Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Access to Child Care 
Act''.

SEC. 2. CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH CARE 
              AND OTHER INTENSIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1730B. Child care assistance for veterans receiving mental 
              health care and other intensive health care services
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide child care 
assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the veteran--
            ``(1) receives covered health care services at a facility 
        of the Department; and
            ``(2) is required travel to and return from such facility 
        for the receipt of such health care services.
    ``(b) Child Care Assistance.--(1) Child care assistance provided 
under this section may include any of the following:
            ``(A) A stipend for the payment of child care offered by a 
        licensed child care center (either directly or through a 
        voucher program) which shall be, to the extent practicable, 
        modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care 
        Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 590 of title 
        40.
            ``(B) Direct provision of child care at an on-site facility 
        of the Department.
            ``(C) A payment made directly to a private child care 
        agency.
            ``(D) A collaboration with a facility or program of another 
        Federal department or agency.
            ``(E) Such other form of assistance as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate.
    ``(2) In the case that child care assistance under this section is 
provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover 
the full cost of such child care.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `eligible veteran' means a veteran who--
                    ``(A) is the primary caretaker of a child or 
                children; and
                    ``(B) is--
                            ``(i) receiving covered health care 
                        services from the Department; or
                            ``(ii) in need of covered health care 
                        services, and but for lack of child care 
                        services, would receive such covered health 
                        care services from the Department.
            ``(2) The term `covered health care services' means--
                    ``(A) regular mental health care services;
                    ``(B) intensive mental health care services; or
                    ``(C) such other intensive health care services 
                that the Secretary determines that provision of 
                assistance to the veteran to obtain child care would 
                improve access to such health care services by the 
                veteran.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1730A the following new item:

``1730B. Child care assistance for veterans receiving mental health 
                            care and other intensive health care 
                            services.''.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF REDUCTION IN AMOUNT OF PENSION FURNISHED BY 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR CERTAIN VETERANS 
              COVERED BY MEDICAID PLANS FOR SERVICES FURNISHED BY 
              NURSING FACILITIES.

    Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR COLLECTION OF FEES FOR HOUSING 
              LOANS GUARANTEED BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``September 30, 
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
                    (B) in clause (iv), by striking ``September 30, 
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30, 
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30, 
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024'';
            (3) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30, 
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30, 
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
            (4) in subparagraph (D)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30, 
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30, 
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 28, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Summary: Veterans' Access to Child Care Act  (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide child care assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the veteran: (1) receives covered health care services at a VA facility, and (2) is required to travel to and return from such facility for the receipt of such services. The bill defines: (1) &quot;covered health care services&quot; to mean regular mental health care services, intensive mental health care services, or such other intensive health care services to which the VA determines that provision of child care assistance would improve the veteran's access; and (2) &quot;eligible veteran&quot; as a veteran who is the primary caretaker of a child and who is receiving covered health care services from the VA or who is in need of, and who would receive, such services from the VA but for lack of child care. Included among child care assistance to be provided under this bill are:  a stipend for the payment of the full cost of child care offered by a licensed child care center, which shall be modeled after the VA's Child Care Subsidy Program; direct provision of child care at an on-site VA facility; a payment made directly to a private child care agency; and  collaboration with a facility or program of another federal department or agency.    (Sec. 3) The bill extends through September 30, 2026, the $90 monthly limit on a VA pension paid to veterans residing in nursing homes when their nursing costs are paid through title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act.  (Sec. 4) The bill extends through December 31, 2024, VA authority to collect funding fees for certain VA, VA-guaranteed, or VA-insured housing loans.