Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-3819
Sponsor: Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-18]
Introduced: 2017-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Asia
Athletes
Cancer
Child care and development
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Debt collection
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability and paralysis
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health care costs and insurance
Health facilities and institutions
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Hospital care
Housing finance and home ownership
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical research
Mental health
Minority employment
Minority health
Neurological disorders
Olympic games
Philippines
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Rural conditions and development
Securities
Transportation costs
User charges and fees
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017

 
This bill extends specified Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and services relating to: (1) health care, including hospital care, nursing home care, caregivers, child care, and services for rural or women veterans; (2) benefits, including rehabilitation for persons with severe injuries or illnesses; and (3) homeless veterans, including support and reintegration programs for women with dependent children and for mentally ill, transitioning, or special needs veterans.
 
The bill extends other specified VA activities and services, including: (1) support for research into exposure to dioxin and other chemical compounds in herbicides, (2) adaptive housing assistive technology, (3) adaptive sports programs, (4) the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, (5) the VA regional office in Manila, (6) transportation to and from VA facilities, and (7) payment guarantee of principal and interest on certificates or other securities.

action_date: 2017-09-29
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017 

 
This bill reauthorizes specific Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and services, including those related to health care, benefits, and homeless veteran reintegration. 
 
TITLE I--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH CARE
 
(Sec. 101) This title extends through FY2019 VA authority to: (1) collect copayments for veterans' hospital and nursing home care, (2) provide nursing home care to veterans with service-connected disabilities, (3) collect the cost of treating non-service-connected disabilities from third parties, and (4) provide and fund child care for certain veterans receiving health care.
 
(Sec. 103) This section reauthorizes through FY2019 funding for assistance and support services for caregivers.
 
(Sec. 106) This section extends through FY2019 grants to veterans service organizations to transport highly rural veterans. 
 
(Sec. 107) This section extends through January 6, 2018, the pilot program providing community-based assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury. The final program report must be submitted by December 6, 2017.
 
(Sec. 108) This section extends through FY2019 the pilot program providing counseling in retreat settings for women veterans recently separated from service. The final program report must be submitted by March 31, 2018.
 
(Sec. 109) This section extends the authority to temporarily extend payments and allowances for beneficiary travel in connection with veterans receiving care from VA centers. The reporting date for such program is extended to March 31, 2018.
 
TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS 
 
(Sec. 201) This title extends authority of the VA to (1) calculate the net value of real property at the time of foreclosure during default procedures, (2) manage property and vendee loans after default, and (3) provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to service members with severe injuries or illnesses.
 
TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESS VETERANS
 
(Sec. 301) This title reauthorizes 
 
 
homeless veteran reintegration programs, including programs for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children;
 
referral and counseling services for veterans at risk of homelessness transitioning from certain institutions;
 
the provision of financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing;
 
 the grant program that benefits homeless veterans with special needs, including those who are terminally ill and chronically mentally ill;
 
 the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans; and 
 
the provision of care and services for veterans suffering from serious mental illness and homelessness.
 
 
TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER MATTERS 
 
(Sec. 401) This title extends VA authority to
 
 
 transport individuals to and from VA facilities in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling, examination, treatment, or care;
 
operate the VA regional office in the Philippines; and 
 
provide monthly assistance allowances under the Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events.
 
 
(Sec. 404) This section extends the requirement for VA reports to Congress regarding equitable relief for errors in providing benefits administered by the VA. 
 
(Sec. 405) This section extends the authorization of appropriations for the adaptive sports program for disabled veterans and service members. 
 
(Sec. 406) The title extends VA authorities for
 
 
the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, 
 
the program to assist certain veterans with disabilities in acquiring suitable housing, 
 
grants to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing, 
 
guarantees of payments of principal and interest on loans in connection with the sale of certain properties, 
 
review and evaluation by the National Academy of Sciences of the evidence of association between diseases and exposure to dioxin and herbicides, and 
 
payment of a reporting fee to educational institutions.
 
 
TITLE V--TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS
 
(Sec. 501) The bill makes technical amendments to the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also known as the Forever GI Bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-29
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2017-09-29
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2017-09-28
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2017-09-28
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6191)
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6191)
action_date: 2017-09-26
text: Received in the Senate, read twice.
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7469-7471)
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7469-7471)
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3819.
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7469-7472)
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-09-25
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 115-62