H. R. 4818—478
and burial benefits, emergency and other officers’ retirement pay,
adjusted-service credits and certificates, payment of premiums due
on commercial life insurance policies guaranteed under the provi-
sions of article IV of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act
of 1940 (50 U.S.C. App. 540 et seq.) and for other benefits as
authorized by law (38 U.S.C. 107, 1312, 1977, and 2106, chapters
23, 51, 53, 55, and 61; 50 U.S.C. App. 540–548; 43 Stat. 122,
123; 45 Stat. 735; 76 Stat. 1198), $32,607,688,000, to remain avail-
able until expended: Provided, That not to exceed $20,703,000 of
the amount appropriated under this heading shall be reimbursed
to ‘‘General operating expenses’’ and ‘‘Medical services’’ for nec-
essary expenses in implementing those provisions authorized in
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, and in the Veterans’
Benefits Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. chapters 51, 53, and 55), the
funding source for which is specifically provided as the ‘‘Compensa-
tion and pensions’’ appropriation: Provided further, That such sums
as may be earned on an actual qualifying patient basis, shall
be reimbursed to ‘‘Medical facilities revolving fund’’ to augment
the funding of individual medical facilities for nursing home care
provided to pensioners as authorized.
READJUSTMENT BENEFITS
For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation benefits
to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by law (38 U.S.C. chapters
21, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 39, 51, 53, 55, and 61), $2,556,232,000,
to remain available until expended: Provided, That expenses for
rehabilitation program services and assistance which the Secretary
is authorized to provide under section 3104(a) of title 38, United
States Code, other than under subsection (a)(1), (2), (5), and (11)
of that section, shall be charged to this account.
VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES
For military and naval insurance, national service life insur-
ance, servicemen’s indemnities, service-disabled veterans insurance,
and veterans mortgage life insurance as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
chapter 19; 70 Stat. 887; 72 Stat. 487, $44,380,000, to remain
available until expended.
VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such sums as
may be necessary to carry out the program, as authorized by 38
U.S.C. chapter 37, as amended: Provided, That such costs, including
the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section
502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided
further, That during fiscal year 2005, within the resources available,
not to exceed $500,000 in gross obligations for direct loans are
authorized for specially adapted housing loans.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct
and guaranteed loan programs, $154,075,000, which may be trans-
ferred to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘General operating
expenses’’.
H. R. 4818—479
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For the cost of direct loans, $47,000, as authorized by 38
U.S.C. chapter 31, as amended: Provided, That such costs, including
the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section
502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided
further, That funds made available under this heading are available
to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct
loans not to exceed $4,108,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry
out the direct loan program, $311,000, which may be transferred
to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘General operating
expenses’’.
NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan pro-
gram authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, subchapter V, as
amended, $571,000, which may be transferred to and merged with
the appropriation for ‘‘General operating expenses’’: Provided, That
no new loans in excess of $50,000,000 may be made in fiscal
year 2005.
GUARANTEED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING LOANS FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
For the administrative expenses to carry out the guaranteed
transitional housing loan program authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter
37, subchapter VI, not to exceed $750,000 of the amounts appro-
priated by this Act for ‘‘General operating expenses’’ and ‘‘Medical
administration’’ may be expended.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
MEDICAL SERVICES
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized by law,
inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of
the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans described in para-
graphs (1) through (8) of section 1705(a) of title 38, United States
Code, including care and treatment in facilities not under the
jurisdiction of the department and including medical supplies and
equipment and salaries and expenses of health-care employees hired
under title 38, United States Code, and aid to State homes as
authorized by section 1741 of title 38, United States Code;
$19,472,777,000, plus reimbursements: Provided, That of the funds
made available under this heading, not to exceed $1,100,000,000
shall be available until September 30, 2006: Provided further, That,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall establish a priority for treatment for veterans
who are service-connected disabled, lower income, or have special
needs: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding
H. R. 4818—480
for the provision of basic medical benefits to veterans in enrollment
priority groups 1 through 6: Provided further, That of the funds
made available under this heading, the Secretary may transfer
up to $400,000,000, to remain available until expended, to
‘‘Construction, major projects’’ for purposes of implementing CARES
subject to a determination by the Secretary that such funds will
improve access and quality of veteran’s health care needs: Provided
further, That, during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005,
the Secretary may transfer not more than $125,000,000 of the
unobligated balances in this account and amounts made available
under this heading to ‘‘General operating expenses’’ for costs associ-
ated with processing claims where the basis of the entitlement
is claimed disability incurred as a result of a veteran’s service,
subject to a determination by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
that such additional funds are necessary: Provided further, That,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs may authorize the dispensing of prescription drugs
from Veterans Health Administration facilities to enrolled veterans
with privately written prescriptions based on requirements estab-
lished by the Secretary: Provided further, That the implementation
of the program described in the previous proviso shall incur no
additional cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs: Provided
further, That for the DOD VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund,
as authorized by section 721 of Public Law 107–314, a minimum
of $15,000,000, to remain available until expended, for any purpose
authorized by 38 U.S.C. 8111.
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
For necessary expenses in the administration of the medical,
hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and
research activities, as authorized by law; administrative expenses
in support of capital policy activities; information technology hard-
ware and software; uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized
by sections 5901–5902 of title 5, United States Code; and adminis-
trative and legal expenses of the department for collecting and
recovering amounts owed the department as authorized under
chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and the Federal Medical
Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.); $4,705,000,000, of
which $250,000,000 shall be available until September 30, 2006,
plus reimbursements.
MEDICAL FACILITIES
For necessary expenses for the maintenance and operation of
hospitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facilities and other nec-
essary facilities for the Veterans Health Administration; for
administrative expenses in support of planning, design, project
management, real property acquisition and disposition, construction
and renovation of any facility under the jurisdiction or for the
use of the department; for oversight, engineering and architectural
activities not charged to project costs; for repairing, altering,
improving or providing facilities in the several hospitals and homes
under the jurisdiction of the department, not otherwise provided
for, either by contract or by the hire of temporary employees and
purchase of materials; for leases of facilities; and for laundry and
food services, $3,745,000,000, of which $250,000,000 shall be avail-
able until September 30, 2006.