†
130
HR 1538 PP
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of
fiscal years 2008 through 2012, $10,000,000 to carry out
the program required by subsection (a).’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at
the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 7330 the following new item:
‘‘7330A. Severe traumatic brain injury research, education, and clinical care pro-
gram.’’.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall submit to Congress a report on the research to
be conducted under the program required by section 7330A
of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
SEC. 205. PILOT PROGRAM ON ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES
FOR VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN IN-
JURY.
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—Not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall, in collaboration with the Defense and
Veterans Brain Injury Center, carry out a pilot program
to assess the effectiveness of providing assisted living serv-
ices to eligible veterans to enhance the rehabilitation, qual-
ity of life, and community integration of such veterans.
†
131
HR 1538 PP
(b) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—The pilot program shall
be carried out during the five-year period beginning on the
date of the commencement of the pilot program.
(c) PROGRAM LOCATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The pilot program shall be
carried out at locations selected by the Secretary for
purposes of the pilot program. Of the locations so
selected—
(A) at least one shall be in each health care
region of the Veterans Health Administration
that contains a polytrauma center of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs; and
(B) any other locations shall be in areas
that contain high concentrations of veterans with
traumatic brain injury, as determined by the
Secretary.
(2) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR VETERANS IN
RURAL AREAS.—Special consideration shall be given
to provide veterans in rural areas with an oppor-
tunity to participate in the pilot program.
(d) PROVISION OF ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES.—
(1) AGREEMENTS.—In carrying out the pilot
program, the Secretary may enter into agreements for
the provision of assisted living services on behalf of el-
igible veterans with a provider participating under a
†
132
HR 1538 PP
State plan or waiver under title XIX of such Act (42
U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
(2) STANDARDS.—The Secretary may not place,
transfer, or admit a veteran to any facility for as-
sisted living services under this program unless the
Secretary determines that the facility meets such
standards as the Secretary may prescribe for purposes
of the pilot program. Such standards shall, to the ex-
tent practicable, be consistent with the standards of
Federal, State, and local agencies charged with the re-
sponsibility of licensing or otherwise regulating or in-
specting such facilities.
(e) CONTINUATION OF CASE MANAGEMENT AND REHA-
BILITATION SERVICES.—In carrying the pilot program
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall continue to provide
each veteran who is receiving assisted living services under
the pilot program with rehabilitative services and shall des-
ignate Department health-care employees to furnish case
management services for veterans participating in the pilot
program.
(f) REPORT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after
the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary
shall submit to the congressional veterans affairs com-
mittees a report on the pilot program.
†
133
HR 1538 PP
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following:
(A) A description of the pilot program.
(B) An assessment of the utility of the ac-
tivities under the pilot program in enhancing
the rehabilitation, quality of life, and commu-
nity reintegration of veterans with traumatic
brain injury.
(C) Such recommendations as the Secretary
considers appropriate regarding the extension or
expansion of the pilot program.
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) The term ‘‘assisted living services’’ means
services of a facility in providing room, board, and
personal care for and supervision of residents for
their health, safety, and welfare.
(2) The term ‘‘case management services’’ in-
cludes the coordination and facilitation of all services
furnished to a veteran by the Department of Veterans
Affairs, either directly or through contract, including
assessment of needs, planning, referral (including re-
ferral for services to be furnished by the Department,
either directly or through a contract, or by an entity
other than the Department), monitoring, reassess-
ment, and followup.
†
134
HR 1538 PP
(3) The term ‘‘congressional veterans affairs
committees’’ means—
(A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of
the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of
the House of Representatives.
(4) The term ‘‘eligible veteran’’ means a veteran
who—
(A) is enrolled in the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs health care system;
(B) has received treatment for traumatic
brain injury from the Department of Veterans
Affairs;
(C) is unable to manage routine activities
of daily living without supervision and assist-
ance; and
(D) could reasonably be expected to receive
ongoing services after the end of the pilot pro-
gram under this section under another govern-
ment program or through other means.
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out this section, $8,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2008 through 2013.
†
135
HR 1538 PP
SEC. 206. RESEARCH ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
(a) INCLUSION OF RESEARCH ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN
INJURY UNDER ONGOING RESEARCH PROGRAMS.—The
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in carrying out research
programs and activities under the provisions of law referred
to in subsection (b), ensure that such programs and activi-
ties include research on the sequelae of mild to severe forms
of traumatic brain injury, including—
(1) research on visually-related neurological con-
ditions;
(2) research on seizure disorders;
(3) research on means of improving the diag-
nosis, rehabilitative treatment, and prevention of such
sequelae;
(4) research to determine the most effective cog-
nitive and physical therapies for the sequelae of trau-
matic brain injury; and
(5) research on dual diagnosis of post-traumatic
stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
(b) RESEARCH AUTHORITIES.—The provisions of law
referred to in this subsection are the following:
(1) Section 3119 of title 38, United States Code,
relating to rehabilitation research and special
projects.
†
136
HR 1538 PP
(2) Section 7303 of such title, relating to re-
search programs of the Veterans Health Administra-
tion.
(3) Section 7327 of such title, relating to re-
search, education, and clinical activities on complex
multi-trauma associated with combat injuries.
(c) COLLABORATION.—In carrying out the research re-
quired by subsection (a), the Secretary shall collaborate
with facilities that—
(1) conduct research on rehabilitation for indi-
viduals with traumatic brain injury; and
(2) receive grants for such research from the Na-
tional Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Re-
search of the Department of Education.
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives a report describing in comprehensive detail the re-
search to be carried out pursuant to subsection (a).
SEC. 207. AGE-APPROPRIATE NURSING HOME CARE.
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that young veterans who
are injured or disabled through military service and require
long-term care should have access to age-appropriate nurs-
ing home care.
†
137
HR 1538 PP
(b) REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE AGE-APPROPRIATE
NURSING HOME CARE.—Section 1710A of title 38, United
States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection
(d); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following
new subsection (c):
‘‘(c) The Secretary shall ensure that nursing home care
provided under subsection (a) is provided in an age-appro-
priate manner.’’.
SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR
HEALTH CARE FOR COMBAT SERVICE IN THE
PERSIAN 
GULF 
WAR 
OR 
FUTURE 
HOS-
TILITIES.
Section 1710(e)(3)(C) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended by striking ‘‘2 years’’ and inserting ‘‘5 years’’.
SEC. 209. MENTAL HEALTH: SERVICE-CONNECTION STATUS
AND EVALUATIONS FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.
(a) PRESUMPTION OF SERVICE-CONNECTION OF MEN-
TAL ILLNESS FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.—Section 1702 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘psychosis’’ and inserting ‘‘men-
tal illness’’; and
(2) in the heading, by striking ‘‘psychosis’’
and inserting ‘‘mental illness’’.
†
138
HR 1538 PP
(b) PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS
FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.—Upon the request of a veteran
described in section 1710(e)(3)(C) of title 38, United States
Code, the Secretary shall provide to such veteran a prelimi-
nary mental health evaluation as soon as practicable, but
not later than 30 days after such request.
SEC. 210. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR FUR-
NISHING OUTPATIENT DENTAL SERVICES TO
VETERANS 
WITH 
A 
SERVICE-CONNECTED
DENTAL CONDITION OR DISABILITY.
Section 1712(a)(1)(B)(iv) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘90-day’’ and inserting ‘‘180-
day’’.
SEC. 211. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON PREVENTING
VETERANS AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS FROM
BECOMING HOMELESS.
(a) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.—The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall carry out a demonstration program
for the purpose of—
(1) identifying members of the Armed Forces on
active duty who are at risk of becoming homeless after
they are discharged or released from active duty; and
(2) providing referral, counseling, and sup-
portive services, as appropriate, to help prevent such
†
139
HR 1538 PP
members, upon becoming veterans, from becoming
homeless.
(b) PROGRAM LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall carry
out the demonstration program in at least three locations.
(c) IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA.—In developing and
implementing the criteria to identify members of the Armed
Forces, who upon becoming veterans, are at-risk of becom-
ing homeless, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult
with the Secretary of Defense and such other officials and
experts as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(d) CONTRACTS.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
may enter into contracts to provide the referral, counseling,
and supportive services required under the demonstration
program with entities or organizations that meet such re-
quirements as the Secretary may establish.
(e) SUNSET.—The authority of the Secretary under
subsection (a) shall expire on September 30, 2011.
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for the purpose
of carrying out the provisions of this section.
SEC. 212. CLARIFICATION OF PURPOSE OF THE OUTREACH
SERVICES PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) CLARIFICATION OF INCLUSION OF MEMBERS OF
THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE IN PROGRAM.—Sub-
†
140
HR 1538 PP
section (a)(1) of section 6301 of title 38, United States Code,
is amended by inserting ‘‘, or from the National Guard or
Reserve,’’ after ‘‘active military, naval, or air service’’.
(b) DEFINITION
OF OUTREACH.—Subsection (b) of
such section is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
(2) by inserting before paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (1):
‘‘(1) the term ‘outreach’ means the act or process
of reaching out in a systematic manner to proactively
provide information, services, and benefits counseling
to veterans, and to the spouses, children, and parents
of veterans who may be eligible to receive benefits
under the laws administered by the Secretary, to en-
sure that such individuals are fully informed about,
and assisted in applying for, any benefits and pro-
grams under such laws;’’.
TITLE III
SEC. 301. FISCAL YEAR 2008 INCREASE IN MILITARY BASIC
PAY.
(a) WAIVER OF SECTION 1009 ADJUSTMENT.—The ad-
justment to become effective during Fiscal year 2008 re-
quired by section 1009 of title 37, United States Code, in
†
141
HR 1538 PP
the rates of monthly basic pay authorized for members of
the uniformed services shall not be made.
(b) INCREASE IN BASIC PAY.—Effective on January
1, 2008, the rates of monthly basic pay for members of the
uniformed services are increased by 3.5 percent.
Attest:
Secretary.