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS
‘‘1831. Definitions.
‘‘1832. Applicability of certain administrative provisions.
‘‘1833. Treatment of receipt of monetary allowance and other benefits.
‘‘1834. Nonduplication of benefits.’’.
(2) The table of chapters at the beginning of title 38,
United States Code, and at the beginning of part II, are
each amended by striking the item relating to chapter 18
and inserting the following new item:
‘‘18. Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans and Cer-
tain Other Veterans .................................................. 1802’’.
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SEC. 103. ALTERNATIVE BENEFICIARIES FOR NATIONAL
SERVICE 
LIFE 
INSURANCE 
AND 
UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE.
(a) NATIONAL SERVICE LIFE INSURANCE.—Section
1917 is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
‘‘(f)(1) Following the death of the insured and in a
case not covered by subsection (d)—
‘‘(A) if the first beneficiary otherwise entitled to
payment of the insurance does not make a claim for
such payment within two years after the death of the
insured, payment may be made to another beneficiary
designated by the insured, in the order of precedence
as designated by the insured, as if the first bene-
ficiary had predeceased the insured; and
‘‘(B) if, within four years after the death of the
insured, no claim has been filed by a person des-
ignated by the insured as a beneficiary and the Sec-
retary has not received any notice in writing that
any such claim will be made, payment may (notwith-
standing any other provision of law) be made to such
person as may in the judgment of the Secretary be eq-
uitably entitled thereto.
‘‘(2) Payment of insurance under paragraph (1) shall
be a bar to recovery by any other person.’’.
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(b) UNITED
STATES
GOVERNMENT
LIFE
INSUR-
ANCE.—Section 1952 is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
‘‘(c)(1) Following the death of the insured and in a
case not covered by section 1950 of this title—
‘‘(A) if the first beneficiary otherwise entitled to
payment of the insurance does not make a claim for
such payment within two years after the death of the
insured, payment may be made to another beneficiary
designated by the insured, in the order of precedence
as designated by the insured, as if the first bene-
ficiary had predeceased the insured; and
‘‘(B) if, within four years after the death of the
insured, no claim has been filed by a person des-
ignated by the insured as a beneficiary and the Sec-
retary has not received any notice in writing that
any such claim will be made, payment may (notwith-
standing any other provision of law) be made to such
person as may in the judgment of the Secretary be eq-
uitably entitled thereto.
‘‘(2) Payment of insurance under paragraph (1) shall
be a bar to recovery by any other person.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub-
sections (a) and (b) shall take effect on October 1, 2004.
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(d) TRANSITION PROVISION.—In the case of a person
insured under subchapter I or II of chapter 19 of title 38,
United States Code, who dies before the effective date of the
amendments made by subsections (a) and (b), as specified
by subsection (c), the two-year and four-year periods speci-
fied in subsection (f)(1) of section 1917 of title 38, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a), and subsection
(c)(1) of section 1952 of such title, as added by subsection
(b), as applicable, shall for purposes of the applicable sub-
section be treated as being the two-year and four-year peri-
ods, respectively, beginning on the effective date of such
amendments, as so specified.
SEC. 104. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS ACCRUED AND UNPAID AT
TIME OF DEATH.
(a) REPEAL
OF TWO-YEAR LIMITATION
ON PAY-
MENT.—Section 5121(a) is amended by striking ‘‘for a pe-
riod not to exceed two years’’ in the matter preceding para-
graph (1).
(b) PAYMENT RECIPIENTS FOR BENEFICIARIES UNDER
CHAPTER 18.—Such section is further amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph
(4);
(2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para-
graph (6); and
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(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (5):
‘‘(5) Upon the death of a child claiming benefits
under chapter 18 of this title, to the surviving par-
ents.’’.
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Such section is fur-
ther amended—
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking the comma after ‘‘or decisions’’;
(2) by striking the semicolon at the end of para-
graphs (1), (2), (3), and (4), and at the end of sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2), and insert-
ing a period.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
subsections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to deaths
occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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TITLE 
II—BENEFITS 
FOR
FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR
AND FOR FILIPINO VETERANS
Subtitle A—Former Prisoners of
War
SEC. 201. PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE-CONNECTION RE-
LATING TO DISEASES AND DISABILITIES OF
FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR.
Subsection (b) of section 1112 is amended to read as
follows:
‘‘(b)(1) For the purposes of section 1110 of this title
and subject to the provisions of section 1113 of this title,
in the case of a veteran who is a former prisoner of war—
‘‘(A) a disease specified in paragraph (2) which
became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more
after active military, naval, or air service shall be
considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by
such service, notwithstanding that there is no record
of such disease during the period of service; and
‘‘(B) if the veteran was detained or interned as
a prisoner of war for not less than thirty days, a dis-
ease specified in paragraph (3) which became mani-
fest to a degree of 10 percent or more after active
military, naval, or air service shall be considered to
have been incurred in or aggravated by such service,
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notwithstanding that there is no record of such dis-
ease during the period of service.
‘‘(2) The diseases specified in this paragraph are the
following:
‘‘(A) Psychosis.
‘‘(B) Any of the anxiety states.
‘‘(C) Dysthymic disorder (or depressive neu-
rosis).
‘‘(D) Organic residuals of frostbite, if the Sec-
retary determines that the veteran was detained or
interned in climatic conditions consistent with the oc-
currence of frostbite.
‘‘(E) Post-traumatic osteoarthritis.
‘‘(3) The diseases specified in this paragraph are the
following:
‘‘(A) Avitaminosis.
‘‘(B) Beriberi (including beriberi heart disease).
‘‘(C) Chronic dysentery.
‘‘(D) Helminthiasis.
‘‘(E) Malnutrition (including optic atrophy asso-
ciated with malnutrition).
‘‘(F) Pellagra.
‘‘(G) Any other nutritional deficiency.
‘‘(H) Cirrhosis of the liver.
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‘‘(I) Peripheral neuropathy except where directly
related to infectious causes.
‘‘(J) Irritable bowel syndrome.
‘‘(K) Peptic ulcer disease.’’.
Subtitle B—Filipino Veterans
SEC. 211. RATE OF PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN
FILIPINO VETERANS AND THEIR SURVIVORS
RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES.
(a) RATE OF PAYMENT.—Section 107 is amended—
(1) in the second sentence of subsection (b), by
striking ‘‘Payments’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as pro-
vided in subsection (c), payments’’; and
(2) in subsection (c)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘and subchapter II of
chapter 13 (except section 1312(a)) of this title’’
after ‘‘chapter 11 of this title’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘in subsection (a)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘in subsection (a) or (b)’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘of subsection (a)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘of the applicable subsection’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall apply to benefits paid for months begin-
ning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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SEC. 212. BURIAL BENEFITS FOR NEW PHILIPPINE SCOUTS
RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES.
(a) BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY.—Section 107, as amended
by section 211 of this Act, is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(2)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ and inserting a
comma; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘, 23, and 24 (to the extent
provided for in section 2402(8))’’ after ‘‘(except
section 1312(a))’’;
(2) in the second sentence of subsection (b), as so
amended, by inserting ‘‘or (d)’’ after ‘‘subsection (c)’’;
(3) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting ‘‘or (b), as
otherwise applicable,’’ after ‘‘subsection (a)’’; and
(4) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ‘‘or whose
service is described in subsection (b) and who dies
after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Bene-
fits Act of 2003,’’ after ‘‘November 1, 2000,’’.
(b) 
NATIONAL
CEMETERY
INTERMENT.—Section
2402(8) is amended by striking ‘‘section 107(a)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘subsection (a) or (b) of section 107’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this
section shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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SEC. 213. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN RE-
GIONAL OFFICE IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES.
Section 315(b) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31,
2003’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2009’’.
TITLE 
III—EDUCATION 
BENE-
FITS, 
EMPLOYMENT 
PROVI-
SIONS, AND RELATED MAT-
TERS
SEC. 301. EXPANSION OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL EDU-
CATION BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN SELF-EM-
PLOYMENT TRAINING.
(a) DEFINITION OF TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT.—Sec-
tion 3452(e) is amended by striking ‘‘means any’’ and all
that follows and inserting ‘‘means any of the following:
‘‘(1) An establishment providing apprentice or
other on-job training, including those under the su-
pervision of a college or university or any State de-
partment of education.
‘‘(2) An establishment providing self-employment
on-job training consisting of full-time training for a
period of less than six months that is needed or ac-
cepted for purposes of obtaining licensure to engage in
a self-employment occupation or required for owner-
ship and operation of a franchise that is the objective
of the training.
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‘‘(3) A State board of vocational education.
‘‘(4) A Federal or State apprenticeship registra-
tion agency.
‘‘(5) A joint apprenticeship committee estab-
lished pursuant to the Act of August 16, 1937, popu-
larly known as the ‘National Apprenticeship Act’ (29
U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
‘‘(6) An agency of the Federal Government au-
thorized to supervise such training.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on the date that is six months
after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply
to self-employment on-job training approved and pursued
on or after that date.
SEC. 302. INCREASE IN RATES OF SURVIVORS’ AND DE-
PENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) SURVIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL AS-
SISTANCE.—Section 3532 is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘at the
monthly rate of’’ and all that follows and insert-
ing ‘‘at the monthly rate of $788 for full-time,
$592 for three-quarter-time, or $394 for half-time
pursuit.’’; and
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(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘at the
rate of’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘at
the rate of the lesser of—
‘‘(A) the established charges for tuition and fees
that the educational institution involved requires
similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the
same program to pay; or
‘‘(B) $788 per month for a full-time course.’’;
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘$670’’ and in-
serting ‘‘$788’’; and
(3) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘shall be’’
and all that follows and inserting ‘‘shall be $636 for
full-time, $477 for three-quarter-time, or $319 for
half-time pursuit.’’.
(b) CORRESPONDENCE COURSES.—Section 3534(b) is
amended by striking ‘‘$670’’ and inserting ‘‘$788’’.
(c) 
SPECIAL
RESTORATIVE
TRAINING.—Section
3542(a) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘$670’’ and inserting ‘‘$788’’;
and
(2) by striking ‘‘$210’’ each place it appears and
inserting ‘‘$247’’.
(d) APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING.—Section 3687(b)(2)
is amended by striking ‘‘shall be $488 for the first six
months’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘shall be $574
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for the first six months, $429 for the second six months,
$285 for the third six months, and $144 for the fourth and
any succeeding six-month period of training.’’.
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this
section shall take effect on July 1, 2004, and shall apply
with respect to educational assistance allowances payable
under chapter 35 and section 3687(b)(2) of title 38, United
States Code, for months beginning on or after that date.
SEC. 303. RESTORATION OF SURVIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’
EDUCATION 
BENEFITS 
OF 
INDIVIDUALS
BEING ORDERED TO FULL-TIME NATIONAL
GUARD DUTY.
(a) DELIMITING DATE.—Section 3512(h) is amended
by inserting ‘‘or is involuntarily ordered to full-time Na-
tional Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32,’’ after
‘‘title 10,’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect as of September 11, 2001.
SEC. 304. ROUNDING DOWN OF CERTAIN COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS 
ON 
EDUCATIONAL 
ASSIST-
ANCE.
(a) BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER MONT-
GOMERY GI BILL.—Section 3015(h) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
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(2) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(h)’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘(rounded to the nearest dollar)’’;
(4) in subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, by
striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘subpara-
graph (A)’’; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(2) Any increase under paragraph (1) in a rate with
respect to a fiscal year after fiscal year 2004 and before
fiscal year 2014 shall be rounded down to the next lower
whole dollar amount. Any such increase with respect to a
fiscal year after fiscal year 2013 shall be rounded to the
nearest whole dollar amount.’’.
(b) SURVIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL AS-
SISTANCE.—Section 3564 is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘With’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘(rounded to the nearest dollar)’’;
and
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(b) Any increase under subsection (a) in a rate with
respect to a fiscal year after fiscal year 2004 and before
fiscal year 2014 shall be rounded down to the next lower
whole dollar amount. Any such increase with respect to a
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fiscal year after fiscal year 2013 shall be rounded to the
nearest whole dollar amount.’’.
SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION FOR STATE APPROVING AGEN-
CIES TO APPROVE CERTAIN ENTREPRENEUR-
SHIP COURSES.
(a) APPROVAL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP COURSES.—
Section 3675 is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
‘‘(c)(1) A State approving agency may approve the en-
trepreneurship courses offered by a qualified provider of en-
trepreneurship courses.
‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘entre-
preneurship course’ means a non-degree, non-credit course
of business education that enables or assists a person to
start or enhance a small business concern (as defined pursu-
ant to section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
632(a))).
‘‘(3) Subsection (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub-
section (b) shall not apply to—
‘‘(A) an entrepreneurship course offered by a
qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses; and
‘‘(B) a qualified provider of entrepreneurship
courses by reason of such provider offering one or
more entrepreneurship courses.’’.
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(b) BUSINESS OWNERS NOT TREATED AS ALREADY
QUALIFIED.—Section 3471 is amended by inserting before
the last sentence the following: ‘‘The Secretary shall not
treat a person as already qualified for the objective of a
program of education offered by a qualified provider of en-
trepreneurship courses solely because such person is the
owner or operator of a business.’’.
(c) INCLUSION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP COURSES IN
DEFINITION OF PROGRAM OF EDUCATION.—Subsection (b)
of section 3452 is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘Such term also includes any course, or combina-
tion of courses, offered by a qualified provider of entrepre-
neurship courses.’’.
(d) INCLUSION OF QUALIFIED PROVIDER OF ENTRE-
PRENEURSHIP COURSES IN DEFINITION OF EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION.—Subsection (c) of section 3452 is amended
by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Such term also includes
any qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses.’’.
(e) DEFINITION OF QUALIFIED PROVIDER OF ENTRE-
PRENEURSHIP COURSES.—Section 3452 is further amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(h) The term ‘qualified provider of entrepreneurship
courses’ means any of the following entities insofar as such
entity offers, sponsors, or cosponsors an entrepreneurship
course (as defined in section 3675(c)(2) of this title):
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‘‘(1) Any small business development center de-
scribed in section 21 of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 648).
‘‘(2) The National Veterans Business Develop-
ment Corporation (established under section 33 of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657c)).’’.
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this
section shall apply to courses approved by State approving
agencies after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 306. REPEAL OF PROVISIONS RELATING TO OBSOLETE
EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM.
(a) TERMINATION OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs may not make a loan under subchapter
III of chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) DISCHARGE OF LIABILITIES.—Effective as of the
date of the transfer of funds under subsection (c)—
(1) any liability on an education loan under
subchapter III of chapter 36 of title 38, United States
Code, that is outstanding as of such date shall be
deemed discharged; and
(2) the right of the United States to recover an
overpayment declared under section 3698(e)(1) of
such title that is outstanding as of such date shall be
deemed waived.
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(c) TERMINATION OF LOAN FUND.—(1) Effective as of
the day before the date of the repeal under this section of
subchapter III of chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code,
all monies in the revolving fund of the Treasury known as
the ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs Education Loan
Fund’’ shall be transferred to the Department of Veterans
Affairs Readjustment Benefits Account, and the revolving
fund shall be closed.
(2) Any monies transferred to the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs Readjustment Benefits Account under para-
graph (1) shall be merged with amounts in that account
and shall be available for the same purposes, and subject
to the same conditions and limitations, as amounts in that
account.
(d) USE
OF
ENTITLEMENT
TO
VETERANS
EDU-
CATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM.—
Section 3462(a) is amended by striking paragraph (2).
(e) REPEAL OF EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM.—Sub-
chapter III of chapter 36 is repealed.
(f) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—(1) 
Section
3485(e)(1) is amended by striking ‘‘(other than an edu-
cation loan under subchapter III)’’.
(2) Section 3512 is amended by striking subsection (f).
(g) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at
the beginning of chapter 36 is amended by striking the
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items relating to subchapter III and sections 3698 and
3699.
(h) EFFECTIVE DATES.—(1) The amendments made
by subsection (d) shall take effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
(2) The amendments made by subsections (e), (f), and
(g) shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
SEC. 307. SIX-YEAR EXTENSION OF THE VETERANS’ ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.
(a) MEMBERSHIP.—Subsection (a) of section 3692 is
amended in the second sentence by inserting ‘‘, to the max-
imum extent practicable,’’ after ‘‘The committee shall also’’.
(b) EXTENSION.—Subsection (c) of that section is
amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2003’’ and inserting
‘‘December 31, 2009’’.
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—That section is further
amended—
(1) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking ‘‘chap-
ter 106’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘chapter
1606’’; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘chapter 30’’
and inserting ‘‘chapters 30’’.
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SEC. 308. PROCUREMENT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESS
CONCERNS OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY
SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS.
The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is
amended by redesignating section 36 as section 37 and by
inserting after section 35 the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 36. PROCUREMENT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESS
CONCERNS OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY
SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS.
‘‘(a) SOLE SOURCE CONTRACTS.—In accordance with
this section, a contracting officer may award a sole source
contract to any small business concern owned and con-
trolled by service-disabled veterans if—
‘‘(1) such concern is determined to be a respon-
sible contractor with respect to performance of such
contract opportunity and the contracting officer does
not have a reasonable expectation that 2 or more
small business concerns owned and controlled by serv-
ice-disabled veterans will submit offers for the con-
tracting opportunity;
‘‘(2) the anticipated award price of the contract
(including options) will not exceed—
‘‘(A) $5,000,000, in the case of a contract
opportunity assigned a standard industrial clas-
sification code for manufacturing; or
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‘‘(B) $3,000,000, in the case of any other
contract opportunity; and
‘‘(3) in the estimation of the contracting officer,
the contract award can be made at a fair and reason-
able price.
‘‘(b) RESTRICTED COMPETITION.—In accordance with
this section, a contracting officer may award contracts on
the basis of competition restricted to small business concerns
owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans if the con-
tracting officer has a reasonable expectation that not less
than 2 small business concerns owned and controlled by
service-disabled veterans will submit offers and that the
award can be made at a fair market price.
‘‘(c) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CONTRACTING PREF-
ERENCES.—A procurement may not be made from a source
on the basis of a preference provided under subsection (a)
or (b) if the procurement would otherwise be made from
a different source under section 4124 or 4125 of title 18,
United States Code, or the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (41
U.S.C. 46 et seq.).
‘‘(d) ENFORCEMENT; PENALTIES.—Rules similar to
the rules of paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 8(m) shall
apply for purposes of this section.
‘‘(e) CONTRACTING OFFICER.—For purposes of this
section, the term ‘contracting officer’ has the meaning given
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such term in section 27(f)(5) of the Office of Federal Pro-
curement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 423(f)(5)).’’.
SEC. 309. OUTSTATIONING OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM PERSONNEL.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Chapter 41 is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new section:
‘‘§ 4113. Outstationing of Transition Assistance Pro-
gram personnel
‘‘(a) STATIONING OF TAP PERSONNEL AT OVERSEAS
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.—(1) The Secretary—
‘‘(A) shall station employees of the Veterans’ Em-
ployment and Training Service, or contractors under
subsection (c), at each veterans assistance office de-
scribed in paragraph (2); and
‘‘(B) may station such employees or contractors
at such other military installations outside the United
States as the Secretary, after consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, determines to be appropriate or
desirable to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
‘‘(2) Veterans assistance offices referred to in para-
graph (1)(A) are those offices that are established by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs on military installations pur-
suant to the second sentence of section 7723(a) of this title.
‘‘(b) FUNCTIONS.—Employees (or contractors) sta-
tioned at military installations pursuant to subsection (a)
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shall provide, in person, counseling, assistance in identi-
fying employment and training opportunities, help in ob-
taining such employment and training, and other related
information and services to members of the Armed Forces
who are being separated from active duty, and the spouses
of such members, under the Transition Assistance Program
and Disabled Transition Assistance Program established in
section 1144 of title 10.
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT WITH PRIVATE ENTI-
TIES.—The Secretary, consistent with section 1144 of title
10, may enter into contracts with public or private entities
to provide, in person, some or all of the counseling, assist-
ance, information and services under the Transition Assist-
ance Program required under subsection (a).’’.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chap-
ter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
‘‘4113. Outstationing of Transition Assistance Program personnel.’’.
(b) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Labor shall implement section 4113 of title 38,
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), and shall
have employees of the Veterans’ Employment and Training
Service, or contractors, to carry out that section at the mili-
tary installations involved by such date.
(c) ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT.—(1) The second sen-
tence of section 7723(a) is amended by inserting ‘‘and tak-