TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as ``Medicaid/SCHIP Optional Coverage for 
Young Adults Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. PROVIDING STATE OPTION FOR SCHIP AND MEDICAID COVERAGE OF YOUNG 
              ADULTS UP TO AGE 23.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Medicaid.--(A) Section 1902(l)(1)(D) of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(l)(1)(D)) is amended by inserting 
        ``(or, at the option of the State, who have not attained 20, 
        21, or 22 years of age, as the State may elect)'' after ``have 
        not attained 19 years of age''.
            (B) Clause (i) of section 1905(a) of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)) is amended by striking ``under the age 
        of 21, or, at the option of the State, under the age of 20, 19, 
        or 18 as the State may choose'' and inserting ``under the age 
        of 23, or, at the option of the State, under the age of 22, 21, 
        20, 19, or 18 as the State may elect''.
            (2) SCHIP.--Section 2110(c)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1397jj(c)(1)) is amended by inserting after ``19 years of age'' 
        the following: ``(or, at the option of the State and subject to 
        the availability of additional allotments under section 
        2104(d), 20, 21, 22, or 23 years of age)''.
    (b) Availability of Enhanced Matching Funds.--
            (1) Under medicaid.--Section 1905 of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d) is amended--
                    (A) in the fourth sentence of subsection (b), by 
                striking ``or subsection (u)(3)'' and inserting ``, 
                (u)(3), or (u)(4)(A)''; and
                    (B) in subsection (u)--
                            (i) by adding at the end of paragraph (1) 
                        the following new subparagraph:
            ``(C) Only with respect to expenditures described in 
        paragraph (4)(A), if the State is providing for benefits under 
        its State child health plan under title XXI for children under 
        19 years of age exclusively through benefits under its State 
        plan under this title, the State is also providing under such 
        plan the benefits for individuals over 18 years of age who are 
        eligible for such benefits only because of an election referred 
        to in such paragraph.'';
                            (ii) by redesignating paragraph (4) as 
                        paragraph (5); and
                            (iii) by inserting after paragraph (3) the 
                        following new paragraph:
    ``(4) For purposes of the fourth sentence of subsection (b) and 
section 2105(a), the expenditures described in this paragraph are 
expenditures for medical assistance for individuals who are over 18 
(and less than 23) years of age and who are eligible for such medical 
assistance because of an election by the State under section 
1902(l)(1)(D) or clause (i) of section 1905(a).''.
            (2) Additional allotments for providing coverage of 
        optional young adults.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 2104 of such Act (42 
                U.S.C. 1397dd) is amended by inserting after subsection 
                (c) the following:
    ``(d) Additional Allotments for the Provision of Coverage to 
Optional Young Adults.--
            ``(1) Appropriation; total allotment.--For the purpose of 
        providing additional allotments to States under this title, 
        there is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not 
        otherwise appropriated, for each of fiscal years 2004 through 
        2007, $200,000,000.
            ``(2) State and territorial allotments.--In addition to the 
        allotments provided under subsections (b) and (c), subject to 
        paragraph (3), of the amount available for the additional 
        allotments under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary 
        shall allot to each State with a State child health plan 
        approved under this title--
                    ``(A) in the case of such a State other than a 
                commonwealth or territory described in subparagraph 
                (B), the same proportion as the proportion of the 
                State's allotment under subsection (b) (determined 
                without regard to subsection (f)) to the total amount 
                of the allotments under subsection (b) for such States 
                eligible for an allotment under this paragraph for such 
                fiscal year; and
                    ``(B) in the case of a commonwealth or territory 
                described in subsection (c)(3), the same proportion as 
                the proportion of the commonwealth's or territory's 
                allotment under subsection (c) (determined without 
                regard to subsection (f)) to the total amount of the 
                allotments under subsection (c) for commonwealths and 
                territories eligible for an allotment under this 
                paragraph for such fiscal year.
            ``(3) Use of additional allotment.--Additional allotments 
        provided under this subsection are not available for amounts 
        expended before October 1, 2003. Such amounts are available for 
        amounts expended on or after such date only for--
                    ``(A) expenditures described in section 
                1905(u)(4)(A); and
                    ``(B) child health assistance for individuals who 
                are targeted low-income children and over 18 years of 
                age and who are low-income children only because of an 
                election by the State under section 2110(c)(1).''.
                    (B) Conforming amendments.--Section 2104 of the 
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd) is amended--
                            (i) in subsection (a), in the matter 
                        preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ``subject 
                        to subsection (d),'' after ``under this 
                        section,'';
                            (ii) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting 
                        ``and subsection (d)'' after ``Subject to 
                        paragraph (4)''; and
                            (iii) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting 
                        ``subject to subsection (d),'' after ``for a 
                        fiscal year,''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section apply to 
items and services furnished on or after October 1, 2003, without 
regard to whether regulations implementing such amendments have been 
promulgated.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO IMPLEMENT MEDICAID AND SCHIP EXPANSIONS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
provide for grants to small and rural States (as defined by the 
Secretary) in order to enable such States to implement expansions of 
eligibility for children and young adults their State medicaid plans 
under title XIX of the Social Security Act and State child health plans 
under title XXI of such Act. Such grants shall be available for 
planning, implementation, and outreach with respect to such expanded 
eligibility populations.
    (b) Terms and Conditions.--Grants under this section shall be made 
available under such terms and conditions, including the approval of a 
grant application, as the Secretary shall specify.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to provide for grants under 
this section.

SOLUTION: Medicaid/SCHIP Optional Coverage for Young Adults Act of 2003 - Amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to give States the option of providing SCHIP and Medicaid coverage, with an enhanced matching rate, to low-income youth up to age 23.

Directs the Secretary to provide for grants to small and rural States in order to enable them to implement expansions of eligibility for children and young adults under SSA titles XIX and XXI.

PROBLEM: SECTION l. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom of Access to Clinic 
Entrances Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. FREEDOM OF ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES.

    Chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
``Sec. 248. Blocking access to reproductive health services
    ``(a) Prohibited Activities.--Whoever--
            ``(1) by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction, 
        intentionally injures, intimidates, or interferes with any 
        person, or attempts to do so, because that person or any other 
        person or class of persons is obtaining or providing 
        reproductive health services; or
            ``(2) intentionally damages or destroys the property of a 
        facility, or attempts to do so, because that facility provides 
        reproductive health services;
shall be punished as provided in subsection (b) of this section and 
also be subject to the civil remedy provided in subsection (c) of this 
section, except that a parent or legal guardian of a minor shall not be 
subject to any penalties or civil remedies under this section for such 
activities insofar as they are directed exclusively at that minor.
    ``(b) Penalties.--Whoever violates subsection (a) of this section 
shall--
            ``(1) in the case of a first offense, be fined under this 
        title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both; and
            ``(2) in the case of a second or subsequent offense after a 
        prior conviction under this section, be fined under this title 
        or imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both;
except that, if bodily injury results, the length of imprisonment shall 
be not more than 10 years, and if death results, it shall be for any 
term of years or for life.
    ``(c) Civil Actions.--
            ``(1) Right of action generally.--Any person who is 
        aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) of this section may 
        in a civil action obtain relief under this subsection.
            ``(2) Action by attorney general.--If the Attorney General 
        has reasonable cause to believe that any person, or group of 
        persons, is aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) of this 
        section, the Attorney General may in a civil action obtain 
        relief under this subsection.
            ``(3) Actions by state attorneys general.--If an attorney 
        general of a State has reasonable cause to believe that any 
        person or group of persons is aggrieved by a violation of 
        subsection (a) of this section, that attorney general may in a 
        civil action obtain relief under this subsection.
            ``(4) Relief.--In any action under this subsection, the 
        court may award any appropriate relief, including temporary, 
        preliminary or permanent injunctive relief, and compensatory 
        and punitive damages for each person aggrieved by the 
        violation. With respect to compensatory damages, the aggrieved 
        person may elect, at any time before the rendering of final 
        judgment, to recover, in lieu of actual damages, an award of 
        statutory damages in the amount of $5,000 per violation. The 
        court may award to the prevailing party, other than the United 
        States, reasonable fees for attorneys and expert witnesses.
    ``(d) Rules of Construction.--(1) Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to prohibit any expressive conduct (including peaceful 
picketing or other peaceful demonstration) protected from legal 
prohibition by the first article of amendment to the Constitution.
    ``(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere with 
the authority of States to enforce State or local laws regulating the 
provision of reproductive health services.
    ``(e) Non-Preemption.--Congress does not intend this section to 
provide the exclusive remedies with respect to the conduct prohibited 
by it, nor to preempt the legislation of the States that may provide 
such remedies.
    ``(f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following 
definitions apply:
            ``(1) Reproductive health services.--The term `reproductive 
        health services' means reproductive health services provided in 
        a hospital, clinic, physician's office, or other facility, and 
        includes medical, surgical, counselling or referral services 
        relating to the human reproductive system.
            ``(2) Facility.--The term `facility' includes the building 
        or structure in which the facility is located.
            ``(3) Physical obstruction.--The term `physical 
        obstruction' means rendering impassable ingress to or egress 
        from a facility that provides reproductive health services, or 
        rendering passage to or from such facility unreasonably 
        difficult.
            ``(4) State.--The term `State' includes a State of the 
        United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, 
        territory, or possession of the United States.
            ``(5) Intimidate.--The term `intimidate' means to place a 
        person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm to himself or 
        herself or to another.''.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
shall apply only with respect to conduct occurring on or after such 
date.

SEC. 4. CLERICAL AMENDMENT.

    The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 13 of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
item:

``248. Blocking access to reproductive health services.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 18, 1993.

            Attest:

                                           DONNALD K. ANDERSON,

                                                                 Clerk.

SOLUTION: Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit:  (1) intentionally injuring, intimidating, or interfering with any person by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction because that person or any other person or class of persons is obtaining or providing reproductive health services; or (2) intentionally damaging or destroying the property of a facility because that facility provides reproductive health services.  Subjects violators to specified penalties (including up to life imprisonment if death results) or civil remedies, except that a parent or legal guardian or a minor shall not be subject to such a penalty or remedy insofar as such activities are directed exclusively at that minor. Authorizes civil actions by aggrieved persons, the Attorney General, and State attorneys general for violations.  Specifies that in any such action:  (1) the court may award appropriate relief (including temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunctive relief) and compensatory and punitive damages for each person aggrieved by the violation; and (2) with respect to compensatory damages, the aggrieved person may elect, at any time before the rendering of final judgment, to recover an award of statutory damages in the amount of $5,000 per violation in lieu of actual damages.  Authorizes the court to award reasonable fees for attorneys and expert witnesses to the prevailing party, other than the United States. Specifies that:  (1) nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct (including peaceful picketing or other peaceful demonstration) protected from legal prohibition by the first amendment or interfere with the authority of States to enforce State or local laws regulating the provision of reproductive health services; and (2) the Congress does not intend this Act to provide the exclusive remedies with respect to the conduct prohibited by it, nor to preempt State legislation that may provide such remedies.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Salute to Veterans 
and the Armed Forces Act of 2003''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Full payment of both retired pay and compensation to disabled 
                            military retirees.
Sec. 3. Repeal of dependency and indemnity compensation offset from 
                            survivor benefit plan surviving spouse 
                            annuities.
Sec. 4. Increase in amount of basic educational assistance for members 
                            of the Selected Reserve.
Sec. 5. Application of index based on costs of higher learning.
Sec. 6. One-time bonus for certain service in connection with Operation 
                            Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring 
                            Freedom.
Sec. 7. Authorization of additional funding for veterans medical care.
Sec. 8. Interim payments under certain veterans claims when decision is 
                            delayed following remand for expedited 
                            consideration.
Sec. 9. Prohibition on increases in medication copayment for veterans 
                            and imposition of healthcare enrollment fee 
                            for veterans.
Sec. 10. Information for separating servicemembers on veterans benefits 
                            information.
Sec. 11. Veterans outreach programs.
Sec. 12. Retention of 38.6 percent top individual income tax rate.

SEC. 2. FULL PAYMENT OF BOTH RETIRED PAY AND COMPENSATION TO DISABLED 
              MILITARY RETIREES.

    (a) Restoration of Full Retired Pay Benefits.--Section 1414 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 1414. Members eligible for retired pay who have service-
              connected disabilities: payment of retired pay and 
              veterans' disability compensation
    ``(a) Payment of Both Retired Pay and Compensation.--Except as 
provided in subsection (b), a member or former member of the uniformed 
services who is entitled to retired pay (other than as specified in 
subsection (c)) and who is also entitled to veterans' disability 
compensation is entitled to be paid both without regard to sections 
5304 and 5305 of title 38.
    ``(b) Special Rule for Chapter 61 Career Retirees.--The retired pay 
of a member retired under chapter 61 of this title with 20 years or 
more of service otherwise creditable under section 1405 of this title 
at the time of the member's retirement is subject to reduction under 
sections 5304 and 5305 of title 38, but only to the extent that the 
amount of the member's retired pay under chapter 61 of this title 
exceeds the amount of retired pay to which the member would have been 
entitled under any other provision of law based upon the member's 
service in the uniformed services if the member had not been retired 
under chapter 61 of this title.
    ``(c) Exception.--Subsection (a) does not apply to a member retired 
under chapter 61 of this title with less than 20 years of service 
otherwise creditable under section 1405 of this title at the time of 
the member's retirement.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `retired pay' includes retainer pay, 
        emergency officers retirement pay, and naval pension.
            ``(2) The term `veterans' disability compensation' has the 
        meaning given the term `compensation' in section 101(13) of 
        title 38.''.
    (b) Repeal of Special Compensation Programs.--Sections 1413 and 
1413a of such title are repealed.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by striking the items relating to sections 
1413, 1413a, and 1414 and inserting the following:

``1414. Members eligible for retired pay who have service-connected 
                            disabilities: payment of retired pay and 
                            veterans' disability compensation.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on--
            (1) the first day of the first month that begins after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act; or
            (2) the first day of the fiscal year that begins in the 
        calendar year in which this Act is enacted, if later than the 
        date specified in paragraph (1).
    (e) Retroactive Benefits.--No benefits may be paid to any person by 
reason of section 1414 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by 
subsection (a), for any period before the effective date specified in 
subsection (a).

SEC. 3. REPEAL OF DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION OFFSET FROM 
              SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN SURVIVING SPOUSE ANNUITIES.

    (a) Repeal.--Subsections (c), (e), and (k) of section 1450 of title 
10, United States Code, and subsection (c)(2) of section 1451 of such 
title are repealed.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a)--
            (1) shall take effect on the later of October 1, 2003, or 
        the date of the enactment of this Act; and
            (2) shall apply with respect to payment of annuities under 
        subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code, 
        for months beginning on or after that date.
    (c) Recoupment of Certain Amounts Previously Refunded to SBP 
Recipients.--(1) A surviving spouse who is in receipt of an SBP annuity 
that is in effect before the date specified in subsection (b) and that 
is adjusted by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a) and who 
had previously received an SBP retired pay refund shall repay an amount 
determined under paragraph (2). Any such repayment shall be made in the 
same manner as a repayment under subsection (k)(2) of section 1450 of 
title 10, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the date 
of the enactment of this Act.
    (2) The amount of a repayment under paragraph (1) shall be the 
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of that refund as the 
surviving spouse's life expectancy (determined in accordance with 
standard actuarial practices) bears to the anticipated total duration 
of the annuity (determined as the sum of such life expectancy and the 
duration of the annuity already received).
    (3) In this subsection:
            (A) The term ``SBP annuity'' means an annuity under the 
        program established under subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 
        10, United States Code.
            (B) The term ``SBP retired pay refund'' means a refund 
        under subsection (e) of section 1450 of title 10, United States 
        Code, as in effect before the date specified in subsection (b).

SEC. 4. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS 
              OF THE SELECTED RESERVE.

    (a) In General.--(1) Paragraph (1) of section 16131(b) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$251'' and inserting 
        ``$600'';
            (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$188'' and inserting 
        ``$450''; and
            (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``$125'' and inserting 
        ``$300''.
    (2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on 
October 1, 2004, and shall apply with respect to educational assistance 
allowances under section 16131(b)(1) of such title paid for months 
after September 2004.
    (3) In the case of an educational assistance allowance under such 
section paid for months occurring during fiscal year 2004--
            (A) subparagraph (A) of such section shall be applied by 
        substituting ``$475'' for ``$251'';
            (B) subparagraph (B) of such section shall be applied by 
        substituting ``$325'' for ``$188''; and
            (C) subparagraph (C) of such section shall be applied by 
        substituting ``$215'' for ``$125''.
    (b) No Adjustment for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005.--Section 
16131(b)(2) of such title shall not apply to rates of basic educational 
assistance paid under such section during fiscal years 2004 and 2005.

SEC. 5. APPLICATION OF INDEX BASED ON COSTS OF HIGHER LEARNING.

    (a) In General.--Section 16131(b)(2) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(2)(A) With respect to any fiscal year beginning on or after 
October 1, 2005, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase 
(rounded to the nearest dollar) in the rates payable under paragraph 
(1) equal to the percentage (as determined by the Secretary) by which--
            ``(i) the average monthly costs of tuition and expenses for 
        commuter students at public institutions of higher learning 
        that award baccalaureate degrees for purposes of paragraph (1) 
        for the fiscal year involved, exceeds
            ``(ii) such average monthly costs for the preceding fiscal 
        year.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall make the determination under subparagraph 
(A) after consultation with the Secretary of Education.
    ``(C) A determination made under subparagraph (A) in a year shall 
take effect on October 1 of that year and apply with respect to basic 
educational assistance allowances payable under this section for the 
fiscal year beginning in that year.
    ``(D) Not later than September 30 each year, the Secretary shall 
publish in the Federal Register the average monthly costs of tuition 
and expenses as determined under subparagraph (A) in that year.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--(1) Section 3015(h) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``by which--'' and all that follows 
and inserting ``determined by the Secretary under section 16131(b)(2) 
of title 10 for the fiscal year involved.''.
    (2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to fiscal years 
beginning on or after October 1, 2005.

SEC. 6. ONE-TIME BONUS FOR CERTAIN SERVICE IN CONNECTION WITH OPERATION 
              IRAQI FREEDOM OR OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

    (a) Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.--The Secretary of 
Defense shall provide for the payment of a bonus under this section to 
each member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps who, at any 
time during the service of the member in connection with Operation 
Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, satisfied or satisfies the 
eligibility criteria for receipt of special pay under section 310 of 
title 37, United States Code, for duty subject to hostile fire or 
imminent danger.
    (b) Coast Guard.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide 
for the payment of a bonus under this section to each member of the 
Coast Guard who, at any time during the service of the member in 
connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, 
satisfied or satisfies the eligibility criteria for receipt of special 
pay under such section.
    (c) Amount of Bonus.--The amount of the bonus paid under this 
section shall be equal to $1,000.
    (d) Entitlement Limited to Single Bonus Payment.--A member may not 
receive more than one bonus under the authority of this section.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR VETERANS MEDICAL CARE.

    (a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, in addition to amounts otherwise 
authorized to be appropriated, the amount of $1,000,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2004 through 2013.
    (b) Improved Access to Care.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) shall be used to 
ensure that veterans seeking healthcare from the Department of Veterans 
Affairs receive their initial appointment for healthcare for a date 
that is not later than 30 days after the date on which the request is 
made.

SEC. 8. INTERIM PAYMENTS UNDER CERTAIN VETERANS CLAIMS WHEN DECISION IS 
              DELAYED FOLLOWING REMAND FOR EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION.

    (a) In General.--(1) Chapter 53 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 5320. Interim benefits under certain remanded cases
    ``(a) Interim Benefits.--When a claim for benefits under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary is remanded by the United States Court of 
Appeals for Veterans Claims or by the Board for Veterans' Appeals in a 
case to which section 302 of Public Law 103-446 (38 U.S.C. 5101 note) 
applies, if the Secretary does not make a decision on the matter within 
180 days of the date of the remand decision, then until such matter is 
finally decided, the Secretary shall pay an interim benefit in the 
amount of $500 per month to each claimant under the claim. Such 
payments shall commence as of the first month beginning after the end 
of such 180-day period.
    ``(b) Effect on Interim Benefit Payments of Final Decision on 
Claim.--When a claim with respect to which interim benefits are being 
paid under subsection (b) is finally decided--
            ``(1) if the final decision is to award benefits, the 
        amounts paid as interim benefits shall be considered to be an 
        advance payment of benefits owed for any period before the date 
        of such final decision (except that if the total amount of 
        interim benefits paid is greater than the amount of retroactive 
        benefits, the amount of the difference shall not be considered 
        to be an overpayment for any purpose); and
            ``(2) if the final decision is not to award benefits, the 
        amounts paid as interim benefits shall not be considered to be 
        an overpayment for any purpose.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``5320. Interim benefits under certain remanded cases.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Section 5320 of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to any decision 
remanded by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims or the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Report.--Not later than six months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to Congress a report on measures the Secretary intends to take to 
expedite the processing of remanded claims for veterans benefits.

SEC. 9. PROHIBITION ON INCREASES IN MEDICATION COPAYMENT FOR VETERANS 
              AND IMPOSITION OF HEALTHCARE ENROLLMENT FEE FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Medication Copayments.--During the period beginning on the date 
of the enactment of this Act and ending on October 1, 2004, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not implement under subsection (b) of 
section 1722A of title 38, United States Code, an increase in the 
copayment for medications required under subsection (a) of that 
section.
    (b) Enrollment Fee.--During the period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act and ending on October 1, 2004, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs may not implement an enrollment fee for veterans 
enrolling (or renewing enrollment) in the Department of Veterans 
Affairs healthcare system under section 1705 of such title.

SEC. 10. INFORMATION FOR SEPARATING SERVICEMEMBERS ON VETERANS BENEFITS 
              INFORMATION.

    (a) Information on Final Pay Stub.--Section 1142 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(d) Information on Access to Veterans Benefits.--The Secretary 
concerned shall include on the final statement of pay and allowances 
provided to a member who is separating from active duty or an active 
status information on how to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs 
for information concerning veterans benefits and the Department of 
Labor for information concerning employment opportunities.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (d) of section 1142 of title 10, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with 
respect to persons separating from active duty or an active status in 
the Armed Forces after the end of the 60-day period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 11. VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

    (a) Information on Veterans Benefits.--Section 7722(c) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs:
    ``(3) Information provided under this subsection shall include 
information on how to apply for benefits for which the veteran or 
dependent may be eligible, including information about assistance 
available under subsection (d).
    ``(4) In the case of veterans or dependents who are members of 
distinct beneficiary populations (such as survivors of veterans), the 
Secretary shall ensure that information provided under this subsection 
includes specific information about benefits relating to that 
population.''.
    (b) Annual Outreach Plan.--(1) Chapter 77 of such title is amended 
by inserting at the end of subchapter II the following new section:
``Sec. 7728. Annual outreach plan
    ``(a) The Secretary shall prepare an annual plan for the conduct of 
outreach activities under this subchapter. The Secretary shall include 
in the annual plan--
            ``(1) efforts to identify veterans who are not otherwise 
        enrolled or registered with the Department for benefits or 
        services under programs administered by the Secretary; and
            ``(2) provisions for informing veterans and dependents of 
        any changes in benefit programs or health care eligibility.
    ``(b) In developing the annual plan, the Secretary shall consult 
with the following:
            ``(1) Directors or other responsible officials of veterans 
        service organizations.
            ``(2) Directors or other responsible officials of local 
        education and training programs.
            ``(3) Representatives of veterans outreach programs.
            ``(4) Local veterans employment representatives.
            ``(5) Business and professional organizations.
            ``(6) Other appropriate individuals or organizations that 
        could assist veterans in adjusting to a self-sufficient 
        civilian life.
    ``(c) The annual report required by section 7726 of this title 
shall include specific information concerning the effectiveness of the 
outreach plan developed pursuant to this section.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7727 the 
following new item:

``7728. Annual outreach plan.''.

SEC. 12. RETENTION OF 38.6 PERCENT TOP INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX RATE.

    (a) In General.--The table contained in section 1(i)(2) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by the Jobs and Growth Tax 
Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, is amended by striking ``35.0%'' and 
inserting ``38.6%''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply 
to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2002.

SOLUTION:
Salute to Veterans and the Armed Forces Act of 2003 - Allows the full payment of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, without deduction from either (current law), without the enactment of qualifying offsetting legislation.

Repeals: (1) special compensation programs for certain severely disabled and combat-disabled military retirees; and (2) provisions requiring a dependency and indemnity compensation offset from surviving spouse annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan.

Increases the amount of basic educational assistance for members of the Selected Reserve.

Directs the Secretary of Defense, for fiscal years after 2005, to provide a percentage increase in the higher learning cost index for determining basic educational assistance amounts.

Directs the Secretary to pay a bonus to members who, at any time during service under Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, satisfied eligibility requirements for the receipt of special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger. Directs the Secretary of Homeland to provide such bonus to qualifying Coast Guard members.

Authorizes additional appropriations for veterans' improved access to medical care.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make interim payments under claims for veterans' benefits when the final decision regarding the payment of such benefits is delayed following remand by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims or the Board for Veterans' Appeals to the Secretary for expedited consideration.

Prohibits with respect to veterans: (1) increases in medication copayments; and (2) the imposition of health care enrollment fees.

Requires the: (1) Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Labor to provide appropriate information concerning veterans' benefits and employment opportunities; and (2) Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prepare an annual plan for the conduct of veterans' outreach activities.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to place the maximum individual income tax rate at 38.6 percent.