I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2344 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in 
the vocational rehabilitation programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 14, 2015 
Mr. WENSTRUP introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain 
improvements in the vocational rehabilitation programs 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Vocational 
Rehabilitation and Employment Improvement Act of 
2015’’. 
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SEC. 2. APPROVAL OF COURSES OF EDUCATION AND 
TRAINING FOR PURPOSES OF THE VOCA-
TIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3104(b) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ‘‘To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, a course of education or training may be pursued 
by a veteran as part of a rehabilitation program under 
this chapter only if the course is approved for purposes 
of chapter 30 or 33 of this title. The Secretary may waive 
the requirement under the preceding sentence to the ex-
tent the Secretary determines appropriate.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a course of edu-
cation or training pursued by a veteran who first begins 
a program of rehabilitation under chapter 31 of title 38, 
United States Code, on or after the date that is one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN VETERANS ENROLLED IN 
VOCATIONAL 
REHABILITATION 
PROGRAMS 
FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING PRO-
VIDED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2101(a)(2)(A) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended— 
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(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 
(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period and in-
serting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(iii) has a disability for which the veteran 
is eligible for a rehabilitation program under 
chapter 31 of this title and is referred for as-
sistance under this section pursuant to section 
2107 of this title.’’. 
(b) AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE.—Section 2102(d) of 
such title is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The aggregate’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(A) Except as provided in subpara-
graph (B), the aggregate’’; and 
(B) by inserting at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) The Secretary may waive the limitation in sub-
paragraph (A) in the case of a veteran described in section 
2101(a)(2)(A)(iii).’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Rep-
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resentatives a biennial report on the use of the waiver au-
thority under paragraph (1)(B).’’. 
(c) BAR TO DUAL ELIGIBILITY FOR HOME ADAPTA-
TION SERVICES.—Section 3102 of such title is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) BAR TO DUAL ELIGIBILITY FOR HOME ADAPTA-
TION SERVICES.—A person who receives adaptive housing 
assistance by reason of section 2101(a)(2)(A)(iii) of this 
title may not also receive home adaptation services under 
this chapter.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORITY TO PRIORITIZE VOCATIONAL REHA-
BILITATION SERVICES BASED ON NEED. 
Section 3104 of title 38, United States Code, as 
amended by section 3, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c)(1) The Secretary shall have the authority to ad-
minister this chapter by prioritizing the provision of serv-
ices under this chapter based on need, as determined by 
the Secretary. In evaluating need for purposes of this sub-
section, the Secretary shall consider disability ratings, the 
severity of employment handicaps, qualification for a pro-
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gram of independent living, income, and any other factor 
the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(2) Not later than 90 days before making any 
changes to the prioritization of the provision of services 
under this chapter as authorized under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a plan describing such 
changes.’’. 
SEC. 5. REDUCTION IN REDUNDANCY AND INEFFICIENCIES 
IN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CLAIMS 
PROCESSING. 
(a) VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CLAIMS.—The 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall reduce redundancy and 
inefficiencies in the use of information technology to proc-
ess claims for rehabilitation programs under chapter 31 
of title 38, United States Code, by— 
(1) ensuring that all payments for and on be-
half of veterans participating in a rehabilitation pro-
gram under such chapter are only processed and 
paid out of one corporate information technology 
system, in order to eliminate the redundancy of mul-
tiple information technology payment systems; and 
(2) enhancing the information technology sys-
tem supporting veterans participating in such a pro-
gram to support more accurate accounting of serv-
ices and outcomes for such veterans. 
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(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs for fiscal year 2016 $10,000,000 to carry out this 
section. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the changes 
made pursuant to subsection (a). 
Æ 
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