Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-797
Sponsor: Rep. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI-2]
Introduced: 2007-02-05 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Blind
Cemeteries and funerals
Commemorations
Data banks
Department of Veterans Affairs
Directories
Disabled
Education
Eye diseases
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Law
Monuments and memorials
Science, Technology, Communications
Signs and symbols
Student employment
Survivors' benefits
Veterans' disability compensation
Veterans' education
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: 
Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act - Modifies the standard for awarding disability compensation to veterans for loss of vision to require payment of compensation for impairment of vision (currently, blindness) involving both eyes due to a service-connected and non service-connected disability. Defines such impairment as a visual acuity of 20/200 or less or of a peripheral field loss of 20 degrees or less. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services with information for comparison with the National Directory of New Hires to determine eligibility for certain veteran benefits and services.

action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act - Modifies the standard for awarding disability compensation to veterans for loss of vision to require payment of compensation for impairment of vision (currently, blindness) involving both eyes due to a service-connected and non service-connected disability. Defines such impairment as a visual acuity of 20/200 or less or of a peripheral field of 20 degrees or less. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services with information for comparison with the National Directory of New Hires for income verification purposes with respect to individuals under age 65 in order to determine eligibility for certain veteran benefits and services. Requires: (1) independent verification of information so acquired prior to terminating, denying, or reducing a benefit or service; and (2) the opportunity for an individual to contest negative findings.
 
Extends, through June 30, 2009, VA authority to provide an educational allowance to persons performing qualifying work-study activities.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, in lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker for the grave of certain individuals buried in a private cemetery, to furnish a bronze representation of the letter &quot;V&quot; to be attached to a headstone or marker furnished at private expense.

action_date: 2007-03-21
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 20, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act - Modifies the standard for awarding disability compensation to veterans for loss of vision to require payment of compensation for impairment of vision (currently, blindness) involving both eyes due to a service-connected and non service-connected disability. Defines such impairment as a visual acuity of 20/200 or less or of a peripheral field of 20 degrees or less. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services with information for comparison with the National Directory of New Hires for income verification purposes with respect to individuals under age 65 in order to determine eligibility for certain veteran benefits and services. Requires: (1) independent verification of information so acquired prior to terminating, denying, or reducing a benefit or service; and (2) the opportunity for an individual to contest negative findings.
 
Extends, through June 30, 2009, VA authority to provide an educational allowance to persons performing qualifying work-study activities.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, in lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker for the grave of certain individuals buried in a private cemetery, to furnish a bronze representation of the letter &quot;V&quot; to be attached to a headstone or marker furnished at private expense.

action_date: 2007-12-26
text: 
Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007 - 
Title I: Low-Vision Benefits Matters 
 - (Sec. 101) Modifies the standard for awarding disability compensation to veterans for loss of vision to require payment of compensation for impairment of vision due to a service-connected disability resulting in 20/200 (currently, 5/200) visual acuity or less. 
 
(Sec. 102) Modifies the above standard in the case of impairment of vision (currently, blindness) involving both eyes due to a service-connected disability in one eye and a non-service-connected disability in the other eye to require payment in the case of impairment resulting in a visual acuity of 20/200 or less or of a peripheral field of 20 degrees or less in each eye.
 

Title II: Matters Relating to Burial and Memorial Affairs 
- (Sec. 201) Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker for the grave of certain individuals buried in a private cemetery, to furnish a medallion or other device to signify the deceased's status as a veteran, to be attached to a headstone or marker furnished at private expense.
 
(Sec. 202) Repeals, as of October 1, 2006, the time limit for a state's filing of a request for reimbursement for interment costs for veterans buried in cemeteries other than national cemeteries.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to a state for operating and maintaining a veterans' cemetery owned by such state. Limits to $5 million the amount of such grants awarded in a fiscal year.
 
(Sec. 203) Makes permanent the authority of the Secretary to furnish government headstones or markers for the burial of veterans at private cemeteries.
 

Title III: Other Matters 
- (Sec. 301) Requires the Secretary to provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services with information for comparison with the National Directory of New Hires for income verification purposes in order to determine eligibility for certain veteran benefits and services. Requires the Secretary to: (1) seek only the minimum information necessary to make such determination; (2) receive prior written consent of the individual before seeking, using, or disclosing any such information; (3) independently verify any information received prior to terminating, denying, or reducing a benefit or service; and (4) allow an opportunity for an individual to contest negative findings. Terminates such authority at the end of FY2011.
 
(Sec. 302) Extends, through June 30, 2010, the Secretary's authority to provide an educational allowance to persons performing qualifying work-study activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-26
text: Became Public Law No: 110-157.
action_date: 2007-12-26
text: Became Public Law No: 110-157.
action_date: 2007-12-26
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2007-12-26
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2007-12-19
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2007-12-19
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2007-12-17
text: Cleared for White House.
action_date: 2007-12-17
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2007-12-17
text: Senate agreed to House amendments (text and title) to Senate amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S15786-15787; text as Senate agreed to House amendment: CR S15786-15787)
action_date: 2007-12-17
text: Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendments (text and title) to Senate amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S15786-15787; text as Senate agreed to House amendment: CR S15786-15787)
action_date: 2007-12-12
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate amendment.
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: House agreed to Senate amendment with amendments pursuant to H. Res. 855.
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to Senate amendment with amendments pursuant to H. Res. 855.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: See also S. 1163.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S.1163 as amended.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S13736)
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-03-22
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 0 (Roll no. 175). (text: CR H2778-2779)
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 0 (Roll no. 175).(text: CR H2778-2779)
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2786-2787)
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 797.
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2778-2782)
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 28.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-57.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-57.
action_date: 2007-03-15
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-03-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-03-13
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2007-03-13
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-03-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-05
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 110-157