September 30, 2003, each veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘Each
veteran’’.
SEC. 302. HOMELESS VETERANS’ REINTEGRATION PRO-
GRAMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 41 is amended by adding
at the end the following new section:
‘‘§ 4111. Homeless veterans’ reintegration programs
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through
the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employ-
ment and Training, shall conduct, directly or through
grant or contract, such programs as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate to expedite the reintegration of home-
less veterans into the labor force.
‘‘(b) AUTHORITY TO MONITOR EXPENDITURE OF
FUNDS.—The Secretary may collect such information as
the Secretary considers appropriate to monitor and evalu-
ate the distribution and expenditure of funds appropriated
to carry out this section, and such information shall be
furnished to the Secretary in such form as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
‘‘(c) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term
‘homeless veteran’ has the meaning given that term by
section 3771(2) of this title.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—(1)
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section amounts as follows:
‘‘(A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000.
‘‘(B) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
‘‘(C) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
‘‘(D) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
‘‘(E) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
‘‘(2) Funds obligated for any fiscal year to carry out
this section may be expended in that fiscal year and the
succeeding fiscal year.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding
at the end the following new item:
‘‘4111. Homeless veterans’ reintegration programs.’’.
SEC. 303. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEE PRO-
GRAM TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.
Section 3775 is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘During each’’;
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(b) After the first 3 years of operation of such a
multifamily transitional housing project, the Secretary
may provide for periodic audits of the project.’’.
TITLE IV—COURT OF APPEALS
FOR VETERANS CLAIMS
SEC. 401. AUTHORITY TO PRESCRIBE RULES AND REGULA-
TIONS.
Section 7254 is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
‘‘(f) The Court may prescribe rules and regulations
to carry out this chapter.’’.
SEC. 402. RECALL OF RETIRED JUDGES.
(a) AUTHORITY TO RECALL RETIRED JUDGES.—
Chapter 72 is amended by inserting after section 7256 the
following new section:
‘‘§ 7257. Recall of retired judges
‘‘(a)(1) A retired judge of the Court may be recalled
for further service on the Court in accordance with this
section. To be eligible to be recalled for such service, a
retired judge must at the time of the judge’s retirement
provide to the chief judge of the Court (or, in the case
of the chief judge, to the clerk of the Court) notice in writ-
ing that the retired judge is available for further service
on the Court in accordance with this section and is willing
to be recalled under this section. Such a notice provided
by a retired judge is irrevocable.
‘‘(2) For the purposes of this section—
‘‘(A) a retired judge is a judge of the Court of
Veterans Appeals who retires from the Court under
section 7296 of this title or under chapter 83 or 84
of title 5; and
‘‘(B) a recall-eligible retired judge is a retired
judge who has provided a notice under paragraph
(1).
‘‘(b)(1) The chief judge may recall for further service
on the court a recall-eligible retired judge in accordance
with this section. Such a recall shall be made upon written
certification by the chief judge that substantial service is
expected to be performed by the retired judge for such
period, not to exceed 90 days (or the equivalent), as deter-
mined by the chief judge to be necessary to meet the needs
of the Court.
‘‘(2) A recall-eligible retired judge may not be re-
called for more than 90 days (or the equivalent) during
any calendar year without the judge’s consent or for more
than a total of 180 days (or the equivalent) during any
calendar year.
‘‘(3) If a recall-eligible retired judge is recalled by the
chief judge in accordance with this section and (other than
in the case of a judge who has previously during that cal-
endar year served at least 90 days (or the equivalent) of
recalled service on the court) declines (other than by rea-
son of disability) to perform the service to which recalled,
the chief judge shall remove that retired judge from the
status of a recall-eligible judge.
‘‘(4) A recall-eligible retired judge who becomes per-
manently disabled and as a result of that disability is un-
able to perform further service on the court shall be re-
moved from the status of a recall-eligible judge. Deter-
mination of such a disability shall be made in the same
manner as is applicable to judges of the United States
under section 371 of title 28.
‘‘(c) A retired judge who is recalled under this section
may exercise all of the powers and duties of the office of
a judge in active service.
‘‘(d)(1) The pay of a recall-eligible retired judge who
retired under section 7296 of this title is specified in sub-
section (c) of that section.
‘‘(2) A judge who is recalled under this section who
retired under chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 shall be paid,
during the period for which the judge serves in recall sta-
tus, pay at the rate of pay in effect under section 7253(e)
of this title for a judge performing active service, less the
amount of the judge’s annuity under the applicable provi-
sions of chapter 83 or 84 of title 5.
‘‘(e)(1) Except as provided in subsection (d), a judge
who is recalled under this section who retired under chap-
ter 83 or 84 of title 5 shall be considered to be a reem-
ployed annuitant under that chapter.
‘‘(2) Nothing in this section affects the right of a
judge who retired under chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 to
serve as a reemployed annuitant in accordance with the
provisions of title 5.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 7256 the following new
item:
‘‘7257. Recall of retired judges.’’.
SEC. 403. CALCULATION OF YEARS OF SERVICE AS A
JUDGE.
Section 7296(b) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
‘‘(4) For purposes of calculating the years of service
of an individual under this subsection and subsection (c),
only those years of service as a judge of the Court shall
be credited. In determining the number of years of such
service, that portion of the aggregate number of years of
such service that is a fractional part of one year shall be
disregarded if less than 183 days and shall be credited
as a full year if 183 days or more.’’.
SEC. 404. JUDGES’ RETIRED PAY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (c)(1) of section 7296
is amended by striking ‘‘at the rate of pay in effect at
the time of retirement.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘as
follows:
‘‘(A) In the case of a judge who is a recall-eligi-
ble retired judge under section 7257 of this title or
who was a recall-eligible retired judge under that
section and was removed from recall status under
subsection (b)(4) of that section by reason of dis-
ability, the retired pay of the judge shall be the pay
of a judge of the court (or of the chief judge, if the
individual retired from service as chief judge).
‘‘(B) In the case of a judge who at the time of
retirement did not provide notice under section 7257
of this title of availability for service in a recalled
status, the retired pay of the judge shall be the rate
of pay applicable to that judge at the time of retire-
ment.
‘‘(C) In the case of a judge who was a recall-
eligible retired judge under section 7257 of this title
and was removed from recall status under subsection
(b)(3) of that section, the retired pay of the judge
shall be the pay of the judge at the time of the re-
moval from recall status.’’.
(b) COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.—Subsection (f)
of such section is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph:
‘‘(3)(A) A cost-of-living adjustment provided by law
in annuities payable under civil service retirement laws
shall apply to retired pay under this section only in the
case of retired pay computed under paragraph (2) of sub-
section (c).
‘‘(B)(i) If such a cost-of-living adjustment would (but
for this subparagraph) result in the retired pay of a re-
tired chief judge being in excess of the annual rate of pay
in effect for the chief judge of the court as provided in
section 7253(e)(1) of this title, such adjustment may be
made in the retired pay of that retired chief judge only
in such amount as results in the retired pay of the retired
chief judge being equal to that annual rate of pay (as in
effect on the effective date of such adjustment).
‘‘(ii) If such a cost-of-living adjustment would (but
for this subparagraph) result in the retired pay of a re-
tired judge (other than a retired chief judge) being in ex-
cess of the annual rate of pay in effect for judges of the
court as provided in section 7253(e)(2) of this title, such
adjustment may be made only in such amount as results
in the retired pay of the retired judge being equal to that
annual rate of pay (as in effect on the effective date of
such adjustment).’’.
(c) 
COORDINATION
WITH
MILITARY
RETIRED
PAY.—Subsection (f) of such section is further amended
by adding after paragraph (3), as added by subsection (b),
the following new paragraph:
‘‘(4) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of section 5532
of title 5, if a regular or reserve member of a uniformed
service who is receiving retired or retainer pay becomes
a judge of the court, or becomes eligible therefor while
a judge of the court, such retired or retainer pay shall
not be paid during the judge’s regular active service on
the court, but shall be resumed or commenced without re-
duction upon retirement as a judge.’’.
SEC. 405. SURVIVOR ANNUITIES.
(a) SURVIVING SPOUSE.—Subsection (a)(5) of sec-
tion 7297 is amended by striking ‘‘two years’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘one year’’.
(b) ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE.—Subsection (b) of
such section is amended in the first sentence by inserting
before the period ‘‘or within six months after the date on
which the judge marries if the judge has retired under
section 7296 of this title’’.
(c) REDUCTION IN CONTRIBUTIONS.—Subsection (c)
of such section is amended by striking ‘‘3.5 percent of the
judge’s pay’’ and inserting ‘‘that percentage of the judge’s
pay that is the same as provided for the deduction from
the salary or retirement salary of a judge of the United
States Court of Federal Claims for the purpose of a sur-
vivor annuity under section 376(b)(1)(B) of title 28’’.
(d) INTEREST PAYMENTS.—Subsection (d) of such
section is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(d)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(2) The interest required under the first sentence
of paragraph (1) shall not be required for any period—
‘‘(A) during which a judge was separated from
any service described in section 376(d)(2) of title 28;
and
‘‘(B) during which the judge was not receiving
retired pay based on service as a judge or receiving
any retirement salary as described in section
376(d)(1) of title 28.’’.
(e) SERVICE ELIGIBILITY.—(1) Subsection (f) of
such section is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A)—
(i) by striking ‘‘at least 5 years’’ and in-
serting ‘‘at least 18 months’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘last 5 years’’ and inserting
‘‘last 18 months’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(5) If a judge dies as a result of an assassination
and leaves a survivor or survivors who are otherwise enti-
tled to receive annuity payments under this section, the
18-month requirement in the matter in paragraph (1) pre-
ceding subparagraph (A) shall not apply.’’.
(2) Subsection (a) of such section is further
amended—
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘who is in
active service or who has retired under section 7296
of this title’’ after ‘‘Court’’;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘7296(c)’’
and inserting ‘‘7296’’;
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(8) The term ‘assassination’ as applied to a
judge shall have the meaning provided that term in
section 376(a)(7) of title 28 as applied to a judicial
official.’’.
(f) AGE REQUIREMENT OF SURVIVING SPOUSE.—
Subsection (f) of such section is further amended by strik-
ing ‘‘or following the surviving spouse’s attainment of the
age of 50 years, whichever is the later’’ in paragraph
(1)(A).
SEC. 406. LIMITATION ON ACTIVITIES OF RETIRED JUDGES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 72 is amended by adding
at the end the following new section:
‘‘§ 7299. Limitation on activities of retired judges
‘‘(a) A retired judge of the Court who is recall-eligible
under section 7257 of this title and who in the practice
of law represents (or supervises or directs the representa-
tion of) a client in making any claim relating to veterans’
benefits against the United States or any agency thereof
shall, pursuant to such section, be considered to have de-
clined recall service and be removed from the status of
a recall-eligible judge. The pay of such a judge, pursuant
to section 7296 of this title, shall be the pay of the judge
at the time of the removal from recall status.
‘‘(b) A recall-eligible judge shall be considered to be
an officer or employee of the United States, but only dur-
ing periods when the judge is serving in recall status. Any
prohibition, limitation, or restriction that would otherwise
apply to the activities of a recall-eligible judge shall apply
only during periods when the judge is serving in recall sta-
tus.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding
at the end the following new item:
‘‘7299. Limitation on activities of retired judges.’’.
(1) the rate applicable to that judge under sec-
tion 7296(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, mul-
tiplied by
(2) the fraction (not in excess of 1) in which—
(A) the numerator is the sum of (i) the
number of years of service of the judge as a
judge of the United States Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims creditable under section 7296
of such title, and (ii) the age of the judge; and
(B) the denominator is 80.
(h) ADJUSTMENTS IN RETIRED PAY FOR JUDGES
AVAILABLE
FOR
RECALL.—Subject 
to 
section
7296(f)(3)(B) of title 38, United States Code, an adjust-
ment provided by law in annuities payable under civil serv-
ice retirement laws shall apply to retired pay under this
section in the case of a judge who is a recall-eligible retired
judge under section 7257 of such title, or who was a recall-
eligible retired judge under that section and was removed
from recall status under subsection (b)(4) of that section
by reason of disability.
(i) DUTY
OF
ACTUARY.—Section 7298(e)(2) is
amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (D); and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph:
‘‘(C) For purposes of subparagraph (B), the term
‘present value’ includes a value determined by an actuary
with respect to a payment that may be made under sub-
section (b) from the retirement fund within the contempla-
tion of law.’’.
TITLE V—OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 501. REPEAL OF CERTAIN SUNSET PROVISIONS.
(a) ENHANCED LOAN ASSET SALE AUTHORITY.—
Section 3720(h) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(h)’’; and
(2) by striking paragraph (2).
(b) PROCEDURES
APPLICABLE
TO
LIQUIDATION
SALES ON DEFAULTED HOME LOANS.—Section 3732(c)
is amended by striking paragraph (11).
(c) INCOME
VERIFICATION
AUTHORITY.—Section
5317(g) is repealed.
SEC. 502. ENHANCED QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM
WITHIN THE VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINIS-
TRATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Chapter 77 is amended by
adding at the end the following new subchapter:
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—QUALITY ASSURANCE
‘‘§ 7731. Establishment
‘‘(a) The Secretary shall carry out a quality assur-
ance program in the Veterans Benefits Administration.
The program may be carried out through a single quality
assurance division in the Administration or through sepa-
rate quality assurance entities for each of the principal
organizational elements (known as ‘services’) of the Ad-
ministration.
‘‘(b) The Secretary shall ensure that any quality as-
surance entity established and operated under subsection
(a) is established and operated so as to meet generally ap-
plicable governmental standards for independence and in-
ternal controls for the performance of quality reviews of
Government performance and results.
‘‘§ 7732. Functions
‘‘The Under Secretary for Benefits, acting through
the quality assurance entities established under section
7731(a), shall on an ongoing basis perform and oversee
quality reviews of the functions of each of the principal
organizational elements of the Veterans Benefits Adminis-
tration.
‘‘§ 7733. Personnel
‘‘The Secretary shall ensure that the number of full-
time employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration
assigned to quality assurance functions under this sub-
chapter is adequate to perform the quality assurance func-
tions for which they have responsibility.
‘‘§ 7734. Annual report to Congress
‘‘The Secretary shall include in the annual report to
the Congress required by section 529 of this title a report
on the quality assurance activities carried out under this
subchapter. Each such report shall include—
‘‘(1) an appraisal of the quality of services pro-
vided by the Veterans Benefits Administration,
including—
‘‘(A) the number of decisions reviewed;
‘‘(B) a summary of the findings on the de-
cisions reviewed;
‘‘(C) the number of full-time equivalent
employees assigned to quality assurance in each
division or entity;
‘‘(D) specific documentation of compliance
with the standards for independence and inter-
nal control required by section 7731(b) of this
title; and
‘‘(E) actions taken to improve the quality
of services provided and the results obtained;
‘‘(2) information with respect to the accuracy of
decisions, including trends in that information; and
‘‘(3) such other information as the Secretary
considers appropriate.’’.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following
new items:
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—QUALITY ASSURANCE
‘‘7731. Establishment.
‘‘7732. Functions.
‘‘7733. Personnel.
‘‘7734. Annual report to Congress.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subchapter III of chapter 77
of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), shall take effect on the later of October 1, 1999, or
at the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 503. EXTENSION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MI-
NORITY VETERANS.
Section 544(e) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31,
1999’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2004’’.
SEC. 504. CODIFICATION OF RECURRING PROVISIONS IN
ANNUAL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACTS.
(a) CODIFICATION OF RECURRING PROVISIONS.—(1)
Section 313 is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsections:
‘‘(c) COMPENSATION AND PENSION.—Funds appro-
priated for Compensation and Pensions are available for
the following purposes:
‘‘(1) The payment of compensation benefits to
or on behalf of veterans as authorized by section 107
and chapters 11, 13, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of this title.
‘‘(2) Pension benefits to or on behalf of vet-
erans as authorized by chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and
61 of this title and section 306 of the Veterans’ and
Survivors’ Pension Improvement Act of 1978.
‘‘(3) The payment of benefits as authorized
under chapter 18 of this title.
‘‘(4) Burial benefits, emergency and other offi-
cers’ retirement pay, adjusted-service credits and
certificates, payments of premiums due on commer-
cial life insurance policies guaranteed under the pro-
visions of article IV of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’
Civil Relief Act of 1940 (50 U.S.C. App. 540 et
seq.), and other benefits as authorized by sections
107, 1312, 1977, and 2106 and chapters 23, 51, 53,
55, and 61 of this title and the World War Adjusted
Compensation Act (43 Stat. 122, 123), the Act of
May 24, 1928 (Public Law No. 506 of the 70th
Congress; 45 Stat. 735), and Public Law 87–875
(76 Stat. 1198).
‘‘(d) MEDICAL CARE.—Funds appropriated for Med-
ical Care are available for the following purposes:
‘‘(1) The maintenance and operation of hos-
pitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facilities.
‘‘(2) Furnishing, as authorized by law, inpatient
and outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of
the Department, including care and treatment in fa-
cilities not under the jurisdiction of the Department.
‘‘(3) Furnishing recreational facilities, supplies,
and equipment.
‘‘(4) Funeral and burial expenses and other ex-
penses incidental to funeral and burial expenses for
beneficiaries receiving care from the Department.
‘‘(5) Administrative expenses in support of
planning, design, project management, real property
acquisition and disposition, construction, and ren-
ovation of any facility under the jurisdiction or for
the use of the Department.
‘‘(6) Oversight, engineering, and architectural
activities not charged to project cost.
‘‘(7) Repairing, altering, improving, or pro-
viding facilities in the medical facilities and homes
under the jurisdiction of the Department, not other-
wise provided for, either by contact or by the hire
of temporary employees and purchase of materials.
‘‘(8) Uniforms or uniform allowances, as au-
thorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of title 5.
‘‘(9) Aid to State homes, as authorized by sec-
tion 1741 of this title.
‘‘(10) Administrative and legal expenses of the
Department for collecting and recovering amounts
owed the Department as authorized under chapter
17 of this title and Public Law 87–693, popularly
known as the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act
(42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.).
‘‘(e) MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
AND MISCELLA-
NEOUS OPERATING EXPENSES.—Funds appropriated for
Medical Administration and Miscellaneous Operating Ex-
penses are available for the following purposes:
‘‘(1) The administration of medical, hospital,
nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and
research activities authorized by law.
‘‘(2) Administrative expenses in support of
planning, design, project management, architectural
work, engineering, real property acquisition and dis-
position, construction, and renovation of any facility
under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Depart-
ment, including site acquisition.
‘‘(3) Engineering and architectural activities
not charged to project costs.
‘‘(4) Research and development in building con-
struction technology.
‘‘(f) GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES.—Funds ap-
propriated for General Operating Expenses are available
for the following purposes:
‘‘(1) Uniforms or allowances therefor.
‘‘(2) Hire of passenger motor vehicles.
‘‘(3) Reimbursement of the General Services
Administration for security guard services.
‘‘(4) Reimbursement of the Department of De-
fense for the cost of overseas employee mail.
‘‘(5) Administration of the Service Members
Occupational Conversion and Training Act of 1992
(10 U.S.C. 1143 note).
‘‘(g) CONSTRUCTION.—Funds appropriated for Con-
struction, Major Projects, and for Construction, Minor
Projects, are available, with respect to a project, for the
following purposes:
‘‘(1) Planning.
‘‘(2) Architectural and engineering services.
‘‘(3) Maintenance or guarantee period services
costs associated with equipment guarantees provided
under the project.
‘‘(4) Services of claims analysts.
‘‘(5) Offsite utility and storm drainage system
construction costs.
‘‘(6) Site acquisition.
‘‘(h) CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS.—In addi-
tion to the purposes specified in subsection (g), funds ap-
propriated for Construction, Minor Projects, are available
for—
‘‘(1) repairs to any of the nonmedical facilities
under the jurisdiction or for the use of the Depart-
ment which are necessary because of loss or damage
caused by a natural disaster or catastrophe; and
‘‘(2) temporary measures necessary to prevent
or to minimize further loss by such causes.’’.
(2)(A) Chapter 1 is amended by adding at the end
the following new section:
‘‘§ 116. Definition of cost of direct and guaranteed
loans
‘‘For the purpose of any provision of law appro-
priating funds to the Department for the cost of direct
or guaranteed loans, the cost of any such loan, including
the cost of modifying any such loan, shall be as defined
in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
(2 U.S.C. 661a).’’.
(B) The table of sections at the beginning of such
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following
new item:
‘‘116. Definition of cost of direct and guaranteed loans.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsections (c) through (h)
of section 313 of title 38, United States Code, as added
by subsection (a)(1), and section 116 of such title, as
added by subsection (a)(2), shall take effect with respect
to funds appropriated for fiscal year 2001.
Passed the House of Representatives June 29, 1999.
Attest:
Clerk.