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notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence 
to conclude that such illnesses or conditions are attributable 
to such residence. 
‘‘(b) LIMITATIONS.—(1) The Secretary may only fur-
nish hospital care and medical services under subsection (a) 
to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in 
appropriations Acts for such purpose. 
‘‘(2) Hospital care and medical services may not be 
furnished under subsection (a) for an illness or condition 
of a family member that is found, in accordance with guide-
lines issued by the Under Secretary for Health, to have re-
sulted from a cause other than the residence of the family 
member described in that subsection. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary may provide reimbursement for 
hospital care or medical services provided to a family mem-
ber under this section only after the family member or the 
provider of such care or services has exhausted without suc-
cess all claims and remedies reasonably available to the 
family member or provider against a third party (as de-
fined in section 1725(f) of this title) for payment of such 
care or services, including with respect to health-plan con-
tracts (as defined in such section).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by
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inserting after the item relating to section 1786 the 
following new item: 
‘‘1787. Health care of family members of veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune, 
North Carolina.’’. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31 of 
each of 2013, 2014, and 2015, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a re-
port on the care and services provided under sections 
1710(e)(1)(F) and 1787 of title 38, United States 
Code (as added by subsections (a) and (b)(1), respec-
tively). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph 
(1) shall set forth the following: 
(A) The number of veterans and family 
members provided hospital care and medical 
services under the provisions of law specified in 
paragraph (1) during the period beginning on 
October 1, 2012, and ending on the date of such 
report. 
(B) The illnesses, conditions, and disabil-
ities for which care and services have been pro-
vided such veterans and family members under 
such provisions of law during that period.
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(C) The number of veterans and family 
members who applied for care and services under 
such provisions of law during that period but 
were denied, including information on the rea-
sons for such denials. 
(D) The number of veterans and family 
members who applied for care and services under 
such provisions of law and are awaiting a deci-
sion from the Secretary on eligibility for such 
care and services as of the date of such report. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of this section 
and the amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) APPLICABILITY.—Subparagraph (F) of sec-
tion 1710(e)(1) of such title, as added by subsection 
(a), and section 1787 of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (b)(1), shall apply with re-
spect to hospital care and medical services provided 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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SEC. 103. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE COLLECTION OF COPAY-
MENTS FOR TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDI-
CINE VISITS OF VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 17 is 
amended by inserting after section 1722A the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copay-
ments for telehealth and telemedicine vis-
its of veterans 
‘‘The Secretary may waive the imposition or collection 
of copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits of vet-
erans under the laws administered by the Secretary.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 1722A the following new item: 
‘‘1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for telehealth and tele-
medicine visits of veterans.’’. 
SEC. 104. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF PAYMENTS AND AL-
LOWANCES FOR BENEFICIARY TRAVEL IN 
CONNECTION WITH VETERANS RECEIVING 
CARE FROM VET CENTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall commence a three-year initiative to assess the 
feasibility and advisability of paying under section 111(a) 
of title 38, United States Code, the actual necessary ex-
† HR 1627 EAS 
penses of travel or allowances for travel from a residence 
located in an area that is designated by the Secretary as 
highly rural to the nearest Vet Center and from such Vet 
Center to such residence. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the completion of the initiative, the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress a report on the find-
ings of the Secretary with respect to the initiative re-
quired by subsection (a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A description of the individuals who 
benefitted from payment under the initiative. 
(B) A description of any impediments to 
the Secretary in paying expenses or allowances 
under the initiative. 
(C) A description of any impediments en-
countered by individuals in receiving such pay-
ments. 
(D) An assessment of the feasibility and ad-
visability of paying such expenses or allowances. 
(E) An assessment of any fraudulent receipt 
of payment under the initiative and the rec-
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shall be based on a methodology, developed by the Secretary 
in consultation with the State home, to adequately reim-
burse the State home for the care provided by the State 
home under the contract (or agreement).’’. 
(b) AGREEMENTS.—Section 1720(c)(1)(A) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and insert-
ing a semicolon; 
(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(iii) a provider of services eligible to enter into 
a contract pursuant to section 1745(a) of this title 
that is not otherwise described in clause (i) or (ii).’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to care provided on or after 
the date that is 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(2) MAINTENANCE OF PRIOR METHODOLOGY OF 
REIMBURSEMENT
FOR
CERTAIN
STATE
HOMES.—In 
the case of a State home that provided nursing home 
care on the day before the date of the enactment of 
this Act for which the State home was eligible for pay
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under section 1745(a)(1) of title 38, United States 
Code, at the request of any State home, the Secretary 
shall offer to enter into a contract (or agreement de-
scribed in such section) with such State home under 
such section, as amended by subsection (a), for pay-
ment for nursing home care provided by such State 
home under such section that reflects the overall meth-
odology of reimbursement for such care that was in 
effect for such State home on the day before the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 106. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON REPORTING AND 
TRACKING SEXUAL ASSAULT INCIDENTS AND 
OTHER SAFETY INCIDENTS. 
(a) POLICY.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 1709. Comprehensive policy on reporting and track-
ing sexual assault incidents and other 
safety incidents 
‘‘(a) POLICY REQUIRED.—(1) Not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2012, the Secretary shall develop and implement 
a centralized and comprehensive policy on the reporting 
and tracking of sexual assault incidents and other safety 
incidents that occur at each medical facility of the Depart-
ment, including—
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‘‘(A) suspected, alleged, attempted, or confirmed 
cases of sexual assault, regardless of whether such as-
saults lead to prosecution or conviction; 
‘‘(B) criminal and purposefully unsafe acts; 
‘‘(C) alcohol or substance abuse related acts (in-
cluding by employees of the Department); and 
‘‘(D) any kind of event involving alleged or sus-
pected abuse of a patient. 
‘‘(2) In developing and implementing a policy under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the effects of 
such policy on— 
‘‘(A) the use by veterans of mental health care 
and substance abuse treatments; and 
‘‘(B) the ability of the Department to refer vet-
erans to such care or treatment. 
‘‘(b) SCOPE.—The policy required by subsection (a) 
shall cover each of the following: 
‘‘(1) For purposes of reporting and tracking sex-
ual assault incidents and other safety incidents, defi-
nitions of the terms— 
‘‘(A) ‘safety incident’; 
‘‘(B) ‘sexual assault’; and 
‘‘(C) ‘sexual assault incident’. 
‘‘(2)(A) The development and use of specific risk- 
assessment tools to examine any risks related to sex-
† HR 1627 EAS 
ual assault that a veteran may pose while being treat-
ed at a medical facility of the Department, including 
clear and consistent guidance on the collection of in-
formation related to— 
‘‘(i) the legal history of the veteran; and 
‘‘(ii) the medical record of the veteran. 
‘‘(B) In developing and using tools under sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary shall consider the effects 
of using such tools on the use by veterans of health 
care furnished by the Department. 
‘‘(3) The mandatory training of employees of the 
Department on security issues, including awareness, 
preparedness, precautions, and police assistance. 
‘‘(4) The mandatory implementation, use, and 
regular testing of appropriate physical security pre-
cautions and equipment, including surveillance cam-
era systems, computer-based panic alarm systems, 
stationary panic alarms, and electronic portable per-
sonal panic alarms. 
‘‘(5) Clear, consistent, and comprehensive cri-
teria and guidance with respect to an employee of the 
Department communicating and reporting sexual as-
sault incidents and other safety incidents to— 
‘‘(A) supervisory personnel of the employee 
at—
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‘‘(i) a medical facility of the Depart-
ment; 
‘‘(ii) an office of a Veterans Integrated 
Service Network; and 
‘‘(iii) the central office of the Veterans 
Health Administration; and 
‘‘(B) a law enforcement official of the De-
partment. 
‘‘(6) Clear and consistent criteria and guidelines 
with respect to an employee of the Department refer-
ring and reporting to the Office of Inspector General 
of the Department sexual assault incidents and other 
safety incidents that meet the regulatory criminal 
threshold prescribed under sections 901 and 902 of 
this title. 
‘‘(7) An accountable oversight system within the 
Veterans Health Administration that includes— 
‘‘(A) systematic information sharing of re-
ported sexual assault incidents and other safety 
incidents among officials of the Administration 
who have programmatic responsibility; and 
‘‘(B) a centralized reporting, tracking, and 
monitoring system for such incidents. 
‘‘(8) Consistent procedures and systems for law 
enforcement officials of the Department with respect
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to investigating, tracking, and closing reported sexual 
assault incidents and other safety incidents. 
‘‘(9) Clear and consistent guidance for the clin-
ical management of the treatment of sexual assaults 
that are reported more than 72 hours after the as-
sault. 
‘‘(c) UPDATES TO POLICY.—The Secretary shall review 
and revise the policy required by subsection (a) on a peri-
odic basis as the Secretary considers appropriate and in 
accordance with best practices. 
‘‘(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—(1) Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which the Secretary develops the policy 
required by subsection (a) and not later than October 1 of 
each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
on the implementation of the policy. 
‘‘(2) The report required by paragraph (1) shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) the number and type of sexual assault inci-
dents and other safety incidents reported by each 
medical facility of the Department; 
‘‘(B) a detailed description of the implementa-
tion of the policy required by subsection (a), includ-
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ing any revisions made to such policy from the pre-
vious year; and 
‘‘(C) the effectiveness of such policy on improving 
the safety and security of the medical facilities of the 
Department, including the performance measures used 
to evaluate such effectiveness.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after 
the item relating to section 1708 the following new item: 
‘‘1709. Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault incidents 
and other safety incidents.’’. 
(c) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives a report on the devel-
opment of the policy required by section 1709 of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a). 
SEC. 107. REHABILITATIVE SERVICES FOR VETERANS WITH 
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. 
(a) REHABILITATION PLANS AND SERVICES.—Section 
1710C is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting before the 
semicolon the following: ‘‘with the goal of maximizing 
the individual’s independence’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)—
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(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(and sustaining im-
provement in)’’ after ‘‘improving’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘behavioral,’’ after 
‘‘cognitive,’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘reha-
bilitative services and’’ before ‘‘rehabilitative 
components’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘treatments’’ the first 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘services’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘treatments and’’ the 
second place it appears; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(h) REHABILITATIVE SERVICES DEFINED.—For pur-
poses of this section, and sections 1710D and 1710E of this 
title, the term ‘rehabilitative services’ includes— 
‘‘(1) rehabilitative services, as defined in section 
1701 of this title; 
‘‘(2) treatment and services (which may be of on-
going duration) to sustain, and prevent loss of, func-
tional gains that have been achieved; and
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‘‘(3) any other rehabilitative services or supports 
that may contribute to maximizing an individual’s 
independence.’’. 
(b) REHABILITATION SERVICES IN COMPREHENSIVE 
PROGRAM
FOR
LONG-TERM
REHABILITATION.—Section 
1710D(a) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘and rehabilitative services (as 
defined in section 1710C of this title)’’ after ‘‘long- 
term care’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘treatment’’. 
(c) REHABILITATION SERVICES IN AUTHORITY FOR 
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR USE OF NON-DEPART-
MENT
FACILITIES
FOR
REHABILITATION.—Section 
1710E(a) is amended by inserting ‘‘, including rehabilita-
tive services (as defined in section 1710C of this title),’’ 
after ‘‘medical services’’. 
(d) 
TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT.—Section 
1710C(c)(2)(S) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘opthamologist’’ and inserting ‘‘ophthalmol-
ogist’’. 
SEC. 108. TELECONSULTATION AND TELEMEDICINE. 
(a) TELECONSULTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17, as 
amended by section 106(a), is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new section:
† HR 1627 EAS 
‘‘§ 1709A. Teleconsultation 
‘‘(a) TELECONSULTATION.—(1) The Secretary shall 
carry out an initiative of teleconsultation for the provision 
of remote mental health and traumatic brain injury assess-
ments in facilities of the Department that are not otherwise 
able to provide such assessments without contracting with 
third-party providers or reimbursing providers through a 
fee basis system. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall, in consultation with appro-
priate professional societies, promulgate technical and clin-
ical care standards for the use of teleconsultation services 
within facilities of the Department. 
‘‘(3) In carrying out an initiative under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall ensure that facilities of the Depart-
ment are able to provide a mental health or traumatic brain 
injury assessment to a veteran through contracting with a 
third-party provider or reimbursing a provider through a 
fee basis system when— 
‘‘(A) such facilities are not able to provide such 
assessment to the veteran without— 
‘‘(i) such contracting or reimbursement; or 
‘‘(ii) teleconsultation; and 
‘‘(B) providing such assessment with such con-
tracting or reimbursement is more clinically appro-
priate for the veteran than providing such assessment 
with teleconsultation.
† HR 1627 EAS 
‘‘(b) TELECONSULTATION DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘teleconsultation’ means the use by a health care 
specialist of telecommunications to assist another health 
care provider in rendering a diagnosis or treatment.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 1709, as 
added by section 106(b), the following new item: 
‘‘1709A. Teleconsultation.’’. 
(b) TRAINING IN TELEMEDICINE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall, to the extent feasible, offer medical resi-
dents opportunities in training in telemedicine for 
medical residency programs. The Secretary shall con-
sult with the Accreditation Council for Graduate 
Medical Education and with universities with which 
facilities of the Department have a major affiliation 
to determine the feasibility and advisability of mak-
ing telehealth a mandatory component of medical 
residency programs. 
(2) TELEMEDICINE
DEFINED.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘‘telemedicine’’ means the use by a 
health care provider of telecommunications to assist 
in the diagnosis or treatment of a patient’s medical 
condition.
† HR 1627 EAS 
SEC. 109. USE OF SERVICE DOGS ON PROPERTY OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
Section 901 is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(f)(1) The Secretary may not prohibit the use of a 
covered service dog in any facility or on any property of 
the Department or in any facility or on any property that 
receives funding from the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered service 
dog is a service dog that has been trained by an entity that 
is accredited by an appropriate accrediting body that eval-
uates and accredits organizations which train guide or serv-
ice dogs.’’. 
SEC. 110. RECOGNITION OF RURAL HEALTH RESOURCE 
CENTERS IN OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH. 
Section 7308 is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) RURAL
HEALTH
RESOURCE
CENTERS.—(1) 
There are, in the Office, veterans rural health resource cen-
ters that serve as satellite offices for the Office. 
‘‘(2) The veterans rural health resource centers have 
purposes as follows: 
‘‘(A) To improve the understanding of the Office 
of the challenges faced by veterans living in rural 
areas.
† HR 1627 EAS 
‘‘(B) To identify disparities in the availability 
of health care to veterans living in rural areas. 
‘‘(C) To formulate practices or programs to en-
hance the delivery of health care to veterans living in 
rural areas. 
‘‘(D) To develop special practices and products 
for the benefit of veterans living in rural areas and 
for implementation of such practices and products in 
the Department systemwide.’’. 
SEC. 111. IMPROVEMENTS FOR RECOVERY AND COLLEC-
TION OF AMOUNTS FOR DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CARE COLLEC-
TIONS FUND. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN 
FOR RECOVERY AND COLLECTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement a plan 
to ensure the recovery and collection of amounts 
under the provisions of law described in section 
1729A(b) of title 38, United States Code, for deposit 
in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care 
Collections Fund. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The plan required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following:
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(A) An effective process to identify billable 
fee claims. 
(B) Effective and practicable policies and 
procedures that ensure recovery and collection of 
amounts described in section 1729A(b) of such 
title. 
(C) The training of employees of the De-
partment, on or before September 30, 2013, who 
are responsible for the recovery or collection of 
such amounts to enable such employees to comply 
with the process required by subparagraph (A) 
and the policies and procedures required by sub-
paragraph (B). 
(D) Fee revenue goals for the Department. 
(E) An effective monitoring system to en-
sure achievement of goals described in subpara-
graph (D) and compliance with the policies and 
procedures described in subparagraph (B). 
(b) MONITORING OF THIRD-PARTY COLLECTIONS.— 
The Secretary shall monitor the recovery and collection of 
amounts from third parties (as defined in section 1729(i) 
of such title) for deposit in such fund. 
SEC. 112. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COPAYMENTS. 
Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2013’’.
† HR 1627 EAS 
SEC. 113. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY OF 
COST OF CERTAIN CARE AND SERVICES. 
Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ‘‘Octo-
ber 1, 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2013’’. 
TITLE II—HOUSING MATTERS 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Andrew Connelly Vet-
erans Housing Act’’. 
SEC. 202. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR 
SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE 
FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES 
CAUSING DIFFICULTY WITH AMBULATING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (2) of section 2101(a) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2)(A) A veteran is described in this paragraph if the 
veteran— 
‘‘(i) is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 
of this title for a permanent and total service-con-
nected disability that meets any of the criteria de-
scribed in subparagraph (B); or 
‘‘(ii) served in the Armed Forces on or after Sep-
tember 11, 2001, and is entitled to compensation 
under chapter 11 of this title for a permanent service- 
connected disability that meets the criterion described 
in subparagraph (C).
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‘‘(B) The criteria described in this subparagraph are 
as follows: 
‘‘(i) The disability is due to the loss, or loss of 
use, of both lower extremities such as to preclude loco-
motion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or 
a wheelchair. 
‘‘(ii) The disability is due to— 
‘‘(I) blindness in both eyes, having only 
light perception, plus (ii) loss or loss of use of 
one lower extremity. 
‘‘(iii) The disability is due to the loss or loss of 
use of one lower extremity together with— 
‘‘(I) residuals of organic disease or injury; 
or 
‘‘(II) the loss or loss of use of one upper ex-
tremity, 
which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion 
as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, 
crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. 
‘‘(iv) The disability is due to the loss, or loss of 
use, of both upper extremities such as to preclude use 
of the arms at or above the elbows. 
‘‘(v) The disability is due to a severe burn injury 
(as determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by 
the Secretary).
† HR 1627 EAS 
‘‘(C) The criterion described in this subparagraph is 
that the disability— 
‘‘(i) was incurred on or after September 11, 
2001; and 
‘‘(ii) is due to the loss or loss of use of one or 
more lower extremities which so affects the functions 
of balance or propulsion as to preclude ambulating 
without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheel-
chair.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2012. 
(c) SUNSET.—Subsection (a) of section 2101 is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘to paragraph 
(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘to paragraphs (3) and (4)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(4) The Secretary’s authority to furnish assistance 
under paragraph (1) to a disabled veteran described in 
paragraph (2)(A)(ii) shall apply only with respect to appli-
cations for such assistance approved by the Secretary on 
or before September 30, 2013.’’.
† HR 1627 EAS 
SEC. 203. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY 
ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR VET-
ERANS WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (2) of section 2101(b) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) A veteran is described in this paragraph if the 
veteran is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this 
title for a service-connected disability that meets any of the 
following criteria: 
‘‘(A) The disability is due to blindness in both 
eyes, having central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in 
the better eye with the use of a standard correcting 
lens. For the purposes of this subparagraph, an eye 
with a limitation in the fields of vision such that the 
widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle 
no greater than 20 degrees shall be considered as hav-
ing a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less. 
‘‘(B) A permanent and total disability that in-
cludes the anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands. 
‘‘(C) A permanent and total disability that is 
due to a severe burn injury (as so determined).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2012.
† HR 1627 EAS 
SEC. 204. REVISED LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE FUR-
NISHED FOR ACQUISITION AND ADAPTATION 
OF HOUSING FOR DISABLED VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (d) of section 2102 is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(d)(1) The aggregate amount of assistance available 
to an individual under section 2101(a) of this title shall 
be limited to $63,780. 
‘‘(2) The aggregate amount of assistance available to 
an individual under section 2101(b) of this title shall be 
limited to $12,756. 
‘‘(3) No veteran may receive more than three grants 
of assistance under this chapter.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on the date that is one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with 
respect to assistance provided under sections 2101(a), 
2101(b), and 2102A of title 38, United States Code, after 
such date. 
(c) MAINTENANCE OF HIGHER RATES.—The amend-
ment made by subsection (a) shall not be construed to de-
crease the aggregate amount of assistance available to an 
individual under the sections described in subsection (b), 
as most recently increased by the Secretary pursuant to sec-
tion 2102(e) of such title.
† HR 1627 EAS 
SEC. 205. IMPROVEMENTS TO ASSISTANCE FOR DISABLED 
VETERANS RESIDING IN HOUSING OWNED BY 
A FAMILY MEMBER. 
(a) INCREASED ASSISTANCE.—Subsection (b) of sec-
tion 2102A is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$14,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$28,000’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$2,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$5,000’’. 
(b) INDEXING OF LEVELS OF ASSISTANCE.—Such sub-
section is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
(2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as re-
designated by paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ be-
fore ‘‘The’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph (2): 
‘‘(2) Effective on October 1 of each year (beginning in 
2012), the Secretary shall use the same percentage cal-
culated pursuant to section 2102(e) of this title to increase 
the amounts described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.’’. 
(c) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ASSISTANCE.— 
Subsection (e) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘De-
cember 31, 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2022’’.
† HR 1627 EAS 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this 
Act and shall apply with respect to assistance furnished in 
accordance with section 2102A of title 38, United States 
Code, on or after that date. 
SEC. 206. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING 
LOAN GUARANTEES FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES 
OF CERTAIN TOTALLY DISABLED VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3701(b) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) The term ‘veteran’ also includes, for pur-
poses of home loans, the surviving spouse of a veteran 
who died and who was in receipt of or entitled to re-
ceive (or but for the receipt of retired or retirement 
pay was entitled to receive) compensation at the time 
of death for a service-connected disability rated to-
tally disabling if— 
‘‘(A) the disability was continuously rated 
totally disabling for a period of 10 or more years 
immediately preceding death; 
‘‘(B) the disability was continuously rated 
totally disabling for a period of not less than five 
years from the date of such veteran’s discharge or 
other release from active duty; or
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‘‘(C) the veteran was a former prisoner of 
war who died after September 30, 1999, and the 
disability was continuously rated totally dis-
abling for a period of not less than one year im-
mediately preceding death.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to a loan guaranteed 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) CLARIFICATION
WITH
RESPECT
TO
CERTAIN 
FEES.—Fees shall be collected under section 3729 of title 
38, United States Code, from a person described in para-
graph (6) of section 3701(b) of such title, as added by sub-
section (a) of this section, in the same manner as such fees 
are collected from a person described in paragraph (2) of 
section 3701(b) of such title. 
SEC. 207. OCCUPANCY OF PROPERTY BY DEPENDENT CHILD 
OF VETERAN FOR PURPOSES OF MEETING OC-
CUPANCY REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING LOANS. 
Paragraph (2) of section 3704(c) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(2) In any case in which a veteran is in active-duty 
status as a member of the Armed Forces and is unable to 
occupy a property because of such status, the occupancy re-
† HR 1627 EAS 
quirements of this chapter shall be considered to be satisfied 
if— 
‘‘(A) the spouse of the veteran occupies or intends 
to occupy the property as a home and the spouse 
makes the certification required by paragraph (1) of 
this subsection; or 
‘‘(B) a dependent child of the veteran occupies or 
will occupy the property as a home and the veteran’s 
attorney-in-fact or legal guardian of the dependent 
child makes the certification required by paragraph 
(1) of this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 208. MAKING PERMANENT PROJECT FOR GUARAN-
TEEING OF ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES. 
Section 3707(a) is amended by striking ‘‘demonstra-
tion project under this section during fiscal years 1993 
through 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘project under this section’’. 
SEC. 209. MAKING PERMANENT PROJECT FOR INSURING 
HYBRID ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES. 
Section 3707A(a) is amended by striking ‘‘demonstra-
tion project under this section during fiscal years 2004 
through 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘project under this section’’.
† HR 1627 EAS 
SEC. 210. WAIVER OF LOAN FEE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH 
DISABILITY RATINGS ISSUED DURING PRE- 
DISCHARGE PROGRAMS. 
Paragraph (2) of section 3729(c) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(2)(A) A veteran described in subparagraph (B) shall 
be treated as receiving compensation for purposes of this 
subsection as of the date of the rating described in such sub-
paragraph without regard to whether an effective date of 
the award of compensation is established as of that date. 
‘‘(B) A veteran described in this subparagraph is a 
veteran who is rated eligible to receive compensation— 
‘‘(i) as the result of a pre-discharge disability ex-
amination and rating; or 
‘‘(ii) based on a pre-discharge review of existing 
medical evidence (including service medical and 
treatment records) that results in the issuance of a 
memorandum rating.’’. 
SEC. 211. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES FOR ENHANCED- 
USE LEASES OF REAL PROPERTY. 
(a) SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEFINED.—Section 8161 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) The term ‘supportive housing’ means hous-
ing that engages tenants in on-site and community- 
based support services for veterans or their families
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that are at risk of homelessness or are homeless. Such 
term may include the following: 
‘‘(A) Transitional housing. 
‘‘(B) Single-room occupancy. 
‘‘(C) Permanent housing. 
‘‘(D) Congregate living housing. 
‘‘(E) Independent living housing. 
‘‘(F) Assisted living housing. 
‘‘(G) Other modalities of housing.’’. 
(b) MODIFICATION
OF LIMITATIONS
ON ENHANCED 
USE LEASES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Paragraph (2) of section 
8162(a) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use 
lease only for the provision of supportive housing and the 
lease is not inconsistent with and will not adversely affect 
the mission of the Department.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (2) of section 
8162(a) of title 38, United States Code, as 
amended by paragraph (1), shall take effect on 
January 1, 2012, and shall apply with respect 
to enhanced-use leases entered into on or after 
such date.
† HR 1627 EAS 
(B) PREVIOUS LEASES.—Any enhanced-use 
lease that the Secretary has entered into prior to 
the date described in subparagraph (A) shall be 
subject to the provisions of subchapter V of chap-
ter 81 of such title, as in effect on the day before 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) CONSIDERATION FOR AND TERMS OF ENHANCED- 
USE LEASES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 8162(b) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(A) If 
the Secretary’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘under subparagraph (A).’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘If the Secretary has determined that a 
property should be leased to another party 
through an enhanced-use lease, the Secretary 
shall, at the Secretary’s discretion, select the 
party with whom the lease will be entered into 
using such selection procedures as the Secretary 
considers appropriate.’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3)(A) For any enhanced-use lease entered into by the 
Secretary, the lease consideration provided to the Secretary 
shall consist solely of cash at fair value as determined by 
the Secretary.
† HR 1627 EAS 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall receive no other type of con-
sideration for an enhanced-use lease besides cash. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use 
lease without receiving consideration.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘Sec-
retary to’’ and all that follows through ‘‘use 
minor’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary to use minor’’; 
and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(5) The terms of an enhanced-use lease may not pro-
vide for any acquisition, contract, demonstration, exchange, 
grant, incentive, procurement, sale, other transaction au-
thority, service agreement, use agreement, lease, or lease- 
back by the Secretary or Federal Government. 
‘‘(6) The Secretary may not enter into an enhanced- 
use lease without certification in advance in writing by the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget that such 
lease complies with the requirements of this subchapter.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Paragraph (3) of section 
8162(b), as amended by paragraph (1)(B) of this sub-
section, shall take effect on January 1, 2012, and 
shall apply with respect to enhanced-use leases en-
tered into on or after such date.
† HR 1627 EAS 
(d) PROHIBITED ENHANCED-USE LEASES.—Section 
8162(c) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(1) Subject to 
paragraph (2), the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’. 
(e) DISPOSITION OF LEASED PROPERTY.—Subsection 
(b) of section 8164 is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) A disposition under this section may be made in 
return for cash at fair value as the Secretary determines 
is in the best interest of the United States and upon such 
other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers ap-
propriate.’’. 
(f) USE OF AMOUNTS RECEIVED FOR DISPOSITION OF 
LEASED PROPERTY.—Section 8165(a)(2) is amended by 
striking ‘‘in the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital 
Asset Fund established under section 8118 of this title’’ and 
inserting ‘‘into the Department of Veterans Affairs Con-
struction, Major Projects account or Construction, Minor 
Projects account, as the Secretary considers appropriate’’. 
(g) CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS.—Section 8166 is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 8166. Construction standards 
‘‘The construction, alteration, repair, remodeling, or 
improvement of a property that is the subject of an en-
hanced-use lease shall be carried out so as to comply with
† HR 1627 EAS 
all applicable provisions of Federal, State, and local law 
relating to land use, building standards, permits, and in-
spections.’’. 
(h) EXEMPTION FROM STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.— 
Section 8167 is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 8167. Exemption from State and local taxes 
‘‘(a) IMPROVEMENTS AND OPERATIONS NOT EXEMPT-
ED.—The improvements and operations on land leased by 
a person with an enhanced-use lease from the Secretary 
shall be subject to all applicable provisions of Federal, 
State, or local law relating to taxation, fees, and assess-
ments. 
‘‘(b) UNDERLYING FEE TITLE INTEREST EXEMPT-
ED.—The underlying fee title interest of the United States 
in any land subject to an enhanced-use lease shall not be 
subject, directly or indirectly, to any provision of State or 
local law relating to taxation, fees, or assessments.’’. 
(i) ANNUAL REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter V of chapter 81 is 
amended by inserting after section 8167 the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 8168. Annual reports 
‘‘(a) REPORT ON ADMINISTRATION OF LEASES.—Not 
later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the 
Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp
† HR 1627 EAS 
Lejeune Families Act of 2012 and not less frequently than 
once each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report identifying the actions taken by the Secretary 
to implement and administer enhanced-use leases. 
‘‘(b) REPORT ON LEASE CONSIDERATION.—Each year, 
as part of the annual budget submission of the President 
to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a detailed report of the consider-
ation received by the Secretary for each enhanced-use lease 
under this subchapter, along with an overview of how the 
Secretary is utilizing such consideration to support vet-
erans.’’. 
(2) ELEMENTS OF INITIAL REPORT.—The first 
report submitted by the Secretary under section 
8168(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
paragraph (1), shall include a summary of those 
measures the Secretary is taking to address the fol-
lowing recommendations from the February 9, 2012, 
audit report of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Office of Inspector General on enhanced-use leases 
under subchapter V of chapter 81 of title 38, United 
States Code: 
(A) Improve standards to ensure complete 
lease agreements are negotiated in line with stra-
tegic goals of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
† HR 1627 EAS 
(B) Institute improved policies and proce-
dures to govern activities such as monitoring en-
hanced-use 
lease 
projects 
and 
calculating, 
classifying, and reporting on enhanced-use lease 
benefits and expenses. 
(C) Recalculate and update enhanced-use 
lease expenses and benefits reported in the most 
recent Enhanced-Use Lease Consideration Report 
of the Department. 
(D) Establish improved oversight mecha-
nisms to ensure major enhanced-use lease project 
decisions are documented and maintained in ac-
cordance with policy. 
(E) Establish improved criteria to measure 
timeliness and performance in enhanced-use 
lease project development and execution. 
(F) Establish improved criteria and guide-
lines for assessing projects to determine whether 
they are or remain viable candidates for en-
hanced-use leases. 
(3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 81 is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 8167 the 
following new item: 
‘‘8168. Annual reports.’’.
† HR 1627 EAS 
(j) EXPIRATION
OF AUTHORITY.—Section 8169 is 
amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2011’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2023’’. 
(k) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as otherwise provided 
in this section, the amendments made by this section shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
TITLE III—HOMELESS MATTERS 
SEC. 301. ENHANCEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE 
PROGRAMS. 
(a) ENHANCEMENT
OF GRANTS.—Section 2011 is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘expan-
sion, remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings, 
or acquisition of facilities,’’ and inserting ‘‘new con-
struction of facilities, expansion, remodeling, or alter-
ation of existing facilities, or acquisition of facili-
ties,’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘A 
grant’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) A grant’’; 
(B) in the second sentence of paragraph (1), 
as designated by subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘The amount’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) The amount’’; and
† HR 1627 EAS 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) The Secretary may not deny an application 
from an entity that seeks a grant under this section to carry 
out a project described in subsection (b)(1)(A) solely on the 
basis that the entity proposes to use funding from other pri-
vate or public sources, if the entity demonstrates that a pri-
vate nonprofit organization will provide oversight and site 
control for the project. 
‘‘(B) In this paragraph, the term ‘private nonprofit 
organization’ means the following: 
‘‘(i) An incorporated private institution, organi-
zation, or foundation— 
‘‘(I) that has received, or has temporary 
clearance to receive, tax-exempt status under 
paragraph (2), (3), or (19) of section 501(c) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; 
‘‘(II) for which no part of the net earnings 
of the institution, organization, or foundation 
inures to the benefit of any member, founder, or 
contributor of the institution, organization, or 
foundation; and 
‘‘(III) that the Secretary determines is fi-
nancially responsible.
† HR 1627 EAS 
‘‘(ii) A for-profit limited partnership or limited 
liability company, the sole general partner or man-
ager of which is an organization that is described by 
subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (i). 
‘‘(iii) A corporation wholly owned and controlled 
by an organization that is described by subclauses (I) 
through (III) of clause (i).’’. 
(b) GRANT AND PER DIEM PAYMENTS.— 
(1) STUDY AND DEVELOPMENT OF FISCAL CON-
TROLS AND PAYMENT METHOD.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— 
(A) complete a study of all matters relating 
to the method used by the Secretary to make per 
diem payments under section 2012(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, including changes antici-
pated by the Secretary in the cost of furnishing 
services to homeless veterans and accounting for 
costs of providing such services in various geo-
graphic areas; 
(B) develop more effective and efficient pro-
cedures for fiscal control and fund accounting by 
recipients of grants under sections 2011, 2012, 
and 2061 of such title; and
† HR 1627 EAS 
(C) develop a more effective and efficient 
method for adequately reimbursing recipients of 
grants under section 2011 of such title for serv-
ices furnished to homeless veterans. 
(2) CONSIDERATION.—In developing the method 
required by paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary may con-
sider payments and grants received by recipients of 
grants described in such paragraph from other de-
partments and agencies of Federal and local govern-
ments and from private entities. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report on— 
(A) the findings of the Secretary with re-
spect to the study required by subparagraph (A) 
of paragraph (1); 
(B) the methods developed under subpara-
graphs (B) and (C) of such paragraph; and 
(C) any recommendations of the Secretary 
for revising the method described in subpara-
graph (A) of such paragraph and any legislative 
action the Secretary considers necessary to im-
plement such method.
† HR 1627 EAS 
SEC. 302. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROVISION 
OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION TO 
CERTAIN VETERANS TO INCLUDE PROVISION 
OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION TO 
HOMELESS VETERANS WHO ARE NOT SERI-
OUSLY MENTALLY ILL. 
Section 2031(a) is amended in the matter before para-
graph (1) by striking ‘‘, including’’ and inserting ‘‘and to’’. 
SEC. 303. MODIFICATION OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOME-
LESS VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. 
(a) INCLUSION
OF ENTITIES ELIGIBLE
FOR COM-
PREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAM GRANTS AND PER DIEM 
PAYMENTS
FOR SERVICES
TO HOMELESS VETERANS.— 
Subsection (a) of section 2061 is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘to grant and per diem pro-
viders’’ and inserting ‘‘to entities eligible for grants 
and per diem payments under sections 2011 and 
2012 of this title’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘by those facilities and pro-
viders’’ and inserting ‘‘by those facilities and enti-
ties’’. 
(b) INCLUSION OF MALE HOMELESS VETERANS WITH 
MINOR DEPENDENTS.—Subsection (b) of such section is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, including 
women who have care of minor dependents’’;
† HR 1627 EAS 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘or’’; 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(5) individuals who have care of minor depend-
ents.’’. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF PROVISION OF SERVICES TO 
DEPENDENTS.—Such section is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
(d); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following 
new subsection (c): 
‘‘(c) PROVISION OF SERVICES TO DEPENDENTS.—A re-
cipient of a grant under subsection (a) may use amounts 
under the grant to provide services directly to a dependent 
of a homeless veteran with special needs who is under the 
care of such homeless veteran while such homeless veteran 
receives services from the grant recipient under this sec-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 304. COLLABORATION IN PROVISION OF CASE MAN-
AGEMENT 
SERVICES 
TO 
HOMELESS 
VET-
ERANS IN SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall consider entering into contracts or agreements, under
† HR 1627 EAS 
sections 513 and 8153 of title 38, United States Code, with 
eligible entities to collaborate with the Secretary in the pro-
vision of case management services to covered veterans as 
part of the supported housing program carried out under 
section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
(42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) to ensure that the homeless vet-
erans facing the most significant difficulties in obtaining 
suitable housing receive the assistance they require to obtain 
such housing. 
(b) COVERED VETERANS.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, a covered veteran is any veteran who, at the time of 
receipt of a housing voucher under such section 8(o)(19)— 
(1) requires the assistance of a case manager in 
obtaining suitable housing with such voucher; and 
(2) is having difficulty obtaining the amount of 
such assistance the veteran requires, including be-
cause— 
(A) the veteran resides in an area that has 
a shortage of low-income housing and because of 
such shortage the veteran requires more assist-
ance from a case manager than the Secretary 
otherwise provides; 
(B) the location in which the veteran resides 
is located at such distance from facilities of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs as makes the
† HR 1627 EAS 
provision of case management services by the 
Secretary to such veteran impractical; or 
(C) the veteran resides in an area where 
veterans who receive case management services 
from the Secretary under such section have a sig-
nificantly lower average rate of successfully ob-
taining suitable housing than the average rate of 
successfully obtaining suitable housing for all 
veterans receiving such services. 
(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—For purposes of this section, 
an eligible entity is any State or local government agency, 
tribal organization (as such term is defined in section 4 
of the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)), or nonprofit organization that— 
(1) under a contract or agreement described in 
subsection (a), agrees— 
(A) to ensure access to case management 
services by covered veterans on an as-needed 
basis; 
(B) to maintain referral networks for cov-
ered veterans for purposes of assisting covered 
veterans in demonstrating eligibility for assist-
ance and additional services under entitlement 
and assistance programs available for covered
† HR 1627 EAS 
(iii) the specific goals jointly set by the 
entity and the Secretary for the provision of 
such services and assistance and whether the 
entity achieved such goals; and 
(iv) the average length of time taken by 
a covered veteran who received such services 
and assistance to successfully obtain suit-
able housing and the average retention rate 
of such a veteran in such housing; and 
(F) to meet such other requirements as the 
Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of 
providing assistance to covered veterans in ob-
taining suitable housing; and 
(2) has demonstrated experience in— 
(A) identifying and serving homeless vet-
erans, especially those who have the greatest dif-
ficulty obtaining suitable housing; 
(B) working collaboratively with the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs or the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development; 
(C) conducting outreach to, and maintain-
ing relationships with, landlords to encourage 
and facilitate participation by landlords in sup-
ported housing programs similar to the sup-
† HR 1627 EAS 
ported housing program described in subsection 
(a); 
(D) mediating disputes between landlords 
and veterans receiving assistance under such 
supported housing program; and 
(E) carrying out such other activities as the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appro-
priate. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—In considering entering into con-
tracts or agreements as described in subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall consult with— 
(1) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment; and 
(2) third parties that provide services as part of 
the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
continuum of care. 
(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR COLLABORATING EN-
TITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide 
training and technical assistance to entities with 
whom the Secretary collaborates in the provision of 
case management services to veterans as part of the 
supported housing program described in subsection 
(a).
† HR 1627 EAS 
(2) GRANTS.—The Secretary may provide train-
ing and technical assistance under paragraph (1) 
through the award of grants or contracts to appro-
priate public and nonprofit private entities. 
(3) FUNDING.—From amounts appropriated or 
otherwise made available to the Secretary in the Med-
ical Services account in a year, $500,000 shall be 
available to the Secretary in that year to carry out 
this subsection. 
(f) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 545 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act and not less fre-
quently than once each year thereafter, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report 
on the collaboration between the Secretary and eligi-
ble entities in the provision of case management serv-
ices as described in subsection (a) during the most re-
cently completed fiscal year. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report required by para-
graph (1) shall include, for the period covered by the 
report, the following: 
(A) A discussion of each case in which a 
contract or agreement described in subsection (a) 
was considered by the Secretary, including a de-
scription of whether or not and why the Sec-
† HR 1627 EAS 
retary chose or did not choose to enter into such 
contract or agreement. 
(B) The number and types of eligible enti-
ties with whom the Secretary has entered into a 
contract or agreement as described in subsection 
(a). 
(C) A description of the geographic regions 
in which such entities provide case management 
services as described in such subsection. 
(D) A description of the number and types 
of covered veterans who received case manage-
ment services from such entities under such con-
tracts or agreements. 
(E) An assessment of the performance of 
each eligible entity with whom the Secretary en-
tered into a contract or agreement as described 
in subsection (a). 
(F) An assessment of the benefits to covered 
veterans of such contracts and agreements. 
(G) A discussion of the benefits of increas-
ing the ratio of case managers to recipients of 
vouchers under the supported housing program 
described in such subsection to veterans who re-
side in rural areas.
† HR 1627 EAS 
(H) Such recommendations for legislative or 
administrative action as the Secretary considers 
appropriate for the improvement of collaboration 
in the provision of case management services 
under such supported housing program. 
SEC. 305. EXTENSIONS OF PREVIOUSLY FULLY FUNDED AU-
THORITIES 
AFFECTING 
HOMELESS 
VET-
ERANS. 
(a) COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS.—Section 
2013 is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting 
the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2013. 
‘‘(6) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each 
subsequent fiscal year.’’. 
(b) HOMELESS
VETERANS
REINTEGRATION
PRO-
GRAMS.—Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking 
‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘2013’’. 
(c) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERV-
ICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PER-
MANENT HOUSING.—Section 2044(e)(1) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.’’. 
(d) GRANT PROGRAM
FOR HOMELESS VETERANS 
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.—Section 2061(c)(1) is amended by 
striking ‘‘through 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘through 2013’’.
† HR 1627 EAS 
TITLE IV—EDUCATION MATTERS 
SEC. 401. AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSIST-
ANCE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO RE-
CEIVE BOTH SURVIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’ 
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER VET-
ERANS AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL ASSIST-
ANCE. 
(a) AGGREGATE AMOUNT AVAILABLE.—Section 3695 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ‘‘35,’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) The aggregate period for which any person may 
receive assistance under chapter 35 of this title, on the one 
hand, and any of the provisions of law referred to in sub-
section (a), on the other hand, may not exceed 81 months 
(or the part-time equivalent thereof).’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2013, and shall 
not operate to revive any entitlement to assistance under 
chapter 35 of title 38, United States Code, or the provisions 
of law referred to in section 3695(a) of such title, as in 
effect on the day before such date, that was terminated by 
reason of the operation of section 3695(a) of such title, as 
so in effect, before such date.
† HR 1627 EAS 
(c) REVIVAL OF ENTITLEMENT REDUCED BY PRIOR 
UTILIZATION OF CHAPTER 35 ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), in 
the case of an individual whose period of entitlement 
to assistance under a provision of law referred to in 
section 3695(a) of title 38, United States Code (other 
than chapter 35 of such title), as in effect on Sep-
tember 30, 2013, was reduced under such section 
3695(a), as so in effect, by reason of the utilization 
of entitlement to assistance under chapter 35 of such 
title before October 1, 2013, the period of entitlement 
to assistance of such individual under such provision 
shall be determined without regard to any entitlement 
so utilized by the individual under chapter 35 of such 
title. 
(2) LIMITATION.—The maximum period of enti-
tlement to assistance of an individual under para-
graph (1) may not exceed 81 months. 
SEC. 402. ANNUAL REPORTS ON POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND SURVIVORS’ AND 
DEPENDENTS’ 
EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM. 
(a) REPORTS REQUIRED.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 33 
is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 3325. Reporting requirement 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—For each academic year— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
Congress a report on the operation of the program 
provided for in this chapter; and 
‘‘(2) the Secretary shall submit to Congress a re-
port on the operation of the program provided for in 
this chapter and the program provided for under 
chapter 35 of this title. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS
OF SECRETARY
OF DEFENSE RE-
PORTS.—The Secretary of Defense shall include in each re-
port submitted under this section— 
‘‘(1) information— 
‘‘(A) indicating the extent to which the ben-
efit levels provided under this chapter are ade-
quate to achieve the purposes of inducing indi-
viduals to enter and remain in the Armed Forces 
and of providing an adequate level of financial 
assistance to help meet the cost of pursuing a 
program of education; 
‘‘(B) indicating whether it is necessary for 
the purposes of maintaining adequate levels of
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well-qualified 
active-duty 
personnel 
in 
the 
Armed Forces to continue to offer the oppor-
tunity for educational assistance under this 
chapter to individuals who have not yet entered 
active-duty service; and 
‘‘(C) describing the efforts under section 
3323(b) of this title to inform members of the 
Armed Forces of the active duty service require-
ments for entitlement to educational assistance 
under this chapter and the results from such ef-
forts; and 
‘‘(2) such recommendations for administrative 
and legislative changes regarding the provision of 
educational assistance to members of the Armed 
Forces and veterans, and their dependents, as the Sec-
retary of Defense considers appropriate. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
REPORTS.—The Secretary shall include in each report sub-
mitted under this section— 
‘‘(1) information concerning the level of utiliza-
tion of educational assistance and of expenditures 
under this chapter and under chapter 35 of this title; 
‘‘(2) appropriate student outcome measures, such 
as the number of credit hours, certificates, degrees, 
and other qualifications earned by beneficiaries under
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this chapter and chapter 35 of this title during the 
academic year covered by the report; and 
‘‘(3) such recommendations for administrative 
and legislative changes regarding the provision of 
educational assistance to members of the Armed 
Forces and veterans, and their dependents, as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(d) TERMINATION.—No report shall be required under 
this section after January 1, 2021.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 3324 the 
following new item: 
‘‘3325. Reporting requirement.’’. 
(3) DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL OF FIRST RE-
PORT.—The first reports required under section 3325 
of title 38, United States Code, as added by para-
graph (1), shall be submitted by not later than No-
vember 1, 2013. 
(b) REPEAL OF REPORT ON ALL VOLUNTEER-FORCE 
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 30 is amended by 
striking section 3036. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 3036.
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TITLE V—BENEFITS MATTERS 
SEC. 501. AUTOMATIC WAIVER OF AGENCY OF ORIGINAL JU-
RISDICTION REVIEW OF NEW EVIDENCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7105 is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(e)(1) If, either at the time or after the agency of 
original jurisdiction receives a substantive appeal, the 
claimant or the claimant’s representative, if any, submits 
evidence to either the agency of original jurisdiction or the 
Board of Veterans’ Appeals for consideration in connection 
with the issue or issues with which disagreement has been 
expressed, such evidence shall be subject to initial review 
by the Board unless the claimant or the claimant’s rep-
resentative, as the case may be, requests in writing that 
the agency of original jurisdiction initially review such evi-
dence. 
‘‘(2) A request for review of evidence under paragraph 
(1) shall accompany the submittal of the evidence.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (e) of such section, 
as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that 
is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
shall apply with respect to claims for which a substantive 
appeal is filed on or after the date that is 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
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SEC. 502. AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS TO SIGN 
CLAIMS FILED WITH SECRETARY OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF CLAIMANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5101 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘A specific’’ and inserting 
‘‘(1) A specific’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) If an individual has not attained the age of 18 
years, is mentally incompetent, or is physically unable to 
sign a form, a form filed under paragraph (1) for the indi-
vidual may be signed by a court-appointed representative, 
a person who is responsible for the care of the individual, 
including a spouse or other relative, or an attorney in fact 
or agent authorized to act on behalf of the individual under 
a durable power of attorney. If the individual is in the care 
of an institution, the manager or principal officer of the 
institution may sign the form.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, signs a form on be-
half of an individual to apply for,’’ after 
‘‘who applies for’’;
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nication or notification in writing, notice’’ be-
fore ‘‘of any information’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(4) Nothing in this section shall require the Secretary 
to provide notice for a subsequent claim that is filed while 
a previous claim is pending if the notice previously pro-
vided for such pending claim— 
‘‘(A) provides sufficient notice of the information 
and evidence necessary to substantiate such subse-
quent claim; and 
‘‘(B) was sent within one year of the date on 
which the subsequent claim was filed. 
‘‘(5)(A) This section shall not apply to any claim or 
issue where the Secretary may award the maximum benefit 
in accordance with this title based on the evidence of record. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘max-
imum benefit’ means the highest evaluation assignable in 
accordance with the evidence of record, as long as such evi-
dence is adequate for rating purposes and sufficient to 
grant the earliest possible effective date in accordance with 
section 5110 of this title.’’. 
(b) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the amendments 
made by subsection (a) shall be construed as eliminating 
any requirement with respect to the contents of a notice
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under section 5103 of title 38, United States Code, that is 
required under regulations prescribed pursuant to sub-
section (a)(2) of such section as of the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
shall apply with respect to notification obligations of 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on or after such 
date. 
(2) 
CONSTRUCTION
REGARDING
APPLICA-
BILITY.—Nothing in this section or the amendments 
made by this section shall be construed to require the 
Secretary to carry out notification procedures in ac-
cordance with requirements of section 5103 of title 38, 
United States Code, as in effect on the day before the 
effective date established in paragraph (1) on or after 
such effective date. 
SEC. 505. DUTY TO ASSIST CLAIMANTS IN OBTAINING PRI-
VATE RECORDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (b) of section 5103A is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING PRIVATE RECORDS.— 
(1) As part of the assistance provided under subsection (a),
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the Secretary shall make reasonable efforts to obtain rel-
evant private records that the claimant adequately identi-
fies to the Secretary. 
‘‘(2)(A) Whenever the Secretary, after making such 
reasonable efforts, is unable to obtain all of the relevant 
records sought, the Secretary shall notify the claimant that 
the Secretary is unable to obtain records with respect to 
the claim. Such a notification shall— 
‘‘(i) identify the records the Secretary is unable 
to obtain; 
‘‘(ii) briefly explain the efforts that the Secretary 
made to obtain such records; and 
‘‘(iii) explain that the Secretary will decide the 
claim based on the evidence of record but that this 
section does not prohibit the submission of records at 
a later date if such submission is otherwise allowed. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall make not less than two re-
quests to a custodian of a private record in order for an 
effort to obtain relevant private records to be treated as rea-
sonable under this section, unless it is made evident by the 
first request that a second request would be futile in obtain-
ing such records. 
‘‘(3)(A) This section shall not apply if the evidence of 
record allows for the Secretary to award the maximum ben-
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efit in accordance with this title based on the evidence of 
record. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘max-
imum benefit’ means the highest evaluation assignable in 
accordance with the evidence of record, as long as such evi-
dence is adequate for rating purposes and sufficient to 
grant the earliest possible effective date in accordance with 
section 5110 of this title. 
‘‘(4) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the 
Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall encourage claimants to submit rel-
evant private medical records of the claimant to the 
Secretary if such submission does not burden the 
claimant; and 
‘‘(B) in obtaining relevant private records under 
paragraph (1), may require the claimant to authorize 
the Secretary to obtain such records if such authoriza-
tion is required to comply with Federal, State, or 
local law.’’. 
(b) PUBLIC RECORDS.—Subsection (c) of such section 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) 
OBTAINING
RECORDS
FOR
COMPENSATION 
CLAIMS.—(1) In the case of a claim for disability com-
pensation, the assistance provided by the Secretary under
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this section shall include obtaining the following records if 
relevant to the claim: 
‘‘(A) The claimant’s service medical records and, 
if the claimant has furnished the Secretary informa-
tion sufficient to locate such records, other relevant 
records pertaining to the claimant’s active military, 
naval, or air service that are held or maintained by 
a governmental entity. 
‘‘(B) Records of relevant medical treatment or 
examination of the claimant at Department health- 
care facilities or at the expense of the Department, if 
the claimant furnishes information sufficient to locate 
those records. 
‘‘(C) Any other relevant records held by any Fed-
eral department or agency that the claimant ade-
quately identifies and authorizes the Secretary to ob-
tain. 
‘‘(2) Whenever the Secretary attempts to obtain records 
from a Federal department or agency under this subsection, 
the efforts to obtain those records shall continue until the 
records are obtained unless it is reasonably certain that 
such records do not exist or that further efforts to obtain 
those records would be futile.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by 
subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect on the date 
that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act and shall apply with respect to assistance ob-
ligations of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on or 
after such date. 
(2) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section or 
the amendments made by this section shall be con-
strued to require the Secretary to carry out assistance 
in accordance with requirements of section 5103A of 
title 38, United States Code, as in effect on the day 
before the effective date established in paragraph (1) 
on or after such effective date. 
SEC. 506. AUTHORITY FOR RETROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE 
FOR AWARDS OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION 
IN CONNECTION WITH APPLICATIONS THAT 
ARE FULLY-DEVELOPED AT SUBMITTAL. 
Section 5110(b) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (2): 
‘‘(2)(A) The effective date of an award of disability 
compensation to a veteran who submits an application 
therefor that sets forth an original claim that is fully-devel-
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oped (as determined by the Secretary) as of the date of sub-
mittal shall be fixed in accordance with the facts found, 
but shall not be earlier than the date that is one year before 
the date of receipt of the application. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of this paragraph, an original 
claim is an initial claim filed by a veteran for disability 
compensation. 
‘‘(C) This paragraph shall take effect on the date that 
is one year after the date of the enactment of the Honoring 
America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families 
Act of 2012 and shall not apply with respect to claims filed 
after the date that is three years after the date of the enact-
ment of such Act.’’. 
SEC. 507. MODIFICATION OF MONTH OF DEATH BENEFIT 
FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES OF VETERANS WHO 
DIE WHILE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION OR 
PENSION. 
(a) SURVIVING SPOUSE BENEFIT FOR MONTH OF VET-
ERAN’S DEATH.—Subsections (a) and (b) of section 5310 
are amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) A surviving spouse of a vet-
eran is entitled to a benefit for the month of the veteran’s 
death if—
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‘‘(A) at the time of the veteran’s death, the vet-
eran was receiving compensation or pension under 
chapter 11 or 15 of this title; or 
‘‘(B) the veteran is determined for purposes of 
section 5121 or 5121A of this title as having been en-
titled to receive compensation or pension under chap-
ter 11 or 15 of this title for the month of the veteran’s 
death. 
‘‘(2) The amount of the benefit under paragraph (1) 
is the amount that the veteran would have received under 
chapter 11 or 15 of this title, as the case may be, for the 
month of the veteran’s death had the veteran not died. 
‘‘(b) CLAIMS PENDING ADJUDICATION.—If a claim for 
entitlement to compensation or additional compensation 
under chapter 11 of this title or pension or additional pen-
sion under chapter 15 of this title is pending at the time 
of a veteran’s death and the check or other payment issued 
to the veteran’s surviving spouse under subsection (a) is less 
than the amount of the benefit the veteran would have been 
entitled to for the month of death pursuant to the adjudica-
tion of the pending claim, an amount equal to the difference 
between the amount to which the veteran would have been 
entitled to receive under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for 
the month of the veteran’s death had the veteran not died 
and the amount of the check or other payment issued to
† HR 1627 EAS 
the surviving spouse shall be treated in the same manner 
as an accrued benefit under section 5121 of this title.’’. 
(b) MONTH OF DEATH BENEFIT EXEMPT FROM DE-
LAYED COMMENCEMENT OF PAYMENT.—Section 5111(c)(1) 
is amended by striking ‘‘apply to’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘death occurred’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘not 
apply to payments made pursuant to section 5310 of this 
title’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this 
Act, and shall apply with respect to deaths that occur on 
or after that date. 
SEC. 508. INCREASE IN RATE OF PENSION FOR DISABLED 
VETERANS MARRIED TO ONE ANOTHER AND 
BOTH OF WHOM REQUIRE REGULAR AID AND 
ATTENDANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1521(f)(2) is amended by 
striking ‘‘$30,480’’ and inserting ‘‘$32,433’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
† HR 1627 EAS 
SEC. 509. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN REIMBURSEMENTS OF 
EXPENSES FROM DETERMINATION OF AN-
NUAL INCOME WITH RESPECT TO PENSIONS 
FOR VETERANS AND SURVIVING SPOUSES 
AND CHILDREN OF VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (5) of section 1503(a) 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(5) payments regarding reimbursements of any 
kind (including insurance settlement payments) for 
expenses related to the repayment, replacement, or re-
pair of equipment, vehicles, items, money, or property 
resulting from— 
‘‘(A) any accident (as defined by the Sec-
retary), but the amount excluded under this sub-
clause shall not exceed the greater of the fair 
market value or reasonable replacement value of 
the equipment or vehicle involved at the time im-
mediately preceding the accident; 
‘‘(B) any theft or loss (as defined by the 
Secretary), but the amount excluded under this 
subclause shall not exceed the greater of the fair 
market value or reasonable replacement value of 
the item or the amount of the money (including 
legal tender of the United States or of a foreign
† HR 1627 EAS 
country) involved at the time immediately pre-
ceding the theft or loss; or 
‘‘(C) any casualty loss (as defined by the 
Secretary), but the amount excluded under this 
subclause shall not exceed the greater of the fair 
market value or reasonable replacement value of 
the property involved at the time immediately 
preceding the casualty loss;’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
TITLE VI—MEMORIAL, BURIAL, 
AND CEMETERY MATTERS 
SEC. 601. PROHIBITION ON DISRUPTIONS OF FUNERALS OF 
MEMBERS OR FORMER MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY.— 
(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to 
provide necessary and proper support for the recruit-
ment and retention of the Armed Forces and militia 
employed in the service of the United States by pro-
tecting the dignity of the service of the members of 
such Forces and militia, and by protecting the pri-
vacy of their immediate family members and other 
attendees during funeral services for such members.
† HR 1627 EAS 
(2) 
CONSTITUTIONAL
AUTHORITY.—Congress 
finds that this section is a necessary and proper exer-
cise of its powers under the Constitution, article I, 
section 8, paragraphs 1, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 18, to 
provide for the common defense, raise and support ar-
mies, provide and maintain a navy, make rules for 
the government and regulation of the land and naval 
forces, and provide for organizing and governing such 
part of the militia as may be employed in the service 
of the United States. 
(b) AMENDMENT TO TITLE 18.—Section 1388 of title 
18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1388. Prohibition on disruptions of funerals of 
members or former members of the Armed 
Forces 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—For any funeral of a member or 
former member of the Armed Forces that is not located at 
a cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery Ad-
ministration or part of Arlington National Cemetery, it 
shall be unlawful for any person to engage in an activity 
during the period beginning 120 minutes before and ending 
120 minutes after such funeral, any part of which activ-
ity—
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‘‘(1)(A) takes place within the boundaries of the 
location of such funeral or takes place within 300 feet 
of the point of the intersection between— 
‘‘(i) the boundary of the location of such fu-
neral; and 
‘‘(ii) a road, pathway, or other route of in-
gress to or egress from the location of such fu-
neral; and 
‘‘(B) includes any individual willfully making 
or assisting in the making of any noise or diver-
sion— 
‘‘(i) that is not part of such funeral and 
that disturbs or tends to disturb the peace or 
good order of such funeral; and 
‘‘(ii) with the intent of disturbing the peace 
or good order of such funeral; 
‘‘(2)(A) is within 500 feet of the boundary of the 
location of such funeral; and 
‘‘(B) includes any individual— 
‘‘(i) willfully and without proper authoriza-
tion impeding or tending to impede the access to 
or egress from such location; and 
‘‘(ii) with the intent to impede the access to 
or egress from such location; or
† HR 1627 EAS 
‘‘(3) is on or near the boundary of the residence, 
home, or domicile of any surviving member of the de-
ceased person’s immediate family and includes any 
individual willfully making or assisting in the mak-
ing of any noise or diversion— 
‘‘(A) that disturbs or tends to disturb the 
peace of the persons located at such location; and 
‘‘(B) with the intent of disturbing such 
peace. 
‘‘(b) PENALTY.—Any person who violates subsection 
(a) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more 
than 1 year, or both. 
‘‘(c) CIVIL REMEDIES.— 
‘‘(1) DISTRICT COURTS.—The district courts of 
the United States shall have jurisdiction— 
‘‘(A) to prevent and restrain violations of 
this section; and 
‘‘(B) for the adjudication of any claims for 
relief under this section. 
‘‘(2) ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The Attorney Gen-
eral may institute proceedings under this section. 
‘‘(3) CLAIMS.—Any person, including a sur-
viving member of the deceased person’s immediate 
family, who suffers injury as a result of conduct that 
violates this section may—
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‘‘(A) sue therefor in any appropriate 
United States district court or in any court of 
competent jurisdiction; and 
‘‘(B) recover damages as provided in sub-
section (d) and the cost of the suit, including 
reasonable attorneys’ fees. 
‘‘(4) ESTOPPEL.—A final judgment or decree 
rendered in favor of the United States in any crimi-
nal proceeding brought by the United States under 
this section shall estop the defendant from denying the 
essential allegations of the criminal offense in any 
subsequent civil proceeding brought by a person or by 
the United States. 
‘‘(d) ACTUAL AND STATUTORY DAMAGES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any penalty 
imposed under subsection (b), a violator of this sec-
tion is liable in an action under subsection (c) for ac-
tual or statutory damages as provided in this sub-
section. 
‘‘(2) ACTIONS BY PRIVATE PERSONS.—A person 
bringing an action under subsection (c)(3) may elect, 
at any time before final judgment is rendered, to re-
cover the actual damages suffered by him or her as 
a result of the violation or, instead of actual damages,
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an award of statutory damages for each violation in-
volved in the action. 
‘‘(3) ACTIONS BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.—In any 
action under subsection (c)(2), the Attorney General 
is entitled to recover an award of statutory damages 
for each violation involved in the action notwith-
standing any recovery under subsection (c)(3). 
‘‘(4) 
STATUTORY
DAMAGES.—A 
court 
may 
award, as the court considers just, statutory damages 
in a sum of not less than $25,000 or more than 
$50,000 per violation. 
‘‘(e) REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION.—It shall be a rebut-
table presumption that the violation was committed will-
fully for purposes of determining relief under this section 
if the violator, or a person acting in concert with the viola-
tor, did not have reasonable grounds to believe, either from 
the attention or publicity sought by the violator or other 
circumstance, that the conduct of such violator or person 
would not disturb or tend to disturb the peace or good order 
of such funeral, impede or tend to impede the access to or 
egress from such funeral, or disturb or tend to disturb the 
peace of any surviving member of the deceased person’s im-
mediate family who may be found on or near the residence, 
home, or domicile of the deceased person’s immediate family 
on the date of the service or ceremony.
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‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘Armed Forces’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 101 of title 10 and includes 
members and former members of the National Guard 
who were employed in the service of the United 
States; and 
‘‘(2) the term ‘immediate family’ means, with re-
spect to a person, the immediate family members of 
such person, as such term is defined in section 115 
of this title.’’. 
(c) AMENDMENT TO TITLE 38.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 2413 is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘§ 2413. Prohibition on certain demonstrations and 
disruptions at cemeteries under control of 
the National Cemetery Administration 
and at Arlington National Cemetery 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful for any per-
son— 
‘‘(1) to carry out a demonstration on the prop-
erty of a cemetery under the control of the National 
Cemetery Administration or on the property of Ar-
lington National Cemetery unless the demonstration 
has been approved by the cemetery superintendent or
† HR 1627 EAS 
the director of the property on which the cemetery is 
located; or 
‘‘(2) with respect to such a cemetery, to engage 
in a demonstration during the period beginning 120 
minutes before and ending 120 minutes after a fu-
neral, memorial service, or ceremony is held, any part 
of which demonstration— 
‘‘(A)(i) takes place within the boundaries of 
such cemetery or takes place within 300 feet of 
the point of the intersection between— 
‘‘(I) the boundary of such cemetery; 
and 
‘‘(II) a road, pathway, or other route 
of ingress to or egress from such cemetery; 
and 
‘‘(ii) includes any individual willfully mak-
ing or assisting in the making of any noise or 
diversion— 
‘‘(I) that is not part of such funeral, 
memorial service, or ceremony and that dis-
turbs or tends to disturb the peace or good 
order of such funeral, memorial service, or 
ceremony; and
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‘‘(II) with the intent of disturbing the 
peace or good order of such funeral, memo-
rial service, or ceremony; or 
‘‘(B)(i) is within 500 feet of the boundary 
of such cemetery; and 
‘‘(ii) includes any individual— 
‘‘(I) willfully and without proper au-
thorization impeding or tending to impede 
the access to or egress from such cemetery; 
and 
‘‘(II) with the intent to impede the ac-
cess to or egress from such cemetery. 
‘‘(b) PENALTY.—Any person who violates subsection 
(a) shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more 
than one year, or both. 
‘‘(c) CIVIL REMEDIES.—(1) The district courts of the 
United States shall have jurisdiction— 
‘‘(A) to prevent and restrain violations of this 
section; and 
‘‘(B) for the adjudication of any claims for relief 
under this section. 
‘‘(2) The Attorney General of the United States may 
institute proceedings under this section.