Veterans Health Care Amendments of 1979
PL 96-22 (S.7), enacted 06/13/1979

PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 47 
Public Law 96-22 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise and improve certain 
health-care programs of the Veterans' Administration, to authorize the 
construction, alteration, and acquisition of certain medical facilities, and 
to expand certain benefits for disabled veterans; and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) this Act 
may be cited as the "Veterans' Health Care Amendments of 1979". 
(b) 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 consid-
ered to be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United 
States Code. 
TITLE I—HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAMS 
June 13, 1979 
[S.7] 
Veterans' 
Health Care 
Amendments of 
1979. 
38 u s e 101 note. 
PRIORITY FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED 
DISABILITIES 
SEC. 101. Clause (3) of section 612(i) is amended by inserting 38 use 612. 
"(including any veteran being examined to determine the existence 
or rating of a service-connected disability)" before the period. 
D E N T A L SERVICES AND TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN VETERANS 
SEC. 102. (a) Section 610(c) is amended by adding at the end thereof as use 6io. 
the following new sentence: "The Administrator may furnish dental 
services and treatment, and related dental appliances, under this 
subsection for a non-service-connected dental condition or disability 
of a veteran only (1) to the extent that the Administrator determines 
that the dental facilities of the Veterans' Administration to be used 
to furnish such services, treatment, or appliances are not needed to 
furnish services, treatment, or appliances for dental conditions or 
disabilities described in section 612(b) of this title, or (2) if (A) such 38 use 612; 
non-service-connected dental condition or disability is associated with infra. 
or aggravating a disability for which such veteran is receiving 
hospital care, or (B) a compelling medical reason or a dental emer-
gency requires furnishing dental services, treatment, or appliances 
(excluding the furnishing of such services, treatment, or appliances of 
a routine nature) to such veteran during the period of hospitalization 
under this section.". 
(b)(1) Subsection (b) of section 612 is amended— 
(A) by striking out "or" at the end of clause (5); 
(B) by striking out the period at the end of clause (6) and 
inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"(7) from which any veteran of World War I, World War II, the 
Korean conflict, or the Vietnam era who was held as a prisoner of 
war for a period of not less than six months is suffering; or 
"(8) from which a veteran who has a service-connected disabil-
ity rated as total is suffering. 
93 STAT. 48 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22-JUNE 13, 1979 
38 use 612. 
Infra. 
Post, p. 54. 
38 use 610; 
ante, p. 47. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
Outpatient 
dental services 
and treatment. 
38 use 601. 
38 use 610, 612. 
In any year in which the President's Budget for the fiscal year 
beginning October 1 of such year includes an amount for expendi-
tures for contract dental care under the provisions of subsections (a) 
and (f) of this section and section 601(4)(C) of this title during such 
fiscal year in excess of the level of expenditures made for such 
purpose during fiscal year 1978, the Administrator shall, not later 
than February 15 of such year, submit a report to the appropriate 
committees of the Congress justifying the requested level of expendi-
tures for contract dental care and explaining why the application of 
the criteria prescribed in section 601(4XC) of this title for contracting 
with private facilities and in the second sentence of section 610(c) of 
this title for furnishing incidental dental care to hospitalized veter-
ans will not preclude the need for expenditures for contract dental 
care in excess of the fiscal year 1978 level of expenditures for such 
purpose. In any case in which the amount included in the President's 
Budget for any fiscal year for expenditures for contract dental care 
under such provisions is not in excess of the level of expenditures 
made for such purpose during fiscal year 1978 and the Administrator 
determines after the date of submission of such budget and before the 
end of such fiscal year that the level of expenditures for such contract 
dental care during such fiscal year will exceed the fiscal year 1978 
level of expenditures, the Administrator shall submit a report to the 
appropriate committees of the Congress containing both a justifica-
tion (with respect to the projected level of expenditures for such fiscal 
year) and an explanation as required in the preceding sentence in the 
case of a report submitted pursuant to such sentence. Any report 
submitted pursuant to this subsection shall include a comment by the 
Administrator on the effect of the application of the criteria pre-
scribed in the second sentence of section 610(c) of this title for 
furnishing incidental dental care to hospitalized veterans.". 
(2) Subsection (f) of such section is amended by adding at the end 
thereof the following new sentence: "The Administrator may also 
furnish outpatient dental services and treatment, and related appli-
ances, to any veteran described in subsection (b)(7) of this section.". 
(c) Section 601 is amended— 
(1) by inserting "of the first sentence, or in the third sentence," 
in paragraph (4)(C)(ii) after "(1)(B) or (2)"; and 
(2) by striking out "authorized in section 612 (b), (c), (d), and (e)" 
in paragraph (6)(A)(i) and inserting in lieu thereof "described in 
sections 610 and 612". 
READJUSTMENT COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR VETERANS OF THE 
VIETNAM ERA 
SEC. 103. (a)(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 is amended by inserting 
after section 612 the following new section: 
38USe6i2A. 
"§612A. Eligibility for readjustment counseling and related 
mental health services 
"(a) Upon the request of any veteran who served on active duty 
during the Vietnam era, the Administrator shall, within the limits of 
Veterans' Administration facilities, furnish counseling to such vet-
eran to assist such veteran in readjusting to civilian life if such 
veteran requests such counseling within two years after the date of 
such veteran's discharge or release from active duty or two years 
after the effective date of this section, whichever is later. Such 
counseling shall include a general mental and psychological assess-
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 49 
ment to ascertain whether such veteran has niental or psychological 
problems associated with readjustment to civilian life. 
"(b)(1) If, on the basis of the assessment furnished under subsection 
(a) of this section, a physician or psychologist employed by the 
Veterans' Administration (or, in areas where no such physician or 
psychologist is available, a physician or psychologist carrying out 
such function under a contract or fee arrangement with the Adminis-
trator) determines that the provision of mental health services to 
such veteran is necessary to facilitate the successful readjustment of 
the veteran to civilian life, such veteran shall, within the limits of 
Veterans' Administration facilities, be furnished such services on an 
outpatient basis under the conditions specified in clause (1)(B) of 
section 612(f) of this title. For the purposes of furnishing such mental 
health services, the counseling furnished under subsection (a) of this 
section shall be considered to have been furnished by the Veterans' 
Administration as a part of hospital care. Any hospital care and other 
medical services considered necessary on the basis of the assessment 
furnished under subsection (a) of this section shall be furnished only 
in accordance with the eligibility criteria otherwise set forth in this 
chapter (including the eligibility criteria set forth in section 611(b) of 
this title). 
"(2) Mental health services furnished under paragraph (1) of this 
subsection may, if determined to be essential to the effective treat-
ment and readjustment of the veteran, include such consultation, 
counseling, training, services, and expenses as are described in 
section 601(6)(B) of this title. 
"(c) Upon receipt of a request for counseling under this section from 
any individual who has been discharged or released from active 
military, naval, or air service but who is not eligible for such 
counseling, the Administrator shall— 
"(1) provide referral services to assist such individual, to the 
maximum extent practicable, in obtaining mental health care 
and services from sources outside the Veterans' Administration; 
and 
"(2) if pertinent, advise such individual of such individual's 
rights to apply to the appropriate military, naval, or air service 
and the Veterans' Administration for review of such individual's 
discharge or release from such service. 
"(d) The Chief Medical Director may provide for such training of 
professional, paraprofessional, and lay personnel as is necessary to 
carry out this section effectively, and, in carrying out this section, 
may utilize the services of paraprofessionals, individuals who are 
volunteers working without compensation, and individuals who are 
veteran-students (as described in section 1685 of this title), in initial 
intake and screening activities. 
"(e)(1) In furnishing counseling and related mental health services 
under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Administrator shall 
have available the same authority to enter into contracts with 
private facilities that is available to the Administrator (under sec-
tions 612(f)(2) and 601(4)(C)(ii) of this title) in furnishing med-
ical services to veterans suffering from total service-connected 
disabilities. 
"(2) Before furnishing counseling or related mental health services 
described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section through a contract 
facility, as authorized by this subsection, the Administrator shall 
approve (in accordance with criteria which the Administrator shall 
prescribe by regulation) the quality and effectiveness of the program 
Outpatient 
service. 
38 use 612. 
38 use 611. 
38 use 601. 
Training of 
professional, 
paraprofessional 
and lay 
personnel. 
38 use 1685. 
38 use 612, 601. 
-194 O — 81 
6 : QL3 
93 STAT. 50 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22-JUNE 13, 1979 
Eligibility 
assistance, 
notification. 
Eligibility 
assistance in 
case of 
declaration of 
war. 
38 u s e 612A 
note. 
Ante, p. 48. 
operated by such facility for the purpose for which the counseling or 
services are to be furnished. 
"(3) The authority of the Administrator to enter into contracts 
under this subsection shall be effective for any fiscal year only to such 
extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts. 
"(f) The Administrator, in cooperation with the Secretary of 
Defense, shall take such action as the Administrator considers 
appropriate to notify veterans who may be eligible for assistance 
under this section of such potential eligibility.". 
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 612 the following new 
item: 
"612A. Eligibility for readjustment counseling and related mental health services.". 
(b) In the event of a declaration of war by the Congress after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of Veterans' 
Affairs, not later than six months after the date of such declaration, 
shall determine and recommend to the Congress whether eligibility 
for the readjustment counseling and related mental health services 
provided for in section 612A of title 38, United States Code (as added 
by subsection (a) of this section) should be extended to the veterans of 
such war. 
38 u s e 620A. 
Program quality 
and 
effectiveness, 
approval. 
Employment 
and training 
opportunities. 
PILOT PROGRAM FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF VETERANS 
WITH ALCOHOL OR DRUG DEPENDENCE OR ABUSE DISABILITIES 
SEC. 104. (a) Subchapter II of chapter 17 is amended by adding at 
the end thereof the following new section: 
"§ 620A. Treatment and rehabilitation for alcohoi or drug depend-
ence or abuse disabilities; pilot program 
"(a)(1) The Administrator, in furnishing hospital, nursing home, 
and domiciliary care and medical and rehabilitative services under 
this chapter, may conduct a pilot program under which the Adminis-
trator may contract for care and treatment and rehabilitative 
services in halfway houses, therapeutic communities, psychiatric 
residential treatment centers, and other community-based treatment 
facilities of eligible veterans suffering from alcohol or drug depend-
ence or abuse disabilities. Such pilot program shall be planned, 
designed, and conducted by the Chief Medical Director, with the 
approval of the Administrator, so as to demonstrate any medical 
advantages and cost effectiveness that may result from furnishing 
such care and services to veterans with such disabilities in contract 
facilities as authorized by this section, rather than in facilities over 
which the Administrator has direct jurisdiction. 
"(2) Before furnishing such care and services to any veteran 
through a contract facility as authorized by paragraph (1) of this 
subsection, the Administrator shall approve (in accordance with 
criteria which the Administrator shall prescribe by regulation) the 
quality and effectiveness of the program operated by such facility for 
the purpose for which such veteran is to be furnished such care and 
services. 
"(b) The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor 
and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, may take 
appropriate steps to (1) urge all Federal agencies and appropriate 
private and public firms, organizations, agencies, and persons to 
provide appropriate employment and training opportunities for vet-
erans who have been provided treatment and rehabilitative services 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 51 
under this title for alcohol or drug dependence or abuse disabilities 
and have been determined by competent medical authority to be 
sufficiently rehabilitated to be employable, and (2) provide all possi-
ble assistance to the Secretary of Labor in placing such veterans in 
such opportunities. 
"(c) Upon receipt of an application for treatment and rehabilitative 
services under this title for an alcohol or drug dependence or abuse 
disability from any individual who has been discharged or released 
from active military, naval, or air service but who is not eligible for 
such treatment and services, the Administrator shall— 
"(1) provide referral services to assist such individual, to the 
maximum extent practicable, in obtaining treatment and reha-
bilitative services from sources outside the Veterans' Adminis-
tration; and 
"(2) if pertinent, advise such individual of such individual's 
rights to apply to the appropriate military, naval, or air service 
and the Veterans' Administration for review of such individual's 
discharge or release from such service. 
"(d)(1) Any person serving in the active military, naval, or air 
service who is determined by the Secretary concerned to have an 
alcohol or drug dependence or abuse disability may not be trans-
ferred to any facility in order for the Administrator to furnish care or 
treatment and rehabilitative services for such disability unless such 
transfer is during the last thirty days of such member's enlistment 
period or tour of duty, in which case such care and services provided 
to such member shall be provided as if such member were a veteran. 
Any transfer of any such member for such care and services shall be 
made pursuant to such terms as may be agreed upon by the Secretary 
concerned and the Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Act 
of March 4,1915 (31 U.S.C. 686). 
"(2) No person serving in the active military, naval, or air service 
may be transferred pursuant to an agreement made under paragraph 
(1) of this subsection unless such person requests such transfer in 
writing for a specified period of time during the last thirty days of 
such person's enlistment period or tour of duty. No such person 
transferred pursuant to such a request may be furnished such care 
and services by the Administrator beyond the period of time specified 
in such request, unless such person requests in writing an extension 
for a further specified period of time and such request is approved by 
the Administrator. 
"(e) The Administrator may not furnish care and treatment and 
rehabilitative services under subsection (a) of this section after the 
last day of the fifth fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the 
pilot program authorized by such subsection is initiated. 
"(f) Not later than March 31,1983, the Administrator shall report 
to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives on the findings and recommendations of the Admin-
istrator pertaining to the operation through September 30, 1982, of 
the pilot program authorized by this section. 
"(g) The authority of the Administrator to enter into contracts 
under this section shall be effective for any fiscal year only to such 
extent or in such gunounts as are provided in appropriation Acts.", 
(b) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended 
by adding after the item relating to section 620 the following new 
item: 
Noneligible 
individuals, 
provisions. 
Transfer to 
another facility, 
requirement. 
Written request 
for transfer; 
extension. 
Termination. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
Contract 
provision. 
93 STAT. 52 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
"620A. Treatment and rehabilitation for alcohol or drug dependence or abuse dis-
abilities; pilot program.". 
PILOT PROGRAM OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH-CARE SERVICES 
SEC. 105. (a) Chapter 17 is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
following new subchapter: 
"Subchapter VII—Preventive Health-Care Services Pilot Program 
38 use 661. 
"§ 661. Purpose 
"The purpose of this subchapter is to provide for a preventive 
health-care services pilot program under which the Administrator 
may attempt to (1) ensure the best possible health care for certain 
veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 50 per centum or 
more and for certain veterans being furnished treatment involving a 
service-connected disability under this chapter, by furnishing to such 
veterans feasible and appropriate preventive health-care services, 
and (2) determine the cost-effectiveness and medical advantages of 
furnishing such preventive health-care services. 
38 use 662. 
"§ 662. Definition 
"For the purposes of this subchapter, the term 'preventive health-
care services' means— 
"(1) periodic medical and dental examinations; 
"(2) patient health education (including nutrition education); 
"(3) maintenance of drug use profiles, patient drug monitoring, 
and drug utilization education; 
"(4) mental health preventive services; 
"(5) substance abuse prevention measures; 
"(6) immunizations against infectious disease; 
"(7) prevention of musculoskeletal deformity or other grad-
ually developing disabilities of a metabolic or degenerative 
nature; 
"(8) genetic counseling concerning inheritance of genetically 
determined diseases; 
"(9) routine vision testing and eye care services; 
"(10) periodic reexamination of members of likely target popu-
lations (high-risk groups) for selected diseases and for functional 
decline of sensory organs, together with attendant appropriate 
remedial intervention; and 
"(11) such other health-care services as the Administrator may 
determine to be necessary to provide effective and economical 
preventive health care. 
38 use 663. 
"§ 663. Preventive health-care services 
"(a)(1) In order to carry out the purpose of this subchapter, the 
Administrator, within the limits of Veterans' Administration facili-
ties and in accordance with regulations which the Administrator 
shall prescribe, may furnish to any veteran described in section 
38 use 612. 
612(f)(2) of this title, and to any veteran receiving care and treatment 
under this chapter involving a service-connected disability, such 
preventive health-care services as the Administrator determines are 
feasible and appropriate. 
"(2) In connection with preventive health-care services furnished 
under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Administrator, in accord-
ance with regulations which the Administrator shall prescribe, may 
institute appropriate controls and carry out followup studies (includ-
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 53 
Services, 
termination 
date. 
Professional and 
paraprofessional 
personnel. 
Report to 
Congress. 
38 u s e 664. 
38 u s e 214. 
ing research) to determine the medical advantages and cost-effective-
ness of furnishing such preventive health-care services. 
"(b) In carrying out the pilot program provided for by this sub-
chapter, the Administrator may not furnish preventive health-care 
services after September 30,1984. 
"(c) In carrying out this subchapter, the Administrator shall 
emphasize the utilization of interdisciplinary health-care teams com-
posed of various professional and paraprofessional personnel. 
"(d) In order to carry out the program provided for in this 
subchapter, the Administrator may not expend more than 
$10,000,000 in fiscal year 1980, more than $12,000,000 in fiscal year 
1981, more than $13,000,000 in fiscal year 1982, more than 
$14,000,000 in fiscal year 1983, or more than $15,000,000 in fiscal year 
1984. 
"§664. Reports 
"The Administrator shall include in the annual report to the 
Congress required by section 214 of this title a comprehensive report 
on the administration of this subchapter, including such recommen-
dations for additional legislation as the Administrator considers 
necessary.". 
(b) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"SUBCHAPTER VII—PREVENTIVE HEALTH-CARE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM 
"661. Purpose. 
"662. Definition. 
"663. Preventive health-care services. 
"664. Reports.". 
HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES WITHIN 
THE UNITED STATES FOR COMMONWEALTH ARMY VETERANS AND NEW 
PHILIPPINE SCOUTS 
SEC 106. (a) Subchapter IV of chapter 17 is amended by redesignat-
ing section 634 as section 635 and by inserting after section 633 the 
following new section: 
"§ 634. Hospital and nursing home care and medical services in 38 use 634. 
the United States 
"The Administrator, within the limits of Veterans' Administration 
facilities, may furnish hospital and nursing home care and medical 
services to Commonwealth Army veterans and new Philippine Scouts 
for the treatment of the service-connected disabilities of such veter-
ans and scouts.". 
(b) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended 
by striking out the item relating to section 634 and inserting in lieu 
thereof the following new items: 
"634. Hospital and nursing home care and medical services in the United States. 
"635. Definitions.". 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS 
SEC 107. The amendments made to title 38, United States Code, by 38 use 60i note. 
sections 102, 103, 104, 105, and 106 of this Act shall be effective on Ante, pp. 47,48, 
October 1,1979. 
so, 52. 
Supra. 
93 STAT. 54 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
TITLE II—CONTRACT-CARE PROGRAMS 
38 u s e 601. 
38 u s e 612. 
Treatment in 
private facility, 
review. 
Reports to 
congressional 
committees. 
38 u s e 601 note. 
38 u s e 101. 
38 u s e 601, ante, 
p. 48; 38 u s e 
610; 38 u s e 612; 
ante, p. 48; ante, 
p. 50. 
DEFINITION OF "VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION FACILITIES" 
SEC. 201. (a) Paragraph (4) of section 601 is amended— 
(1) by inserting "or of a veteran described in section 612(g) of 
this title if the Administrator has determined, based on an 
examination by a physician employed by the Veterans' Adminis-
tration (or, in areas where no such physician is available, by a 
physician carrying out such function under a contract or fee 
arrangement), that the medical condition of such veteran pre-
cludes appropriate treatment in facilities described in clauses (A) 
and (B) of this paragraph" before the semicolon at the end of 
subclause (ii) of clause (C); 
(2) by striking out "or" after the semicolon at the end of 
subclause (iv) of clause (C), and striking out the period at the end 
of such clause and inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon and the 
following: "or (vi) diagnostic services necessary for determina-
tion of eligibility for, or of the appropriate course of treatment in 
connection with, the provision of medical services at independent 
Veterans' Administration outpatient clinics to obviate the need 
for hospital admission."; and 
(3) by adding below clause (C) the following new sentence: 
"In the case of any veteran for whom the Administrator contracts to 
provide treatment in a private facility pursuant to the provisions of 
this paragraph, the Administrator shall periodically review the 
necessity for continuing such contractual arrangement pursuant to 
such provision.". 
(b) Not later than February 1, 1980, and annually thereafter, the 
Chief Medical Director of the Veterans' Administration shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of the Congress, through the Adminis-
trator of Veterans' Affairs, a full report on the implementation of 
section 601(4)(C)(v) of title 38, United States Code, and the amend-
ments made by this section, and on the numbers of veterans provided 
contract treatment (and the average cost and duration thereof) in 
each State (£is defined in section 101(20) of title 38, United States 
Code) in the categories described in the following provisions of such 
title: sections 601(4)(C), 610(a), 612(a), 612(f)(1)(A), 612(f)(1)(B), 612(f)(2), 
612(g), 612A (as added by section 103(a)(1) of this Act), the third 
sentence of section 612(f) (as added by section 102(b)(2) of this Act), 
and section 620A (as added by section 104(a) of this Act). 
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AT NATIONAL CONVENTIONS OF 
RECOGNIZED VETERANS' SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS 
38 use 611. 
SEC. 202. Section 611 is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
following new subsection: 
"(c)(1) The Administrator may contract with any organization 
recognized by the Administrator for the purposes of section 3402 of 
this title to provide for the furnishing by the Administrator, on a 
reimbursable basis (as prescribed by the Administrator), of emer-
gency medical services to individuals attending any national conven-
tion of such organization, except that reimbursement shall not be 
required for services furnished under this subsection to the extent 
that the individual receiving such services would otherwise be 
eligible under this chapter for medical services. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 55 
"(2) The authority of the Administrator to enter into contracts 
under this subsection shall be effective for any fiscal year only to such 
extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts.". 
TITLE III—CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATION, LEASE, AND 
ACQUISITION OF MEDICAL FACILITIES 
REVISION OF AUTHORITY FOR CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATION, LEASE, AND 
ACQUISITION OF MEDICAL FACIUTIES 
SEC. 301. (a) Subchapter I of chapter 81 is amended to read as 
follows: 
"Subchapter I—Acquisition and Operation of Medical Facilities 
"§ 5001. Definitions 
38 use 5001. 
"For the purposes of this subchapter: 
"(1) The term 'alter', with respect to a medical facility, means to 
repair, remodel, improve, or extend such medical facility. 
"(2) The terms 'construct' and 'alter', with respect to a medical 
facility, include such engineering, architectural, legal, fiscal, and 
economic investigations and studies and such surveys, designs, plans, 
working drawings, specifications, procedures, and other similar ac-
tions as are necessary for the construction or alteration, as the case 
may be, of such medical facility and as are carried out after the 
completion of the advanced planning (including the development of 
project requirements and preliminary plans) for such facility. 
"(3) The term 'medical facility' means any facility or part thereof 
which is, or will be, under the jurisdiction of the Administrator for 
the provision of health-care services (including hospital, nursing 
home, or domiciliary care or medical services), including any neces-
sary building and auxiliary structure, garage, parking facility, 
mechanical equipment, trackage facilities leading thereto, abutting 
sidewalks, accommodations for attending personnel, and recreation 
facilities associated therewith. 
"(4) The term 'committee' means the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Veter-
ans' Affairs of the Senate, and the term 'committees' means both 
such committees. 
"§ 5002. Acquisition of medical facilities 
38 use 5002. 
"(a) The Administrator shall provide medical facilities for veterans 
entitled to hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary care or medical 
services under this title. 
"(b) No medical facility may be constructed or otherwise acquired 
or altered except in accordance with the provisions of this 
subchapter. 
"(c) In carrying out this subchapter, the Administrator— 
Functions. 
"(1) shall provide for the construction and acquisition of 
medical facilities in a manner that results in the equitable 
distribution of such facilities throughout the United States, 
taking into consideration the comparative urgency of the need 
for the services to be provided in the case of each particular 
facility; and 
"(2) shall give due consideration to excellence of architecture 
and design. 
93 STAT. 56 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
38 u s e 5003. 
Infra. 
Post, p. 59. 
38 u s e 5004. 
eonstruction 
cost, limitation. 
Lease rental 
charge, 
limitation. 
Prospectus. 
eontents. 
"§5003. Authority to construct and alter, and to acquire sites for, 
medical facilities 
"(a) Subject to section 5004 of this title, the Administrator— 
"(1) may construct or alter any medical facility and may 
acquire, by purchase, lease, condemnation, donation, exchange, 
or otherwise, such land or interests in land as the Administrator 
considers necessary for use as the site for such construction or 
alteration; 
"(2) may acquire, by purchase, lease, condemnation, donation, 
exchange, or otherwise, any facility (including the site of such 
facility) that the Administrator considers necessary for use as a 
medical facility; and 
"(3) in order to assure compliance with section 5010(a)(2) of this 
title, in the case of any outpatient medical facility for which it is 
proposed to lease space and for which a qualified lessor and an 
appropriate leasing arrangement are available, shall execute a 
lease for such facility within 12 months after funds are made 
available for such purpose. 
"(b) Whenever the Administrator considers it to be in the interest 
of the United States to construct a new medical facility to replace an 
existing medical facility, the Administrator (1) may demolish the 
existing facility and use the site on which it is located for the site of 
the new medical facility, or (2) if in the judgment of the Administra-
tor it is more advantageous to construct such medical facility on a 
different site in the same locality, may exchange such existing 
facility and the site of such existing facility for the different site. 
"(c) Whenever the Administrator determines that any site acquired 
for the construction of a medical facility is not suitable for that 
purpose, the Administrator may exchange such site for another site 
to be used for that purpose or may sell such site. 
"§ 5004. Congressional approval of certain medical facility acqui-
sitions 
"(a) In order to ensure the equitable distribution of medical 
facilities throughout the United States, taking into consideration the 
comparative urgency of the need for the services to be provided in the 
case of each particular facility— 
"(1) no appropriation may be made for the construction, 
alteration, or acquisition (not including exchanges) of any medi-
cal facility which involves a total expenditure of more than 
$2,000,000 unless each committee has first adopted a resolution 
approving such construction, alteration, or acquisition and set-
ting forth the estimated cost thereof; and 
"(2) no appropriation may be made for the lease of any space 
for use as a medical facility at an average annual rental of more 
than $500,000 unless each committee has first adopted a resolu-
tion approving such lease and setting forth the estimated cost 
thereof 
"(b) In the event that the President or the Administrator proposes 
to the Congress the funding of any construction, alteration, lease, or 
other acquisition to which subsection (a) of this section is applicable, 
the Administrator shall submit to each committee, on the same day, a 
prospectus of the proposed medical facility. Such prospectus shall 
include— 
"(1) a detailed description of the medical facility to be con-
structed, altered, leased, or otherwise acquired under this sub-
chapter, including a description of the location of such facility; 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 57 
"(2) an estimate of the cost to the United States of the 
construction, alteration, lease, or other acquisition of such facil-
ity (including site costs, if applicable); and 
"(3) an estimate of the cost to the United States of the 
equipment required for the operation of such facility. 
"(c) The estimated cost of any construction, alteration, lease, or 
other acquisition that is approved under this section, as set forth in 
the pertinent resolutions described in subsection (a) of this section, 
may be increased by the Administrator in the contract for such 
construction, alteration, lease, or other acquisition by an amount 
equal to the percentage increase, if any, as determined by the 
Administrator, in construction, alteration, lease, or other acquisition 
costs, as the case may be, from the date of such approval to the date of 
contract, but in no event may the amount of such increase exceed 10 
per centum of such estimated cost. 
"(d) In the case of any medical facility approved for construction, 
alteration, lease, or other acquisition by each committee under 
subsection (a) of this section for which funds have not been appropri-
ated within one year after the date of such approval, either such 
committee may by resolution rescind its approval at any time 
thereafter before such funds are appropriated. 
"(e) In any case in which the Administrator proposes that funds be 
used for a purpose other than the purpose for which such funds were 
appropriated, the Administrator shall promptly notify each commit-
tee, in writing, of the particulars involved and the reasons why such 
funds were not used for the purpose for which appropriated. 
"(0 The Administrator may accept gifts or donations for any of the 
purposes of this subchapter. 
"§ 5005, Structural requirements 
"(a) Each medical facility (including each nursing home facility for 
which the Administrator contracts under section 620 of this title and 
each State home facility constructed or altered under section 5031 of 
this title) shall be of fire, earthquake, and other natural disaster 
resistant construction in accordance with standards which the 
Administrator shall prescribe on a State or regional basis after 
surveying appropriate State and local laws, ordinances, and building 
codes and climatic and seismic conditions pertinent to each such 
facility. When an existing structure is acquired for use as a medical 
facility, it shall be altered to comply with such standards. 
"(b)(1) In order to carry out this section, the Administrator shall 
appoint an advisory committee to be known as the 'Advisory Commit-
tee on Structural Safety of Veterans' Administration Facilities', on 
which shall serve at least one architect and one structural engineer 
who are experts in structural resistance to fire, earthquake, and 
other natural disasters and who are not employees of the Federal 
Government. 
"(2) Such advisory committee shall advise the Administrator on all 
matters of structural safety in the construction and altering of 
medical facilities in accordance with the requirements of this section 
and shall review and make recommendations to the Administrator on 
the regulations prescribed under this section. 
"(3) The Associate Deputy Administrator, the Chief Medical Direc-
tor or the designee of the Chief Medical Director, and the Veterans' 
Administration official charged with the responsibility for construc-
tion shall be ex officio members of such advisory committee. 
Cost increase, 
limitation. 
Rescinding of 
approval. 
Gifts or 
donations. 
38 u s e 5005. 
38 u s e 620. 
88 u s e 5031. 
Advisory 
eommittee on 
Structural 
Safety of 
Veterans' 
Administration 
Facilities; 
membership. 
Function. 
Ex officio 
members. 
93 STAT. 58 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
38 use 5006. 
38 use 5007. 
eontents. 
Medical facility 
data. 
Ante, p. 56. 
38 use 5008. 
"§5006. Construction contracts 
"(a) The Administrator may carry out any construction or alter-
ation authorized under this subchapter by contract if the Administra-
tor considers it to be advantageous to the United States to do so. 
"(b)(1) The Administrator may obtain, by contract or otherwise, the 
services of individuals who are architects or engineers and of archi-
tectural and engineering corporations and firms, to the extent that 
the Administrator may require such services for any medical facility 
authorized to be constructed or altered under this subchapter. 
"(2) No corporation, firm, or individual may be employed under the 
authority of paragraph (1) of this subsection on a permanent basis. 
"(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the 
Administrator shall be responsible for all construction authorized 
under this subchapter, including the interpretation of construction 
contracts, the approval of materials and workmanship supplied 
pursuant to a construction contract, approval of changes in the 
construction contract, certification of vouchers for payments due the 
contractor, and final settlement of the contract. 
"§ 5007. Reports to congressional committees 
"(a) In order to promote effective planning for the orderly construc-
tion, replacement, and alteration of medical facilities in accordance 
with the comparative urgency of the need for the services to be 
provided by such facilities, the Administrator shall submit to each 
committee an annual report on the construction, replacement, and 
alteration of medical facilities. Such report shall be submitted to the 
committees on the same day each year and shall contain— 
"(1) a five-year plan for the construction, replacement, or 
alteration of those medical facilities that, in the judgment of the 
Administrator, are most in need of construction, replacement, or 
alteration; 
"(2) a list, in order of priority, of not less than ten hospitals 
that, in the judgment of the Administrator, are most in need of 
construction or replacement; and 
"(3) general plans (including projected costs, site location, and, 
if appropriate, necessary land acquisition) for each medical 
facility included in the five-year plan required under clause (1) of 
this subsection or the list required under clause (2) of this 
subsection. 
The first such report shall be submitted not later than September 1, 
1979, and each succeeding report shall be submitted not later than 
June 30 of each year. 
"(b) The Administrator shall submit to each committee not later 
than January 31 of each year (beginning in 1981) a report showing the 
location, space, cost, and status of each medical facility the construc-
tion, alteration, lease, or other acquisition of which has been 
approved under section 5004(a) of this title and, in the case of the 
second and each succeeding report made under this subsection, which 
was uncompleted as of the date of the last preceding report made 
under this subsection. 
"§ 5008. Contributions to local authorities 
"The Administrator may make contributions to local authorities 
toward, or for, the construction of traffic controls, road improve-
ments, or other devices adjacent to a medical facility if considered 
necessary for safe ingress or egress. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 59 
Fees. 
"§ 5009. Garages and parking facilities 
38 USC 5009. 
"(a) The Administrator may construct, alter, operate, and main-
tain, on reservations of medical facilities, garages and parking 
facilities for the accommodation of privately owned vehicles of 
employees of such facilities and vehicles of visitors and other individ-
uals having business at such facilities. 
"(b)(1) The Administrator may establish and collect (or provide for 
the collection of) fees for the use of such garages and parking facilities 
at such rate or rates which the Administrator determines would be 
reasonable under the particular circumstances; but no fee may be 
charged for the accommodation of any publicly or privately owned 
vehicle used in connection with the transportation of a veteran to or 
from any medical facility for the purposes of examination or treat-
ment or in connection with any visit to any patient in such facility. 
Employees using such garages shall make such reimbursement 
therefor as the Administrator may deem reasonable. 
"(2) The Administrator may contract, by lease or otherwise, with 
responsible persons, firms, or corporations for the operation of such 
parking facilities, under such terms and conditions as the Adminis-
trator shall prescribe, and without regard to the laws concerning 
advertising for competitive bids. 
"(c)(1) There are authorized to be appropriated such amounts as are 
necessary to finance in part the construction, alteration, operation, 
and maintenance of garages and parking facilities (other than the 
construction or alteration of any garage or parking facility involving 
the expenditure of more than $2,000,000). Amounts appropriated Revolving fund 
under the authority of this section, and all income from fees collected 
for the use of such garages and parking facilities, shall be adminis-
tered as a revolving fund to effectuate the provisions of this section, 
but only to the extent provided for in appropriation Acts. 
"(2) The revolving fund shall be deposited in a checking account 
with the Treasurer of the United States, except that such amounts 
thereof as the Administrator may determine to be necessary to 
establish and maintain operating accounts for the various garages 
and parking facilities may be placed in depositories selected by the 
Administrator. 
Lease of parking 
facilities. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
"§5010. Operation of medical facilities 
"(a)(1) The Administrator, subject to the approval of the President, 
is authorized to establish and operate not less than one hundred and 
twenty-five thousand hospital beds in medical facilities over which 
the Administrator has direct jurisdiction for the care and treatment 
of eligible veterans. The Administrator shall staff and maintain, in 
such a manner as to ensure the immediate acceptance and timely and 
complete care of patients, sufficient beds and other treatment capaci-
ties to accommodate, and provide such care to, eligible veterans 
applying for admission and found to be in need of hospital care or 
medical services. 
"(2) The Administrator shall maintain the bed and treatment 
capacities of all Veterans' Administration medical facilities so as to 
ensure the accessibility and availability of such beds and treatment 
capacities to eligible veterans in all States and to minimize delays in 
admissions and in the provision of hospital, nursing home, and 
domiciliary care, and of medical services furnished pursuant to 
section 612 of this title. 
"(3) The Chief Medical Director shall periodically analyze 
agencywide admission policies and the records of those eligible 
38 USC 5010. 
38 USC 612; ante, 
p. 47. 
Analysis of 
treatment 
facilities. 
93 STAT. 60 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
Nursing home 
care. 
Personnel with 
Unguistic 
abiUties. 
38 u s e 5011. 
38 u s e 5012. 
Filing of notice 
with Governor of 
State. 
veterans who apply for hospital care and medical services but are 
rejected or not immediately admitted or provided such care or 
services, and the Administrator shall annually advise each commit-
tee of the results of such analysis and the number of any additional 
beds and treatment capacities and the appropriate staffing and funds 
therefor found necessary to meet the needs of such veterans for such 
necessary care and services. 
"(b) The Administrator, subject to the approval of the President, is 
authorized to establish and operate not less than twelve thousand 
beds during fiscal year 1980, and during each fiscal year thereafter, 
for the furnishing of nursing home care to eligible veterans in 
facilities over which the Administrator has direct jurisdiction. The 
beds authorized by this subsection shall be in addition to the beds 
provided for in subsection (a) of this section. 
"(c) When the Administrator determines, in accordance with regu-
lations which the Administrator shall prescribe, that a Veterans' 
Administration facility serves a substantial number of veterans with 
limited English-speaking ability, the Administrator shall establish 
and implement procedures, upon the recommendation of the Chief 
Medical Director, to ensure the identification of sufficient numbers of 
individuals on such facility's staff who are fluent in both the lan-
guage most appropriate to such veterans and in English and whose 
responsibilities shall include providing guidance to such veterans and 
to appropriate Veterans' Administration staff members with respect 
to cultural sensitivities and bridging linguistic and cultural 
differences. 
"§5011. Use of Armed Forces facilities 
"The Administrator and the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary 
of the Air Force, and the Secretary of the Navy may enter into 
agreements and contracts for the mutual use or exchange of use of 
hospital and domiciliary facilities, and such supplies, equipment, and 
material as may be needed to operate such facilities properly, or for 
the transfer, without reimbursement of appropriations, of facilities, 
supplies, equipment, or material necessary and proper for authorized 
care for veterans, except that at no time shall the Administrator 
enter into any agreement which will result in a permanent reduction 
of Veterans' Administration hospital and domiciliary beds below the 
number established or approved on June 22, 1944, plus the estimated 
number required to meet the load of eligibles under this title, or in 
any way subordinate or transfer the operation of the Veterans' 
Administration to any other agency of the Government. 
"§5012. Partial relinquishment of legislative jurisdiction 
"The Administrator, on behalf of the United States, may relinquish 
to the State in which any lands or interests therein under the 
supervision or control of the Administrator are situated, such meas-
ure of legislative jurisdiction over such lands or interests as is 
necessary to establish concurrent jurisdiction between the Federal 
Government and the State concerned. Such partial relinquishment of 
legislative jurisdiction shall be initiated by filing a notice thereof 
with the Governor of the State concerned, or in such other manner as 
may be prescribed by the laws of such State, and shall take effect 
upon acceptance by such State. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 61 
"§5013. Property formerly owned by National Home for Disabled 
38 use 5013. 
Volunteer Soldiers 
"If by reason of any defeasance or conditional clause or clauses 
contained in any deed of conveyance of property to the National 
Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, which property is owned by 
the United States, the full and complete enjoyment and use of such 
property is threatened, the Attorney General, upon request of the 
President, shall institute in the United States district court for the 
district in which the property is located such proceedings as may be 
proper to extinguish all outstanding adverse interests. The Attorney 
General may procure and accept, on behalf of the United States, by 
gift, purchase, cession, or otherwise, absolute title to, and complete 
jurisdiction over, all such property. 
"§ 5014. Use of federally owned facilities; use of personnel 
38 USC 5014. 
"(a) The Administrator, subject to the approval of the President, 
may use as medical facilities such suitable buildings, structures, and 
grounds owned by the United States on March 3, 1925, as may be 
available for such purposes, and the President may by Executive 
order transfer any such buildings, structures, and grounds to the 
control and jurisdiction of the Veterans' Administration upon the 
request of the Administrator. 
"(b) The President may require the architectural, engineering, 
constructing, or other forces of any of the departments of the 
Government to do or assist in the construction and alteration of 
medical facilities, and the President may employ for such purposes 
individuals and agencies not connected with the Government, if in 
the opinion of the President such is desirable, at such compensation 
as the President may consider reasonable. 
"§ 5015. Acceptance of certain property 
38 USC 5015. 
"The President may accept from any State or other political 
subdivision, or from any person, any building, structure, equipment, 
or grounds suitable for the care of disabled persons, with due regard 
to fire or other hazards, state of repair, and all other pertinent 
considerations. The President may designate which agency of the 
Federal Government shall have the control and management of any 
property so accepted.". 
(b)(1) Subchapter II of chapter 81 is amended by redesignating 
H
; 
sections 5011, 5012, 5013, and 5014 as sections 5021, 5022, 5023, and 38 USC 
5024, respectively. 
59i}-§2if 
(2) Section 5022(b) (as so redesignated) is amended by striking out 
the comma and "clinical, medical, and outpatient treatment" after 
"administrative". 
(c) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 81 is amended 
by striking out the item relating to subchapter I and all that follows 
through the item relating to section 5014 and inserting in lieu thereof 
the following: 
5021-5024. 
93 STAT. 62 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
"SUBCHAPTER I—ACQUISITION AND OPERATION OF MEDICAL FACILITIES 
"Sec. 
"5001. Definitions. 
"5002. Acquisition of medical facilities. 
"5003. Authority to construct and alter, and to acquire sites for, medical facilities. 
"5004. Congressional approval of certain medicsd facility acquisitions. 
"5005. Structural requirements. 
"5006. Construction contracts. 
"5007. Reports to congressional committees. 
"5008. Contributions to local authorities. 
"5009. Garages and parking facilities. 
"5010. Operation of medicsd facilities. 
"5011. Use of Armed Forces facilities. 
"5012. Partial relinquishment of legislative jurisdiction. 
"5013. Property formerly owned by National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. 
"5014. Use of federally owned facilities; use of personnel. 
"5015. Acceptance of certain property. 
"SUBCHAPTER II—PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY 
"5021. Revolving supply fund. 
"5022. Authority to procure and dispose of property and to negotiate for common 
services. 
"5023. Procurement of prosthetic appliances. 
"5024. Grant of easements in Government-owned lands.". 
EFFECTIVE DATES 
38 use 5001 
SEC. 302, (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the 
note. 
_ 
amendments made by section 301 shall take effect on October 1,1979. 
Ante, p. 55. 
Q^^Q^ rpj^^ amendments made by section 301 shall not apply with 
respect to the acquisition, construction, or alteration of any medical 
38 use 5001. 
facility (as defined in section 5001(3) of title 38, United States Code, as 
amended by section 301(a) of this Act) if such acquisition, construc-
tion, or alteration (not including exchange) was approved before 
October 1,1979, by the President. 
38 use 5007. 
(2) The provisions of section 5007(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
as amended by section 301(a) of this Act, shall take effect on the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
TITLE IV—BENEFITS PAYABLE TO PERSONS RESIDING 
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES 
CHILDREN ADOPTED UNDER LAWS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES 
38 use 101. 
SEC. 401. Paragraph (4) of section 101 is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(A)" before "The" and redesignating clauses 
(A), (B), and (C) as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively; and 
(2) by adding at the end of such paragraph the following new 
subparagraph: 
"(B) For the purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, in the 
case of an adoption under the laws of any jurisdiction other thgm a 
State (as defined in section 101(20) of this title and including the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islsmds)— 
"(i) a person residing outside any of the States shall not be 
considered to be a legally adopted child of a veteran during the 
lifetime of such veteran (including for purposes of this subpara-
graph a Commonwealth Army veteran or new Philippine Scout, 
38 use 1766. 
as defined in section 1766 of this title) unless such person— 
"(I) was less than eighteen years of age at the time of 
adoption; 
"(II) is receiving one-half or more of such person's annual 
support from such veteran; 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 63 
"(III) is not in the custody of such person's natural parent, 
unless such natural parent is such veteran's spouse; and 
"(IV) is residing with such veteran (or in the case of 
divorce following adoption, with the divorced spouse who is 
also an adoptive or natural parent) except for periods during 
which such person is residing apart from such veteran (or 
such divorced spouse) for purposes of full-time attendance at 
an educational institution or during which such person or 
such veteran (or such divorced spouse) is confined in a 
hospital, nursing home, other health-care facility, or other 
institution; and 
"(ii) a person shall not be considered to have been a legally 
adopted child of a veteran as of the date of such veteran's death 
and thereafter unless— 
"(I) at any time within the one-year period immediately 
preceding such veteran's death, such veteran was entitled to 
and was receiving a dependent's allowance or similar mone-
tary benefit under this title for such person; or 
"(II) for a period of at least one year prior to such veteran's 
death, such person met the requirements of clause (i) of this 
subparagraph.". 
STUDY OF BENEFITS PAYABLE TO PERSONS RESIDING OUTSIDE THE 
UNITED STATES 
SEC. 402. (a) The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of State, shall carry out a comprehensive 
study of benefits payable under the provisions of title 38, United 
States Code, to persons who reside outside the fifty States and the 
District of Columbia. The Administrator shall include in such 
study— 
(1) an analysis of the issues involved in the payment of such 
benefits to persons who reside outside the fifty States and the 
District of Columbia, together with analyses of such aspects of 
the economy of each foreign country and each territory, posses-
sion, and Commonwealth of the United States in which a 
substantial number of persons receiving such benefits reside as 
are relevant to such issues (such as the rate of inflation, the 
standard of living, and health care, educational, housing, and 
burial costs); 
(2) an analysis of the issues involved in the payment of such 
benefits as the result of adoptions under laws other than the laws 
of any of the fifty States or the District of Columbia; 
(3) an analysis of the amounts and method of payment of 
benefits payable to persons entitled, by virtue of sections 107 and 
1765 of such title, to benefits under chapters 11,13, and 35 of such 
title; 
(4) estimates of the present and future costs of paying mone-
tary benefits under such title to persons described in clauses (1) 
and (3); 
(5) an evaluation of the desirability of continuing to maintain 
the Veterans' Administration Regional Office in the Republic of 
the Philippines, taking into consideration (A) the current and 
expected future workloads of such office, (B) the estimated cost in 
fiscal years 1981 through 1985 of continuing to maintain such 
regional office, (C) the feasibility and desirability of transferring 
appropriate functions of such regional office to the United States 
38 u s e 101 note. 
38 u s e 101 et 
seq. 
38 u s e 107, 
1765. 
38 u s e 301, 401, 
1700. 
Veterans' 
Administration 
Regional Office 
in the Republic 
of the 
Philippines, 
continuance 
evaluation. 
93 STAT. 64 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
Embassy in the Republic of the Philippines, and (D) a provisional 
plan, which the Administrator shall develop, for the closing of 
such office and so transferring such functions, together with cost 
estimates for fiscal years 1981 through 1985 for the implementa-
tion of such plan assuming that such office is closed before 
October 1,1981; and 
(6) an evaluation of the effects of the amendments to such title 
made by section 401 of this Act. 
(b) Not later than February 1,1980, the Administrator shall report 
to the Congress and to the President on the results of such study 
together with the Administrator's recommendations for resolving the 
issues to be analyzed and evaluated in such study. 
(c) The Administrator shall (1) carry out the study required under 
sulDsection (a) of this section in conjunction with the study required 
under section 308(a) of the Veterans' and Survivors' Pension 
38 use 521 note. Improvement Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-588), and (2) submit the 
reports of such studies as a combined report. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
38 u s e 401. 
Report to 
eongress and 
President. 
38 u s e 4108. 
Regulations. 
38 u s e 210. 
Effective date. 
38 u s e 210 note. 
Acting 
Administrator of 
Veterans' 
Affairs, 
designation. 
ACCEPTANCE OF PAYMENT FOR TRAVEL OF EMPLOYEES 
SEC. 501. Section 4108 is amended by adding after subsection (c) the 
following new subsection: 
"(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator 
may prescribe regulations establishing conditions under which offi-
cers and employees of the Department of Medicine and Surgery who 
are nationally recognized principal investigators in medical research 
may be permitted, in connection with their attendance at meetings or 
in performing advisory services concerned with the functions or 
activities of the Veterans' Administration, or in connection with 
acceptance of significant awards or with activity related thereto 
concerned with functions or activities of the Veterans' Administra-
tion, to accept payment, in cash or in kind, from non-Federal 
agencies, organizations, and individuals, for travel and such reason-
able subsistence expenses as are approved by the Administrator 
pursuant to such regulations, to be retained by such officers and 
employees to cover the cost of such expenses or deposited to the credit 
of the appropriation from which the cost of such expenses is paid, as 
may be provided in such regulations.". 
CONFIRMATION OF DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR OF VETERANS* AFFAIRS 
SEC. 502. (a) The first sentence of section 210(d) is amended by 
striking out "by the Administrator" and inserting in lieu thereof "by 
the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate". 
(b)(1) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect (A) 
on the date on which a vacancy first occurs in the office of Deputy 
Administrator of Veterans' Affairs after the date of the enactment of 
this Act or on such earlier date as the President submits to the 
Senate, for the advice and consent of the Senate, the nomination of 
any individual for appointment to such office, or (B) on the date of the 
enactment of this Act if such office is vacant on such date. 
(2) The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs may designate the 
individual holding the office of Deputy Administrator of Veterans' 
Affairs on the date of the enactment of this Act, or any other 
individual, to serve in such office in an acting capacity pending the 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 65 
first appointment of an individual to such office as provided for in the 
amendment made by subsection (a). 
OVERSEAS AUTHORITIES 
SEC. 503. (a) Section 230 is amended by striking out subsection (c). 38 use 230. 
(b) Section 235 is amended— 
38 use 235. 
(1) in the matter preceding clause (1), by striking out "or to the 
Veterans' Administration office in Europe, established pursuant 
to section 230(c) of this title,"; 
(2) in clause (2), by striking out "and (7)" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "(7), and (11)"; and 
(3) by inserting after clause (5) the following new clauses: 
"(6) Section 5724a(a)(3) of title 5 (relating to subsistence 5 use 5724. 
expenses for 30 days in connection with the return to the United 
States of the employee and such employee's immediate family). 
"(7) Section 5724a(a)(4) of title 5 (relating to the sale and 
purchase of the residence or settlement of an unexpired lease of 
the employee when transferred from one station to another 
station and both stations are in the United States, its territories 
or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico).". 
(c)(1) The section heading of section 235 is amended to read as 
follows: 
"§ 235. BeneHts to employees at overseas ofHces who are United 38 use 235. 
States citizens". 
(2) The item relating to such section in the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 3 is amended to read as follows: 
"235. Benefits to employees at overseas offices who are United States citizens.". 
(d) The amendment made by subsection (bX3) shall take effect on Effective date. 
October 1,1979. 
38 u s e 235 note. 
CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO REFLECT PREVIOUS ADJUSTMENTS MADE 
IN DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY SALARY SCHEDULES 
SEC. 504. (a) Subsection (a) of section 4107 is amended to read as 38 use 4107. 
follows: 
"(a) The annual rates or ranges of rates of basic pay for positions 
provided in section 4103 of this title shall be as follows: 
38 use 4103. 
"SECTION 4103 SCHEDULE 
"Chief Medical Director, $68,909. 
"Deputy Chief Medical Director, $66,104. 
"Associate Deputy Chief Medical Director, $63,315. 
"Assistant Chief Medical Director, $61,449. 
"Medical Director, $52,429 minimum to $59,421 maximum. 
"Director of Nursing Service, $52,429 minimum to $59,421 
maximum. 
"Director of Podiatric Service, $44,756 minimum to $56,692 
maximum. 
"Director of Chaplain Service, $44,756 minimum to $56,692 
maximum. 
"Director of Pharmacy Service, $44,756 minimum to $56,692 
maximum. 
"Director of Dietetic Service, $44,756 minimum to $56,692 
maximum. 
59-194 O — 81 —^ 7 : QL3 
93 STAT. 66 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
"Director of Optometric Service, $44,756 minimum to $56,692 
maximum.". 
(b) Paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of such section is amended to read 
as follows: 
"(1) The grades and annual ranges of rates of basic pay for positions 
38 use 4104. 
provided for in paragraph (1) of section 4104 of this title shall be as 
follows: 
"PHYSICIAN AND DENTIST SCHEDULE 
"Director grade, $44,756 minimum to $56,692 maximum. 
"Executive grade, $41,327 minimum to $53,729 maximum. 
"Chief grade, $38,160 minimum to $49,608 maximum. 
f,. ; 
"Senior grade, $32,442 minimum to $42,171 maximum. 
"Intermediate grade, $27,453 minimum to $35,688 maximum. 
"Full grade, $23,087 minimum to $30,017 maximum. 
"Associate grade, $19,263 minimum to $25,041 maximum. 
"NURSE SCHEDULE 
"Director grade, $38,160 minimum to $49,608 maximum. 
"Assistant Director grade, $32,442 minimum to $42,171 maximum. 
"Chief grade, $27,453 minimum to $35,688 maximum. 
"Senior grade, $23,087 minimum to $30,017 maximum. 
"Intermediate grade, $19,263 minimum to $25,041 maximum. 
"Full grade, $15,920 minimum to $20,699 maximum. 
"Associate grade, $1^,700 minimum to $17,813 maximum. 
"Junior grade, $11,712 minimum to $15,222 maximum. 
Vfj,-;."-!i 
CLINICAL PODIATRIST AND OPTOMETRIST SCHEDULE 
"Chief grade, $38,160 minimum to $49,608 maximum. 
"Senior grade, $32,442 minimum to $42,171 maximum. 
"Intermediate grade, $27,453 minimum to $35,688 maximum. 
"Full grade, $23,087 minimum to $30,017 maximum. 
"Associate grade, $19,263 minimum to $25,041 maximum.". 
PUBLIC LAW 96-22—JUNE 13, 1979 
93 STAT. 67 
STUDY OF HOME MODIFICATIONS FOR TOTALLY BLINDED SERVICE-
CONNECTED VETERANS 
SEC. 505. The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall submit a Report to 
report to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and congressional 
House of Representatives, not later than October 1,1979, on the needs gg^'sc 612 note 
of veterans who are totally blind from service-connected causes for 
home modifications the cost of which exceed the amount allowable 
for such purposes under section 612(a) of title 38, United States Code, 38 use 612. 
and on the reasons why such veterans have not applied for home 
health services under such section 612(a). 
Approved June 13,1979. 
'
"
. .• .iV 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 96-140 accompanying H.R. 1608 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs) 
and No. 96-223 (Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 96-100 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs) and No. 96-195 (Comm. 
of Conference). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, VoL 125 (1979): 
May 16, considered and passed Senate. 
May 21, H.R. 1608 considered and passed House; proceedings vacated and S. 7, 
amended, passed in lieu. 
May 30, House agreed to conference report. 
June 4, Senate agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 15, No. 24: 
June 14, Presidential statement.