SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Veterans’ Programs Extension and Construction Author-
ization Act of 2008’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS AND 
MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES 
Sec. 101. Authorization for fiscal year 2009 major medical facility projects. 
Sec. 102. Modification of authorization amounts for certain major medical facil-
ity construction projects previously authorized. 
Sec. 103. Authorization of fiscal year 2009 major medical facility leases. 
Sec. 104. Authorization of construction of major medical facility, Okaloosa 
County, Florida. 
Sec. 105. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 106. Report on facilities administration. 
Sec. 107. Annual report on outpatient clinics. 
TITLE II—EXTENSION OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES 
Sec. 201. Repeal of sunset on inclusion of noninstitutional extended care serv-
ices in definition of medical services. 
Sec. 202. Extension of recovery audit authority. 
Sec. 203. Permanent authority for provision of hospital care, medical services, 
and nursing home care to veterans who participated in certain 
chemical and biological testing conducted by the Department of 
Defense. 
Sec. 204. Extension of expiring collections authorities. 
Sec. 205. Extension of nursing home care. 
Sec. 206. Extension of authority to carry out income verification. 
Sec. 207. Permanent authority to establish research corporations. 
Sec. 208. Extension of certain veterans home loan guaranty programs. 
Sec. 209. Extension of requirement to submit annual report on the Special 
Committee on Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder. 
Sec. 210. Extension of requirement to submit annual report on the Committee 
on Care of Severely Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans. 
Sec. 211. Permanent requirement for biannual report on Women’s Advisory 
Committee. 
Sec. 212. Permanent authority for Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. 
Sec. 213. Extension of temporary increase in maximum loan guaranty amount 
for certain housing loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
TITLE III—OTHER MATTERS 
Sec. 301. Increase in cap of number of veterans participating in independent 
living program.
Sec. 302. Enhancement of refinancing of home loans by veterans. 
Sec. 303. Technical amendments. 
TITLE 
I—AUTHORIZATION 
OF 
MEDICAL 
FACILITY 
PROJECTS AND MAJOR MED-
ICAL FACILITY LEASES 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 MAJOR 
MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
following major medical facility projects in fiscal year 
2009 in the amount specified for each project: 
(1) Seismic corrections, Building 2, at the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care 
System, Palo Alto Division Palo Alto, California, in 
an amount not to exceed $54,000,000. 
(2) Construction of a polytrauma healthcare 
and rehabilitation center at the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, 
in an amount not to exceed $66,000,000. 
(3) Seismic corrections, Building 1, at the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San 
Juan, Puerto Rico, in an amount not to exceed 
$225,900,000.
SEC. 102. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORIZATION AMOUNTS 
FOR CERTAIN MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY AU-
THORIZED. 
(a) MODIFICATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY 
AUTHORIZATIONS.—Section 801(a) of the Veterans Bene-
fits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 
2006 (Public Law 109–461) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$300,000,000’’ and in-
serting ‘‘$625,000,000’’; and 
(B) by striking the second sentence; and 
(2) 
in 
paragraph 
(3), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$98,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$769,200,000’’. 
(b) MODIFICATION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR CER-
TAIN
MAJOR
MEDICAL
FACILITY
CONSTRUCTION 
PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED
IN CONNECTION 
WITH CAPITAL ASSET REALIGNMENT INITIATIVE.— 
(1) CORRECTION OF PATIENT PRIVACY DEFI-
CIENCIES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.— 
Paragraph (5) of section 802 of the Veterans Bene-
fits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act 
of 2006 (Public Law 109–461) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘$85,200,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$136,700,000’’.
(2) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MEDICAL CEN-
TER FACILITY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.— 
Paragraph (7) of such section is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘$406,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$600,400,000’’. 
(3) CONSTRUCTION
OF
A
NEW
OUTPATIENT 
CLINIC, LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA.—Paragraph (8) of 
such section is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘ambulatory’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘purchase,’’ and inserting ‘‘out-
patient clinic in’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘$65,100,000’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$131,800,000’’. 
(4) CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MEDICAL CEN-
TER
FACILITY, 
ORLANDO, 
FLORIDA.—Paragraph 
(11) of such section is amended by striking 
‘‘$377,700,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$656,800,000’’. 
(5) CONSOLIDATION OF CAMPUSES AT THE UNI-
VERSITY DRIVE AND H. JOHN HEINZ III DIVISIONS, 
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.—Paragraph (12) of 
such section is amended by striking ‘‘$189,205,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$295,600,000’’.
SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2009 MAJOR 
MEDICAL FACILITY LEASES. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
following major medical facility leases in fiscal year 2009 
at the locations specified, and in an amount for each lease 
not to exceed the amount shown for such location: 
(1) For an outpatient clinic, Brandon, Florida, 
$4,326,000. 
(2) For an outpatient clinic, Colorado Springs, 
Colorado, $3,995,000. 
(3) For an outpatient clinic, Eugene, Oregon, 
$5,826,000. 
(4) For the expansion of an outpatient clinic, 
Green Bay, Wisconsin, $5,891,000. 
(5) For an outpatient clinic, Greenville, South 
Carolina, $3,731,000. 
(6) For an outpatient clinic, Mansfield, Ohio, 
$2,212,000. 
(7) For an outpatient clinic, Mayaguez, Puerto 
Rico, $6,276,000. 
(8) For an outpatient clinic, Mesa, Arizona, 
$5,106,000. 
(9) For interim research space, Palo Alto, Cali-
fornia, $8,636,000. 
(10) For the expansion of an outpatient clinic, 
Savannah, Georgia, $3,168,000.
(11) For an outpatient clinic, Sun City, Ari-
zona, $2,295,000. 
(12) For a primary care annex, Tampa, Flor-
ida, $8,652,000. 
SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION OF MAJOR 
MEDICAL 
FACILITY, 
OKALOOSA 
COUNTY, 
FLORIDA. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall carry out a major medical facility project to 
construct a new medical facility of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs in Okaloosa County, Florida, in an amount 
not to exceed $54,475,000. 
(b) FACILITY LOCATION.—The facility authorized to 
be constructed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be built 
in accordance with option 2 of the report to Congress 
dated June 26, 2007, required to be submitted under sec-
tion 823 of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Infor-
mation Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–461; 
120 Stat. 3449). 
(c) PLAN FOR SHARING OF INPATIENT AND OUT-
PATIENT SERVICES.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a plan 
that sets forth terms and conditions for the sharing of in-
Federal facilities or facilities operating in col-
laboration with the Federal Government; and 
‘‘(B) any sites established, or able to be es-
tablished, under sections 8111 and 8153 of this 
title.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR FIRST ANNUAL REPORT.—The 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit the first report 
required under section 8119(a) of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a), by not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end of the items relating to subchapter I the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘8119. Annual report on outpatient clinics.’’. 
TITLE II—EXTENSION OF 
CERTAIN AUTHORITIES 
SEC. 201. REPEAL OF SUNSET ON INCLUSION OF NON-
INSTITUTIONAL EXTENDED CARE SERVICES 
IN DEFINITION OF MEDICAL SERVICES. 
Section 1701 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (10); and 
(2) in paragraph (6)—
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) 
and (F) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) 
the following new subparagraph (E): 
‘‘(E) Noninstitutional extended care serv-
ices, including alternatives to institutional ex-
tended care that the Secretary may furnish di-
rectly, by contract, or through provision of case 
management by another provider or payer.’’. 
SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF RECOVERY AUDIT AUTHORITY. 
Section 1703(d)(4) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2008’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘September 30, 2013’’. 
SEC. 203. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR PROVISION OF 
HOSPITAL CARE, MEDICAL SERVICES, AND 
NURSING HOME CARE TO VETERANS WHO 
PARTICIPATED IN CERTAIN CHEMICAL AND 
BIOLOGICAL TESTING CONDUCTED BY THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) PERMANENT AUTHORITY.—Subsection (e)(3) of 
section 1710 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a period; and 
(3) by striking subparagraph (D). 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Subsection 
(e)(1)(E) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘para-
graphs (2) and (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (2)’’. 
SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING COLLECTIONS AU-
THORITIES. 
(a) 
HEALTH
CARE
COPAYMENTS.—Section 
1710(f)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘September 30, 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2010’’. 
(b) MEDICAL
CARE
COST
RECOVERY.—Section 
1729(a)(2)(E) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘October 1, 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 
2010’’. 
SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF NURSING HOME CARE. 
Section 1710A(d) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2008’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2013’’. 
SEC. 206. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT IN-
COME VERIFICATION. 
Section 5317(g) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2008’’ and inserting 
‘‘September 30, 2010’’.
SEC. 207. PERMANENT AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH RE-
SEARCH CORPORATIONS. 
(a) REPEAL.—Title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking section 7368. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 73 of such title is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 7368. 
SEC. 208. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN VETERANS HOME LOAN 
GUARANTY PROGRAMS. 
(a) EXTENSION OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ON 
ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES.—Section 3707(a) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘2008’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
(b) EXTENSION OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ON 
HYBRID
ADJUSTABLE
RATE
MORTGAGES.—Section 
3707A(a) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘2008’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2012’’. 
SEC. 209. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT AN-
NUAL REPORT ON THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE 
ON POST-TRAUMATIC-STRESS DISORDER. 
Section 110(e)(2) of the Veterans’ Health Care Act 
of 1984 (38 U.S.C. 1712A note; Public Law 98–528) is 
amended by striking ‘‘through 2008’’ and inserting 
‘‘through 2012’’.
SEC. 210. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT AN-
NUAL REPORT ON THE COMMITTEE ON CARE 
OF SEVERELY CHRONICALLY MENTALLY ILL 
VETERANS. 
Section 7321(d)(2) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘through 2008’’ and inserting 
‘‘through 2012’’. 
SEC. 211. PERMANENT REQUIREMENT FOR BIANNUAL RE-
PORT ON WOMEN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
Section 542(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘through 2008’’. 
SEC. 212. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ON MINORITY VETERANS. 
Section 544 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking subsection (e). 
SEC. 213. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY INCREASE IN MAX-
IMUM LOAN GUARANTY AMOUNT FOR CER-
TAIN HOUSING LOANS GUARANTEED BY THE 
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
Section 2201 of the Housing and Economic Recovery 
Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–289) is amended by striking 
‘‘December 31, 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2011’’.
TITLE III—OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 301. INCREASE IN CAP OF NUMBER OF VETERANS 
PARTICIPATING IN INDEPENDENT LIVING 
PROGRAM. 
Section 3120(e) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘2,500 veterans’’ and inserting 
‘‘2,600 veterans’’. 
SEC. 302. ENHANCEMENT OF REFINANCING OF HOME 
LOANS BY VETERANS. 
(a) INCLUSION
OF REFINANCING LOANS AMONG 
LOANS
SUBJECT
TO
GUARANTY
MAXIMUM.—Section 
3703(a)(1)(A)(i)(IV) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘(5),’’ after ‘‘(3),’’. 
(b) INCREASE IN MAXIMUM PERCENTAGE OF LOAN 
TO-VALUE OF REFINANCING LOANS SUBJECT TO GUAR-
ANTY.—Section 3710(b)(8) of such title is amended by 
striking ‘‘90 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘100 percent’’. 
SEC. 303. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS. 
(a) TITLE 38.—Title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in section 1712A— 
(A) by striking subsection (g); 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
subsections 
(d) 
through (i) as subsections (c) through (f), re-
spectively; and