Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3596
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2015-09-24
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies

Advisory bodies

Asia

Building construction

California

Child care and development

Congressional oversight

Department of Defense

Department of Veterans Affairs

Disability and paralysis

Employment and training programs

Executive agency funding and structure

Florida

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Health personnel

Hospital care

Housing finance and home ownership

Housing for the elderly and disabled

Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care

Low- and moderate-income housing

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Mental health

New York State

Philippines

Physical fitness and lifestyle

Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Rural conditions and development

Transportation costs

Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' organizations and recognition
Latest action: action_date: 2015-11-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-09-24
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>This bill extends specified Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs.</p> <p>TITLE I--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH CARE</p> <p>Extends through FY2016: </p> <ul> <li>authority for collection of copaypayments for hospital care and nursing home care, </li> <li>authorization of appropriations for assistance and support services for caregivers, </li> <li>authority for recovery from third parties of the cost of care and services furnished to veterans with health-plan contracts for non-service-connected disability, </li> <li>authority for the pilot program on assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care, </li> <li>authority to make grants to veterans service organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans, </li> <li>authority for Department of Defense (DOD)-VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, and </li> <li>authority for the pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service. </li> </ul> <p>Extends through December 31, 2016, the requirement to provide nursing home care to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities.</p> <p>Extends through FY2017 authority for the Joint DOD-VA Demonstration Fund. <p>TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS</p> <p>Extends through FY2016: </p><ul> <li>specified housing loan provisions and definitions, including the calculation of net value of real property at time of foreclosure; and </li> <li>authority relating to vendee loans.</li> </ul> <p>Extends through December 31, 2016, authority:</p> <ul> <li>for the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education, and </li> <li>to provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits at VA facilities to members of the Armed Forces with severe injuries or illnesses. </li> </ul> <p>TITLE III--EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS </p> <p>Extends through FY2016 authority: </p> <ul> <li>for homeless veterans reintegration programs; </li> <li>for the homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration program; </li> <li>to provide housing assistance for homeless veterans; </li> <li>to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing; </li> <li>for the grant program for homeless veterans with special needs; </li> <li>for treatment and rehabilitation services for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans, including a program to provide homeless veterans with benefits and services at certain locations; and </li> <li>to provide referral and counseling services for certain veterans at risk of homelessness. </li> </ul> <p>Extends through December 31, 2016, authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.</p> <p>TITLE IV--OTHER EXTENSIONS AND MODIFICATIONS OF AUTHORITY </p> <p>Extends through FY2016 authority: </p><ul> <li>for monthly assistance allowances under the Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events; </li> <li>for operation of the VA regional office in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines; </li> <li>for appropriations for adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces; </li> <li>for temporary eligibility expansion for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating; </li> <li>the requirement for an annual report on the DOD-VA Interagency Program Office; and </li> <li>the current multipliers used in calculating the fees the VA is authorized to pay to educational institutions and apprenticeship providers for reports regarding each eligible individual's enrollment in veterans' education or training programs and the interruption or termination of their participation in such programs. </li> </ul> <p>Extends through December 31, 2016:</p> <ul> <li>authority for transportation of individuals to and from VA facilities for vocational rehabilitation, counseling, treatment, or care;</li> <li>the requirement to provide annual reports to Congress regarding equitable relief in the case of administrative error;</li> <li>authority for Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans;</li> <li>authority to enter into agreement with the National Academy of Sciences regarding associations between diseases and exposure to dioxin and other chemical compounds in herbicides; and </li> <li>authority for performance of medical disabilities examinations by contract physicians. </li> </ul> <p>Funding authority is modified to provide for constructing a new bed tower at the VA medical center in Tampa, Florida, in lieu of providing bed tower upgrades at such medical center. </p> <p>The VA may carry out the following major medical facility projects (with each project not to exceed specified amounts): </p> <ul> <li>construction of a community living center, outpatient clinic, renovated domiciliary, and renovation of existing buildings in Canandaigua, New York; </li> <li>seismic corrections to the mental health and community living center in Long Beach, California; </li> <li>seismic correction of 12 buildings in West Los Angeles, California; and </li> <li>construction of a spinal cord injury building and seismic corrections in San Diego, California.</li> </ul> <p>TITLE V--OTHER MATTERS</p> <p>Various technical and clerical amendments are made.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3596 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 24, 2015 Mr. Smith of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs , and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services and the Budget , 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 A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code. Sec. 3. Scoring of budgetary effects. Title I—Extensions of Authority Relating to Health Care Sec. 101. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for hospital care and nursing home care. Sec. 102. Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities. Sec. 103. Extension of authorization of appropriations for assistance and support services for caregivers. Sec. 104. Extension of authority for recovery from third parties of cost of care and services furnished to veterans with health-plan contracts for non-service-connected disability. Sec. 105. Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care. Sec. 106. Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans. Sec. 107. Extension of authority for DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund. Sec. 108. Extension of authority for joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund. Sec. 109. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service. Title II—Extensions of Authority Relating to Benefits Sec. 201. Extension of authority for the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education. Sec. 202. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real property at time of foreclosure. Sec. 203. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans. Sec. 204. Extension of authority to provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to members of the Armed Forces with severe injuries or illnesses. Title III—Extensions of Authority Relating to Homelessness Sec. 301. Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration programs. Sec. 302. Extension of authority for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration program. Sec. 303. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for homeless veterans. Sec. 304. Extension of authority to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing. Sec. 305. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans with special needs. Sec. 306. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans. Sec. 307. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation services for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans. Sec. 308. Extension of authority to provide referral and counseling services for certain veterans at risk of homelessness. Title IV—Other Extensions and Modifications of Authority Sec. 401. Extension of authority for transportation of individuals to and from Department facilities. Sec. 402. Extension of authority for monthly assistance allowances under the Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events. Sec. 403. Extension of authority for operation of the Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines. Sec. 404. Extension of requirement to provide reports to Congress regarding equitable relief in the case of administrative error. Sec. 405. Extension of authorization of appropriations for adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Sec. 406. Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. Sec. 407. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating. Sec. 408. Extension of authority regarding National Academy of Sciences and review of associations between diseases and exposure to chemical compounds in herbicides. Sec. 409. Extension of authority for performance of medical disabilities examinations by contract physicians. Sec. 410. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers. Sec. 411. Extension of requirement for annual report on Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program Office. Sec. 412. Modification of authorization of fiscal year 2008 major medical facility project at Department medical center in Tampa, Florida. Sec. 413. Authorization of major medical facility projects. Title V—Other Matters Sec. 501. Technical and clerical amendments. 2. References to title 38, United States Code Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States Code. 3. Scoring of budgetary effects The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage. I Extensions of Authority Relating to Health Care 101. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for hospital care and nursing home care Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking September 30, 2015 and inserting September 30, 2016 . 102. Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities Section 1710A(d) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . 103. Extension of authorization of appropriations for assistance and support services for caregivers Section 1720G(e) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking and ; (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2016. . 104. Extension of authority for recovery from third parties of cost of care and services furnished to veterans with health-plan contracts for non-service-connected disability Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended, in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking October 1, 2015 and inserting October 1, 2016 . 105. Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care (a) Extension of authority Subsection (e) of section 205 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 ( Public Law 111–163 ; 124 Stat. 1144; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . (b) Authorization of appropriations Subsection (h) of such section is amended by striking and 2015 and inserting , 2015, and 2016 . 106. Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 ( Public Law 111–163 ; 124 Stat. 1154; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended by striking 2015 and inserting 2016 . 107. Extension of authority for DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund Section 8111(d)(3) is amended by striking September 30, 2015 and inserting September 30, 2016 . 108. Extension of authority for joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund Section 1704(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 ( Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2573), as amended by section 722 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. Buck McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 ( Public Law 113–291 ; 128 Stat. 3417), is amended by striking September 30, 2016 and inserting September 30, 2017 . 109. Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service (a) Extension Subsection (d) of section 203 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 ( Public Law 111–163 ; 124 Stat. 1143) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . (b) Authorization of appropriations Subsection (f) of such section is amended by striking and 2015 and inserting 2015, and 2016 . II Extensions of Authority Relating to Benefits 201. Extension of authority for the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education Section 3692(c) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . 202. Extension of authority for calculating net value of real property at time of foreclosure Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking October 1, 2015 and inserting October 1, 2016 . 203. Extension of authority relating to vendee loans Section 3733(a)(7) is amended— (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking September 30, 2015 and inserting September 30, 2016 ; and (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking September 30, 2015, and inserting September 30, 2016, . 204. Extension of authority to provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to members of the Armed Forces with severe injuries or illnesses Section 1631(b)(2) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of Public Law 110–181 ; 122 Stat. 458; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . III Extensions of Authority Relating to Homelessness 301. Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration programs Section 2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking 2015 and inserting 2016 . 302. Extension of authority for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration program Section 2021A(f)(1) is amended by striking 2015 and inserting 2016 . 303. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for homeless veterans Section 2041(c) is amended by striking September 30, 2015 and inserting September 30, 2016 . 304. Extension of authority to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing Section 2044(e)(1)(E) is amended by striking fiscal years 2013 through 2015 and inserting fiscal years 2015 through 2016 . 305. Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans with special needs Section 2061(d)(1) is amended by striking 2015 and inserting 2016 . 306. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans Section 2066(d) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . 307. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation services for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans (a) General treatment Section 2031(b) is amended by striking September 30, 2015 and inserting September 30, 2016 . (b) Additional services at certain locations Section 2033(d) is amended by striking September 30, 2015 and inserting September 30, 2016 . 308. Extension of authority to provide referral and counseling services for certain veterans at risk of homelessness Section 2023(d) is amended by striking September 30, 2015 and inserting September 30, 2016 . IV Other Extensions and Modifications of Authority 401. Extension of authority for transportation of individuals to and from Department facilities Section 111A(a)(2) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . 402. Extension of authority for monthly assistance allowances under the Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events Section 322(d)(4) is amended by striking 2015 and inserting 2016 . 403. Extension of authority for operation of the Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines Section 315(b) is amended by striking September 30, 2015 and inserting September 30, 2016 . 404. Extension of requirement to provide reports to Congress regarding equitable relief in the case of administrative error Section 503(c) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . 405. Extension of authorization of appropriations for adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces Section 521A(g)(1) is amended by striking 2015 and inserting 2016 . 406. Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans Section 544(e) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . 407. Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating Section 2101(a)(4) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking September 30, 2015 and inserting September 30, 2016 ; and (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015 and inserting each of fiscal years 2014 through 2016 . 408. Extension of authority regarding National Academy of Sciences and review of associations between diseases and exposure to chemical compounds in herbicides Section 3(i) of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 ( Public Law 102–4 ; 38 U.S.C. 1116 note) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . 409. Extension of authority for performance of medical disabilities examinations by contract physicians Subsection (c) of section 704 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 ( 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2016 . 410. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers Section 406 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–175 ; 38 U.S.C. 3684 note) is amended by striking one-year and inserting two-year . 411. Extension of requirement for annual report on Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program Office Section 1635(h)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 ( Public Law 110–181 ; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is amended by striking 2015 and inserting 2016 . 412. Modification of authorization of fiscal year 2008 major medical facility project at Department medical center in Tampa, Florida (a) Modification of authorization In chapter 3 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 ( Public Law 110–252 ; 122 Stat. 2326), in the matter under the heading Department of Veterans Affairs–Departmental Administration–Construction, Major Projects , after Five Year Capital Plan insert the following: and for constructing a new bed tower at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Tampa, Florida, in lieu of providing bed tower upgrades at such medical center . (b) Emergency designation (1) In general Subsection (a) is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 ( 2 U.S.C. 933(g) ). (2) Designation in Senate In the Senate, subsection (a) is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010. 413. Authorization of major medical facility projects (a) Authorization The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the following major medical facility projects, with each project to be carried out in an amount not to exceed the amount specified for that project: (1) Construction of a community living center, outpatient clinic, renovated domiciliary, and renovation of existing buildings in Canandaigua, New York, in an amount not to exceed $158,980,000. (2) Seismic corrections to the mental health and community living center in Long Beach, California, in an amount not to exceed $126,100,000. (3) Seismic correction of 12 buildings in West Los Angeles, California, in an amount not to exceed $70,500,000. (4) Construction of a spinal cord injury building and seismic corrections in San Diego, California, in an amount not to exceed $205,840,000. (b) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2015 or the year in which funds are appropriated for the Construction, Major Projects, account, a total of $561,420,000 for the projects authorized in subsection (a). (c) Limitation The projects authorized under this section may only be carried out using— (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2015 pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (b); (2) funds available for Construction, Major Projects for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2015 that remain available for obligation; (3) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2015 that remain available for obligation; (4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for fiscal year 2015 for a category of activity not specific to a project; (5) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for a fiscal year before 2015 for a category of activity not specific to a project; and (6) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for a fiscal year after 2015 for a category of activity not specific to a project. V Other Matters 501. Technical and clerical amendments Title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 111(b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking subsection (g)(2)(A) and inserting subsection (g)(2) ; and (B) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking ( 42 U.S.C. 1395(l) ) and inserting ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(l) ) ; (2) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 5 of such title, by striking the item relating to section 512A and inserting the following: 521A. Adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces. ; (3) in section 1503(a)(5), by striking subclause each place it appears and inserting subparagraph ; (4) in section 1710(e)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking (as defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this title) ; and (B) in subparagraph (F)(viii), by striking Myleodysplasic and inserting Myelodysplastic ; (5) in section 1710D(c)(1), by striking (as defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this title) ; (6) in section 1720G(a)(7)(B)(iii), by striking has and inserting have ; (7) in section 1781(a)(4), by striking the semicolon and inserting a comma; (8) in section 1832(b)(2), by striking (b)(2) and inserting (b)(3) ; (9) in section 2044(b)(1)(D), by striking federal and inserting Federal ; (10) in section 2101(a), by moving the margins of paragraph (2), and of the subparagraphs, clauses, and subclauses therein, 2 ems to the left; (11) in section 2101(a)(2)(B) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following new clause (ii): (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. ; (12) in section 2109(a) by striking provisions of section and inserting provisions of sections ; (13) in section 2303(c), by striking internment and inserting interment ; (14) in section 2411(e)(1), by striking federal official and inserting Federal official ; (15) in section 3108(b)(4), by inserting the before rehabilitation program concerned ; (16) in section 3313, by striking 1070a each place it appears and inserting 1070a(b) ; (17) in section 3313(e)(2)(A)(iii), by striking the second period; (18) in section 3313(g)(3)(A)(iii), by inserting a comma after books ; (19) in section 3319, by striking armed forces each place it appears and inserting Armed Forces ; (20) in section 4102A(c)(9)(A)(ii)(III), by striking the close quotation mark at the end; (21) in section 5302A— (A) by amending the section enumerator and heading to read as follows: 5302A. Collection of indebtedness: certain debts of members of the Armed Forces and veterans who die of injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in a combat zone ; and (B) in subsection (b), by striking (as that term is defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this title) ; (22) in section 7309(c)(1), by inserting the before Veterans Health Administration ; (23) in section 7401(3)(A)(ii), by striking that ; (24) in section 7683(d)(1), by inserting a period at the end; and (25) in section 8162(a)(2), by inserting if after housing and .