,,ii ,calendar ,no4 #big #aacth         
,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,s4 #aiej    
,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united 
,,states  ,january #af1 #bjad,mr4       
,sanders introduced the following bill2 
which was read the first time  ,january 
#bg1 #bjad,read the second time and     
placed on the calendar  ,a ,,bill  ,to  
improve the provision of medical        
services and benefits to veterans1 and  
for other purposes4  #a4 ,short title2  
table of contents  7a7 ,short title     
,this ,act may be cited as the          
,comprehensive ,veterans ,health and    
,benefits and ,military ,retirement ,pay
 ,restoration ,act of #bjad4  7b7 ,table
 of contents ,the table of contents for 
this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4      
,short title2 table of contents4,sec4   
#b4 ,references to title #ch1 ,united   
,states ,code4,sec4 #c4 ,budgetary      
effects4,,title ,i--,survivor and       
,dependent ,matters,sec4 #aja4          
,extension of initial period for        
increased dependency and indemnity      

compensation for surviving spouses with 
children4,sec4 #ajb4 ,eligibility for   
dependency and indemnity compensation1  
educational assistance1 and housing     
loans for surviving spouses who remarry 
after age #ee4,sec4 #ajc4 ,extension of 
marriage delimiting date for surviving  
spouses of ,persian ,gulf ,war veterans 
to qualify for death pension4,sec4 #ajd4
 ,making effective date provision       
consistent with provision for benefits  
eligibility of a veteran's child based  
upon termination of remarriage by       
annulment4,sec4 #aje4 ,expansion of     
,marine ,gunnery ,sergeant ,john ,david 
,fry ,scholarship4,sec4 #ajf4 ,expansion
 of ,yellow ,ribbon ,g4,i4 ,education   
,enhancement ,program4,sec4 #ajg4       
,benefits for children of certain       
,thailand service veterans born with    
spina bifida4,sec4 #ajh4 ,program on    
assisted living for children of ,vietnam
 veterans and certain ,korea service    
veterans born with spina bifida4,sec4   
#aji4 ,program on grief counseling in   

retreat settings for surviving spouses  
of members of the ,armed ,forces who die
 while serving on active duty in the    
,armed ,forces4,sec4 #aaj4 ,program     
evaluation on survivors' and dependents'
 educational assistance                 
authorities4,,title ,,ii--,education    
,matters,sec4 #bja4 ,approval of courses
 of education provided by public        
institutions of higher learning for     
purposes of ,all-,volunteer ,force      
,educational ,assistance ,program and   
,post-#i_/aa ,educational ,assistance   
conditional on in-,state tuition rate   
for veterans4,sec4 #bjb4 ,extension and 
expansion of authority for certain      
qualifying work-study activities for    
purposes of the educational assistance  
programs of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs4,sec4 #bjc4 ,prohibitions     
relating to references to ,,gi ,bill and
 ,post-#i_/aa ,,gi ,bill4,sec4 #bjd4    
,review of utilization of educational   
assistance to pursue programs of        
training on the job and participating   

employers4,sec4 #bje4 ,report on debt   
management and collection4,sec4 #bjf4   
,restoration of prior reporting fee     
multipliers4,,title ,,iii--,health ,care
 ,matters,subtitle ,a--,expansion and   
,improvements of ,benefits              
,generally,sec4 #cja4 ,enhancement of   
nature of eligibility for care of       
certain veterans4,sec4 #cjb4            
,requirement for enrollment in patient  
enrollment system of the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs of certain veterans  
eligible for enrollment by law but not  
currently permitted to enroll4,sec4     
#cjc4 ,further extension of period of   
eligibility for health care for veterans
 of combat service during certain       
periods of hostilities and war4,sec4    
#cjd4 ,extension to all veterans with a 
serious service-connected disability of 
eligibility for participation in family 
caregiver program4,sec4 #cje4 ,improved 
access to appropriate immunizations for 
veterans4,sec4 #cjf4 ,expansion of      
provision of chiropractic care and      

services to veterans4,sec4 #cjg4        
,modification of commencement date of   
period of service at ,camp ,lejeune1    
,north ,carolina1 for eligibility for   
hospital care and medical services in   
connection with exposure to contaminated
 water4,sec4 #cjh4 ,expansion of        
emergency treatment reimbursement for   
certain veterans4,sec4 #cji4 ,relocation
 and restatement of limitation on       
requirements to furnish certain care and
 services contingent on the availability
 of appropriations4,sec4 #caj4          
,modification of determination of       
eligibility of veterans for treatment as
 a low-income family for purposes of    
enrollment in the patient enrollment    
system of the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs4,sec4 #caa4 ,extension of      
sunset date regarding transportation of 
individuals to and from facilities of   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs and   
requirement of report4,sec4 #cab4       
,coverage of costs of care for veterans 
at medical foster homes4,sec4 #cac4     

,extension and modification of pilot    
program on assisted living services for 
veterans with traumatic brain           
injury4,sec4 #cad4 ,program on health   
promotion for overweight and obese      
veterans through support of fitness     
center memberships4,sec4 #cae4 ,program 
on health promotion for veterans through
 establishment of ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs fitness              
facilities4,subtitle ,b--,health ,care  
,administration,sec4 #cba4 ,extension of
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs      
,health ,professional ,scholarship      
,program4,sec4 #cbb4 ,expansion of      
availability of prosthetic and orthotic 
care for veterans4,sec4 #cbc4           
,contracting for health care4,sec4 #cbd4
 ,limitation on expansion of dialysis   
pilot program4,sec4 #cbe4 ,requirement  
for ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
policy on reporting cases of infectious 
diseases at facilities of the           
,department4,sec4 #cbf4 ,independent    
assessment of the ,veterans ,integrated 

,service ,networks and medical centers  
of ,department of ,veterans             
,affairs4,sec4 #cbg4 ,requirements in   
connection with next update of current  
strategic plan for ,office of ,rural    
,health of the ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs4,sec4 #cbh4 ,report on         
provision of telemedicine services4,sec4
 #cbi4 ,designation of ,corporal        
,michael ,j4 ,crescenz ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs ,medical             
,center4,subtitle ,c--,complementary and
 ,alternative ,medicine,sec4 #cca4      
,expansion of research and education on 
and delivery of complementary and       
alternative medicine to veterans4,sec4  
#ccb4 ,program on integration of        
complementary and alternative medicine  
within ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 medical centers4,sec4 #ccc4 ,studies of
 barriers encountered by veterans in    
receiving1 and administrators and       
clinicians in providing1 complementary  
and alternative medicine services       
furnished by the ,department of         

,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #ccd4 ,program 
on use of wellness programs as          
complementary approach to mental health 
care for veterans and family members of 
veterans4,subtitle ,d--,mental ,health  
,care,sec4 #cda4 ,inclusion of mental   
health professionals in the education   
and training program for health         
personnel of the ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #cdb4          
,education program and peer support     
program for family members and          
caregivers of veterans with mental      
health disorders4,sec4 #cdc4 ,report on 
provision of mental health services for 
families of certain veterans at         
facilities of the ,department4,sec4     
#cdd4 ,annual report on community mental
 health partnership pilot               
program4,subtitle ,e--,dental care      
eligibility expansion and               
enhancement,sec4 #cea4 ,restorative     
dental services for veterans4,sec4 #ceb4
 ,pilot program on expansion of         
furnishing of dental care to all        

enrolled veterans4,sec4 #cec4 ,program  
on education to promote dental health in
 veterans4,sec4 #ced4 ,information on   
dental services for inclusion in        
electronic medical records under dental 
insurance pilot program4,sec4 #cee4     
,authorization of                       
appropriations4,subtitle ,f--,health    
care related to sexual trauma,sec4 #cfa4
 ,expansion of eligibility for sexual   
trauma counseling and treatment to      
veterans on inactive duty training4,sec4
 #cfb4 ,provision of counseling and     
treatment for sexual trauma by the      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
members of the ,armed ,forces4,sec4     
#cfc4 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 
screening mechanism to detect incidents 
of domestic abuse4,sec4 #cfd4 ,reports  
on military sexual trauma and domestic  
abuse4,subtitle ,g--,reproductive       
treatment and services,sec4 #cga4       
,clarification that fertility counseling
 and treatment are medical services     
which the ,secretary may furnish to     

veterans like other medical             
services4,sec4 #cgb4 ,reproductive      
treatment and care for spouses and      
surrogates of veterans4,sec4 #cgc4      
,adoption assistance for severely       
wounded veterans4,sec4 #cgd4            
,regulations on furnishing of fertility 
counseling and treatment and adoption   
assistance by ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs4,sec4 #cge4 ,coordination      
between ,department of ,veterans        
,affairs and ,department of ,defense on 
furnishing of fertility counseling and  
treatment4,sec4 #cgf4 ,facilitation of  
reproduction and infertility            
research4,sec4 #cgg4 ,annual report on  
provision of fertility counseling and   
treatment furnished by ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #cgh4 ,program 
on assistance for child care for certain
 veterans4,sec4 #cgi4 ,counseling in    
retreat settings for women veterans     
newly separated from service in the     
,armed ,forces4,subtitle ,h--,major     
medical facility leases,sec4 #cha4      

,authorization of major medical facility
 leases4,sec4 #chb4 ,budgetary treatment
 of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
major medical facilities leases4,,title 
,,iv--,employment and ,related          
,matters,subtitle ,a--,training and     
other services for veterans seeking     
employment,sec4 #dja4 ,reauthorization  
of veterans retraining assistance       
program4,sec4 #djb4 ,extension of       
authority of ,secretary of ,veterans    
,affairs to provide rehabilitation and  
vocational benefits to members of ,armed
 ,forces with severe injuries or        
illnesses4,sec4 #djc4 ,extension of     
additional rehabilitation programs for  
persons who have exhausted rights to    
unemployment benefits under ,state      
law4,sec4 #djd4 ,unified employment     
portal for veterans4,sec4 #dje4 ,report 
on unified ,government ,internet portal 
for veterans on jobs available through  
the ,federal ,government4,sec4 #djf4    
,information on disability-related      
employment and education protections in 

,transition ,assistance                 
,program4,subtitle ,b--,employment of   
veterans and recognition of veteran     
status with respect to employment       
related matters,sec4 #daa4 ,employment  
of veterans with the ,federal           
,government4,sec4 #dab4 ,state          
recognition of military experience of   
veterans in issuing licenses and        
credentials to veterans4,sec4 #dac4     
,grants to hire veterans as first       
responders4,sec4 #dad4 ,employment of   
veterans as evaluation factor in the    
awarding of ,federal contracts4,sec4    
#dae4 ,report on discrimination against 
members of reserve components of ,armed 
,forces and veterans in civilian labor  
market4,subtitle ,c--,program on ,career
 ,transition,sec4 #dba4 ,program on     
provision of career transition services 
to young veterans4,subtitle             
,d--,improving employment and           
reemployment rights of members of the   
uniformed services,sec4 #dca4           
,enforcement of rights of members of    

uniformed services with respect to      
,states and private employers4,sec4     
#dcb4 ,suspension1 termination1 or      
debarment of contractors for repeated   
violations of employment or reemployment
 rights of members of uniformed         
services4,sec4 #dcc4 ,subpoena power for
 ,special ,counsel in enforcement of    
employment and reemployment rights of   
members of uniformed services with      
respect to ,federal executive           
agencies4,sec4 #dcd4 ,issuance and      
service of civil investigative demands  
by ,attorney ,general4,subtitle         
,e--,small ,business ,matters,sec4 #dda4
 ,expansion of contracting goals and    
preferences of ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs to include conditionally owned 
small business concerns #ajj percent    
owned by veterans4,sec4 #ddb4           
,modification of treatment under        
contracting goals and preferences of    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
small businesses owned by veterans of   
small businesses after death of disabled

 veteran owners4,sec4 #ddc4 ,treatment  
of businesses after deaths of           
servicemember-owners for purposes of    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
contracting goals and preferences4,sec4 
#ddd4 ,special rule for treatment under 
contracting goals and preferences of    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs of    
small business concerns licensed in     
community property ,states4,sec4 #dde4  
,report on assistance for veterans in   
obtaining training on purchasing and    
operating a franchise4,,title           
,v--,accountability and ,administrative 
,improvements,sec4 #eja4 ,administration
 of ,veterans ,integrated ,service      
,networks4,sec4 #ejb4 ,regional support 
centers for ,veterans ,integrated       
,service ,networks4,sec4 #ejc4          
,commission on ,capital ,planning for   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
,medical ,facilities4,sec4 #ejd4        
,advance appropriations for certain     
accounts of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs4,sec4 #eje4 ,public access to 

,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
research and data sharing between       
,departments4,sec4 #ejf4 ,assessment by 
,comptroller ,general of the ,united    
,states of information made available by
 ,veterans ,benefits                    
,administration4,sec4 #ejg4 ,comptroller
 general report on advisory committees  
of the ,department of ,veterans         
,affairs4,,title ,,vi--,improvement of  
,processing of ,claims for              
,compensation,subtitle ,a--,claims      
,based on ,military ,sexual ,trauma,sec4
 #fja4 ,medical examination and opinion 
for disability compensation claims based
 on military sexual trauma4,sec4 #fjb4  
,case representative officers for       
military sexual trauma support4,sec4    
#fjc4 ,report on standard of proof for  
service-connection of mental health     
conditions related to military sexual   
trauma4,sec4 #fjd4 ,reports on claims   
for disabilities incurred or aggravated 
by military sexual trauma4,subtitle     
,b--,claims for dependency and indemnity

 compensation,sec4 #faa4 ,program on    
treatment of certain applications for   
dependency and indemnity compensation as
 fully developed claims4,sec4 #fab4     
,report by ,secretary of ,veterans      
,affairs on improving timeliness and    
accuracy of administration of claims for
 dependency and indemnity compensation  
and pension for surviving spouses and   
children4,subtitle ,c--,agency of       
,original ,jurisdiction,sec4 #fba4      
,working group to improve employee work 
credit and work management systems of   
,veterans ,benefits ,administration in  
an electronic environment4,sec4 #fbb4   
,task force on retention and training of
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs      
claims processors and adjudicators4,sec4
 #fbc4 ,reports on requests by the      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
records of other ,federal agencies4,sec4
 #fbd4 ,recognition of representatives  
of ,indian tribes in the preparation1   
presentation1 and prosecution of claims 
under laws administered by the          

,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4  
#fbe4 ,program on participation of local
 and tribal governments in improving    
quality of claims for disability        
compensation submitted to ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #fbf4         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs notice
 of average times for processing        
compensation claims4,sec4 #fbg4         
,quarterly reports on progress of       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs in    
eliminating backlog of claims for       
compensation that have not been         
adjudicated4,sec4 #fbh4 ,reports on use 
of existing authorities to expedite     
benefits decisions4,sec4 #fbi4 ,reports 
on ,department disability medical       
examinations and prevention of          
unnecessary medical                     
examinations4,subtitle ,d--,board of    
,veterans' ,appeals and ,court of       
,appeals for ,veterans ,claims,sec4     
#fca4 ,treatment of certain misfiled    
documents as a notice of appeal to the  
,court of ,appeals for ,veterans        

,claims4,sec4 #fcb4 ,determination of   
manner of appearance for hearings before
 ,board of ,veterans' ,appeals4,,title  
,,vii--,outreach ,matters,sec4 #gja4    
,program to increase coordination of    
outreach efforts between the ,department
 of ,veterans ,affairs and ,federal1    
,state1 and local agencies and nonprofit
 organizations4,sec4 #gjb4 ,cooperative 
agreements between ,secretary of        
,veterans ,affairs and ,states on       
outreach activities4,sec4 #gjc4         
,advisory committee on outreach         
activities of ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs4,sec4 #gjd4 ,advisory boards on
 outreach activities of ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs relating to health   
care4,sec4 #gje4 ,modification of       
requirement for periodic reports to     
,congress on outreach activities of     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 
#gjf4 ,budget transparency for outreach 
activities of ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs4,,title ,,viii--,other         
,matters,sec4 #hja4 ,repeal of          

reductions made by ,bipartisan ,budget  
,act of #bjac4,sec4 #hjb4 ,consideration
 by ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs of 
resources disposed of for less than fair
 market value by individuals applying   
for pension4,sec4 #hjc4 ,extension of   
reduced pension for certain veterans    
covered by medicaid plans for services  
furnished by nursing facilities4,sec4   
#hjd4 ,conditions on award of per diem  
payments by ,secretary of ,veterans     
,affairs for provision of housing or    
services to homeless veterans4,sec4     
#hje4 ,exception to certain recapture   
requirements and treatment of contracts 
and grants with ,state homes with       
respect to care for homeless            
veterans4,sec4 #hjf4 ,extended period   
for scheduling of medical exams for     
veterans receiving temporary disability 
ratings for severe mental               
disorders4,sec4 #hjg4 ,authority to     
issue ,veterans ,,id ,cards4,sec4 #hjh4 
,honoring as veterans certain persons   
who performed service in the reserve    

components of the ,armed ,forces4,sec4  
#hji4 ,extension of authority for       
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to     
obtain information from ,secretary of   
,treasury and ,commissioner of ,social  
,security for income verification       
purposes4,sec4 #haj4 ,extension of      
authority for ,secretary of ,veterans   
,affairs to issue and guarantee certain 
loans4,sec4 #haa4 ,review of            
determination of certain service in     
,philippines during ,world ,war         
,,ii4,sec4 #hab4 ,review of             
determination of certain service of     
merchant mariners during ,world ,war    
,,ii4,sec4 #hac4 ,report on ,laotian    
military support of ,armed ,forces of   
the ,united ,states during ,vietnam     
,war4,sec4 #had4 ,report on practices of
 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs  
to adequately provide services to       
veterans with hearing loss4,sec4 #hae4  
,report on joint programs of ,department
 of ,veterans ,affairs and ,department  
of ,defense with respect to hearing loss

 of members of the ,armed ,forces and   
veterans4,sec4 #haf4 ,limitation on     
aggregate amount of bonuses payable to  
personnel of the ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs during fiscal year   
#bjad4  #b4 ,references to title #ch1   
,united ,states ,code ,except as        
otherwise expressly provided1 whenever  
in this ,act an amendment or repeal is  
expressed in terms of an amendment to1  
or repeal of1 a section or other        
provision1 the reference shall be       
considered to be made to a section or   
other provision of title #ch1 ,united   
,states ,code4  #c4 ,budgetary effects  
7a7 ,paygo scorecard ,the budgetary     
effects of this ,act shall not be       
entered on either ,,paygo scorecard     
maintained pursuant to section #d7;d7 of
 the ,statutory ,pay-,as-,you-,go ,act  
of #bjaj 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #icc7;d774  7b7  
,senate paygo scorecard ,the budgetary  
effects of this ,act shall not be       
entered on any ,,paygo scorecard        
maintained for purposes of section #bja 

of ,s4 ,con4 ,res4 #ba 7#aajth          
,congress74  ,i ,survivor and ,dependent
 ,matters  #aja4 ,extension of initial  
period for increased dependency and     
indemnity compensation for surviving    
spouses with children  7a7 ,in general  
,section #acaa7;f77#b7 is amended by    
striking two-year and inserting         
three-year4  7b7 ,effective date ,the   
amendment made by subsection 7a7 shall  
take effect as of ,september #cj1 #bjad1
 and shall apply to any surviving spouse
 who was eligible for or in receipt of  
benefits under section #acaa7;f7 of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 on or 
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #ajb4 ,eligibility for dependency
 and indemnity compensation1 educational
 assistance1 and housing loans for      
surviving spouses who remarry after age 
#ee  7a7 ,in general ,paragraph         
7#b77;,b7 of section #ajc7;d7 is amended
 to read as follows3  7,b7 ,the         
remarriage after age #ee of the         
surviving spouse of a veteran shall not 

bar the furnishing of benefits specified
 in paragraph 7#e7 to such person as the
 surviving spouse of the veteran4  4    
7b7 ,conforming amendment ,paragraph    
7#e7 of such section is amended by      
striking ,paragraphs 7#b77;,a7 and      
inserting ,paragraphs 7#b74  7c7        
,effective date ,the amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the   
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #ajc4      
,extension of marriage delimiting date  
for surviving spouses of ,persian ,gulf 
,war veterans to qualify for death      
pension ,section #aeda7;f77#a77;,e7 is  
amended by striking ,january #a1 #bjja  
and inserting the date that is #aj years
 and one day after the date on which the
 ,persian ,gulf ,war was terminated1 as 
prescribed by ,presidential proclamation
 or by law4  #ajd4 ,making effective    
date provision consistent with provision
 for benefits eligibility of a veteran's
 child based upon termination of        
remarriage by annulment ,section        

#eaaj7l7 is amended by striking 1 or of 
an award or increase of benefits based  
on recognition of a child upon          
termination of the child's marriage by  
death or divorce14  #aje4 ,expansion of 
,marine ,gunnery ,sergeant ,john ,david 
,fry ,scholarship  7a7 ,expansion of    
entitlement ,subsection 7b77#i7 of      
section #ccaa is amended by inserting or
 spouse after child4  7b7 ,limitation   
and election on certain benefits        
,subsection 7f7 of such section is      
amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating         
paragraph 7#b7 as paragraph 7#d72 and   
7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#a7  
the following new paragraphs3  7#b7     
,limitation ,the entitlement of an      
individual to assistance under          
subsection 7a7 pursuant to paragraph    
7#i7 of subsection 7b7 because the      
individual was a spouse of a person     
described in such paragraph shall expire
 on the earlier of-- 7,a7 the date that 
is #ae years after the date on which the
 person died2 and  7,b7 the date on     

which the individual remarries4  7#c7   
,election on receipt of certain benefits
 ,a surviving spouse entitled to        
assistance under subsection 7a7 pursuant
 to paragraph 7#i7 of subsection 7b7 who
 is also entitled to educational        
assistance under chapter #ce of this    
title may not receive assistance under  
both this section and such chapter1 but 
shall make an irrevocable election 7in  
such form and manner as the ,secretary  
may prescribe7 under which section or   
chapter to receive educational          
assistance4  4  7c7 ,conforming         
amendment ,section #ccba7;b77#d7 is     
amended-- 7#a7 by striking an individual
 and inserting a child2 and  7#b7 by    
striking such individual's each time it 
appears and inserting such child's4  7d7
 ,effective date ,the amendments made by
 this section shall take effect on the  
date that is two years after the date of
 the enactment of this ,act4  #ajf4     
,expansion of ,yellow ,ribbon ,g4,i4    
,education ,enhancement ,program  7a7   

,in general ,section #ccag7;a7 is       
amended by striking in paragraphs 7#a7  
and 7#b7 and inserting in paragraphs    
7#a71 7#b71 and 7#i74  7b7 ,effective   
date ,the amendment made by subsection  
7a7 shall apply with respect to academic
 terms beginning after ,july #a1 #bjae4 
#ajg4 ,benefits for children of certain 
,thailand service veterans born with    
spina bifida  7a7 ,in general           
,subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ah is     
amended by adding at the end the        
following new section3  #ahbb4 ,benefits
 for children of certain ,thailand      
service veterans born with spina bifida 
7a7 ,benefits authorized ,the ,secretary
 may provide to any child of a veteran  
of covered service in ,thailand who is  
suffering from spina bifida the health  
care1 vocational training and           
rehabilitation1 and monetary allowance  
required to be paid to a child of a     
,vietnam veteran who is suffering from  
spina bifida under subchapter ,i of this
 chapter as if such child of a veteran  

of covered service in ,thailand were a  
child of a ,vietnam veteran who is      
suffering from spina bifida under such  
subchapter4  7b7 ,spina bifida          
conditions covered ,this section applies
 with respect to all forms and          
manifestations of spina bifida1 except  
spina bifida occulta4  7c7 ,veteran of  
covered service in ,thailand ,for       
purposes of this section1 a veteran of  
covered service in ,thailand is any     
individual1 without regard to the       
characterization of that individual's   
service1 who-- 7#a7 served in the active
 military1 naval1 or air service in     
,thailand1 as determined by the         
,secretary in consultation with the     
,secretary of ,defense1 during the      
period beginning on ,january #i1 #aifb1 
and ending on ,may #g1 #aige2 and  7#b7 
is determined by the ,secretary1 in     
consultation with the ,secretary of     
,defense1 to have been exposed to a     
herbicide agent during such service in  
,thailand4  7d7 ,herbicide agent ,for   

purposes of this section1 the term      
herbicide agent means a chemical in a   
herbicide used in support of ,united    
,states and allied military operations  
in ,thailand1 as determined by the      
,secretary in consultation with the     
,secretary of ,defense1 during the      
period beginning on ,january #i1 #aifb1 
and ending on ,may #g1 #aige4  4  7b7   
,conforming amendment to definition of  
child ,section #ahca7a7 is amended--    
7#a7 in subparagraph 7,b7-- 7,a7 by     
striking subchapter ,,iii of this       
chapter and inserting section #ahba of  
this title2 and  7,b7 in clause 7i71 by 
striking section #ahba of this title and
 inserting that section2 and  7#b7 by   
adding at the end the following new     
subparagraph3  7,c7 ,for purposes of    
section #ahbb of this title1 an         
individual1 regardless of age or marital
 status1 who-- 7i7 is the natural child 
of a veteran of covered service in      
,thailand 7as determined for purposes of
 that section72 and  7ii7 was conceived 

after the date on which that veteran    
first entered service described in      
subsection 7c7 of that section4  4  7c7 
,clerical amendments  7#a7 ,subchapter  
heading ,the heading for subchapter     
,,iii of chapter #ah is amended by      
inserting and ,thailand after ,korea4   
7#b7 ,table of sections ,the table of   
sections at the beginning of chapter #ah
 is amended-- 7,a7 by striking the item 
relating to subchapter ,,iii and        
inserting the following new item3       
,subchapter ,,iii--,children of certain 
,korea and ,thailand service veterans   
born with spina bifida  2  and  7,b7 by 
inserting after the item relating to    
section #ahba the following new item3   
#ahbb4 ,benefits for children of certain
 ,thailand service veterans born with   
spina bifida4  4  7d7 ,effective date   
,the amendments made by this section    
shall take effect on the date that is   
one year after the date of the enactment
 of this ,act4  #ajh4 ,program on       
assisted living for children of ,vietnam

 veterans and certain ,korea service    
veterans born with spina bifida  7a7    
,program ,commencing not later than #ahj
 days after the date on which this      
section takes effect1 the ,secretary of 
,veterans ,affairs shall carry out a    
program to assess the feasibility and   
advisability of providing assisted      
living1 group home care1 or similar     
services in lieu of nursing home care to
 covered individuals4  7b7 ,covered     
individuals ,for purposes of this       
section1 a covered individual is any    
individual who is entitled to health    
care under subchapter ,i or ,,iii of    
chapter #ah of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code4  7c7 ,duration  7#a7 ,in 
general ,except as otherwise provided in
 this subsection1 the program shall be  
carried out during the three-year period
 beginning on the date of the           
commencement of the program4  7#b7      
,continuation ,subject to paragraph     
7#c71 the ,secretary may continue the   
program for an additional two-year      

period as the ,secretary considers      
appropriate4  7#c7 ,termination ,the    
program may not operate after the date  
that is five years after the date of the
 commencement of the program4  7d7      
,scope of services and program ,under   
the program1 the ,secretary shall       
provide covered individuals with        
integrated1 comprehensive services1     
including the following3 7#a7 ,assisted 
living1 group home care1 or such other  
similar services as the ,secretary      
considers appropriate4  7#b7            
,transportation services4  7#c7 ,such   
other services as the ,secretary        
considers appropriate for the care of   
covered individuals under the program4  
7e7 ,program requirements ,in carrying  
out the program1 the ,secretary shall-- 
7#a7 inform all covered individuals of  
the services available under the        
program2  7#b7 enter into agreements    
with appropriate providers of assisted  
living1 group home care1 or other       
similar services for provision of       

services under the program2 and  7#c7   
determine the appropriate number of     
covered individuals to be enrolled in   
the program and criteria for such       
enrollment4  7f7 ,reports  7#a7         
,preliminary reports  7,a7 ,in general  
,not later than one year after the date 
of the commencement of the program and1 
if the program is continued under       
subsection 7c77#b71 not later than three
 years after the date of the            
commencement of the program1 the        
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
program4  7,b7 ,contents ,each report   
submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall 
include the following3 7i7 ,a           
description of the implementation and   
operation of the program4  7ii7 ,the    
number of covered individuals receiving 
benefits under the program4  7iii7 ,an  
analysis that compares the costs of     

furnishing assisted living1 group home  
care1 or similar service with the costs 
of furnishing nursing home care4  7iv7  
,an analysis of the costs and benefits  
under the program4  7v7 ,the findings   
and conclusions of the ,secretary with  
respect to the program4  7vi7 ,such     
recommendations for the continuation or 
expansion of the program as the         
,secretary may have4  7#b7 ,final report
  7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj 
days after the completion of the        
program1 the ,secretary shall submit to 
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,senate and the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
program4  7,b7 ,contents ,the report    
submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall 
include the following3 7i7 ,the findings
 and conclusions of the ,secretary with 
respect to the program4  7ii7 ,such     
recommendations for the continuation or 
expansion of the program as the         
,secretary may have4  7g7 ,funding      

,amounts to carry out the program shall 
be derived from amounts appropriated or 
otherwise made available for the        
furnishing of nursing home care under   
chapter #ah of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code4  7h7 ,effective date     
,this section shall take effect on the  
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #aji4      
,program on grief counseling in retreat 
settings for surviving spouses of       
members of the ,armed ,forces who die   
while serving on active duty in the     
,armed ,forces  7a7 ,program required   
7#a7 ,in general ,commencing not later  
than #ahj days after the date on which  
this section takes effect1 the          
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
carry out1 through the ,readjustment    
,counseling ,service of the ,veterans   
,health ,administration1 a program to   
assess the feasibility and advisability 
of providing grief counseling services  
described in subsection 7b7 in group    
retreat settings to surviving spouses of

 members of the ,armed ,forces who die  
while serving on active duty in the     
,armed ,forces who would1 as determined 
by the ,readjustment ,counseling        
,service1 benefit from the services     
provided under the program4  7#b7       
,participation at election of surviving 
spouse ,the participation of a surviving
 spouse in the program under this       
section shall be at the election of the 
surviving spouse4  7b7 ,covered services
 ,the services provided to a surviving  
spouse under the program shall include  
the following3 7#a7 ,information and    
counseling on coping with grief4  7#b7  
,information about benefits and services
 available to surviving spouses under   
laws administered by the ,secretary4    
7#c7 ,such other information and        
counseling as the ,secretary considers  
appropriate to assist a surviving spouse
 under the program with adjusting to the
 death of a spouse4  7c7 ,events ,the   
,secretary shall carry out the program  
at not fewer than six events as follows3

 7#a7 ,three events at which surviving  
spouses with dependent children are     
encouraged to bring their children4     
7#b7 ,three events at which surviving   
spouses with dependent children are not 
encouraged to bring their children4  7d7
 ,duration ,the program shall be carried
 out during the two-year period         
beginning on the date of the            
commencement of the program4  7e7       
,reports  7#a7 ,in general ,not later   
than #ahj days after the completion of  
the first year of the program and not   
later than #ahj days after the          
completion of the program1 the          
,secretary shall submit to ,congress a  
report on the program4  7#b7 ,contents  
,each report submitted under paragraph  
7#a7 shall contain the findings and     
conclusions of the ,secretary as a      
result of the program1 and shall include
 such recommendations for the           
continuation or expansion of the program
 as the ,secretary considers            
appropriate4  7f7 ,definitions ,in this 

section1 the terms active duty1 ,armed  
,forces1 and surviving spouse have the  
meanings given such terms in section    
#aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states      
,code4  7g7 ,effective date ,this       
section shall take effect on the date   
that is one year after the date of the  
enactment of this ,act4  #aaj4 ,program 
evaluation on survivors' and dependents'
 educational assistance authorities  7a7
 ,in general ,the ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs shall enter into a   
contract with an appropriate private    
sector entity to conduct a program      
evaluation of the authorities for       
survivors' and dependents' educational  
assistance under chapter #ce of title   
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7b7 ,report
 ,not later than six months after the   
entry into the contract required by     
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall    
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report    

setting forth the results of the program
 evaluation conducted pursuant to the   
contract1 together with such comments on
 the results of the program evaluation  
as the ,secretary considers appropriate4
  7c7 ,effective date ,this section     
shall take effect one year after the    
date of the enactment of this ,act4     
,,ii ,education ,matters  #bja4         
,approval of courses of education       
provided by public institutions of      
higher learning for purposes of         
,all-,volunteer ,force ,educational     
,assistance ,program and ,post-#i_/aa   
,educational ,assistance conditional on 
in-,state tuition rate for veterans  7a7
 ,in general ,section #cfgi is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
subsection3  7c7 7#a7 ,notwithstanding  
any other provision of this chapter and 
subject to paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#f71
 the ,secretary shall disapprove a      
course of education provided by a public
 institution of higher learning to a    
covered individual pursuing a course of 

education with educational assistance   
under chapter #cj or #cc of this title  
while living in the ,state in which the 
public institution of higher learning is
 located if the institution charges     
tuition and fees for that course for the
 covered individual at a rate that is   
higher than the rate the institution    
charges for tuition and fees for that   
course for residents of the ,state in   
which the institution is located1       
regardless of the covered individual's  
,state of residence4  7#b7 ,for purposes
 of this subsection1 a covered          
individual is any individual as follows3
 7,a7 ,a veteran who was discharged or  
released from a period of not fewer than
 #ij days of service in the active      
military1 naval1 or air service less    
than three years before the date of     
enrollment in the course concerned4     
7,b7 ,an individual who is entitled to  
assistance under section #ccaa7;b77#i7  
or #ccai of this title by virtue of such
 individual's relationship to a veteran 

described in subparagraph 7,a74  7#c7   
,if after enrollment in a course of     
education that is subject to disapproval
 under paragraph 7#a7 by reason of      
paragraph 7#b77;,a7 or 7#b77;,b7 a      
covered individual pursues one or more  
courses of education at the same public 
institution of higher learning while    
remaining continuously enrolled 7other  
than during regularly scheduled breaks  
between courses1 semesters or terms7 at 
that institution of higher learning1 any
 course so pursued by the covered       
individual at that institution of higher
 learning while so continuously enrolled
 shall also be subject to disapproval   
under paragraph 7#a74  7#d7 ,it shall   
not be grounds to disapprove a course of
 education under paragraph 7#a7 if a    
public institution of higher learning   
requires a covered individual pursuing a
 course of education at the institution 
to demonstrate an intent1 by means other
 than satisfying a physical presence    
requirement1 to establish residency in  

the ,state in which the institution is  
located1 or to satisfy other            
requirements not relating to the        
establishment of residency1 in order to 
be charged tuition and fees for that    
course at a rate that is equal to or    
less than the rate the institution      
charges for tuition and fees for that   
course for residents of the ,state4     
7#e7 ,the ,secretary may waive such     
requirements of paragraph 7#a7 as the   
,secretary considers appropriate4  7#f7 
,disapproval under paragraph 7#a7 shall 
apply only with respect to educational  
assistance under chapters #cj and #cc of
 this title4  4  7b7 ,effective date    
,subsection 7c7 of section #cfgi of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code 7as    
added by subsection 7a7 of this         
section71 shall apply with respect to   
educational assistance provided for     
pursuit of programs of education during 
academic terms that begin after ,july   
#a1 #bjae1 through courses of education 
that commence on or after that date4    

#bjb4 ,extension and expansion of       
authority for certain qualifying        
work-study activities for purposes of   
the educational assistance programs of  
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
7a7 ,extension of expiring current      
authority ,section #cdhe7;a77#d7 is     
amended by striking ,june #cj1 #bjac    
each place it appears and inserting     
,june #cj1 #bjae4  7b7 ,expansion to    
outreach services provided through      
congressional offices ,such section is  
further amended by adding at the end the
 following new subparagraph3  7,k7      
,during the period beginning on ,june   
#cj1 #bjac1 and ending on ,june #cj1    
#bjae1 the following activities carried 
out at the offices of ,members of       
,congress for such ,members3 7i7 ,the   
distribution of information to members  
of the ,armed ,forces1 veterans1 and    
their dependents about the benefits and 
services under laws administered by the 
,secretary and other appropriate        
governmental and nongovernmental        

programs4  7ii7 ,the preparation and    
processing of papers and other          
documents1 including documents to assist
 in the preparation and presentation of 
claims for benefits under laws          
administered by the ,secretary4  4  7c7 
,annual reports  7#a7 ,in general ,not  
later than ,june #cj of #bjad and #bjae1
 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs   
shall submit to ,congress a report on   
the work-study allowances paid under    
paragraph 7#a7 of section #cdhe7;a7 of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 during
 the most recent one-year period for    
qualifying work-study activities        
described in paragraph 7#d7 of such     
section1 as amended by subsections 7a7  
and 7b7 of this section4  7#b7 ,contents
 ,each report submitted under paragraph 
7#a7 shall include1 for the year covered
 by such report1 the following3 7,a7 ,a 
description of the recipients of such   
work-study allowances4  7,b7 ,a list of 
the locations where qualifying          
work-study activities were carried out4 

7,c7 ,a description of the outreach     
conducted by the ,secretary to increase 
awareness of the eligibility of such    
work-study activities for such          
work-study allowances4  #bjc4           
,prohibitions relating to references to 
,,gi ,bill and ,post-#i_/aa ,,gi ,bill  
7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,ii of     
chapter #cf is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section3          
#cfig;,b4 ,prohibition relating to      
references to ,,gi ,bill and            
,post-#i_/aa ,,gi ,bill  7a7            
,prohibition  7#a7 ,no person may1      
except with the written permission of   
the ,secretary1 use the words and       
phrases covered by this subsection in   
connection with any promotion1 goods1   
services1 or commercial activity in a   
manner that reasonably and falsely      
suggests that such use is approved1     
endorsed1 or authorized by the          
,department or any component thereof4   
7#b7 ,for purposes of this subsection1  
the words and phrases covered by this   

subsection are as follows3 7,a7 ,,gi    
,bill4  7,b7 ,post-#i_/aa ,,gi ,bill4   
7#c7 ,a determination that a use of one 
or more words and phrases covered by    
this subsection in connection with a    
promotion1 goods1 services1 or          
commercial activity is not a violation  
of this subsection may not be made      
solely on the ground that such          
promotion1 goods1 services1 or          
commercial activity includes a          
disclaimer of affiliation with the      
,department or any component thereof4   
7b7 ,enforcement by ,attorney ,general  
7#a7 ,when any person is engaged or is  
about to engage in an act or practice   
which constitutes or will constitute    
conduct prohibited by subsection 7a71   
the ,attorney ,general may initiate a   
civil proceeding in a district court of 
the ,united ,states to enjoin such act  
or practice4  7#b7 ,such court may1 at  
any time before final determination1    
enter such restraining orders or        
prohibitions1 or take such other action 

as is warranted1 to prevent injury to   
the ,united ,states or to any person or 
class of persons for whose protection   
the action is brought4  4  7b7 ,clerical
 amendment ,the table of sections at the
 beginning of chapter #cf is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to    
section #cfig;,a the following new item3
  #cfig;,b4 ,prohibition relating to    
references to ,,gi ,bill and            
,post-#i_/aa ,,gi ,bill4  4  #bjd4      
,review of utilization of educational   
assistance to pursue programs of        
training on the job and participating   
employers  7a7 ,in general ,not later   
than two years after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall commence a  
review of-- 7#a7 the utilization of     
educational assistance under laws       
administered by the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs to pursue programs of
 training on the job 7other than        
programs of apprenticeship72 and  7#b7  
the availability of such programs to    

individuals seeking to pursue such      
programs with such educational          
assistance4  7b7 ,report  7#a7 ,in      
general ,not later than two years after 
the date on which the ,secretary        
commences the review required by        
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall    
submit to ,congress a report on such    
review4  7#b7 ,contents ,the report     
required by paragraph 7#a7 shall include
 the following3 7,a7 ,the extent of     
utilization as described in paragraph   
7#a7 of subsection 7a74  7,b7 ,an       
assessment of the availability of       
programs as described in paragraph 7#b7 
of such subsection4  7,c7 ,a description
 of any barriers the ,secretary has     
identified to greater utilization of    
educational assistance for pursuit of a 
program of training on the job or       
availability of such programs4  7,d7    
,such recommendations for legislative or
 administrative action as the ,secretary
 may have to increase or decrease such  
utilization or availability4  7,e7 ,such

 other matters as the ,secretary        
considers appropriate4  #bje4 ,report on
 debt management and collection  7a7    
,report ,not later than one year after  
the effective date specified in         
subsection 7c71 the ,comptroller        
,general of the ,united ,states shall   
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
processes used by the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs to identify and      
resolve cases of incorrect payments     
associated with educational assistance  
under chapters #cj and #cc of title #ch1
 ,united ,states ,code4  7b7 ,issues    
addressed ,the report required by       
subsection 7a7 shall1 to the extent     
possible1 address the following3 7#a7   
,the effectiveness of the processes     
referred to in subsection 7a7 in        
identifying and resolving incorrect     
payments associated with educational    
assistance under chapters #cj and #cc of

 title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#b7
 ,the accuracy of overpayment           
information provided to veterans by the 
,education ,service and ,debt           
,management ,center of the ,department4 
7#c7 ,how well the ,debt ,management    
,center of the ,department communicates 
and works with veterans to resolve      
disputed debt amounts4  7#d7 ,how the   
payment and debt collection processes of
 the ,department compare to comparable  
programs in other ,federal agencies4    
7#e7 ,any recommendations to improve the
 payment and debt collection processes  
of the ,department that the ,comptroller
 ,general considers appropriate4  7c7   
,effective date ,this section shall take
 effect on the date that is one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #bjf4 ,restoration of prior      
reporting fee multipliers ,section      
#cfhd7;c7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking 
#ab and inserting #g2 and  7#b7 by      
striking #ae and inserting #aa4  ,,iii  
,health ,care ,matters  ,a ,expansion   

and ,improvements of ,benefits          
,generally  #cja4 ,enhancement of nature
 of eligibility for care of certain     
veterans  7a7 ,nursing home care for    
category #b through #f veterans         
,paragraph 7#b7 of section #agaj7;a7 is 
amended by striking and medical         
services1 and may furnish nursing home  
care and inserting 1 medical services1  
and nursing home care4  7b7 ,care for   
category #h veterans ,paragraph 7#c7 of 
such section is amended by striking may1
 to the extent resources and facilities 
are available and and inserting shall14 
#cjb4 ,requirement for enrollment in    
patient enrollment system of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs of    
certain veterans eligible for enrollment
 by law but not currently permitted to  
enroll  7a7 ,requirement for enrollment 
,section #agje is amended by adding at  
the end the following new subsection3   
7d7 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall provide  
for the enrollment in the patient       
enrollment system of veterans specified 

in paragraph 7#b7 by not later than     
,december #ca1 #bjad4  7#b7 ,veterans   
specified in this paragraph are as      
follows3 7,a7 ,veterans with            
noncompensable service-connected        
disabilities rated as zero percent      
disabling who-- 7i7 are not otherwise   
permitted to enroll in the system as of 
the date of the enactment of the        
,comprehensive ,veterans ,health and    
,benefits and ,military ,retirement ,pay
 ,restoration ,act of #bjad2 and  7ii7  
as of the date of enrollment under this 
section1 do not have access to health   
insurance except through a health       
exchange established pursuant to section
 #acaa of the ,patient ,protection and  
,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#ahjca74  7,b7 ,veterans without        
service-connected disability who-- 7i7  
are not otherwise permitted to enroll in
 the system as of the date of the       
enactment of the ,comprehensive         
,veterans ,health and ,benefits and     
,military ,retirement ,pay ,restoration 

,act of #bjad2 and  7ii7 as of the date 
of enrollment under this section1 do not
 have access to health insurance except 
through a health exchange established   
pursuant to section #acaa of the        
,patient ,protection and ,affordable    
,care ,act4  7#c7 ,a veteran who1 after 
enrolling in the patient enrollment     
system pursuant to this subsection1     
obtains access to health insurance other
 than through a health exchange shall   
remain enrolled in the patient          
enrollment system notwithstanding       
obtaining access to such health         
insurance4  7#d7 ,a veteran enrolled in 
the patient enrollment system pursuant  
to this subsection shall maintain the   
priority for care of the veteran at the 
time of enrollment unless and until a   
change in circumstances of the veteran  
results in a higher priority for care of
 the veteran under subsection 7a74  4   
7b7 ,verification of eligibility for    
enrollment  7#a7 ,use of information on 
health insurance coverage  7,a7 ,in     

general ,chapter #ec is amended by      
inserting after section #ecah the       
following new section3  #ecai4 ,review  
of reporting of health insurance        
coverage ,the ,secretary shall notify   
each veteran who enrolls under          
subsection 7d7 of section #agje of this 
title in the patient enrollment system  
of veterans under such section that     
information on the veteran's access to  
health insurance that is furnished to   
the ,secretary for purposes of such     
enrollment may be compared with         
information obtained by the ,secretary  
of the ,treasury under section          
#fajc7l77#bc7 of the ,internal ,revenue 
,code of #aihf4  4  7,b7 ,clerical      
amendment ,the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter #ec is amended by  
adding at the end the following new     
item3  #ecai4 ,review of reporting of   
health insurance coverage4  4  7#b7     
,disclosure of return information by    
,internal ,revenue ,service ,section    
#fajc7l7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code

 of #aihf is amended by adding at the   
end the following new paragraph3  7#bc7 
,disclosure of certain return           
information for verification of         
eligibility of veterans for enrollment  
in ,department of ,veterans ,affairs    
patient enrollment system  7,a7 ,return 
information from ,internal ,revenue     
,service ,the ,secretary shall1 upon    
written request1 disclose current return
 information from returns under section 
#fjee with respect to minimum essential 
coverage of individuals to the          
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for the
 purposes of verifying the eligibility  
of veterans for enrollment in the       
patient enrollment system of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs under 
section #agje7;d7 of title #ch4  7,b7   
,restriction on disclosure ,the         
,secretary shall disclose return        
information under subparagraph 7,a7 only
 for purposes of1 and to the extent     
necessary in1 verifying the eligibility 
of veterans to enroll in the patient    

enrollment system described in that     
subparagraph4  7,c7 ,restriction on use 
of disclosed information ,return        
information disclosed under subparagraph
 7,a7 may be used by the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs only for the purposes
 of1 and to the extent necessary in1    
verifying the eligibility of veterans to
 enroll in the patient enrollment system
 described in that subparagraph4  4  7c7
 ,public notice of commencement of      
enrollment ,the ,secretary of ,veterans 
,affairs shall publish in the ,federal  
,register1 and shall make available to  
the public on an ,internet website of   
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 a
 notice regarding the date on which     
veterans covered by subsection 7d7 of   
section #agje of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code 7as added by subsection   
7a7 of this section71 may commence      
enrollment in the patient enrollment    
system required by that section4  #cjc4 
,further extension of period of         
eligibility for health care for veterans

 of combat service during certain       
periods of hostilities and war ,section 
#agaj7;e77#c7 is amended-- 7#a7 in      
subparagraph 7,a71 by striking the date 
that is five years before the date of   
the enactment of the ,national ,defense 
,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year   
#bjjh1 after a period of five years and 
inserting ,january #bg1 #bjjc1 after a  
period of #aj years2 and  7#b7 in       
subparagraph 7,b71 by striking more than
 five years and all that follows and    
inserting before ,january #bh1 #bjjc1   
and who did not enroll in the patient   
enrollment system under section #agje of
 this title before ,january #bh1 #bjjh1 
after ,january #bg1 #bjah44  #cjd4      
,extension to all veterans with a       
serious service-connected disability of 
eligibility for participation in family 
caregiver program ,section              
#agbj;,g7a77#b77;,b7 is amended by      
striking on or after ,september #aa1    
#bjja4  #cje4 ,improved access to       
appropriate immunizations for veterans  

7a7 ,inclusion of recommended adult     
immunizations as medical services  7#a7 
,covered benefit ,subparagraph 7,f7 of  
section #agja7i7 is amended to read as  
follows3  7,f7 immunizations against    
infectious diseases1 including each     
immunization on the recommended adult   
immunization schedule at the time such  
immunization is indicated on that       
schedule2  4  7#b7 ,recommended adult   
immunization schedule defined ,section  
#agja is amended by adding after        
paragraph 7#i7 the following new        
paragraph3  7#aj7 ,the term recommended 
adult immunization schedule means the   
schedule established 7and periodically  
reviewed and1 as appropriate1 revised7  
by the ,advisory ,committee on          
,immunization ,practices established by 
the ,secretary of ,health and ,human    
,services and delegated to the ,centers 
for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4  
4  7b7 ,inclusion of recommended adult  
immunizations in annual report ,section 
#agjd7a77;,a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in      

clause 7i71 by striking and at the end2 
7#b7 in clause 7ii71 by striking the    
period at the end and inserting 2 and2  
and  7#c7 by inserting after clause 7ii7
 the following new clause3  7iii7 to    
provide veterans each immunization on   
the recommended adult immunization      
schedule at the time such immunization  
is indicated on that schedule4  4  7c7  
,report to ,congress  7#a7 ,in general  
,not later than two years after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act1 the     
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
the development and implementation by   
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs of
 quality measures and metrics1 including
 targets for compliance1 to ensure that 
veterans receiving medical services     
under chapter #ag of title #ch1 ,united 
,states ,code1 receive each immunization
 on the recommended adult immunization  

schedule at the time such immunization  
is indicated on that schedule4  7#b7    
,recommended adult immunization schedule
 defined ,in this subsection1 the term  
recommended adult immunization schedule 
has the meaning given that term in      
section #agja7aj7 of title #ch1 ,united 
,states ,code1 as added by subsection   
7a77#b74  7#c7 ,effective date ,this    
subsection shall take effect on the date
 that is one year after the date of the 
enactment of this ,act4  #cjf4          
,expansion of provision of chiropractic 
care and services to veterans  7a7      
,program for provision of chiropractic  
care and services to veterans ,section  
#bjd7;c7 of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs ,health ,care ,programs       
,enhancement ,act of #bjja 7,public ,law
 #ajg-ace2 #aae ,stat4 #bdei2 #ch       
,u4,s4,c4 #agaj note7 is amended-- 7#a7 
by inserting 7#a7 before ,the program2  
and  7#b7 by adding at the end the      
following new paragraph3  7#b7 ,the     
program shall be carried out at not     

fewer than two medical centers or       
clinics in each ,veterans ,integrated   
,service ,network by not later than one 
year after the effective date specified 
in section #cjf7;c7 of the              
,comprehensive ,veterans ,health and    
,benefits and ,military ,retirement ,pay
 ,restoration ,act of #bjad1 and at not 
fewer than #ej percent of all medical   
centers in each ,veterans ,integrated   
,service ,network by not later than two 
years after such effective date4  4  7b7
 ,expanded chiropractor services        
available to veterans  7#a7 ,medical    
services ,paragraph 7#f7 of section     
#agja is amended by adding at the end   
the following new subparagraph3  7,h7   
,chiropractic services4  4  7#b7        
,rehabilitative services ,paragraph 7#h7
 of such section is amended by inserting
 chiropractic1 after counseling14  7#c7 
,preventive health services ,paragraph  
7#i7 of such section is amended-- 7,a7  
by redesignating subparagraphs 7,f7     
through 7,k7 as subparagraphs 7,g7      

through 7,l71 respectively2 and  7,b7 by
 inserting after subparagraph 7,e7 the  
following new subparagraph 7,f73  7,f7  
periodic and preventive chiropractic    
examinations and services2  4  7c7      
,effective date ,this section and the   
amendments made by this section shall   
take effect on the date that is one year
 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act4  #cjg4 ,modification of          
commencement date of period of service  
at ,camp ,lejeune1 ,north ,carolina1 for
 eligibility for hospital care and      
medical services in connection with     
exposure to contaminated water  7a7     
,modification ,section                  
#agaj7;e77#a77;,f7 is amended by        
striking ,january #a1 #aieg1 and        
inserting ,august #a1 #aiec 7or such    
earlier date for the commencement of    
exposure to contaminated water at ,camp 
,lejeune as the ,secretary1 in          
consultation with the ,agency for ,toxic
 ,substances and ,disease ,registry1    
shall specify714  7b7 ,publication ,the 

,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
publish in the ,federal ,register a     
notice of any earlier date for the      
commencement of exposure to contaminated
 water at ,camp ,lejeune1 ,north        
,carolina1 for purposes of section      
#agaj7;e77#a77;,f7 of title #ch1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 as amended by subsection
 7a74  #cjh4 ,expansion of emergency    
treatment reimbursement for certain     
veterans  7a7 ,in general ,section      
#agbe7;b77#b77;,b7 is amended-- 7#a7 by 
inserting 7i7 after 7,b72  7#b7 by      
striking the period at the end and      
inserting 2 or2 and  7#c7 by adding at  
the end the following3  7ii7 the veteran
 was unable to receive care under this  
chapter within such #bd-month period    
because of a waiting period imposed by  
the ,department with respect to a new   
patient examination of such veteran4  4 
7b7 ,effective date ,the amendments made
 by subsection 7a7 shall take effect on 
the date that is one year after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act4  #cji4  

,relocation and restatement of          
limitation on requirements to furnish   
certain care and services contingent on 
the availability of appropriations  7a7 
,relocation and restatement ,section    
#agjg is amended by adding at the end   
the following new subsection3  7c7 7#a7 
,the requirements specified in paragraph
 7#b7 shall be effective in any fiscal  
year only to the extent and in the      
amount provided in advance in           
appropriations ,acts for such purposes4 
7#b7 ,the requirements specified in this
 paragraph are as follows3 7,a7 ,the    
requirement in paragraphs 7#a71 7#b71   
and 7#c7 of section #agaj7;a7 of this   
title that the ,secretary provide       
hospital care and medical services4     
7,b7 ,the requirement in section        
#agaj;,a7a7 of this title that the      
,secretary provide nursing home care4   
7,c7 ,the requirement in section        
#agaj;,b of this title that the         
,secretary provide a program of extended
 care services4  7,d7 ,the requirement  

in section #agde of this title that the 
,secretary provide nursing home care and
 prescription medicines to veterans with
 service-connected disabilities in      
,state homes4  4  7b7 ,conforming repeal
 of superseded limitation ,section      
#agaj7;a7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking 
paragraph 7#d72 and  7#b7 by            
redesignating paragraph 7#e7 as         
paragraph 7#d74  #caj4 ,modification of 
determination of eligibility of veterans
 for treatment as a low-income family   
for purposes of enrollment in the       
patient enrollment system of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,areas of residence ,the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs shall modify the     
areas in which veterans reside as       
specified for purposes of determining   
whether veterans qualify for treatment  
as low-income families for enrollment in
 the patient enrollment system of the   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs under 
section #agje7;a77#g7 of title #ch1     
,united ,states ,code1 to meet the      

requirements as follows3 7#a7 ,any area 
so specified shall be within only one   
,state4  7#b7 ,any area so specified    
shall be co-extensive with one or more  
counties 7or similar political          
subdivisions7 in the ,state concerned4  
7b7 ,variable income thresholds ,the    
,secretary shall modify the thresholds  
for income as specified for purposes of 
determining whether veterans qualify for
 treatment as low-income families for   
enrollment in the patient enrollment    
system referred to in subsection 7a7 to 
meet the requirements as follows3 7#a7  
,there shall be one income threshold for
 each ,state1 equal to the highest      
income threshold among the counties     
within such ,state4  7#b7 ,the          
calculation of the highest income       
threshold of a county shall be          
consistent with the calculation used for
 purposes of section #c7;b7 of the      
,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg  
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;a7b774  7#c7 ,the  
timing and methodology for implementing 

any modifications in geographic income  
thresholds pursuant to paragraph 7#a7   
shall be determined by the ,secretary in
 such a manner as to permit the         
,department to build capacity for       
enrolling such additional veterans in   
the patient enrollment system of the    
,department as become eligible for      
enrollment as a result of such          
modifications1 except that all required 
modifications shall be completed not    
later than five years after date of the 
enactment of this ,act4  #caa4          
,extension of sunset date regarding     
transportation of individuals to and    
from facilities of ,department of       
,veterans ,affairs and requirement of   
report  7a7 ,extension of sunset date   
,subsection 7a77#b7 of section #aaa;,a  
is amended by striking ,december #ca1   
#bjad and inserting ,september #cj1     
#bjae4  7b7 ,funding available ,such    
section is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection3   
7c7 ,funding ,there is hereby authorized

 to be appropriated for each of fiscal  
years #bjad and #bjae for the           
,department1 #d1jjj1jjj to carry out    
this section4  4  7c7 ,report ,not later
 than one year after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 on-- 7#a7 the efforts of the ,secretary
 to carry out the transportation        
services required by section #aaa;,a7a7 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code2    
7#b7 the utilization of those services  
by covered veterans2 and  7#c7 the      
feasibility and advisability of the     
continuation of the provision of such   
services after ,september #cj1 #bjae4   
#cab4 ,coverage of costs of care for    
veterans at medical foster homes  7a7   
,in general ,in conducting the medical  
foster home program pursuant to section 
#ag4gc of title #ch1 ,code of ,federal  
,regulations1 the ,secretary of         

,veterans ,affairs may cover the costs  
associated with the care of veterans at 
medical foster homes4  7b7 ,effective   
date ,subsection 7a7 shall take effect  
on the date that is one year after the  
date of the enactment of this ,act4     
#cac4 ,extension and modification of    
pilot program on assisted living        
services for veterans with traumatic    
brain injury  7a7 ,extension of program 
,subsection 7a7 of section #agje of the 
,national ,defense ,authorization ,act  
for ,fiscal ,year #bjjh 7,public ,law   
#aaj-aha2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agaj;,c note7  
is amended by striking a five-year and  
inserting an eight-year4  7b7           
,modification of locations ,subsection  
7b7 of such section is amended-- 7#a7 by
 redesignating paragraph 7#b7 as        
paragraph 7#c72 and  7#b7 by striking   
paragraph 7#a7 and inserting the        
following new paragraphs3  7#a7 ,in     
general ,the pilot program shall be     
carried out at locations selected by the
 ,secretary for purposes of the pilot   

program4  7#b7 ,located in same region  
as polytrauma centers ,of the locations 
selected under paragraph 7#a71 at least 
one location shall be in each health    
care region of the ,veterans ,health    
,administration of the ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs that contains a      
polytrauma center of the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs4  4  7c7             
,modification of report requirements    
,subsection 7e7 of such section is      
amended to read as follows3  7e7        
,reports  7#a7 ,annual report  7,a7 ,in 
general ,not later than two years after 
the date of the enactment of the        
,comprehensive ,veterans ,health and    
,benefits and ,military ,retirement ,pay
 ,restoration ,act of #bjad1 and not    
later than ,september #cj each year     
thereafter until #bjah1 the ,secretary  
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 on the pilot program4  7,b7 ,elements  

,each report submitted under            
subparagraph 7,a7 shall include the     
following3 7i7 ,the number of           
individuals that participated in the    
pilot program during the year preceding 
the submission of the report4  7ii7 ,the
 number of individuals that successfully
 completed the pilot program during the 
year preceding the submission of the    
report4  7iii7 ,the degree to which     
pilot program participants and family   
members of pilot program participants   
were satisfied with the pilot program4  
7iv7 ,the interim findings and          
conclusions of the ,secretary with      
respect to the success of the pilot     
program and recommendations for         
improvement4  7#b7 ,final report  7,a7  
,in general ,not later than #fj days    
after the completion of the pilot       
program1 the ,secretary shall submit to 
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,senate and the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a final report on the  

pilot program4  7,b7 ,elements ,the     
final report required by subparagraph   
7,a7 shall include the following3 7i7 ,a
 description of the pilot program4  7ii7
 ,an assessment of the utility of the   
activities under the pilot program in   
enhancing the rehabilitation1 quality of
 life1 and community reintegration of   
veterans with traumatic brain injury1   
including complex mild traumatic brain  
injury4  7iii7 ,such recommendations as 
the ,secretary considers appropriate    
regarding improving the pilot program4  
4  7d7 ,modification of definitions     
7#a7 ,community-based brain injury      
residential rehabilitative care services
 ,such section is further amended-- 7,a7
 in the section heading1 by striking    
assisted livingand inserting            
community-based brain injury residential
 rehabilitative care2  7,b7 in          
subsection 7c71 in the subsection       
heading1 by striking assisted living and
 inserting community-based brain injury 
residential rehabilitative care2  7,c7  

by striking assisted living each place  
it appears1 and inserting               
community-based brain injury            
rehabilitative care2 and  7,d7 in       
subsection 7f77#a71 by striking and     
personal care and inserting             
rehabilitation1 and personal care4  7#b7
 ,eligible veteran ,subsection 7f77#c7  
of such section is amended-- 7,a7 in    
subparagraph 7,c71 by striking 2 and and
 inserting a semicolon2  7,b7 in        
subparagraph 7,d71 by striking the      
period at the end and inserting 2 and2  
and  7,c7 by adding at the end the      
following new subparagraph3  7,e7 has a 
traumatic brain injury that is          
classified as complex-mild to severe4  4
  7e7 ,authorization of appropriations  
,there is authorized to be appropriated 
for the ,department of ,veterans        
,affairs for fiscal year #bjae          
#df1jjj1jjj to carry out the pilot      
program under section #agje of the      
,national ,defense ,authorization ,act  
for ,fiscal ,year #bjjh 7,public ,law   

#aaj-aha2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agaj;,c note71 
as amended by this section4 ,the amount 
so authorized to be appropriated shall  
be available for obligation for the     
three-year period beginning on the date 
that is one year after the date of the  
enactment of this ,act4  7f7 ,effective 
date ,the amendments made by this       
section shall take effect on ,october   
#a1 #bjad4  #cad4 ,program on health    
promotion for overweight and obese      
veterans through support of fitness     
center memberships  7a7 ,program        
required ,commencing not later than #ahj
 days after the date on which this      
section takes effect1 the ,secretary of 
,veterans ,affairs shall1 through the   
,national ,center for ,preventive       
,health1 carry out a program to assess  
the feasibility and advisability of     
promoting health in covered veterans1   
including achieving a healthy weight and
 reducing risks of chronic disease1     
through support for fitness center      
membership4  7b7 ,covered veterans ,for 

purposes of this section1 a covered     
veteran is any veteran who-- 7#a7 is    
enrolled in the system of annual patient
 enrollment established and operated by 
the ,secretary under section #agje of   
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code2  7#b7 
is determined by a clinician of the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to be 
overweight or obese as of the date of   
the commencement of the program2 and    
7#c7 resides in a location that is more 
than #ae minutes driving distance from a
 fitness center at a facility of the    
,department that would otherwise be     
available to the veteran for at least   
eight hours per day during five or more 
days per week4  7c7 ,duration of program
 ,the program shall be carried out      
during the two-year period beginning on 
the date of the commencement of the     
program4  7d7 ,locations  7#a7 ,in      
general ,in carrying out the program1   
the ,secretary shall select-- 7,a7 not  
less than five medical centers of the   
,department at which the ,secretary     

shall cover the full reasonable cost of 
a fitness center membership for covered 
veterans within the catchment area of   
such centers2 and  7,b7 not less than   
five medical centers of the ,department 
at which the ,secretary shall cover half
 the reasonable cost of a fitness center
 membership for covered veterans within 
the catchment area of such centers4     
7#b7 ,considerations ,in selecting      
locations for the program1 the          
,secretary shall consider the           
feasibility and advisability of         
selecting locations in the following    
areas3 7,a7 ,rural areas4  7,b7 ,areas  
that are not in close proximity to an   
active duty military installation4  7,c7
 ,areas in different geographic         
locations4  7e7 ,participation  7#a7    
,maximum number of participants ,the    
number of covered veterans who may      
participate in the program at each      
location selected under subsection 7d7  
may not exceed #ajj4  7#b7 ,voluntary   
participation ,the participation of a   

covered veteran in the program shall be 
at the election of the covered veteran  
in consultation with a clinician of the 
,department4  7f7 ,membership payment   
7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in 
paragraph 7#b71 in carrying out the     
program1 the ,secretary shall pay the   
following3 7,a7 ,the full reasonable    
cost of a fitness center membership for 
covered veterans within the catchment   
area of centers selected under          
subsection 7d77#a77;,a7 who are         
participating in the program4  7,b7     
,half the reasonable cost of a fitness  
center membership for covered veterans  
within the catchment area of centers    
selected under subsection 7d77#a77;,b7  
who are participating in the program4   
7#b7 ,limitation ,payment for a fitness 
center membership of a covered veteran  
may not exceed #ej per month of         
membership4  7g7 ,reports  7#a7         
,periodic reports ,not later than #ij   
days after the date of the commencement 
of the program and not less frequently  

than once every #ij days thereafter1 the
 ,secretary shall submit to the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on activities 
carried out to implement the program1   
including outreach activities to        
veterans and community organizations4   
7#b7 ,final report ,not later than #ahj 
days after the date of the completion of
 the program1 the ,secretary shall      
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
the program detailing-- 7,a7 the        
findings and conclusions of the         
,secretary as a result of the program2  
and  7,b7 recommendations for the       
continuation or expansion of the        
program4  7h7 ,effective date ,this     
section shall take effect on the date   
that is one year after the date of the  
enactment of this ,act4  #cae4 ,program 

on health promotion for veterans through
 establishment of ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs fitness facilities   
7a7 ,program required ,commencing not   
later than #ahj days after the date on  
which this section takes effect1 the    
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
carry out a program to assess the       
feasibility and advisability of         
promoting health in covered veterans1   
including achieving a healthy weight1   
through establishment of ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs fitness facilities4  
7b7 ,covered veterans ,for purposes of  
this section1 a covered veteran is any  
veteran who is enrolled in the system of
 annual patient enrollment established  
and operated by the ,secretary under    
section #agje of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code4  7c7 ,duration of program
 ,the program shall be carried out      
during the three-year period beginning  
on the date of the commencement of the  
program4  7d7 ,locations  7#a7 ,in      
general ,the ,secretary shall carry out 

the program by establishing fitness     
facilities in ,department facilities as 
follows3 7,a7 ,in not fewer than five   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
medical centers selected by the         
,secretary for purposes of the program4 
7,b7 ,in not fewer than five outpatient 
clinics of the ,department selected by  
the ,secretary for purposes of the      
program4  7#b7 ,considerations ,in      
selecting locations for the program1 the
 ,secretary shall consider the          
feasibility and advisability of         
selecting locations in the following    
areas3 7,a7 ,rural areas4  7,b7 ,areas  
that are not in close proximity to an   
active duty military installation4  7,c7
 ,areas in different geographic         
locations4  7e7 ,limitation on expenses 
,in establishing and supporting a       
fitness facility in a facility of the   
,department under the program1 the      
,secretary may expend amounts as        
follows3 7#a7 ,for establishment and    
support of a fitness facility in a      

,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
medical center1 not more than #fj1jjj4  
7#b7 ,for establishment and support of a
 fitness facility in an outpatient      
clinic of the ,department1 not more than
 #dj1jjj4  7f7 ,repurposing of physical 
space and purchases of equipment  7#a7  
,in general ,subject to subsection 7e71 
the ,secretary may1 in carrying out the 
program1 repurpose existing physical    
space of the ,department and purchase   
such fitness equipment and supplies as  
the ,secretary considers appropriate for
 purposes of the program4  7#b7         
,repurposing exception ,existing        
physical space used for the direct      
delivery of health care to patients may 
not be repurposed under paragraph 7#a74 
7g7 ,prohibition on assessment of user  
fees ,the ,secretary may not assess a   
fee upon a covered veteran for use of a 
fitness facility established under the  
program4  7h7 ,voluntary participation  
,the participation of a covered veteran 
in the program shall be at the election 

of the covered veteran4  7i7 ,reports   
7#a7 ,periodic reports ,not later than  
#ij days after the date of the          
commencement of the program and not less
 frequently than once every #ij days    
thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit 
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
 of the ,senate and the ,committee on   
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on activities 
carried out to implement the program1   
including outreach activities to        
veterans and community organizations4   
7#b7 ,final report ,not later than #ahj 
days after the date of the completion of
 the program1 the ,secretary shall      
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
the program detailing-- 7,a7 the        
findings and conclusions of the         
,secretary as a result of the program2  
and  7,b7 recommendations for the       
continuation or expansion of the        

program4  7j7 ,effective date ,this     
section shall take effect on the date   
that is one year after the date of the  
enactment of this ,act4  ,b ,health     
,care ,administration  #cba4 ,extension 
of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs    
,health ,professional ,scholarship      
,program ,section #gfai is amended by   
striking ,december #ca1 #bjad and       
inserting ,december #ca1 #bjai4  #cbb4  
,expansion of availability of prosthetic
 and orthotic care for veterans  7a7    
,establishment or expansion of advanced 
degree programs ,to expand availability 
of provision of care ,the ,secretary of 
,veterans ,affairs shall work with      
institutions of higher education to     
develop partnerships for the            
establishment or expansion of programs  
of advanced degrees in prosthetics and  
orthotics in order to improve and       
enhance the availability of high quality
 prosthetic and orthotic care for       
veterans4  7b7 ,report ,not later than  
one year after the date of the enactment

 of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall     
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report    
setting forth a plan for carrying out   
subsection 7a74 ,the ,secretary shall   
develop the plan in consultation with   
veterans service organizations1         
institutions of higher education with   
accredited degree programs in           
prosthetics and orthotics1 and          
representatives of the prosthetics and  
orthotics field4  7c7 ,funding  7#a7    
,authorization of appropriations ,there 
is hereby authorized to be appropriated 
for fiscal year #bjae for the           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs1      
#aj1jjj1jjj to carry out this section4  
7#b7 ,availability ,the amount          
authorized to be appropriated by        
paragraph 7#a7 shall remain available   
for expenditure until ,september #cj1   
#bjag4  #cbc4 ,contracting for health   
care  7a7 ,use of capitation-based      

resource allocation in entry into       
contracts ,in entering into contracts   
for the furnishing of health care       
services under the laws administered by 
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
7including under this title and the     
amendments made by this title71 the     
,secretary shall use the                
capitation-based resource allocation    
model of the ,department of ,veterans   
,affairs4  7b7 ,priority for contracts  
with certain entities ,in entering into 
contracts for the furnishing of health  
care services under the laws            
administered by the ,secretary1 the     
,secretary shall afford a priority for  
entry into contracts for ,federally     
,qualified ,health ,centers 7,f,q,h,cs7 
and ,community ,health ,centers         
7,c,h,cs71 whenever appropriate4  7c7   
,best practices ,the ,secretary shall   
modify the guidance of the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs on contracts for  
health care services in order to provide
 for the incorporation into such        

contracts of standardized requirements  
for such best practices under such      
contracts1 including the following3 7#a7
 ,requirements that contracts provide   
the ,department on a regular basis      
information on scheduling and appearance
 for appointments for health care on    
per-patient basis4  7#b7 ,such other    
best practices requirements as the      
,secretary considers appropriate4  7d7  
,federally ,qualified ,health ,center   
defined ,in this section the term       
,federally ,qualified ,health ,center   
means a ,federally-qualified health     
center as defined in section            
#aije7l77#b77;,b7 of the ,social        
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4           
#acif;d7l77#b77;,b774  #cbd4 ,limitation
 on expansion of dialysis pilot program 
7a7 ,limitation ,the ,secretary of      
,veterans ,affairs shall not expand the 
dialysis pilot program to1 or expand the
 capacity to provide additional dialysis
 care at1 any facility owned or leased  
by the ,department that is not an       

initial facility until after the date   
that-- 7#a7 the ,secretary has          
implemented the dialysis pilot program  
at each initial facility for a period of
 not less than two years2  7#b7 an      
independent analysis of the dialysis    
pilot program has been conducted at each
 initial facility1 including a          
consideration and comparison of factors 
including-- 7,a7 the ability of veterans
 to access care under the dialysis pilot
 program2  7,b7 the quality of care     
provided under the dialysis pilot       
program2 and  7,c7 the satisfaction of  
veterans who have received treatment    
under the dialysis pilot program2 and   
7#c7 the report required by subsection  
7b7 has been submitted4  7b7 ,report    
,not later than #fj days after the date 
of the completion of the independent    
analysis required by subsection 7a77#b71
 the ,secretary shall submit to         
,congress a report that-- 7#a7 includes 
the results of that independent         
analysis2 and  7#b7 addresses any       

recommendations with respect to the     
dialysis pilot program provided in a    
report prepared by the ,government      
,accountability ,office4  7c7           
,utilization of existing dialysis       
resources ,in order to increase the     
access of veterans to dialysis care and 
decrease the travel time of such        
veterans to receive such care1 the      
,secretary shall fully utilize existing 
dialysis resources of the ,department1  
including any community dialysis        
provider with which the ,department has 
entered into a contract or agreement for
 the provision of such care4  7d7       
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7     
,dialysis pilot program ,the term       
dialysis pilot program means the pilot  
demonstration program established by the
 ,secretary in #bjji to provide dialysis
 care to patients at certain outpatient 
facilities operated by the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs4  7#b7 ,initial   
facility ,the term initial facility     
means one of the four outpatient        

facilities identified by the ,secretary 
to participate in the dialysis pilot    
program prior to the date of the        
enactment of this ,act4  7e7 ,effective 
date ,this section shall take effect on 
the date that is one year after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act4  #cbe4  
,requirement for ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs policy on reporting  
cases of infectious diseases at         
facilities of the ,department  7a7 ,in  
general ,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #gc 
is amended by adding at the end the     
following new section3  #gccj;,b4       
,reporting of infectious diseases  7a7  
,reporting ,the ,secretary shall ensure 
that the ,department has in effect an   
up-to-date policy on reporting a        
notifiable infectious disease diagnosed 
at a facility under the jurisdiction of 
the ,secretary in accordance with the   
provisions of ,state and local law in   
effect where such facility is located4  
7b7 ,notifiable infectious disease ,for 
purposes of this section1 a notifiable  

infectious disease is any infectious    
disease that is-- 7#a7 on the list of   
nationally notifiable diseases published
 by the ,council of ,state and          
,territorial ,epidemiologists and the   
,centers for ,disease ,control and      
,prevention2 or  7#b7 covered by a      
provision of law of a ,state that       
requires the reporting of infectious    
diseases4  7c7 ,performance measures    
,the ,secretary shall develop           
performance measures to assess whether  
and to what degree the directors of     
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,networks
 and ,department medical centers are    
complying with the policy required by   
subsection 7a74  4  7b7 ,clerical       
amendment ,the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter #gc is amended by  
inserting after the item relating to    
section #gccj;,a the following new item3
  #gccj;,b4 ,reporting of infectious    
diseases4  4  7c7 ,effective date ,the  
amendments made by this section shall   
take effect on the date that is one year

 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act4  #cbf4 ,independent assessment of
 the ,veterans ,integrated ,service     
,networks and medical centers of        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,contract  7#a7 ,in general ,the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
seek to enter into a contract with an   
independent third-party to perform the  
services covered by this section4  7#b7 
,timing ,the ,secretary shall seek to   
enter into the contract described in    
paragraph 7#a7 not later than #edj days 
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  7b7 ,independent study  7#a7 ,in 
general ,under a contract between the   
,secretary and an independent           
third-party under this section1 the     
third party shall carry out a study--   
7,a7 to assess the organizational       
structures of medical centers of the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 and  
7,b7 to improve succession planning     
among key leadership roles at ,veterans 
,integrated ,service ,networks and      

medical centers of the ,department4     
7#b7 ,matters studied and proposed ,in  
carrying out the study1 the third party 
shall-- 7,a7 assess whether the         
organizational structure of the medical 
centers of the ,department is effective 
for the furnishing of medical services1 
addressing issues that arise regarding  
the furnishing of medical services1 and 
addressing standard business operations2
  7,b7 propose one organizational chart 
for ,department medical centers with a  
common set of base position             
descriptions2  7,c7 propose a base set  
of medical positions that should be     
filled to ensure that the health care   
provided to veterans by the ,department 
is of good quality2 and  7,d7 identify  
which key leadership positions at       
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,networks
 and ,department medical centers should 
have succession plans and propose how to
 implement such plans4  7#c7 ,timing    
,the third party shall complete the     
study under this section not later than 

#bgj days after entering into the       
contract described in subsection 7a74   
7c7 ,report ,not later than #ij days    
after the date on which the third party 
completes the study under this section1 
the ,secretary shall submit to the      
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the results
 of such study4  7d7 ,effective date    
,this section shall take effect on the  
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #cbg4      
,requirements in connection with next   
update of current strategic plan for    
,office of ,rural ,health of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,requirements  7#a7 ,in general ,the    
first update of the ,strategic ,plan    
,refresh for ,fiscal ,years #bjab       
through #bjad of the ,office of ,rural  
,health of the ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs after the date of the enactment
 of this ,act1 whether an update or     

refresh of such ,strategic ,plan        
,refresh or a strategic plan to         
supersede such ,strategic ,plan         
,refresh1 shall be prepared in          
accordance with this section4  7#b7     
,consultation ,the ,director of the     
,office of ,rural ,health shall prepare 
the update in consultation with the     
following3 7,a7 ,the ,director of the   
,health ,care ,retention and            
,recruitment ,office of the ,department4
  7,b7 ,the ,director of the ,office of 
,quality and ,performance of the        
,department4  7,c7 ,the ,director of the
 ,office of ,care ,coordination         
,services of the ,department4  7b7      
,elements ,the update described in      
subsection 7a7 shall include1 for the   
period covered by the update1 the       
following3 7#a7 ,goals and objectives   
for the recruitment and retention by the
 ,veterans ,health ,administration of   
health care personnel in rural areas4   
7#b7 ,goals and objectives for ensuring 
timeliness and improving quality in the 

delivery of health care services by the 
,veterans ,health ,administration in    
rural areas through contract and        
fee-basis providers4  7#c7 ,goals and   
objectives for the implementation1      
expansion1 and enhanced use of          
telemedicine services by the ,veterans  
,health ,administration in rural areas1 
including through coordination with     
other appropriate offices of the        
,department4  7#d7 ,goals and objectives
 for ensuring the full and effective use
 of mobile outpatient clinics by the    
,veterans ,health ,administration for   
the provision of health care services in
 rural areas1 including goals and       
objectives for the use of such clinics  
on a fully mobile basis and for         
encouraging health care providers who   
provide services through such clinics to
 do so in rural areas4  7#e7 ,procedures
 for soliciting from each ,veterans     
,health ,administration facility that   
serves a rural area the following3 7,a7 
,a statement of the clinical capacity of

 such facility4  7,b7 ,the procedures of
 such facility in the event of a        
medical1 surgical1 or mental health     
emergency outside the scope of the      
clinical capacity of such facility4     
7,c7 ,the procedures and mechanisms of  
such facility for the provision and     
coordination of health care for women   
veterans1 including procedures and      
mechanisms for coordination with local  
hospitals and health care facilities1   
oversight of primary care and fee-basis 
care1 and management of specialty care4 
7#f7 ,goals and objectives for the      
modification of the funding allocation  
mechanisms of the ,office of ,rural     
,health in order to ensure that the     
,office distributes funds to components 
of the ,department to best achieve the  
goals and objectives of the ,office and 
in a timely manner4  7#g7 ,goals and    
objectives for the coordination of1 and 
sharing of resources with respect to1   
the provision of health care services to
 veterans in rural areas between the    

,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 the  
,department of ,defense1 the ,indian    
,health ,service of the ,department of  
,health and ,human ,services1 and other 
,federal agencies1 as appropriate and   
prudent4  7#h7 ,specific milestones for 
the achievement of the goals and        
objectives developed for the update4    
7#i7 ,procedures for ensuring the       
effective implementation of the update4 
7c7 ,transmittal to ,congress ,not later
 than #ij days after the date of the    
issuance of the update described in     
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs shall transmit the   
update to ,congress1 together with such 
comments and recommendations in         
connection with the update as the       
,secretary considers appropriate4  #cbh4
 ,report on provision of telemedicine   
services  7a7 ,in general ,not later    
than two years after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to   
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of

 the ,senate and the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
following3 7#a7 ,issues that may be     
impeding the provision by the           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs of    
telemedicine services for veterans1     
including the following3 7,a7 ,statutory
 or regulatory restrictions4  7,b7      
,licensure or credentialing issues for  
any provider practicing telemedicine    
with veterans who live in a different   
,state than the provider4  7,c7 ,limited
 broadband access in rural areas4  7,d7 
,limited information technology         
resources or capabilities4  7,e7 ,long  
distances veterans must travel to access
 a facility or clinic with telemedicine 
capabilities4  7,f7 ,insufficient       
liability protection for providers4     
7,g7 ,reimbursement issues faced by     
providers4  7,h7 ,travel limitations for
 providers that are unaffiliated with   
the ,department and are participating or
 seeking to participate in a            

telemedicine program of the ,department4
  7#b7 ,actions taken to address the    
issues identified in paragraph 7#a74    
7#c7 ,an update on efforts by the       
,department to carry out the initiative 
of teleconsultation for the provision of
 remote mental health and traumatic     
brain injury assessments required by    
section #agji;,a of title #ch1 ,united  
,states ,code4  7#d7 ,an update on      
efforts by the ,department to offer     
training opportunities in telemedicine  
to medical residents1 as required by    
section #ajh7;b7 of the ,janey          
,ensminger ,act 7,public ,law #aab-aed2 
#ch ,u4,s4,c4 #gdjf note74  7#e7 ,an    
update on efforts by the ,department to1
 in partnership with primary care       
providers1 install video cameras and    
instruments to monitor weight1 blood    
pressure1 and other vital statistics in 
the homes of patients4  7b7             
,telemedicine defined ,in this section1 
the term telemedicine means the use by a
 health care provider of                

telecommunications to assist in the     
diagnosis or treatment of a patient's   
medical condition4  7c7 ,effective date 
,this section shall take effect on the  
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #cbi4      
,designation of ,corporal ,michael ,j4  
,crescenz ,department of ,veterans      
,affairs ,medical ,center  7a7          
,designation ,the medical center of the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
located at #cijj ,woodland ,avenue in   
,philadelphia1 ,pennsylvania1 shall     
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act be known and designated as the     
,corporal ,michael ,j4 ,crescenz        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
,medical ,center4  7b7 ,references ,any 
reference in any law1 regulation1 map1  
document1 paper1 or other record of the 
,united ,states to the medical center   
referred to in subsection 7a7 shall be  
considered to be a reference to the     
,corporal ,michael ,j4 ,crescenz        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       

,medical ,center4  ,c ,complementary and
 ,alternative ,medicine  #cca4          
,expansion of research and education on 
and delivery of complementary and       
alternative medicine to veterans  7a7   
,development of plan ,to expand         
research1 education1 and delivery ,not  
later than six months after the         
effective date specified in subsection  
7f71 the ,secretary of ,veterans        
,affairs shall develop a plan to expand 
materially and substantially the scope  
of research and education on1 and       
delivery and integration of1            
complementary and alternative medicine  
services into the health care services  
provided to veterans4  7b7 ,elements    
,the plan required by subsection 7a7    
shall provide for the following3 7#a7   
,research on the following3 7,a7 ,the   
comparative effectiveness of various    
complementary and alternative medicine  
therapies4  7,b7 ,approaches to         
integrating complementary and           
alternative medicine services into other

 health care services provided by the   
,department4  7#b7 ,education and       
training for health care professionals  
of the ,department on the following3    
7,a7 ,complementary and alternative     
medicine services selected by the       
,secretary for purposes of the plan4    
7,b7 ,appropriate uses of such services4
  7,c7 ,integration of such services    
into the delivery of health care to     
veterans4  7#c7 ,research1 education1   
and clinical activities on complementary
 and alternative medicine at centers of 
innovation at ,department medical       
centers4  7#d7 ,identification or       
development of metrics and outcome      
measures to evaluate the provision and  
integration of complementary and        
alternative medicine services into the  
delivery of health care to veterans4    
7#e7 ,integration and delivery of       
complementary and alternative medicine  
services with other health care services
 provided by the ,department4  7c7      
,consultation  7#a7 ,in general ,in     

carrying out subsection 7a71 the        
,secretary shall consult with the       
following3 7,a7 ,the ,director of the   
,national ,center on ,complementary and 
,alternative ,medicine of the ,national 
,institutes of ,health4  7,b7 ,the      
,commissioner of ,food and ,drugs4  7,c7
 ,institutions of higher education1     
private research institutes1 and        
individual researchers with extensive   
experience in complementary and         
alternative medicine and the integration
 of complementary and alternative       
medicine practices into the delivery of 
health care4  7,d7 ,nationally          
recognized providers of complementary   
and alternative medicine4  7,e7 ,such   
other officials1 entities1 and          
individuals with expertise on           
complementary and alternative medicine  
as the ,secretary considers appropriate4
  7#b7 ,scope of consultation ,the      
,secretary shall undertake consultation 
under paragraph 7#a7 in carrying out    
subsection 7a7 with respect to the      

following3 7,a7 ,to develop the plan4   
7,b7 ,to identify specific complementary
 and alternative medicine practices     
that1 on the basis of research findings 
or promising clinical interventions1 are
 appropriate to include as services to  
veterans4  7,c7 ,to identify barriers to
 the effective provision and integration
 of complementary and alternative       
medicine services into the delivery of  
health care to veterans1 and to identify
 mechanisms for overcoming such         
barriers4  7d7 ,funding ,there is       
authorized to be appropriated to the    
,secretary such sums as may be necessary
 to carry out this section4  7e7        
,complementary and alternative medicine 
defined ,in this section1 the term      
complementary and alternative medicine  
shall have the meaning given that term  
in regulations the ,secretary shall     
prescribe for purposes of this section1 
which shall1 to the degree practicable1 
be consistent with the meaning given    
such term by the ,secretary of ,health  

and ,human ,services4  7f7 ,effective   
date ,this section shall take effect on 
the date that is one year after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act4  #ccb4  
,program on integration of complementary
 and alternative medicine within        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
medical centers  7a7 ,program required  
,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs   
shall-- 7#a7 carry out1 through the     
,office of ,patient ,centered ,care and 
,cultural ,transformation of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 a    
program to assess the feasibility and   
advisability of integrating the delivery
 of complementary and alternative       
medicine services selected by the       
,secretary with other health care       
services provided by the ,department for
 veterans with mental health conditions1
 chronic pain conditions1 other chronic 
conditions1 and such other conditions as
 the ,secretary determines appropriate2 
and  7#b7 in developing the program1    
identify and resolve barriers to the    

provision of complementary and          
alternative medicine services selected  
by the ,secretary and the integration of
 those services with other health care  
services provided by the ,department4   
7b7 ,duration of program ,the program   
shall be carried out during the         
three-year period beginning on the      
effective date specified in subsection  
7j74  7c7 ,locations  7#a7 ,in general  
,the ,secretary shall carry out the     
program at not fewer than #ae separate  
,department medical centers4  7#b7      
,polytrauma centers ,not less than two  
of the medical centers designated under 
paragraph 7#a7 shall be located at      
polytrauma rehabilitation centers of the
 ,department4  7#c7 ,selection of       
locations ,in carrying out the program1 
the ,secretary shall select locations   
that include the following areas3 7,a7  
,rural areas4  7,b7 ,areas that are not 
in close proximity to an active duty    
military installation4  7,c7 ,areas     
representing different geographic       

locations1 such as census tracts        
established by the ,bureau of the       
,census4  7d7 ,provision of services    
,under the program1 the ,secretary shall
 provide covered services to covered    
veterans by integrating complementary   
and alternative medicine services with  
other services provided by the          
,department at the medical centers      
designated under subsection 7c77#a74    
7e7 ,covered veterans ,for purposes of  
the program1 a covered veteran is any   
veteran who-- 7#a7 has a mental health  
condition diagnosed by a clinician of   
the ,department2  7#b7 experiences      
chronic pain2 or  7#c7 has a chronic    
condition being treated by a clinician  
of the ,department4  7f7 ,covered       
services  7#a7 ,in general ,for purposes
 of the program1 covered services are   
services consisting of complementary and
 alternative medicine as selected by the
 ,secretary4  7#b7 ,administration of   
services ,covered services shall be     
administered under the program as       

follows3 7,a7 ,covered services shall be
 administered by clinicians employed by 
the ,secretary for purposes of this     
section who1 to the extent practicable1 
shall provide services consisting of    
complementary and alternative medicine1 
including those clinicians who solely   
provide such services4  7,b7 ,covered   
services shall be included as part of   
the ,patient ,aligned ,care ,teams      
initiative of the ,office of ,patient   
,care ,services1 ,primary ,care ,program
 ,office1 in coordination with the      
,office of ,patient ,centered ,care and 
,cultural ,transformation4  7,c7        
,covered services shall be made         
available to both-- 7i7 covered veterans
 with mental health conditions1 pain    
conditions1 or chronic conditions       
described in subsection 7e7 who have    
received conventional treatments from   
the ,department for such conditions2 and
  7ii7 covered veterans with mental     
health conditions1 pain conditions1 or  
chronic conditions described in         

subsection 7e7 who have not received    
conventional treatments from the        
,department for such conditions4  7g7   
,voluntary participation ,the           
participation of a veteran in the       
program shall be at the election of the 
veteran and in consultation with a      
clinician of the ,department4  7h7      
,reports to ,congress  7#a7 ,quarterly  
reports ,not later than #ij days after  
the date of the commencement of the     
program and not less frequently than    
once every #ij days thereafter for the  
duration of the program1 the ,secretary 
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 on the efforts of the ,secretary to    
carry out the program1 including a      
description of the outreach conducted by
 the ,secretary to veterans and         
community organizations to inform such  
organizations about the program4  7#b7  
,final report  7,a7 ,in general ,not    

later than #ahj days after the          
completion of the program1 the          
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
program4  7,b7 ,contents ,the report    
submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall 
include the following3 7i7 ,the findings
 and conclusions of the ,secretary with 
respect to the program1 including with  
respect to-- 7,i7 the utilization and   
efficacy of the complementary and       
alternative medicine services           
established under the program2  7,,ii7  
an assessment of the benefit of the     
program to covered veterans in mental   
health diagnoses1 pain management1 and  
treatment of chronic illness2 and       
7,,iii7 the comparative effectiveness of
 various complementary and alternative  
medicine therapies4  7ii7 ,barriers     
identified under subsection 7a77#b7 that
 were not resolved4  7iii7 ,such        

recommendations for the continuation or 
expansion of the program as the         
,secretary considers appropriate4  7i7  
,complementary and alternative medicine 
defined ,in this section1 the term      
complementary and alternative medicine  
shall have the meaning given that term  
in section #cca7;e7 of this ,act4  7j7  
,effective date ,this section shall take
 effect on the date that is one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #ccc4 ,studies of barriers       
encountered by veterans in receiving1   
and administrators and clinicians in    
providing1 complementary and alternative
 medicine services furnished by the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,studies required  7#a7 ,in general ,the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall 
conduct comprehensive studies of the    
barriers encountered by veterans in     
receiving1 and administrators and       
clinicians in providing1 complementary  
and alternative medicine services       
furnished by the ,department of         

,veterans ,affairs4  7#b7 ,studies      
conducted  7,a7 ,veterans ,in conducting
 the study of veterans1 the ,secretary  
shall-- 7i7 survey veterans who seek or 
receive hospital care or medical        
services furnished by the ,department1  
as well as veterans who do not seek or  
receive such care or services2  7ii7    
administer the survey to a              
representative sample of veterans from  
each ,veterans ,integrated ,service     
,network2 and  7iii7 ensure that the    
sample of veterans surveyed is of       
sufficient size for the study results to
 be statistically significant4  7,b7    
,administrators and clinicians ,in      
conducting the study of clinicians and  
administrators1 the ,secretary shall--  
7i7 survey administrators of the        
,department who are involved in the     
provision of health care services2  7ii7
 survey clinicians that have provided   
complementary and alternative medicine  
services through the program established
 under section #ccb of this ,act1 after 

those clinicians have provided those    
services through such program for at    
least #ij days2 and  7iii7 administer   
the survey to administrators under      
clause 7i7-- 7,i7 before the            
introduction of complementary and       
alternative medicine services through   
such program2 and  7,,ii7 not earlier   
than #ij days after the introduction of 
complementary and alternative medicine  
services through such program4  7b7     
,elements of studies  7#a7 ,veterans ,in
 conducting the study of veterans       
required by subsection 7a71 the         
,secretary shall study the following3   
7,a7 ,the perceived barriers associated 
with obtaining complementary and        
alternative medicine services from the  
,department4  7,b7 ,the satisfaction of 
veterans with complementary and         
alternative medicine services in primary
 care4  7,c7 ,the degree to which       
veterans are aware of eligibility       
requirements for1 and the scope of      
services available under1 complementary 

and alternative medicine services       
furnished by the ,department4  7,d7 ,the
 effectiveness of outreach to veterans  
on the availability of complementary and
 alternative medicine for veterans4     
7,e7 ,such other barriers as the        
,secretary considers appropriate4  7#b7 
,administrators and clinicians ,in      
conducting the study of administrators  
and clinicians required by subsection   
7a71 the ,secretary shall study the     
following3 7,a7 ,the extent of the      
integration of complementary and        
alternative medicine services within the
 services provided by the ,department4  
7,b7 ,the perception by administrators  
and clinicians of the structural and    
attitudinal barriers to the delivery of 
high quality complementary and          
alternative medicine services by the    
,department4  7,c7 ,strategies that have
 been used to reduce or eliminate such  
barriers and the results of such        
strategies4  7,d7 ,the satisfaction of  
administrators and clinicians regarding 

the integration of complementary and    
alternative medicine services within the
 services provided by the ,department4  
7,e7 ,the perception by administrators  
and clinicians of the value of specific 
complementary and alternative medicine  
services for inpatient and outpatient   
veteran populations4  7c7 ,discharge by 
contract ,the ,secretary shall enter    
into a contract with a qualified        
independent entity or organization to   
carry out the studies required by this  
section4  7d7 ,mandatory review of data 
by the ,national ,research ,advisory    
,council  7#a7 ,in general ,the         
,secretary shall ensure that the head of
 the ,national ,research ,advisory      
,council reviews the results of the     
studies conducted under this section4   
7#b7 ,submittal of findings ,the head of
 the ,national ,research ,advisory      
,council shall submit findings with     
respect to the studies to the ,under    
,secretary for ,health and to other     
pertinent program offices within the    

,department with responsibilities       
relating to health care services for    
veterans4  7e7 ,reports  7#a7 ,report on
 implementation ,not later than one year
 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to   
,congress a report on the status of the 
implementation of this section4  7#b7   
,report on study  7,a7 ,in general ,not 
later than #de days after the date of   
the completion of the study1 the        
,secretary shall submit to ,congress a  
report on the study required by         
subsection 7a74  7,b7 ,contents ,the    
report required by subparagraph 7,a7    
shall include the following3 7i7        
,recommendations for such administrative
 and legislative proposals and actions  
as the ,secretary considers appropriate4
  7ii7 ,the findings of the head of the 
,national ,research ,advisory ,council  
and of the ,under ,secretary for        
,health4  7f7 ,authorization of         
appropriations ,there is authorized to  
be appropriated for fiscal year #bjae   

for the ,department of ,veterans        
,affairs1 #b1jjj1jjj to carry out this  
section4  7g7 ,complementary and        
alternative medicine defined ,in this   
section1 the term complementary and     
alternative medicine shall have the     
meaning given that term in section      
#cca7;e7 of this ,act4  #ccd4 ,program  
on use of wellness programs as          
complementary approach to mental health 
care for veterans and family members of 
veterans  7a7 ,program required  7#a7   
,in general ,the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs shall carry out a program     
through the award of grants to public or
 private nonprofit entities to assess   
the feasibility and advisability of     
using wellness programs to complement   
the provision of mental health care to  
veterans and family members eligible for
 counseling under section               
#agab;,a7a77#a77;,c7 of title #ch1      
,united ,states ,code4  7#b7 ,matters to
 be addressed ,the program shall be     
carried out so as to assess the         

following3 7,a7 ,means of improving     
coordination between ,federal1 ,state1  
local1 and community providers of health
 care in the provision of mental health 
care to veterans and family members     
described in paragraph 7#a74  7,b7      
,means of enhancing outreach1 and       
coordination of outreach1 by and among  
providers of health care referred to in 
subparagraph 7,a7 on the mental health  
care services available to veterans and 
family members described in paragraph   
7#a74  7,c7 ,means of using wellness    
programs of providers of health care    
referred to in subparagraph 7,a7 as     
complements to the provision by the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs of    
mental health care to veterans and      
family members described in paragraph   
7#a74  7,d7 ,whether wellness programs  
described in subparagraph 7,c7 are      
effective in enhancing the quality of   
life and well-being of veterans and     
family members described in paragraph   
7#a74  7,e7 ,whether wellness programs  

described in subparagraph 7,c7 are      
effective in increasing the adherence of
 veterans described in paragraph 7#a7 to
 the primary mental health services     
provided such veterans by the           
,department4  7,f7 ,whether wellness    
programs described in subparagraph 7,c7 
have an impact on the sense of wellbeing
 of veterans described in paragraph 7#a7
 who receive primary mental health      
services from the ,department4  7,g7    
,whether wellness programs described in 
subparagraph 7,c7 are effective in      
encouraging veterans receiving health   
care from the ,department to adopt a    
more healthy lifestyle4  7b7 ,duration  
,the ,secretary shall carry out the     
program for a period of three years     
beginning on the date that is one year  
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  7c7 ,locations ,the ,secretary   
shall carry out the program at          
facilities of the ,department providing 
mental health care services to veterans 
and family members described in         

subsection 7a77#a74  7d7 ,grant         
proposals  7#a7 ,in general ,a public or
 private nonprofit entity seeking the   
award of a grant under this section     
shall submit an application therefor to 
the ,secretary in such form and in such 
manner as the ,secretary may require4   
7#b7 ,application contents ,each        
application submitted under paragraph   
7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7  
,a plan to coordinate activities under  
the program1 to the extent possible1    
with the ,federal1 ,state1 and local    
providers of services for veterans to   
enhance the following3 7i7 ,awareness by
 veterans of benefits and health care   
services provided by the ,department4   
7ii7 ,outreach efforts to increase the  
use by veterans of services provided by 
the ,department4  7iii7 ,educational    
efforts to inform veterans of the       
benefits of a healthy and active        
lifestyle4  7,b7 ,a statement of        
understanding from the entity submitting
 the application that1 if selected1 such

 entity will be required to report to   
the ,secretary periodically on          
standardized data and other performance 
data necessary to evaluate individual   
outcomes and to facilitate evaluations  
among entities participating in the     
program4  7,c7 ,other requirements that 
the ,secretary may prescribe4  7e7      
,grant uses  7#a7 ,in general ,a public 
or private nonprofit entity awarded a   
grant under this section shall use the  
award for purposes prescribed by the    
,secretary4  7#b7 ,eligible veterans and
 family ,in carrying out the purposes   
prescribed by the ,secretary in         
paragraph 7#a71 a public or private     
nonprofit entity awarded a grant under  
this section shall use the award to     
furnish services only to individuals    
specified in section                    
#agab;,a7a77#a77;,c7 of title #ch1      
,united ,states ,code4  7f7 ,reports    
7#a7 ,periodic reports  7,a7 ,in general
 ,not later than #ahj days after the    
date of the commencement of the program1

 and every #ahj days thereafter1 the    
,secretary shall submit to ,congress a  
report on the program4  7,b7 ,report    
elements ,each report required by       
subparagraph 7,a7 shall include the     
following3 7i7 ,the findings and        
conclusions of the ,secretary with      
respect to the program during the       
#ahj-;day period preceding the report4  
7ii7 ,an assessment of the benefits of  
the program to veterans and their family
 members during the #ahj-;day period    
preceding the report4  7#b7 ,final      
report ,not later than #ahj days after  
the end of the program1 the ,secretary  
shall submit to ,congress a report      
detailing the recommendations of the    
,secretary as to the advisability of    
continuing or expanding the program4    
7g7 ,wellness defined ,in this section1 
the term wellness has the meaning given 
that term in regulations prescribed by  
the ,secretary4  ,d ,mental ,health     
,care  #cda4 ,inclusion of mental health
 professionals in the education and     

training program for health personnel of
 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs  
7a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the    
education and training program required 
under section #gcjb7;a77#a7 of title    
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
include education and training of       
marriage and family therapists and      
licensed professional mental health     
counselors4  7b7 ,funding ,the          
,secretary shall apportion funding for  
the education and training program      
equally among the professions included  
in the program4  7c7 ,effective date    
,this section shall take effect on the  
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #cdb4      
,education program and peer support     
program for family members and          
caregivers of veterans with mental      
health disorders  7a7 ,programs  7#a7   
,in general ,not later than one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans       

,affairs shall establish an education   
program 7in this section referred to as 
the education program7 and a peer       
support program 7in this section        
referred to as the peer support program7
 for the education and training of      
family members and caregivers of        
eligible veterans with mental health    
disorders4  7#b7 ,definitions ,in this  
section3 7,a7 ,family member2 caregiver 
,the terms family member and caregiver  
have the meaning given those terms in   
section #agbj;,g7d7 of title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code4  7,b7 ,eligible  
veteran ,the term eligible veteran means
 a veteran who is enrolled in the health
 care system established under section  
#agje7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states 
,code4  7b7 ,education program  7#a7 ,in
 general ,under the education program1  
the ,secretary shall provide a course of
 education to family members and        
caregivers of eligible veterans on      
matters relating to coping with mental  
health disorders in veterans4  7#b7     

,duration  7,a7 ,in general ,the        
education program shall be carried out  
during the four-year period beginning on
 the date of the commencement of the    
education program4  7,b7 ,authority for 
extension ,the ,secretary may extend the
 duration of the education program for  
an additional four years4  7#c7         
,locations  7,a7 ,in general ,except as 
required by subparagraph 7,d71 the      
,secretary shall carry out the education
 program at the following facilities of 
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs3  
7i7 ,not less than #aj medical centers  
of the ,department4  7ii7 ,not less than
 #aj clinics of the ,department4  7iii7 
,not less than #aj ,vet ,centers 7as    
defined in section #agab;,a7h7 of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code74  7,b7      
,solicitation of applications ,in       
selecting locations for the education   
program1 the ,secretary shall solicit   
applications from eligible facilities of
 the ,department that are interested in 
carrying out the education program4     

7,c7 ,considerations ,in selecting      
locations for the education program1 the
 ,secretary shall consider the          
feasibility and advisability of         
selecting locations in the following    
areas3 7i7 ,rural areas4  7ii7 ,areas   
that are not in close proximity to an   
active duty installation4  7iii7 ,areas 
in different geographic locations4  7,d7
 ,expansion of locations ,not later than
 two years after the date of the        
commencement of the education program1  
the ,secretary shall expand the number  
of facilities at which the ,secretary is
 carrying out the education program to  
include the following3 7i7 ,not less    
than #aj additional medical centers of  
the ,department4  7ii7 ,not less than   
#aj additional clinics of the           
,department4  7iii7 ,not less than #aj  
additional ,vet ,centers4  7#d7         
,contracts  7,a7 ,in general ,in        
carrying out the education program1 the 
,secretary shall enter into contracts   
with qualified entities described in    

subparagraph 7,b7 to offer the course of
 education described in paragraph 7#e7  
to family members and caregivers of     
eligible veterans and covered veterans4 
7,b7 ,qualified entity described ,a     
qualified entity described in this      
subparagraph is a non-profit entity with
 experience in mental health education  
and outreach1 including work with       
children1 teens1 and young adults1      
that-- 7i7 uses high quality1 relevant1 
and age-appropriate information in      
educational programming1 materials1 and 
coursework1 including such programming1 
materials1 and coursework for children1 
teens1 and young adults2 and  7ii7 works
 with agencies1 departments1 nonprofit  
mental health organizations1 early      
childhood educators1 and mental health  
providers to develop educational        
programming1 materials1 and coursework4 
7,c7 ,priority ,in entering into        
contracts under this paragraph1 the     
,secretary shall give priority to       
qualified entities that1 to the maximum 

extent practicable1 use ,internet       
technology for the delivery of course   
content in an effort to expand the      
availability of support services1       
especially in rural areas4  7#e7        
,elements ,the course of education      
described in this paragraph shall       
consist of not less than #aj weeks of   
education and shall include the         
following3 7,a7 ,general education on   
different mental health disorders1      
including information to improve        
understanding of the experiences of     
individuals suffering from those        
disorders4  7,b7 ,techniques for        
handling crisis situations and          
administering mental health first aid to
 individuals suffering from mental      
health disorders4  7,c7 ,techniques for 
coping with the stress of living with   
someone with a mental health disorder4  
7,d7 ,information on additional services
 available for family members and       
caregivers through the ,department or   
community organizations and providers   

related to mental health disorders4     
7,e7 ,such other matters as the         
,secretary considers appropriate4  7#f7 
,instructors  7,a7 ,training ,each      
instructor of the course of education   
described in paragraph 7#e7 shall       
maintain a level of proficiency in the  
course of education as determined by the
 ,secretary1 and shall submit proof of  
that level of proficiency to the        
,secretary at such time and in such     
manner as the ,secretary determines     
appropriate4  7,b7 ,individuals who have
 completed the course as instructors    
,commencing as of the date that is two  
years after the date of the commencement
 of the education program1 any          
individual who has successfully         
completed the course of education       
described in paragraph 7#e7 and has     
successfully completed such additional  
training as is required for instructors 
pursuant to subparagraph 7,a7 may act as
 an instructor in the course of         
education4  7c7 ,peer support program   

7#a7 ,in general ,under the peer support
 program1 the ,secretary shall provide  
peer support to family members and      
caregivers of eligible veterans on      
matters relating to coping with mental  
health disorders in veterans4  7#b7     
,locations ,the ,secretary shall provide
 peer support under the peer support    
program at each location at which the   
,secretary provides education under the 
education program4  7#c7 ,elements ,peer
 support under the peer support program 
shall consist of meetings in group      
settings between a peer support         
coordinator under paragraph 7#d7 and    
family members and caregivers of        
eligible veterans on matters relating to
 coping with mental health disorders in 
veterans4 ,at each location1 those      
meetings shall be conducted not less    
often than twice each calendar quarter4 
7#d7 ,peer support coordinator  7,a7 ,in
 general ,the ,secretary1 acting through
 the director of each participating     
facility1 may select an individual who  

has successfully completed the course of
 education described in subsection      
7b77#e7 to serve as a peer support      
coordinator for each such facility to   
carry out the peer support program4     
7,b7 ,proficiency of instructors ,each  
peer support coordinator shall maintain 
a level of proficiency in peer support  
as determined by the ,secretary1 and    
shall submit proof of that level of     
proficiency to the ,secretary at such   
time and in such manner as the          
,secretary determines appropriate4  7d7 
,surveys  7#a7 ,in general ,the         
,secretary shall conduct a comprehensive
 and statistically significant survey of
 the satisfaction of individuals that   
have participated in the course of      
education described in subsection       
7b77#e7 and individuals that have       
participated in the peer support program
 that includes the following3 7,a7 ,the 
general satisfaction of those           
individuals with the education and      
assistance provided in the education    

program and the peer support program4   
7,b7 ,the perceived effectiveness of the
 education program and the peer support 
program in providing education and      
assistance that is useful for those     
individuals4  7,c7 ,the applicability of
 the education program and the peer     
support program to the issues faced by  
those individuals4  7,d7 ,such other    
matters as the ,secretary considers     
appropriate4  7,e7 ,a representative    
sample of the information required by   
subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d7 from    
each ,veterans ,integrated ,service     
,network that is participating in the   
education program and the peer support  
program4  7#b7 ,compilation of          
information ,the information compiled as
 a result of the surveys required by    
paragraph 7#a7 shall be included in the 
annual report required by subsection    
7e77#a74  7e7 ,reports  7#a7 ,annual    
report  7,a7 ,in general ,not later than
 one year after the date of the         
commencement of the education program   

and not later than ,september #cj each  
year thereafter until #bjag1 the        
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
education program and the peer support  
program4  7,b7 ,elements ,each report   
submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall 
include the following3 7i7 ,the number  
of individuals that participated in the 
course of education described in        
subsection 7b77#e7 during the year      
preceding the submission of the report4 
7ii7 ,the number of individuals that    
participated in the peer support program
 during the year preceding the          
submission of the report4  7iii7 ,a     
detailed analysis of the surveys        
conducted under subsection 7d7 with     
respect to the individuals described in 
clause 7i7 and 7ii74  7iv7 ,the degree  
to which veterans and family members and
 caregivers of veterans are aware of the

 eligibility requirements for enrollment
 in the education program and the peer  
support program4  7v7 ,any plans for    
expansion of the education program and  
the peer support program4  7vi7 ,the    
interim findings and conclusions of the 
,secretary with respect to the success  
of the education program and the peer   
support program4  7#b7 ,final report    
7,a7 ,in general ,not later than one    
year after the completion of the        
education program1 the ,secretary shall 
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
the feasibility and advisability of     
continuing the education program and the
 peer support program4  7,b7 ,elements  
,the report submitted under subparagraph
 7,a7 shall include the following3 7i7  
,a detailed analysis of the surveys     
conducted under subsection 7d74  7ii7   
,the feasibility and advisability of    
continuing the education program without

 entering into contracts for the course 
of education described in subsection    
7b77#e7 and instead using peer support  
coordinators selected under subsection  
7c77#d7 as instructors of the course of 
education4  7iii7 ,the feasibility and  
advisability of expanding the education 
program and the peer support program4   
#cdc4 ,report on provision of mental    
health services for families of certain 
veterans at facilities of the           
,department ,not later than one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs shall submit to the ,committee 
on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate   
and the ,committee on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,house of               
,representatives a report on the        
feasibility and advisability of         
providing services under the program    
established by section #cjd7;a7 of the  
,caregivers and ,veterans ,omnibus      
,health ,services ,act of #bjaj 7,public
 ,law #aaa-afc2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agab;,a  

note7 at medical facility of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4      
#cdd4 ,annual report on community mental
 health partnership pilot program  7a7  
,in general ,not later than one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act and not later than ,september #cj  
each year thereafter until the          
completion of the pilot program         
described in subsection 7b71 the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
that pilot program4  7b7 ,pilot program 
described ,the pilot program described  
in this subsection is the pilot program 
conducted by the ,veterans ,health      
,administration to connect medical      
centers of the ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs with community-based mental    
health care providers and substance     
abuse treatment providers for the       
purpose of assisting in the treatment of

 veterans with mental health disorders1 
commonly known as the ,community ,mental
 ,health ,partnership ,pilot4  7c7      
,elements ,each report submitted under  
subsection 7a7 shall include the        
following3 7#a7 ,the number of sites    
participating in the pilot program4     
7#b7 ,the number of individuals         
participating in the pilot program at   
each site4  7#c7 ,a detailed assessment 
of the effectiveness of1 the            
participation of veterans in1 and the   
satisfaction of veterans with the pilot 
program4  7#d7 ,an analysis of barriers 
to the effectiveness of1 the            
participation of veterans in1 and the   
satisfaction of veterans with the pilot 
program4  7#e7 ,a description of the    
plans of the ,secretary to conduct      
outreach and provide information to     
veterans and community mental health    
providers with respect to the pilot     
program4  7#f7 ,a description of any    
plans to expand the pilot program1      
including plans that focus on the unique

 needs of veterans located in rural     
areas4  7#g7 ,an explanation of how the 
care provided under the pilot program is
 consistent with the minimum clinical   
mental health guidelines promulgated by 
the ,veterans ,health ,administration1  
including clinical guidelines contained 
in the ,uniform ,mental ,health         
,services ,handbook of such             
,administration4  ,e ,dental care       
eligibility expansion and enhancement   
#cea4 ,restorative dental services for  
veterans  7a7 ,in general ,section      
#agaj7;c7 is amended-- 7#a7 in the      
second sentence-- 7,a7 by redesignating 
subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 as clauses  
7i7 and 7ii71 respectively2 and  7,b7 by
 redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 
as subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b71         
respectively2  7#b7 by inserting 7#a7   
after 7c72  7#c7 by striking ,the       
,secretary and inserting the following3 
7#b7 ,the ,secretary  2 and  7#d7 by    
adding at the end the following new     
paragraph3  7#c7 ,in addition to the    

dental services1 treatment1 and         
appliances authorized to be furnished by
 paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary may     
furnish dental services and treatment1  
and dental appliances1 needed to restore
 functioning in a veteran that is lost  
as result of any services or treatment  
furnished under this subsection4  4  7b7
 ,effective date ,the amendments made by
 subsection 7a7 shall take effect on the
 date that is one year after the date of
 the enactment of this ,act4  #ceb4     
,pilot program on expansion of          
furnishing of dental care to all        
enrolled veterans  7a7 ,pilot program   
required ,commencing not later than #edj
 days after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans 
,affairs shall carry out a pilot program
 to assess the feasibility and          
advisability of furnishing dental care  
to veterans enrolled in the system of   
patient enrollment under section #agje  
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 who
 are not eligible for dental services   

and treatment1 and related dental       
appliances1 under current authorities4  
7b7 ,duration of pilot program ,the     
pilot program shall be carried out      
during the three-year period beginning  
on the date of the commencement of the  
pilot program4  7c7 ,locations  7#a7 ,in
 general ,the ,secretary shall carry out
 the pilot program at not fewer than #af
 locations as follows3 7,a7 ,four       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
medical centers with an established     
dental clinic4  7,b7 ,four ,department  
medical centers with a current contract 
for the furnishing of dental care4  7,c7
 ,four ,community-,based ,outpatient    
,clinics 7,c,b,o,cs7 with space         
available for the furnishing of services
 and treatment under the pilot program4 
7,d7 ,four facilities selected from     
among ,federally ,qualified ,health     
,centers 7,f,q,h,cs7 and ,indian ,health
 ,service facilities with established   
dental clinics1 of which-- 7i7 at least 
one facility shall be such an ,indian   

,health ,service facility2 and  7ii7 any
 ,indian ,health ,service facility so   
selected shall be selected in           
consultation with the ,secretary of     
,health and ,human ,services4  7#b7     
,considerations ,in selecting locations 
for the pilot program1 the ,secretary   
shall consider the feasibility and      
advisability of selecting locations in  
each of the following3 7,a7 ,rural      
areas4  7,b7 ,areas that are not in     
close proximity to an active duty       
military installation4  7,c7 ,areas     
representing different geographic       
locations1 such as census tracts        
established by the ,bureau of ,census4  
7d7 ,limitation on number of            
participating veterans  7#a7 ,in general
 ,the total number of eligible veterans 
who may participate in the pilot program
 may not exceed #cj1jjj4  7#b7          
,distribution of limitation ,in applying
 the limitation in paragraph 7#a7 to the
 pilot program1 the ,secretary shall    
distribute the limitation across and    

among locations selected for the pilot  
program in a manner that takes          
appropriate account of the size and need
 of veterans for dental services at each
 such location4  7e7 ,scope of services 
,the dental services and treatment      
furnished to veterans under the pilot   
program shall be consistent with the    
dental services and treatment furnished 
by the ,secretary to veterans with      
service-connected disabilities rated    
#ajj percent disabling under the laws   
administered by the ,secretary4  7f7    
,voluntary participation ,the           
participation of a veteran in the pilot 
program shall be at the election of the 
veteran4  7g7 ,limitation on amount of  
services  7#a7 ,in general ,the total   
amount the ,secretary may expend        
furnishing dental services and treatment
 to a veteran participating in the pilot
 program during any one-year period may 
not exceed such amount as the ,secretary
 determines appropriate4 ,the amount so 
determined may not be less than #a1jjj4 

7#b7 ,consultation ,the ,secretary shall
 make the determination under paragraph 
7#a7-- 7,a7 in consultation with the    
,director of the ,indian ,health        
,service2 and  7,b7 in consultation with
 the ,director of the ,health ,resources
 and ,services ,administration of the   
,department of ,health and ,human       
,services if one or more ,federally     
,qualified ,health ,center is selected  
as a location for the pilot program     
under subsection 7c77#a77;,d74  7h7     
,copayments ,the ,secretary may collect 
copayments for dental services and      
treatment furnished under the pilot     
program in accordance with authorities  
on the collection of copayments for     
medical care of veterans under chapter  
#ag of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4
  7i7 ,program administration  7#a7     
,notice to eligible veterans on pilot   
program ,in carrying out the pilot      
program1 the ,secretary shall inform all
 veterans eligible to participate in the
 pilot program of the services and      

treatment available under the pilot     
program4  7#b7 ,contracts ,in carrying  
out the pilot program1 the ,secretary   
may enter into contracts with           
appropriate entities for the provision  
of dental services and treatment under  
the pilot program4 ,each such contract  
shall specify performance standards and 
metrics and processes for ensuring      
compliance of the contractor concerned  
with such performance standards4  7j7   
,reports  7#a7 ,preliminary reports     
7,a7 ,in general ,not later than each of
 #edj days and three years after the    
date of the commencement of the pilot   
program1 the ,secretary shall submit to 
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,senate and the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the pilot  
program4  7,b7 ,contents ,each report   
under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include   
the following3 7i7 ,a description of the
 implementation and operation of the    
pilot program4  7ii7 ,the number of     

veterans receiving services and         
treatment under the pilot program1 and a
 description of the dental services and 
treatment furnished to such veterans4   
7iii7 ,an analysis of the costs and     
benefits of the pilot program1 including
 a comparison of costs and benefits by  
location type4  7iv7 ,an assessment of  
the impact of the pilot program on      
medical care1 wellness1 employability1  
and perceived quality of life of        
veterans4  7v7 ,the current findings and
 conclusions of the ,secretary with     
respect to the pilot program4  7vi7     
,such recommendations for the           
continuation or expansion of the pilot  
program as the ,secretary considers     
appropriate4  7#b7 ,final report  7,a7  
,in general ,not later than #ahj days   
after the completion of the pilot       
program1 the ,secretary shall submit to 
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,senate and the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the pilot  

program4  7,b7 ,contents ,the report    
under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include   
the following3 7i7 ,the findings and    
conclusions of the ,secretary with      
respect to the pilot program4  7ii7     
,such recommendations for the           
continuation or expansion of the pilot  
program as the ,secretary considers     
appropriate4  7k7 ,federally ,qualified 
,health ,center defined ,in this section
 the term ,federally ,qualified ,health 
,center means a ,federally-qualified    
health center as defined in section     
#aije7l77#b77;,b7 of the ,social        
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4           
#acif;d7l77#b77;,b774  7l7 ,effective   
date ,this section shall take effect on 
the date that is one year after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act4  #cec4  
,program on education to promote dental 
health in veterans  7a7 ,program        
required  7#a7 ,in general ,the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
carry out a program of education to     
promote dental health for veterans who  

are enrolled in the system of patient   
enrollment of the ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs under section #agje  
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4    
7#b7 ,construction ,nothing in the      
program shall be deemed to alter or     
revise the eligibility of any veteran   
for dental care under the laws          
administered by the ,secretary4  7b7    
,elements ,the program required by      
subsection 7a7 shall provide education  
for veterans on the following3 7#a7 ,the
 association between dental health and  
overall health and well-being4  7#b7    
,proper techniques for dental care4     
7#c7 ,signs and symptoms of commonly    
occurring dental conditions4  7#d7      
,treatment options for commonly         
occurring dental issues4  7#e7 ,options 
for obtaining access to dental care1    
including information on eligibility for
 dental care through the ,department and
 on purchasing private dental insurance4
  7#f7 ,available and accessible options
 for obtaining low or no-cost dental    

care1 including through dental schools  
and ,federally ,qualified ,health       
,centers 7,f,q,h,cs74  7#g7 ,such other 
matters relating to dental health as the
 ,secretary considers appropriate4  7c7 
,delivery of educational materials  7#a7
 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall      
provide educational materials to        
veterans under the program required by  
subsection 7a7 through a variety of     
mechanisms1 including the following3    
7,a7 ,the availability and distribution 
of print materials at ,department       
facilities 7including at medical        
centers1 clinics1 ,vet ,centers1 and    
readjustment counseling centers7 and to 
providers 7including members of ,patient
 ,aligned ,care ,teams74  7,b7 ,the     
availability and distribution of        
materials over the ,internet1 including 
through webinars and ,my ,healthe,vet4  
7,c7 ,presentations of information1     
including both small group and large    
group presentations4  7#b7 ,selection of
 mechanisms ,in selecting mechanisms for

 purposes of this subsection1 the       
,secretary shall select mechanisms      
designed to maximize the number of      
veterans who receive education under the
 program4  7d7 ,federally ,qualified    
,health ,center defined ,in this section
 the term ,federally ,qualified ,health 
,center means a ,federally-qualified    
health center as defined in section     
#aije7l77#b77;,b7 of the ,social        
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4           
#acif;d7l77#b77;,b774  7e7 ,effective   
date ,this section shall take effect on 
the date that is one year after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act4  #ced4  
,information on dental services for     
inclusion in electronic medical records 
under dental insurance pilot program    
7a7 ,in general ,commencing not later   
than #edj days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall expand the  
dental insurance pilot program          
established by section #ag4afi of title 
#ch1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 to 

establish a mechanism by which private  
sector dental care providers shall      
forward to the ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs information on dental care     
furnished to individuals under the pilot
 program for inclusion in the electronic
 medical records of the ,department with
 respect to such individuals4  7b7      
,construction with current pilot program
 requirements  7#a7 ,in general ,nothing
 in this section shall be construed to  
revise eligibility for participation in1
 or the locations of1 the pilot program 
referred to in subsection 7a74  7#b7    
,duration ,the ,secretary may continue  
the pilot program for two years in      
addition to the duration otherwise      
provided for the pilot program in       
section #ag4afi of title #ch1 ,code of  
,federal ,regulations1 if the ,secretary
 determines that the continuation is    
needed to assess the mechanism required 
by subsection 7a74  7#c7 ,voluntary     
participation in mechanism ,the         
participation in the mechanism required 

by subsection 7a7 of an individual      
otherwise participating in the pilot    
program shall be at the election of the 
individual4  7c7 ,inclusion of          
information on mechanism in reports     
,each report to ,congress on the pilot  
program after the date of the date of   
the commencement of the mechanism       
required by subsection 7a7 shall include
 information on the mechanism1 including
 a current assessment of the feasability
 and advisability of using the mechanism
 to include information on dental care  
furnished individuals in the electronic 
medical records of the ,department with 
respect to such individuals4  7d7       
,effective date ,this section shall take
 effect on the date that is one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #cee4 ,authorization of          
appropriations ,there is authorized to  
be appropriated for the ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs for fiscal year #bjae
 #cje1jjj1jjj to carry out this subtitle
 and the amendments made by this        

subtitle4 ,the amount so authorized to  
be appropriated shall be available for  
obligation for the five-year period     
beginning on the date that is one year  
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  ,f ,health care related to sexual
 trauma  #cfa4 ,expansion of eligibility
 for sexual trauma counseling and       
treatment to veterans on inactive duty  
training ,section #agbj;,d7a77#a7 is    
amended by striking or active duty for  
training and inserting 1 active duty for
 training1 or inactive duty training4   
#cfb4 ,provision of counseling and      
treatment for sexual trauma by the      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
members of the ,armed ,forces  7a7      
,expansion of coverage to members of the
 ,armed ,forces ,subsection 7a7 of      
section #agbj;,d is amended-- 7#a7 by   
redesignating paragraph 7#b7 as         
paragraph 7#c72  7#b7 by inserting after
 paragraph 7#a7 the following new       
paragraph 7#b73  7#b7 7,a7 ,in operating
 the program required by paragraph 7#a71

 the ,secretary may1 in consultation    
with the ,secretary of ,defense1 provide
 counseling and care and services to    
members of the ,armed ,forces 7including
 members of the ,national ,guard and    
,reserves7 on active duty to overcome   
psychological trauma described in that  
paragraph4  7,b7 ,a member described in 
subparagraph 7,a7 shall not be required 
to obtain a referral before receiving   
counseling and care and services under  
this paragraph4  2 and  7#c7 in         
paragraph 7#c71 as redesignated by      
paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by striking a     
veteran and inserting an individual2 and
  7,b7 by striking that veteran each    
place it appears and inserting that     
individual4  7b7 ,information to members
 on availability of counseling and      
services ,subsection 7c7 of such section
 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking to       
veterans each place it appears2 and     
7#b7 in paragraph 7#c71 by inserting    
members of the ,armed ,forces and before
 individuals4  7c7 ,inclusion of members

 in reports on counseling and services  
,subsection 7e7 of such section is      
amended-- 7#a7 in the matter preceding  
paragraph 7#a71 by striking to veterans2
  7#b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 by      
striking women veterans and inserting   
individuals2 and  7,b7 by striking      
training under subsection 7d74 and      
inserting 8training under subsection    
7d71 disaggregated by--  7,a7 veterans2 
7,b7 members of the ,armed ,forces      
7including members of the ,national     
,guard and ,reserves7 on active duty2   
and  7,c7 for each of subparagraphs 7,a7
 and 7,b7-- 7i7 men2 and  7ii7 women4  2
  7#c7 in paragraph 7#d71 by striking   
veterans and inserting individuals2 and 
7#d7 in paragraph 7#e7-- 7,a7 by        
striking women veterans and inserting   
individuals 2 and  7,b7 by inserting 1  
including specific recommendations for  
individuals specified in subparagraphs  
7,a71 7,b71 and 7,c7 of paragraph 7#b7  
before the period at the end4  7d7      
,effective date ,the amendments made by 

this section shall take effect on the   
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #cfc4      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
screening mechanism to detect incidents 
of domestic abuse  7a7 ,in general ,not 
later than two years after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
develop and implement a screening       
mechanism to be used when a veteran     
seeks healthcare services from the      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
detect if the veteran has been a victim 
of domestic abuse for purposes of       
improving the treatment of the veteran  
and assessing the prevalence of domestic
 abuse in the veteran population4  7b7  
,readily available screening tools ,in  
developing and implementing a screening 
mechanism under subsection 7a71 the     
,secretary may incorporate into the     
screening mechanism such readily        
available screening tools as the        
,secretary considers appropriate for the

 screening mechanism4  7c7 ,domestic    
abuse defined ,in this section1 the term
 domestic abuse means behavior with     
respect to an individual that-- 7#a7    
constitutes-- 7,a7 a pattern of behavior
 resulting in physical or emotional     
abuse1 economic control1 or interference
 with the personal liberty of that      
individual2  7,b7 a violation of        
,federal or ,state law involving the    
use1 attempted use1 or threatened use of
 force or violence against that         
individual2 or  7,c7 a violation of a   
lawful order issued for the protection  
of that individual2 and  7#b7 is        
committed by a person who-- 7,a7 is a   
current or former spouse or domestic    
partner of that individual2  7,b7 shares
 a child in common with that individual2
  7,c7 is a current or former intimate  
partner of that individual that shares  
or has shared a common domicile with    
that individual2  7,d7 is a caregiver or
 family caregiver of that individual 7as
 such terms are defined in section      

#agbj;,g7d7 of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code72 or  7,e7 is in any other
 type of relationship with that         
individual that the ,secretary may      
specify for purposes of this section4   
#cfd4 ,reports on military sexual trauma
 and domestic abuse  7a7 ,report on     
services available for military sexual  
trauma in the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs ,not later than #fcj days after
 the date of the enactment of this ,act1
 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs   
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 on the treatment and services available
 from the ,department of ,veterans      
,affairs for male veterans who          
experience military sexual trauma       
compared to such treatment and services 
available to female veterans who        
experience military sexual trauma4  7b7 
,report on domestic abuse among veterans
 ,not later than two years after the    

implementation of the screening         
mechanism required by section #cfc7;a7  
of this ,act1 the ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs and the ,secretary of
 ,health and ,human ,services1 acting   
through the ,director of the ,centers   
for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1  
shall jointly submit to the ,committee  
on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate   
and the ,committee on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,house of               
,representatives a report on domestic   
abuse among veterans that includes the  
following3 7#a7 ,a summary of the types1
 outcomes1 and circumstances of         
incidents of domestic abuse that have   
been reported by veterans during the    
two-year period preceding the submission
 of the report4  7#b7 ,a summary of the 
treatments available from the           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
veterans who experience domestic abuse  
and an assessment of the effectiveness  
of those treatments4  7#c7 ,data and    
analysis on any correlation between an  

incident of military sexual trauma or   
sexual trauma experienced after the age 
of #ah and domestic abuse4  7#d7 ,any   
other issues that the ,secretary of     
,veterans ,affairs or the ,director of  
the ,centers for ,disease ,control and  
,prevention determines appropriate4  7c7
 ,reports on transition of military     
sexual trauma and domestic abuse        
treatment from ,department of ,defense  
to ,department of ,veterans ,affairs    
,not later than #fcj days after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act1 and     
annually thereafter for five years1 the 
,department of ,veterans                
,affairs-,department of ,defense ,joint 
,executive ,committee established by    
section #cbj7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united  
,states ,code1 shall submit to the      
appropriate committees of ,congress a   
report on military sexual trauma and    
domestic abuse that includes the        
following3 7#a7 ,the processes and      
procedures utilized by the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs and the           

,department of ,defense to facilitate   
transition of treatment of individuals  
who have experienced military sexual    
trauma or domestic abuse from treatment 
provided by the ,department of ,defense 
to treatment provided by the ,department
 of ,veterans ,affairs4  7#b7 ,a        
description and assessment of the       
collaboration between the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs and the ,department 
of ,defense in assisting veterans in    
filing claims for disabilities related  
to military sexual trauma or domestic   
abuse1 including permitting veterans    
access to information and evidence      
necessary to develop or support such    
claims4  7d7 ,definitions ,in this      
section3 7#a7 ,appropriate committees of
 congress ,the term appropriate         
committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the
 ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs and  
the ,committee on ,armed ,services of   
the ,senate2 and  7,b7 the ,committee on
 ,veterans' ,affairs and the ,committee 
on ,armed ,services of the ,house of    

,representatives4  7#b7 ,domestic abuse 
,the term domestic abuse has the meaning
 given that term in section #cfc7;c7 of 
this ,act4  7#c7 ,military sexual trauma
 ,the term military sexual trauma means 
psychological trauma1 which in the      
judgment of a mental health professional
 employed by the ,department1 resulted  
from a physical assault of a sexual     
nature1 battery of a sexual nature1 or  
sexual harassment which occurred while  
the veteran was serving on active duty  
or active duty for training4  7#d7      
,sexual harassment ,the term sexual     
harassment means repeated1 unsolicited  
verbal or physical contact of a sexual  
nature which is threatening in          
character4  7#e7 ,sexual trauma ,the    
term sexual trauma shall have the       
meaning given that term by the          
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for    
purposes of this section4  7e7          
,effective date ,this section shall take
 effect on the date that is #bgj days   
after the date of the enactment of this 

,act4  ,g ,reproductive treatment and   
services  #cga4 ,clarification that     
fertility counseling and treatment are  
medical services which the ,secretary   
may furnish to veterans like other      
medical services ,section #agja7f71 as  
amended by section #cjf7;b77#a7 of this 
,act1 is further amended by adding at   
the end the following new subparagraph3 
7,i7 ,fertility counseling and          
treatment1 including treatment using    
assisted reproductive technology4  4    
#cgb4 ,reproductive treatment and care  
for spouses and surrogates of veterans  
7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,viii of   
chapter #ag is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section3  #aghh4  
,reproductive treatment and care for    
spouses and surrogates of veterans  7a7 
,in general ,the ,secretary shall       
furnish fertility counseling and        
treatment1 including through the use of 
assisted reproductive technology1 to a  
spouse or surrogate of a severely       
wounded1 ill1 or injured veteran who has

 an infertility condition incurred or   
aggravated in line of duty in the active
 military1 naval1 or air service and who
 is enrolled in the system of annual    
patient enrollment established under    
section #agje7;a7 of this title if the  
spouse or surrogate and the veteran     
apply jointly for such counseling and   
treatment through a process prescribed  
by the ,secretary4  7b7 ,coordination of
 care for other spouses and surrogates  
,in the case of a spouse or surrogate of
 a veteran not described in subsection  
7a7 who is seeking fertility counseling 
and treatment1 the ,secretary may       
coordinate fertility counseling and     
treatment for such spouse or surrogate4 
7c7 ,construction ,nothing in this      
section shall be construed to require   
the ,secretary-- 7#a7 to find or certify
 a surrogate for a veteran or to connect
 a surrogate with a veteran2 or  7#b7 to
 furnish maternity care to a spouse or  
surrogate of a veteran4  7d7 ,assisted  
reproductive technology defined ,in this

 section1 the term assisted reproductive
 technology includes in vitro           
fertilization and other fertility       
treatments in which both eggs and sperm 
are handled when clinically appropriate4
  4  7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table 
of sections at the beginning of chapter 
#ag is amended by inserting after the   
item relating to section #aghg the      
following new item3  #aghh4             
,reproductive treatment and care for    
spouses and surrogates of veterans4  4  
#cgc4 ,adoption assistance for severely 
wounded veterans  7a7 ,in general       
,subchapter ,,viii of chapter #ag1 as   
amended by section #cgb7;a7 of this     
,act1 is further amended by adding at   
the end the following new section3      
#aghi4 ,adoption assistance  7a7 ,in    
general ,the ,secretary may pay an      
amount1 not to exceed the limitation    
amount1 to assist a covered veteran in  
the adoption of one or more children4   
7b7 ,covered veteran ,for purposes of   
this section1 a covered veteran is any  

severely wounded1 ill1 or injured       
veteran who-- 7#a7 has an infertility   
condition incurred or aggravated in line
 of duty in the active military1 naval1 
or air service2 and  7#b7 is enrolled in
 the system of annual patient enrollment
 established under section #agje7;a7 of 
this title4  7c7 ,limitation amount ,for
 purposes of this section1 the          
limitation amount is the amount equal to
 the lesser of-- 7#a7 the cost the      
,department would incur if the          
,secretary were to provide a covered    
veteran with one cycle of fertility     
treatment through the use of assisted   
reproductive technology under section   
#aghh of this title1 as determined by   
the ,secretary2 or  7#b7 the cost the   
,department would incur by paying the   
expenses of three adoptions by covered  
veterans1 as determined by the          
,secretary4  7d7 ,assisted reproductive 
technology defined ,in this section1 the
 term assisted reproductive technology  
has the meaning given that term in      

section #aghh of this title4  4  7b7    
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of chapter    
#ag1 as amended by section #cgb7;b7 of  
this ,act1 is further amended by        
inserting after the item relating to    
section #aghh the following new item3   
#aghi4 ,adoption assistance4  4  #cgd4  
,regulations on furnishing of fertility 
counseling and treatment and adoption   
assistance by ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,not later    
than #edj days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall prescribe   
regulations-- 7#a7 on the furnishing of 
fertility treatment to veterans using   
assisted reproductive technology2  7#b7 
to carry out section #aghh of title #ch1
 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by     
section #cgb of this ,act2 and  7#c7 to 
carry out section #aghi of such title1  
as added by section #cgc of this ,act4  
7b7 ,limitation ,notwithstanding any    
other provision of law1 during the      

period beginning on the date of the     
enactment of this ,act and ending on the
 date on which the ,secretary prescribes
 regulations under subsection 7a71 the  
,secretary may not furnish-- 7#a7 to a  
veteran any fertility treatment that    
uses an assisted reproductive technology
 that the ,secretary has not used in the
 provision of a fertility treatment to a
 veteran before the date of the         
enactment of this ,act2  7#b7 any       
fertility counseling or treatment under 
section #aghh of such title1 as added by
 section #cgb of this ,act2 or  7#c7 any
 assistance under section #aghi of such 
title1 as added by section #cgc of this 
,act4  7c7 ,assisted reproductive       
technology defined ,in this section1 the
 term assisted reproductive technology  
has the meaning given the term in       
section #aghh of such title1 as added by
 section #cgb of this ,act4  #cge4      
,coordination between ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs and ,department of   
,defense on furnishing of fertility     

counseling and treatment ,the ,secretary
 of ,veterans ,affairs and the          
,secretary of ,defense shall share best 
practices and facilitate referrals1 as  
they consider appropriate1 on the       
furnishing of fertility counseling and  
treatment4  #cgf4 ,facilitation of      
reproduction and infertility research   
7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,ii of     
chapter #gc1 as amended by section      
#cbe7;a7 of this ,act1 is further       
amended by adding at the end the        
following new section3  #gccj;,c4       
,facilitation of reproduction and       
infertility research  7a7 ,facilitation 
of research required ,the ,secretary    
shall facilitate research conducted     
collaboratively by the ,secretary of    
,defense and the ,secretary of ,health  
and ,human ,services to improve the     
ability of the ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs to meet the long-term          
reproductive health care needs of       
veterans who have a genitourinary       
service-connected disability or a       

condition that was incurred or          
aggravated in line of duty in the active
 military1 naval1 or air service1 such  
as a spinal cord injury1 that affects   
the veterans' ability to reproduce4  7b7
 ,dissemination of information ,the     
,secretary shall ensure that information
 produced by the research facilitated   
under this section that may be useful   
for other activities of the ,veterans   
,health ,administration is disseminated 
throughout the ,veterans ,health        
,administration4  4  7b7 ,clerical      
amendment ,the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter #gc1 as amended by 
section #cbe7;b7 of this ,act1 is       
further amended by inserting after the  
item relating to section #gccj;,b the   
following new item3  #gccj;,c4          
,facilitation of reproduction and       
infertility research4  4  7c7 ,report   
,not later than three years after the   
date of the enactment of this ,act1 the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to ,congress a report on the     

research activities conducted by the    
,secretary under section #gccj;,c of    
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
added by subsection 7a74  #cgg4 ,annual 
report on provision of fertility        
counseling and treatment furnished by   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,in general ,not later than one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act and not less frequently than       
annually thereafter1 the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs shall submit to the  
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
fertility counseling and treatment      
furnished by the ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs during the year      
preceding the submittal of the report4  
7b7 ,elements ,each report submitted    
under subsection 7a7 shall include1 for 
the period covered by the report1 the   
following3 7#a7 ,the number of veterans 
who received fertility counseling or    

treatment furnished by the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs1 disaggregated by 
era of military service of such         
veterans4  7#b7 ,the number of spouses  
and surrogates of veterans who received 
fertility counseling or treatment       
furnished by the ,department4  7#c7 ,the
 cost to the ,department of furnishing  
fertility counseling and treatment1     
disaggregated by cost of services and   
administration4  7#d7 ,the average cost 
to the ,department per recipient of such
 counseling and treatment4  7#e7 ,in    
cases in which the ,department furnished
 fertility treatment through the use of 
assisted reproductive technology1 the   
average number of cycles per person     
furnished4  7#f7 ,a description of how  
fertility counseling and treatment      
services of the ,department are         
coordinated with similar services of the
 ,department of ,defense4  #cgh4        
,program on assistance for child care   
for certain veterans  7a7 ,assistance   
for child care for certain veterans     

receiving health care  7#a7 ,in general 
,subchapter ,i of chapter #ag is amended
 by adding at the end the following new 
section3  #agji;,b4 ,assistance for     
child care for certain veterans         
receiving health care  7a7 ,program     
required ,the ,secretary shall carry out
 a program to provide1 subject to       
subsection 7b71 assistance to qualified 
veterans described in subsection 7c7 to 
obtain child care so that such veterans 
can receive health care services        
described in subsection 7c74  7b7       
,limitation on period of payments       
,assistance may only be provided to a   
qualified veteran under this section for
 receipt of child care during the period
 that the qualified veteran-- 7#a7      
receives health care services described 
in subsection 7c7 at a facility of the  
,department2 and  7#b7 requires travel  
to and from such facility for the       
receipt of such health care services4   
7c7 ,qualified veterans ,for purposes of
 this section1 a qualified veteran is a 

veteran who is-- 7#a7 the primary       
caretaker of a child or children2 and   
7#b7 7,a7 receiving from the            
,department-- 7i7 regular mental health 
care services2  7ii7 intensive mental   
health care services2 or  7iii7 such    
other intensive health care services    
that the ,secretary determines that     
provision of assistance to the veteran  
to obtain child care would improve      
access to such health care services by  
the veteran2 or  7,b7 in need of regular
 or intensive mental health care        
services from the ,department1 and but  
for lack of child care services1 would  
receive such health care services from  
the ,department4  7d7 ,locations ,the   
,secretary shall carry out the program  
in no fewer than three ,veterans        
,integrated ,service ,networks selected 
by the ,secretary for purposes of the   
program4  7e7 ,forms of child care      
assistance  7#a7 ,child care assistance 
under this section may include the      
following3 7,a7 ,stipends for the       

payment of child care offered by        
licensed child care centers 7either     
directly or through a voucher program7  
which shall be1 to the extent           
practicable1 modeled after the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,child
 ,care ,subsidy ,program established    
pursuant to section #fcj of the         
,treasury and ,general ,government      
,appropriations ,act1 #bjjb 7,public    
,law #ajg-fg2 #aae ,stat4 #eeb74  7,b7  
,direct provision of child care at an   
on-site facility of the ,department4    
7,c7 ,payments to private child care    
agencies4  7,d7 ,collaboration with     
facilities or programs of other ,federal
 departments or agencies4  7,e7 ,such   
other forms of assistance as the        
,secretary considers appropriate4  7#b7 
,in the case that child care assistance 
under this section is provided as a     
stipend under paragraph 7#a77;,a71 such 
stipend shall cover the full cost of    
such child care4  4  7#b7 ,clerical     
amendment ,the table of sections at the 

beginning of chapter #ag is amended by  
inserting after the item relating to    
section #agji;,a the following new item3
  #agji;,b4 ,assistance for child care  
for certain veterans receiving health   
care4  4  7#c7 ,conforming amendment    
,section #bje7;e7 of the ,caregivers and
 ,veterans ,omnibus ,health ,services   
,act of #bjaj 7,public ,law #aaa-afc2   
#ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agaj note7 is amended by 
inserting but not after the date of the 
enactment of the ,comprehensive         
,veterans ,health and ,benefits and     
,military ,retirement ,pay ,restoration 
,act of #bjad before the period at the  
end4  7b7 ,assistance for child care for
 individuals receiving readjustment     
counseling and related mental health    
services  7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter  
,i of chapter #ag1 as amended by        
subsection 7a77#a7 of this section1 is  
further amended by adding at the end the
 following new section3  #agji;,c4      
,assistance for child care for          
individuals receiving readjustment      

counseling and related mental health    
services  7a7 ,program required ,the    
,secretary shall carry out a program to 
provide1 subject to subsection 7b71     
assistance to qualified individuals     
described in subsection 7c7 to obtain   
child care so that such individuals can 
receive readjustment counseling and     
related mental health services4  7b7    
,limitation on period of payments       
,assistance may only be provided to a   
qualified individual under this section 
for receipt of child care during the    
period that the qualified individual    
receives readjustment counseling and    
related health care services at a ,vet  
,center4  7c7 ,qualified individuals    
,for purposes of this section1 a        
qualified individual is an individual   
who is-- 7#a7 the primary caretaker of a
 child or children2 and  7#b7 7,a7      
receiving from the ,department regular  
readjustment counseling and related     
mental health services2 or  7,b7 in need
 of readjustment counseling and related 

mental health services from the         
,department1 and but for lack of child  
care services1 would receive such       
counseling and services from the        
,department4  7d7 ,locations ,the       
,secretary shall carry out the program  
under this section in no fewer than     
three ,readjustment ,counseling ,service
 ,regions selected by the ,secretary for
 purposes of the program4  7e7 ,forms of
 child care assistance  7#a7 ,child care
 assistance under this section may      
include the following3 7,a7 ,stipends   
for the payment of child care offered by
 licensed child care centers 7either    
directly or through a voucher program7  
which shall be1 to the extent           
practicable1 modeled after the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,child
 ,care ,subsidy ,program established    
pursuant to section #fcj of the         
,treasury and ,general ,government      
,appropriations ,act1 #bjjb 7,public    
,law #ajg-fg2 #aae ,stat4 #eeb74  7,b7  
,payments to private child care         

agencies4  7,c7 ,collaboration with     
facilities or programs of other ,federal
 departments or agencies4  7,d7 ,such   
other forms of assistance as the        
,secretary considers appropriate4  7#b7 
,in the case that child care assistance 
under this subsection is provided as a  
stipend under paragraph 7#a77;,a71 such 
stipend shall cover the full cost of    
such child care4  7f7 ,vet ,center      
defined ,in this section1 the term ,vet 
,center means a center for readjustment 
counseling and related mental health    
services for individuals under section  
#agab;,a of this title4  4  7#b7        
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of chapter    
#ag1 as amended by subsection 7a77#b7 of
 this section1 is further amended by    
inserting after the item relating to    
section #agji;,b the following new item3
  #agji;,c4 ,assistance for child care  
for individuals receiving readjustment  
counseling and related mental health    
services4  4  #cgi4 ,counseling in      

retreat settings for women veterans     
newly separated from service in the     
,armed ,forces  7a7 ,counseling in      
retreat settings  7#a7 ,in general      
,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ag is      
amended by adding at the end the        
following new section3  #agbj;,h4       
,counseling in retreat settings for     
women veterans newly separated from     
service in the ,armed ,forces  7a7 ,in  
general ,the ,secretary shall provide1  
through the ,readjustment ,counseling   
,service of the ,veterans ,health       
,administration1 reintegration and      
readjustment services described in      
subsection 7c7 in group retreat settings
 to women veterans who are recently     
separated from service in the ,armed    
,forces after a prolonged deployment4   
7b7 ,election of veteran ,the receipt of
 services under this section by a woman 
veteran shall be at the election of the 
veteran4  7c7 ,covered services ,the    
services provided to a woman veteran    
under this section shall include the    

following3 7#a7 ,information on         
reintegration into the veteran's family1
 employment1 and community4  7#b7       
,financial counseling4  7#c7            
,occupational counseling4  7#d7         
,information and counseling on stress   
reduction4  7#e7 ,information and       
counseling on conflict resolution4  7#f7
 ,such other information and counseling 
as the ,secretary considers appropriate 
to assist the veteran in reintegration  
into the veteran's family1 employment1  
and community4  4  7#b7 ,clerical       
amendment ,the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter #ag is amended by  
inserting after the item relating to    
section #agbj;,g the following new item3
  #agbj;,h4 ,counseling in retreat      
settings for women veterans newly       
separated from service in the ,armed    
,forces4  4  7b7 ,repeal of superseded  
pilot program authority ,section #bjc of
 the ,caregivers and ,veterans ,omnibus 
,health ,services ,act of #bjaj 7,public
 ,law #aaa-afc2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agab;,a  

note7 is hereby repealed4  ,h ,major    
medical facility leases  #cha4          
,authorization of major medical facility
 leases ,the ,secretary of ,veterans    
,affairs may carry out the following    
major medical facility leases at the    
locations specified1 and in an amount   
for each lease not to exceed the amount 
shown for such location 7not including  
any estimated cancellation costs73 7#a7 
,for a clinical research and pharmacy   
coordinating center1 ,albuquerque1 ,new 
,mexico1 an amount not to exceed        
#i1efj1jjj4  7#b7 ,for a community-based
 outpatient clinic1 ,brick1 ,new        
,jersey1 an amount not to exceed        
#g1bhj1jjj4  7#c7 ,for a new primary    
care and dental clinic annex1           
,charleston1 ,south ,carolina1 an amount
 not to exceed #g1jgj1bej4  7#d7 ,for   
the ,cobb ,county community-based       
,outpatient ,clinic1 ,cobb ,county1     
,georgia1 an amount not to exceed       
#f1dji1jjj4  7#e7 ,for the ,leeward     
,outpatient ,healthcare ,access ,center1

 ,honolulu1 ,hawaii1 including a        
co-located clinic with the ,department  
of ,defense and the co-location of the  
,honolulu ,regional ,office of the      
,veterans ,benefits ,administration and 
the ,kapolei ,vet ,center of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 an   
amount not to exceed #ae1hhg1cgj4  7#f7 
,for a community-based outpatient       
clinic1 ,johnson ,county1 ,kansas1 an   
amount not to exceed #b1bfc1jjj4  7#g7  
,for a replacement community-based      
outpatient clinic1 ,lafayette1          
,louisiana1 an amount not to exceed     
#b1iif1jjj4  7#h7 ,for a community-based
 outpatient clinic1 ,lake ,charles1     
,louisiana1 an amount not to exceed     
#b1fbf1jjj4  7#i7 ,for outpatient clinic
 consolidation1 ,new ,port ,richey1     
,florida1 an amount not to exceed       
#aa1ibg1jjj4  7#aj7 ,for an outpatient  
clinic1 ,ponce1 ,puerto ,rico1 an amount
 not to exceed #aa1ece1jjj4  7#aa7 ,for 
lease consolidation1 ,san ,antonio1     
,texas1 an amount not to exceed         

#ai1dbf1jjj4  7#ab7 ,for a              
community-based outpatient clinic1 ,san 
,diego1 ,california1 an amount not to   
exceed #aa1idf1ajj4  7#ac7 ,for an      
outpatient clinic1 ,tyler1 ,texas1 an   
amount not to exceed #d1cbg1jjj4  7#ad7 
,for the ,errera ,community ,care       
,center1 ,west ,haven1 ,connecticut1 an 
amount not to exceed #d1hhc1jjj4  7#ae7 
,for the ,worcester community-based     
,outpatient ,clinic1 ,worcester1        
,massachusetts1 an amount not to exceed 
#d1hee1jjj4  7#af7 ,for the expansion of
 a community-based outpatient clinic1   
,cape ,girardeau1 ,missouri1 an amount  
not to exceed #d1bcb1jfj4  7#ag7 ,for a 
multispecialty clinic1 ,chattanooga1    
,tennessee1 an amount not to exceed     
#g1jfi1jjj4  7#ah7 ,for the expansion of
 a community-based outpatient clinic1   
,chico1 ,california1 an amount not to   
exceed #d1ecd1jjj4  7#ai7 ,for a        
community-based outpatient clinic1      
,chula ,vista1 ,california1 an amount   
not to exceed #c1gad1jjj4  7#bj7 ,for a 

new research lease1 ,hines1 ,illinois1  
an amount not to exceed #bb1jcb1jjj4    
7#ba7 ,for a replacement research lease1
 ,houston1 ,texas1 an amount not to     
exceed #f1adb1jjj4  7#bb7 ,for a        
community-based outpatient clinic1      
,lincoln1 ,nebraska1 an amount not to   
exceed #g1agh1djj4  7#bc7 ,for a        
community-based outpatient clinic1      
,lubbock1 ,texas1 an amount not to      
exceed #h1eed1jjj4  7#bd7 ,for a        
community-based outpatient clinic       
consolidation1 ,myrtle ,beach1 ,south   
,carolina1 an amount not to exceed      
#h1jbb1jjj4  7#be7 ,for a               
community-based outpatient clinic1      
,phoenix1 ,arizona1 an amount not to    
exceed #bj1geg1jjj4  7#bf7 ,for the     
expansion of a community-based          
outpatient clinic1 ,redding1            
,california1 an amount not to exceed    
#h1aed1jjj4  7#bg7 ,for the expansion of
 a community-based outpatient clinic1   
,tulsa1 ,oklahoma1 an amount not to     
exceed #ac1bfi1bjj4  #chb4 ,budgetary   

treatment of ,department of ,veterans   
,affairs major medical facilities leases
  7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the     
following3 7#a7 ,title #ca1 ,united     
,states ,code1 requires the ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs to record the full
 cost of its contractual obligation     
against funds available at the time a   
contract is executed4  7#b7 ,office of  
,management and ,budget ,circular ,a-#aa
 provides guidance to agencies in       
meeting the statutory requirements under
 title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 with 
respect to leases4  7#c7 ,for operating 
leases1 ,office of ,management and      
,budget ,circular ,a-#aa requires the   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
record up-front budget authority in an  
amount equal to total payments under the
 full term of the lease or an amount    
sufficient to cover first year lease    
payments plus cancellation costs4  7b7  
,requirement for obligation of full cost
 ,subject to the availability of        
appropriations provided in advance1 in  

exercising the authority of the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to     
enter into leases provided in this ,act1
 the ,secretary shall record1 pursuant  
to section #aeja of title #ca1 ,united  
,states ,code1 as the full cost of the  
contractual obligation at the time a    
contract is executed either-- 7#a7 an   
amount equal to total payments under the
 full term of the lease2 or  7#b7 if the
 lease specifies payments to be made in 
the event the lease is terminated before
 its full term1 an amount sufficient to 
cover the first year lease payments plus
 the specified cancellation costs4  7c7 
,transparency  7#a7 ,compliance         
,subsection 7b7 of section #hajd is     
amended by adding at the end the        
following new paragraph3  7#g7 ,in the  
case of a prospectus proposing funding  
for a major medical facility lease1 a   
detailed analysis of how the lease is   
expected to comply with ,office of      
,management and ,budget ,circular ,a-#aa
 and section #acda of title #ca         

7commonly referred to as the            
,anti-,deficiency ,act74 ,any such      
analysis shall include-- 7,a7 an        
analysis of the classification of the   
lease as a lease-purchase1 capital      
lease1 or operating lease as those terms
 are defined in ,office of ,management  
and ,budget ,circular ,a-#aa2  7,b7 an  
analysis of the obligation of budgetary 
resources associated with the lease2 and
  7,c7 an analysis of the methodology   
used in determining the asset cost1 fair
 market value1 and cancellation costs of
 the lease4  4  7#b7 ,submittal to      
,congress ,such section #hajd is further
 amended by adding at the end the       
following new subsection3  7h7 7#a7 ,not
 less than #cj days before entering into
 a major medical facility lease1 the    
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and the ,house of           
,representatives-- 7,a7 notice of the   
,secretary's intention to enter into the
 lease2  7,b7 a copy of the proposed    

lease2  7,c7 a description and analysis 
of any differences between the          
prospectus submitted pursuant to        
subsection 7b7 and the proposed lease2  
and  7,d7 a scoring analysis            
demonstrating that the proposed lease   
fully complies with ,office of          
,management and ,budget ,circular       
,a-#aa4  7#b7 ,each committee described 
in paragraph 7#a7 shall ensure that any 
information submitted to the committee  
under such paragraph is treated by the  
committee with the same level of        
confidentiality as is required by law of
 the ,secretary and subject to the same 
statutory penalties for unauthorized    
disclosure or use as the ,secretary4    
7#c7 ,not more than #cj days after      
entering into a major medical facility  
lease1 the ,secretary shall submit to   
each committee described in paragraph   
7#a7 a report on any material           
differences between the lease that was  
entered into and the proposed lease     
described under such paragraph1         

including how the lease that was entered
 into changes the previously submitted  
scoring analysis described in           
subparagraph 7,d7 of such paragraph4  4 
7d7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in   
this section1 or the amendments made by 
this section1 shall be construed to in  
any way relieve the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs from any statutory or
 regulatory obligations or requirements 
existing prior to the enactment of this 
section and such amendments4  ,,iv      
,employment and ,related ,matters  ,a   
,training and other services for        
veterans seeking employment  #dja4      
,reauthorization of veterans retraining 
assistance program  7a7 ,extension      
,subsection 7k7 of section #baa of the  
,,vow to ,hire ,heroes ,act of #bjaa    
7,public ,law #aab-ef2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4    
#dajj note7 is amended by striking      
,march #ca1 #bjad and inserting ,june   
#cj1 #bjaf4  7b7 ,number of eligible    
veterans ,subsection 7a77#b7 of such    
section is amended-- 7#a7 in            

subparagraph 7,a71 by striking and at   
the end2  7#b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by 
striking the period at the end and      
inserting a semicolon2 and  7#c7 by     
adding at the end the following new     
subparagraphs3  7,c7 #ej1jjj during the 
period beginning ,april #a1 #bjad1 and  
ending ,june #cj1 #bjae2 and  7,d7      
#ej1jjj during the period beginning     
,july #a1 #bjae1 and ending ,june #cj1  
#bjaf4  4  7c7 ,clarification of        
limitation on aggregate amount of       
assistance ,subsection 7b7 of such      
section is amended by striking up to #ab
 months of retraining assistance        
provided by the ,secretary of ,veterans 
,affairs and inserting an aggregate of  
not more than #ab months of retraining  
assistance provided by the ,secretary of
 ,veterans ,affairs under this section4 
7d7 ,providers of retraining assistance 
,subsection 7b7 of such section is      
further amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating 
paragraphs 7#c71 7#d71 and 7#e7 as      
paragraphs 7#d71 7#e71 and 7#f71        

respectively2 and  7#b7 by inserting    
after paragraph 7#b7 the following new  
paragraph 7#c73  7#c7 is offered by a   
four-year educational institution and1  
as determined by the ,secretary1 is not 
reasonably available at a community     
college or technical school2  4  7e7    
,extension of application date          
,subsection 7e77#a77;,g7 of such section
 is amended by striking ,october #a1    
#bjac and inserting ,october #a1 #bjae4 
7f7 ,reports ,subsection 7i7 of such    
section is amended-- 7#a7 in the        
subsection heading1 by striking ,report 
and inserting ,reports2  7#b7 by        
striking paragraph 7#a7 and inserting   
the following new paragraph 7#a73  7#a7 
,in general ,the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs shall submit to the           
appropriate committees of ,congress     
reports on training assistance provided 
under this section as follows3 7,a7 ,by 
not later than ,october #a1 #bjae1 for  
participants provided assistance through
 ,march #ca1 #bjad4  7,b7 ,by not later 

than ,october #a1 #bjag1 for            
participants provided assistance during 
the period beginning on ,april #a1      
#bjad1 and ending on ,june #bjaf4  2 and
  7#c7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking   
,the report required by paragraph 7#a7  
shall include and inserting ,each report
 required by paragraph 7#a7 shall       
include1 for the period covered by such 
report14  #djb4 ,extension of authority 
of ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to  
provide rehabilitation and vocational   
benefits to members of ,armed ,forces   
with severe injuries or illnesses  7a7  
,in general ,section #afca7;b77#b7 of   
the ,wounded ,warrior ,act 7title ,,xvi 
of ,public ,law #aaj-aha2 #aj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajga note7 is amended by striking      
,december #ca1 #bjad and inserting      
,december #ca1 #bjaf4  7b7 ,report  7#a7
 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days  
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs shall submit to the appropriate
 committees of ,congress a report on the

 benefits provided by the ,secretary    
under section #afca7;b7 of such ,act4   
7#b7 ,appropriate committees of congress
 ,in this subsection1 the term          
appropriate committees of ,congress     
means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,armed   
,services and the ,committee on         
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate2 and 
7,b7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services 
and the ,committee on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,house of               
,representatives4  #djc4 ,extension of  
additional rehabilitation programs for  
persons who have exhausted rights to    
unemployment benefits under ,state law  
,section #cajb7;b77#d7 is amended by    
striking ,march #ca1 #bjad and inserting
 ,march #ca1 #bjaf4  #djd4 ,unified     
employment portal for veterans  7a7 ,in 
general ,section #daje is amended by    
adding at the end the following3  7c7   
7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall develop a    
single1 unified ,federal web-based      
employment portal1 for use by veterans1 
containing information regarding all    

,federal programs and activities        
concerning employment1 unemployment1 and
 training to the extent the programs and
 activities affect veterans4  7#b7 ,the 
,secretary shall work with              
representatives from the ,department of 
,defense1 the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs1 the ,small ,business          
,administration1 and other ,federal     
agencies and organizations concerned    
with veterans' issues1 to determine an  
appropriate platform and implementing   
agency for the portal4 ,the ,secretary  
shall enter into an agreement with the  
other ,federal agencies for the         
implementation of the portal4  4  7b7   
,implementation ,the ,secretary of      
,labor shall implement the portal       
required by subsection 7c7 of section   
#daje of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code 7as added by subsection 7a7 of    
this section71 by not later than        
,january #a1 #bjae4  #dje4 ,report on   
unified ,government ,internet portal for
 veterans on jobs available through the 

,federal ,government  7a7               
,identification of ,internet websites   
and applications that can assist        
veterans seeking employment  7#a7 ,in   
general ,the ,secretary of ,labor shall1
 in consultation with the ,secretary of 
,veterans ,affairs1 the ,secretary of   
,defense1 and other appropriate public  
and private entities1 take appropriate  
actions to identify ,internet websites  
and applications that can assist        
veterans in seeking employment4  7#b7   
,priority in identification of certain  
websites and applications ,in           
identifying websites and applications   
pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the         
,secretary shall place a particular     
priority on identifying websites and    
applications that do the following3 7,a7
 ,match veterans seeking employment with
 available jobs based on the skills the 
veterans acquired as members of the     
,armed ,forces4  7,b7 ,permit employers 
to post information about available     
jobs4  7b7 ,report ,not later than #ahj 

days after the effective date specified 
in subsection 7c71 the ,secretary of    
,labor shall submit to the ,committee on
 ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and 
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 on the actions of the ,secretary under 
subsection 7a74 ,the report shall       
include an assessment of the feasibility
 and advisability of creating a single1 
unified ,internet-based employment      
portal for the ,federal ,government for 
use by veterans regarding employment    
through the ,federal ,government1       
including the cost of creating the      
portal1 the collaboration with other    
,federal agencies required to create the
 portal1 and the anticipated use of the 
portal4  7c7 ,effective date ,this      
section shall take effect on the date   
that is one year after the date of the  
enactment of this ,act4  #djf4          
,information on disability-related      
employment and education protections in 
,transition ,assistance ,program  7a7   

,in general ,section #aadd7;b7 of title 
#aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
paragraph3  7#i7 ,provide information   
about disability-related employment and 
education protections4  4  7b7          
,effective date ,the amendment made by  
subsection 7a7 shall take effect on the 
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  ,b         
,employment of veterans and recognition 
of veteran status with respect to       
employment related matters  #daa4       
,employment of veterans with the        
,federal ,government  7a7 ,in general   
,section #dbad is amended-- 7#a7 in     
subsection 7b71 by adding at the end the
 following3  7#d7 7,a7 ,the requirement 
under this paragraph is in addition to  
the appointment of qualified covered    
veterans under the authority under      
paragraph 7#a7 by the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs and the ,department  
of ,defense4  7,b7 ,the head of each    
agency1 in consultation with the        

,director of the ,office of ,personnel  
,management1 shall develop a plan for   
exercising the authority specified in   
subparagraph 7,c7 during the five-year  
period beginning on the date of the     
enactment of the ,comprehensive         
,veterans ,health and ,benefits and     
,military ,retirement ,pay ,restoration 
,act of #bjad4  7,c7 ,the authority     
specified in this subparagraph is the   
authority as follows3 7i7 ,the authority
 under paragraph 7#a74  7ii7 ,the       
authority available to the agency       
concerned under the ,veterans           
,employment ,opportunities ,act of #aiih
 7,public ,law #aje-cci7 and the        
amendments made by that ,act4  7,d7 ,the
 ,director of the ,office of ,personnel 
,management shall ensure that under the 
plans developed under subparagraph 7,b7 
agencies shall appoint to existing      
vacancies not fewer than #ae1jjj        
qualified covered veterans during the   
five-year period beginning on the date  
of the enactment of the ,comprehensive  

,veterans ,health and ,benefits and     
,military ,retirement ,pay ,restoration 
,act of #bjad4 ,for purposes of         
complying with this subparagraph1 an    
appointment pursuant to the authority   
referred to in subparagraph 7,c77ii7    
shall not count toward the number       
required by this subparagraph unless the
 appointment is to a vacancy in a       
full-time1 permanent position4  2  7#b7 
in subsection 7d71 in the third         
sentence1 by inserting 7including1      
during the #e-year period beginning on  
the date of the enactment of the        
,comprehensive ,veterans ,health and    
,benefits and ,military ,retirement ,pay
 ,restoration ,act of #bjad1 the        
development and implementation by each  
agency of the plan required under       
subsection 7b77#d71 which shall include 
information regarding the grade or pay  
level of appointments by the agency     
under the plan and whether the          
appointments are1 or are converted to1  
career or career-conditional            

appointments7 after subsection 7b7 of   
this section2 and  7#c7 in subsection   
7e7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 in   
the matter before subparagraph 7,a71 by 
striking to the ,congress and inserting 
to the appropriate committees of        
,congress2 and  7ii7 in subparagraph    
7,a71 by inserting 7including1 during   
the #e-year period beginning on the date
 of the enactment of the ,comprehensive 
,veterans ,health and ,benefits and     
,military ,retirement ,pay ,restoration 
,act of #bjad1 the development and      
implementation by the agency of the plan
 required under subsection 7b77#d71     
which shall include information         
regarding the grade or pay level of     
appointments by the agency under the    
plan and whether the appointments are1  
or are converted to1 permanent          
appointments7 before the period2 and    
7,b7 by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph3  7#c7 ,in this           
subsection1 the term appropriate        
committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the

 ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs and  
the ,committee on ,homeland ,security   
and ,governmental ,affairs of the       
,senate2 and  7,b7 the ,committee on    
,veterans' ,affairs and the ,committee  
on ,oversight and ,government ,reform of
 the ,house of ,representatives4  4  7b7
 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after
 the date of enactment of this ,act1 the
 ,director of the ,office of ,personnel 
,management shall submit to the         
appropriate committees of ,congress 7as 
defined under section #dbad7;e77#c7 of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
amended by subsection 7a77 regarding the
 development of a plan to carry out the 
amendments made by subsection 7a74      
#dab4 ,state recognition of military    
experience of veterans in issuing       
licenses and credentials to veterans    
7a7 ,in general ,section #dajb;,a7c7 is 
amended by striking paragraph 7#i7 and  
inserting the following new paragraph   
7#i73  7#i7 7,a7 ,as a condition of a   
grant or contract under which funds are 

made available to a ,state under        
subsection 7b77#e7 in order to carry out
 section #dajc;,a or #dajd of this      
title1 the ,state shall-- 7i7 establish 
a program under which the ,state        
administers an examination to each      
veteran seeking a license or credential 
issued by the ,state and issues such    
license or credential to such veteran   
without requiring such veteran to       
undergo any training or apprenticeship  
if the veteran-- 7,i7 receives a        
satisfactory score on completion of such
 examination1 as determined by the      
,state2  7,,ii7 has been awarded a      
military occupational specialty that is 
substantially equivalent to or exceeds  
the requirements of the ,state for the  
issuance of such license or credential2 
7,,iii7 has engaged in the active       
practice of the occupation for which the
 veteran is seeking such license or     
credential for at least two of the five 
years preceding the date of application2
 and  7,,iv7 pays any customary or usual

 fees required by the ,state for such   
license or credential2 and  7ii7 submit 
each year to the ,secretary a report on 
the exams administered under clause 7i7 
during the most recently completed      
#ab-month period that includes1 for the 
period covered by the report the number 
of veterans who completed an exam       
administered by the ,state under clause 
7i7 and a description of the results of 
such exams1 disaggregated by            
occupational field4  7,b7 ,the          
,secretary may waive the requirement    
under subparagraph 7,a7 that a ,state   
establish a program described in that   
subparagraph as a condition of a grant  
or contract if the ,state certifies to  
the ,secretary that the ,state-- 7i7    
takes into account previous military    
training for the purposes of issuing    
licenses or credentials2  7ii7 permits  
veterans to completely satisfy through  
examination any training or testing     
requirements for a license or credential
 with respect to which a veteran has    

previously completed military training2 
and  7iii7 for any credential or license
 for which a veteran is unable to       
completely satisfy such requirements    
through examination1 the ,state         
substantially reduces training time     
required to satisfy such requirement    
based on the military training received 
by the veteran4  7,c7 ,not less         
frequently than once each year1 the     
,secretary shall submit to ,congress and
 the ,secretary of ,defense a report    
summarizing the information received by 
the ,secretary under subparagraph       
7,a77ii74  4  7b7 ,effective date  7#a7 
,exams ,subparagraph 7,a7 of section    
#dajb;,a7c77#i7 of title #ch1 ,united   
,states ,code1 as added by subsection   
7a71 shall take effect on the date that 
is one year after the date of the       
enactment of this ,act and shall apply  
with respect to grants and contracts    
described in such subparagraph awarded  
after such date4  7#b7 ,reports         
,subparagraph 7,b7 of such section      

#dajb;,a7c77#i71 as so added1 shall take
 effect on the date that is one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act and the ,secretary of ,labor shall 
submit the first report under such      
subparagraph not later than two years   
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #dac4 ,grants to hire veterans as
 first responders  7a7 ,grants for      
firefighters ,the ,secretary of         
,homeland ,security shall award grants  
under section #cd of the ,federal ,fire 
,prevention and ,control ,act of #aigd  
7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bbbi;a7 to hire veterans
 as firefighters4  7b7 ,grants for law  
enforcement officers ,the ,attorney     
,general shall award grants under part  
,q of title ,i of the ,omnibus ,crime   
,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of     
#aifh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cgif;dd et seq47  
to hire veterans as law enforcement     
officers4  7c7 ,priority ,in awarding   
grants under this section to hire       
veterans1 the ,secretary of ,homeland   
,security and the ,attorney ,general    

shall give priority to the hiring of    
veterans who served on active duty in   
the ,armed ,forces on or after          
,september #aa1 #bjja4  7d7 ,funding    
7#a7 ,department of ,homeland ,security 
,there is authorized to be appropriated 
for fiscal year #bjae for the           
,department of ,homeland ,security1     
#abe1jjj1jjj to carry out subsection    
7a74  7#b7 ,department of ,justice      
,there is authorized to be appropriated 
for fiscal year #bjae for the           
,department of ,justice1 #abe1jjj1jjj to
 carry out subsection 7b74  7#c7        
,availability ,the amounts authorized to
 be appropriated by this subsection     
shall be available for expenditure      
through ,september #cj1 #bjah4  #dad4   
,employment of veterans as evaluation   
factor in the awarding of ,federal      
contracts  7a7 ,civilian contracts  7#a7
 ,in general ,chapter #cc of title #da1 
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
adding at the end the following new     
section3  #ccab4 ,employment of veterans

 as evaluation factor ,the head of each 
executive agency shall consider         
favorably as an evaluation factor in    
solicitations for contracts and task or 
delivery order valued at or above       
#be1jjj1jjj the employment by a         
prospective contractor of veterans      
constituting at least #e percent of the 
contractor's workforce4  4  7#b7        
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of #cc chapter
 of such title is amended by adding     
after the item relating to section #ccaa
 the following new item3  #ccab4        
,employment of veterans as evaluation   
factor4  4  7b7 ,defense contracts  7#a7
 ,in general ,chapter #acg of title #aj1
 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by   
adding at the end the following new     
section3  #bccf4 ,employment of veterans
 as evaluation factor ,the head of each 
agency shall consider favorably as an   
evaluation factor in solicitations for  
contracts and task or delivery order    
valued at or above #be1jjj1jjj the      

employment by a prospective contractor  
of veterans constituting at least #e    
percent of the contractor's workforce4  
4  7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table  
of sections at the beginning of chapter 
#acg of such title is amended by adding 
after the item relating to section #bcce
 the following new item3  #bccf4        
,employment of veterans as evaluation   
factor4  4  7c7 ,regulations ,not later 
than #ahj days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,federal    
,acquisition ,regulatory ,council shall 
amend the ,federal ,acquisition         
,regulation to carry out the provisions 
of section #ccac of title #da1 ,united  
,states ,code1 and section #bccf of     
title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
added by subsections 7a7 and 7b71       
respectively4  #dae4 ,report on         
discrimination against members of       
reserve components of ,armed ,forces and
 veterans in civilian labor market  7a7 
,in general ,not later than #egj days   
after the date of the enactment of this 

act1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 in       
coordination with the heads of such     
agencies as the ,secretary considers    
appropriate1 shall submit to the        
appropriate committees of ,congress a   
report on barriers and potential        
discrimination facing veterans in the   
labor market4  7b7 ,contents ,the report
 required by subsection 7a7 shall       
include the following3 7#a7 ,an         
evaluation of the following3 7,a7 ,the  
extent to which members of the reserve  
components of the ,armed ,forces and    
veterans face barriers to entry into the
 civilian labor market1 including       
whether such members and veterans face  
obstacles in obtaining employment1      
maintaining employment1 or receiving    
promotions while employed4  7,b7 ,the   
extent to which a member of a reserve   
component of the ,armed ,forces or a    
veteran faces discrimination in the     
civilian labor market based on the      
member's or veteran's status as a member
 of a reserve component of the ,armed   

,forces or as a veteran1 as the case may
 be4  7,c7 ,the adequacy and            
effectiveness of ,federal laws in effect
 on the day before the date of the      
enactment of this ,act in preventing or 
ameliorating acts of discrimination     
against members of the reserve          
components of the ,armed ,forces and    
veterans seeking or retaining employment
 in the civilian labor market4  7,d7    
,the adequacy and effectiveness of      
programs of the ,department of ,labor in
 effect on the day before the date of   
the enactment of this ,act in educating 
private sector employers on matters     
relevant to hiring and employing        
veterans and the military experience of 
veterans4  7#b7 ,such recommendations as
 the ,secretary may have for legislative
 or administrative action-- 7,a7 to     
address barriers or discrimination that 
members of the reserve components of the
 ,armed ,forces and veterans may face in
 the civilian labor market2  7,b7 to    
improve education and outreach for      

employers in the civilian labor market  
on issues regarding hiring and employing
 such members and veterans2 and  7,c7 to
 assist employers in the civilian labor 
market in matching the military         
experience of such members and veterans 
with the needs of such employers4  7#c7 
,such other matters as the ,secretary   
considers appropriate4  7c7 ,appropriate
 committees of congress ,in this        
section1 the term appropriate committees
 of ,congress means-- 7#a7 the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs and   
the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1  
,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate2   
and  7#b7 the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs and the ,committee on          
,education and the ,workforce of the    
,house of ,representatives4  7d7        
,effective date ,this section shall take
 effect on the date that is one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  ,c ,program on ,career           
,transition  #dba4 ,program on provision
 of career transition services to young 

veterans  7a7 ,in general ,commencing   
not later than #ahj days after the date 
of the enactment of this ,act1 the      
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall1 
in collaboration with the ,secretary of 
,labor1 carry out a program to assess   
the feasibility and advisability of     
establishing a program to provide career
 transition services to eligible        
individuals-- 7#a7 to provide eligible  
individuals with work experience in the 
civilian sector2  7#b7 to increase the  
marketable skills of eligible           
individuals2  7#c7 to assist eligible   
individuals in obtaining long-term      
employment2 and  7#d7 to assist in      
integrating eligible individuals into   
their local communities4  7b7 ,eligible 
individuals ,for purposes of the        
program1 an eligible individual is an   
individual who-- 7#a7 is-- 7,a7 a       
veteran of the ,armed ,forces who was   
discharged or released from service     
therein under conditions other than     
dishonorable2 or  7,b7 a member of a    

reserve component of the ,armed ,forces 
7including the ,national ,guard7 who--  
7i7 served on active duty in the ,armed 
,forces 7other than active duty for     
training7 for more than #ahj consecutive
 days during the three-year period      
ending on the date of application for   
participation in the program2 and  7ii7 
is not serving on active duty on the    
date of commencement of participation in
 the program2  7#b7 if discharged or    
released from the ,armed ,forces on the 
date of commencement of participation in
 the program1 was so discharged or      
released not later than three years     
before application for participation in 
the program2  7#c7 is unemployed or     
underemployed1 as determined by the     
,secretary2 and  7#d7 is1 at the time at
 which the individual applies for       
participation in the program1 #ah years 
of age or older1 but not more than #cj  
years of age4  7c7 ,eligible employers  
7#a7 ,in general ,for purposes of the   
program1 an eligible employer is an     

employer determined by the ,secretary to
 meet such criteria for participation in
 the program as the ,secretary shall    
establish for purposes of the program4  
7#b7 ,past performance on certain       
matters ,the criteria established by the
 ,secretary under paragraph 7#a7 may    
include past performance of an employer 
with respect to the following3 7,a7 ,job
 training1 basic skills training1 and   
related activities4  7,b7 ,financial    
accountability4  7,c7 ,demonstrated high
 potential for growth and long-term job 
creation4  7#c7 ,for-profit and         
not-for-profit employers ,the employers 
determined by the ,secretary to be      
eligible employers under paragraph 7#a7 
may include both for-profit and         
not-for-profit employers4  7#d7 ,small  
business concerns ,in determining       
employers to be eligible employers under
 paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall   
ensure that small business concerns are 
afforded opportunities to participate in
 the program4  7#e7 ,exclusions ,the    

following employers may not be          
determined to be an eligible employer   
under paragraph 7#a73 7,a7 ,an agency of
 the ,federal ,government or a ,state or
 local government4  7,b7 ,an employer   
that has previously participated in the 
program and1 as determined by the       
,secretary1 failed to abide by any      
requirement of the program4  7,c7 ,an   
employer that cannot give an assurance  
to the ,secretary at the time of        
application for participation in the    
program under subsection 7l71 and in    
such manner as the ,secretary shall     
specify pursuant to that subsection1 on 
each matter as follows3 7i7 ,that the   
employer has not been investigated or   
subject to a case or action by the      
,federal ,trade ,commission during the  
#ahj-;day period ending on the date the 
employer would otherwise commence       
participation in the program4  7ii7     
,that the employer has been in good     
standing with a ,state business bureau  
during the period described in clause   

7i74  7iii7 ,that the employer is not   
delinquent with respect to payment of   
any taxes or employer contributions     
described under section #ccja and #ccjb 
7a77#a7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code 
of #aihf 7#bf ,u4,s4,c4 #ccja and       
#ccjb7;a77#a774  7iv7 ,that the employer
 would not request the placement of an  
additional eligible individual under the
 program1 if after such additional      
placement1 the number of eligible       
individuals placed in internships at    
such employer under the program would   
constitute more than #aj percent of the 
eligible employer's workforce4 ,for     
purposes of the previous sentence1 being
 an intern under the program placed at  
an employer shall be considered part of 
the employer's workforce4  7v7 ,that the
 employer has the intention of retaining
 eligible participants after such       
participants have completed             
participation in the program4  7d7      
,duration ,the ,secretary shall carry   
out the program during the three-year   

period beginning on the date of the     
commencement of the program4  7e7       
,career transition services ,for        
purposes of the program1 career         
transition services are the following3  
7#a7 ,internships under subsection 7f74 
7#b7 ,mentorship and job-shadowing under
 subsection 7g74  7#c7 ,volunteer       
opportunities under subsection 7h74     
7#d7 ,professional skill workshops under
 subsection 7i74  7#e7 ,skills          
assessment under subsection 7j74  7#f7  
,additional services under subsection   
7k74  7f7 ,internships  7#a7 ,in general
 ,for each eligible individual whom the 
,secretary approves for participation in
 the program1 the ,secretary shall      
attempt to place such eligible          
individual in an internship on a        
full-time basis with an eligible        
employer whom the ,secretary has        
approved for participation in the       
program4  7#b7 ,duration ,each          
internship under the program shall be   
for a period of one year4  7#c7 ,wages  

7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall  
furnish pay and benefits to each        
eligible individual participating in an 
internship under the program for the    
duration of such participation in an    
aggregate amount not to exceed #be1jjj4 
7#d7 ,employment status ,for purposes of
 the ,patient ,protection and           
,affordable ,care ,act 7,public ,law    
#aaa-adh71 an eligible individual placed
 in an internship with an eligible      
employer under the program shall be     
considered an employee of the           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs and   
not the eligible employer during the    
period of such internship under the     
program4  7#e7 ,relation to other       
,federal assistance ,notwithstanding any
 other provision of law1 pay received by
 an individual under this subsection may
 not be used in any calculation to      
determine the eligibility of such       
individual for any ,federal program for 
the purpose of obtaining child care     
assistance4  7g7 ,mentorship and        

job-,shadowing  7#a7 ,in general ,as a  
condition of an eligible employer's     
participation in the program and the    
placement of an eligible individual in  
an internship at the eligible employer1 
the eligible employer shall provide each
 eligible individual placed in an       
internship at the eligible employer     
under the program with at least one     
mentor who is an employee of the        
eligible employer4  7#b7 ,job-shadowing 
and career counseling ,to the extent    
practicable1 a mentor assigned to an    
eligible individual participating in the
 program shall provide such eligible    
individual with job shadowing and career
 counseling4  7h7 ,volunteer            
opportunities  7#a7 ,in general ,as a   
condition on participation in the       
program1 each eligible individual who   
participates in the program shall1 not  
less frequently than once each month in 
which the eligible individual           
participates in the program1 engage in a
 qualifying volunteer activity in       

accordance with guidelines the          
,secretary shall establish4  7#b7       
,qualifying volunteer activities ,for   
purposes of this subsection1 a          
qualifying volunteer activity is any    
activity the ,secretary considers       
related to providing assistance to1 or  
for the benefit of1 a veteran4 ,such    
activities may include the following3   
7,a7 ,outreach4  7,b7 ,assisting an     
organization recognized by the          
,secretary for the representation of    
veterans under section #eijb of title   
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 on a        
volunteer basis4  7,c7 ,service         
benefitting a veteran in a ,state home  
or a ,department of ,veterans ,affairs  
medical facility4  7,d7 ,service        
benefitting a veteran at an institution 
of higher education4  7i7 ,professional 
skills workshops  7#a7 ,in general ,the 
,secretary shall provide eligible       
individuals participating in the program
 with workshops for the development and 
improvement of the professional skills  

of such eligible individuals4  7#b7     
,tailored ,the workshops provided by the
 ,secretary shall be tailored to meet   
the particular needs of eligible        
individuals participating in the program
 as determined under subsection 7j74    
7#c7 ,topics ,the workshops provided to 
eligible individuals participating in   
the program may include workshops for   
the development of such professional    
skills as the ,secretary considers      
appropriate1 which may include the      
following3 7,a7 ,written and oral       
communication skills4  7,b7 ,basic word 
processing and other computer skills4   
7,c7 ,interpersonal skills4  7#d7       
,manner of presentation ,workshops on   
particular topics shall be provided     
through such means as may be            
appropriate1 effective1 and approved of 
by the ,secretary for purposes of the   
program4 ,such means may include use of 
electronic communication4  7#e7         
,assessments ,the ,secretary shall      
conduct an assessment of a participant  

in a workshop conducted under this      
subsection to assess the participant's  
knowledge acquired as a result of       
participating in the workshop4  7j7     
,skills assessment  7#a7 ,in general    
,under the program1 the ,secretary shall
 develop and implement an objective     
assessment of eligible individuals      
participating in the program to assist  
in the placement of such individuals in 
internships under subsection 7f7 and to 
assist in the tailoring of workshops    
under subsection 7i74  7#b7 ,elements   
,the assessment may include an          
assessment of the skill levels and      
service needs of each participant1 which
 may include a review of basic          
professional entry-level skills1 prior  
work experience1 employability1 and the 
individual's interests4  7k7 ,additional
 services  7#a7 ,in general ,except as  
provided in paragraph 7#b71 the         
,secretary shall1 under the program1    
furnish the following services to an    
eligible individual participating in the

 program when assessment under          
subsection 7j7 indicates such services  
are appropriate3 7,a7 ,counseling1 such 
as job counseling and career counseling4
  7,b7 ,job search assistance4  7,c7    
,follow-up services with participants   
that are offered unsubsidized employment
 by the employer with whom they were    
assigned4  7,d7 ,transportation1 as     
described in paragraph 7#c74  7#b7      
,referrals ,in lieu of furnishing a     
service to an eligible individual under 
paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary may refer
 such eligible individual to another    
,federal1 ,state1 or local government   
program that provides such service4     
7#c7 ,transportation ,in accordance with
 criteria established by the ,secretary 
for purposes of the program1 the        
,secretary may pay an allowance based   
upon mileage1 of any eligible individual
 placed in an internship under the      
program not in excess of #ge miles to or
 from a facility of the eligible        
employer or other place in connection   

with such internship4  7l7              
,participation  7#a7 ,application  7,a7 
,in general ,an eligible employer or    
eligible individual seeking to          
participate in the program shall submit 
to the ,secretary an application        
therefor at such time1 in such manner1  
and containing such information as the  
,secretary shall specify4  7,b7         
,requirements for eligible employers ,an
 application submitted by an eligible   
employer under subparagraph 7,a7 shall  
include a certification or other        
information1 in such form and manner as 
the ,secretary shall specify1 on each of
 the assurances required by subsection  
7c77#e77;,c71 including the assurance   
that the employer has the intention of  
retaining eligible participants after   
they have completed participation in the
 program as provided in clause 7v7 of   
that subsection4  7#b7 ,time of         
application for certain eligible        
individuals ,a member of the ,armed     
,forces on active duty who expects to be

 an eligible individual described in    
subsection 7b77#a77;,a7 upon discharge  
or release from the ,armed ,forces may  
submit an application to participate in 
the program not earlier than #ahj days  
before the date on which the member     
expects to be discharged or released    
from the ,armed ,forces4 ,a member who  
submits such an application shall be    
treated as unemployed or underemployed  
for purposes of subsection 7b77#b7 if   
the member has not accepted an offer of 
employment after discharge or release as
 of the time of the submittal of the    
application4  7#c7 ,delimiting date for 
commencement of participation by        
individuals ,an eligible individual may 
not commence participation in the       
program after the date that is two years
 after the date of the commencement of  
the program4  7#d7 ,selection ,the      
,secretary shall review each application
 submitted by an applicant under        
paragraph 7#a7 and approve or disapprove
 the applicant for participation in the 

program4  7m7 ,grants  7#a7 ,in general 
,the ,secretary may award grants to     
eligible entities to assist the         
,secretary in carrying out the program4 
7#b7 ,eligible entities ,for purposes of
 the program1 an eligible entity is a   
nonprofit organization4  7#c7           
,considerations ,in awarding grants     
under this subsection1 the ,secretary   
may consider whether an eligible        
entity-- 7,a7 has an understanding of   
the unemployment problems of eligible   
individuals and members of the ,armed   
,forces transitioning from service in   
the ,armed ,forces to civilian life2 and
  7,b7 has the capability to assist the 
,secretary in administering effectively 
the program and providing career        
transition services to eligible         
individuals4  7#d7 ,use of funds        
,amounts received by a recipient of a   
grant under this subsection may be used 
as the ,secretary considers appropriate 
for purposes of the program1 including  
as follows3 7,a7 ,to assist the         

,secretary in carrying out the program4 
7,b7 ,to recruit eligible employers and 
eligible individuals to participate in  
the program4  7,c7 ,to match eligible   
individuals participating in the program
 with internship opportunities at       
eligible employers participating in the 
program4  7,d7 ,to coordinate and carry 
out job placement and other employer    
outreach activities4  7n7 ,outreach     
7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of     
,veterans ,affairs and the ,secretary of
 ,labor shall jointly carry out a       
program of outreach to inform eligible  
employers and eligible individuals about
 the program and the benefits of        
participating in the program4  7#b7     
,included locations and groups ,the     
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and the
 ,secretary of ,labor shall ensure that 
any outreach program and activities     
conducted under paragraph 7#a7 include1 
to the extent practicable1 rural        
communities1 tribal lands of the ,united
 ,states1 ,native ,americans1 and tribal

 organizations 7as defined in section   
#cgfe of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code74  7o7 ,awards for outstanding    
contributions to program  7#a7 ,in      
general ,each year of the program1 the  
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may    
recognize one or more eligible employers
 or one or more eligible individuals    
participating in the program for        
demonstrating outstanding achievement in
 carrying out or in contributing to the 
success of the program4  7#b7 ,criteria 
,the ,secretary shall establish such    
selection procedures and criteria as the
 ,secretary considers appropriate for   
the award of recognition under this     
subsection4  7p7 ,minimization of       
administrative burden on participating  
employers ,the ,secretary shall take    
such measures as may be necessary to    
minimize administrative burdens incurred
 by eligible employers due to           
participation in the program4  7q7      
,reports  7#a7 ,in general ,not later   
than #de days after the completion of   

the first year of the program and not   
later than #ahj days after the          
completion of the second and third years
 of the program1 the ,secretary shall   
submit to ,congress a report on the     
program4  7#b7 ,contents ,each report   
submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall    
include the following3 7,a7 ,an         
evaluation of the program4  7,b7 ,the   
number and characteristics of           
participants in the program4  7,c7 ,the 
number and types of internships in which
 eligible individuals were placed under 
the program4  7,d7 ,the number of       
individuals who obtained long-term      
full-time unsubsidized employment       
positions after participation in the    
program1 the hourly wage and nature of  
such employment1 and if available1      
whether such individuals were still     
employed in such positions three months 
after obtaining such positions4  7,e7   
,an assessment of the feasibility and   
advisability of providing career        
transition services to eligible         

individuals4  7,f7 ,an assessment of the
 effect of the program on earnings of   
eligible individuals and the employment 
of eligible individuals4  7,g7 ,such    
recommendations for legislative and     
administrative action as the ,secretary 
may have to improve the program1 to     
expand the program1 or to improve the   
employment of eligible individuals4  7r7
 ,funding limitations  7#a7 ,wages for  
internships ,not less than #ie percent  
of amounts authorized to be appropriated
 for the program by subsection 7t7 shall
 be used to provide pay under subsection
 7f77#c74  7#b7 ,administration ,not    
more than #e percent of amounts         
authorized to be appropriated for the   
program by subsection 7t7 may be used to
 administer the program4  7s7           
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7     
,active duty1 ,armed ,forces1 reserve   
component1 and veteran ,the terms active
 duty1 ,armed ,forces1 reserve          
component1 and veteran have the meanings
 given such terms in section #aja of    

title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#b7 
,full-time basis ,the term full-time    
basis1 with respect to an internship1   
means participation in the internship of
 not fewer than #cj hours per week and  
not more than #dj hours per week4  7#c7 
,small business concern ,the term small 
business concern has the meaning given  
that term under section #c7;a7 of the   
,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4    
#fcb7;a774  7#d7 ,unemployment          
compensation ,the term unemployment     
compensation means regular compensation 
7as defined in section #bje of the      
,federal-,state ,extended ,unemployment 
,compensation ,act of #aigj71           
compensation under the ,federal-,state  
,extended ,compensation ,act of #aigj1  
and compensation under the emergency    
unemployment compensation program under 
title ,,iv of the ,supplemental         
,appropriations ,act1 #bjjh4  7t7       
,authorization of appropriations ,there 
is hereby authorized to be appropriated 
for fiscal year #bjae for the           

,department of ,veterans ,affairs1      
#fjj1jjj1jjj to carry out this section4 
,the amount so authorized to be         
appropriated shall remain available     
until expended4  ,d ,improving          
employment and reemployment rights of   
members of the uniformed services  #dca4
 ,enforcement of rights of members of   
uniformed services with respect to      
,states and private employers  7a7      
,action for relief ,subsection 7a7 of   
section #dcbc is amended-- 7#a7 in      
paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by striking appear
 on behalf of1 and act as attorney for1 
the person on whose behalf the complaint
 is submitted and2  7,b7 by striking for
 such person2  7,c7 by striking the     
fourth sentence2 and  7,d7 by adding at 
the end the following3 ,the person on   
whose behalf the complaint is referred  
may1 upon timely application1 intervene 
in such action1 and may obtain such     
appropriate relief as is provided in    
subsections 7d7 and 7e742  7#b7 by      
striking paragraph 7#b7 and inserting   

the following new paragraph 7#b73  7#b7 
7,a7 ,not later than #fj days after the 
date the ,attorney ,general receives a  
referral under paragraph 7#a71 the      
,attorney ,general shall transmit1 in   
writing1 to the person on whose behalf  
the complaint is submitted-- 7i7 if the 
,attorney ,general has made a decision  
to commence an action for relief under  
paragraph 7#a7 relating to the complaint
 of the person1 notice of the decision2 
and  7ii7 if the ,attorney ,general has 
not made such a decision1 notice of when
 the ,attorney ,general expects to make 
such a decision4  7,b7 ,if the ,attorney
 ,general notifies a person that the    
,attorney ,general expects to make a    
decision under subparagraph 7,a77ii71   
the ,attorney ,general shall1 not later 
than #cj days after the date on which   
the ,attorney ,general makes such       
decision1 notify1 in writing1 the person
 of such decision4  2  7#c7 by          
redesignating paragraph 7#c7 as         
paragraph 7#d72  7#d7 by inserting after

 paragraph 7#b7 the following new       
paragraph 7#c73  7#c7 ,whenever the     
,attorney ,general has reasonable cause 
to believe that a ,state 7as an         
employer7 or a private employer is      
engaged in a pattern or practice of     
resistance to the full enjoyment of any 
of the rights and benefits provided for 
under this chapter1 and that the pattern
 or practice is of such a nature and is 
intended to deny the full exercise of   
such rights and benefits1 the ,attorney 
,general may commence an action for     
relief under this chapter4  2 and  7#e7 
in paragraph 7#d71 as redesignated by   
paragraph 7#c71 by striking subparagraph
 7,c7 and inserting the following new   
subparagraph 7,c73  7,c7 has been       
notified by the ,attorney ,general that 
the ,attorney ,general does not intend  
to commence an action for relief under  
paragraph 7#a7 with respect to the      
complaint under such paragraph4  4  7b7 
,standing ,subsection 7f7 of such       
section is amended to read as follows3  

7f7 ,standing ,an action under this     
chapter may be initiated only by the    
,attorney ,general or by a person       
claiming rights or benefits under this  
chapter under subsection 7a74  4  7c7   
,conforming amendment ,subsection       
7h77#b7 of such section is amended by   
striking under subsection 7a77#b7 and   
inserting under paragraph 7#a7 or 7#d7  
of subsection 7a74  #dcb4 ,suspension1  
termination1 or debarment of contractors
 for repeated violations of employment  
or reemployment rights of members of    
uniformed services  7a7 ,in general     
,subchapter ,,iii of chapter #dc is     
amended by adding at the end the        
following new section3  #dcbh4          
,suspension1 termination1 or debarment  
of contractors  7a7 ,grounds for        
suspension1 termination1 or debarment   
,payment under a contract awarded by a  
,federal executive agency may be        
suspended and the contract may be       
terminated1 and the contractor who made 
the contract with the agency may be     

suspended or debarred in accordance with
 the requirements of this section1 if   
the head of the agency determines that  
the contractor as an employer has       
repeatedly been convicted of failing or 
refusing to comply with one or more     
provisions of this chapter4  7b7 ,effect
 of debarment ,a contractor debarred by 
a final decision under this section is  
ineligible for award of a contract by a 
,federal executive agency1 and for      
participation in a future procurement by
 a ,federal executive agency1 for a     
period specified in the decision1 not to
 exceed #e years4  4  7b7 ,clerical     
amendment ,the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter #dc is amended by  
inserting after the item relating to    
section #dcbg the following new item3   
#dcbh4 ,suspension1 termination1 or     
debarment of contractor4  4  7c7        
,regulations ,not later than #ahj days  
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,federal ,acquisition         
,regulatory ,council shall amend the    

,federal ,acquisition ,regulation to    
carry out section #dcbh of title #ch1   
,united ,states ,code1 as added by      
subsection 7a74  7d7 ,effective date    
,section #dcbh of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 as added by subsection   
7a71 shall apply with respect to        
failures and refusals to comply with    
provisions of chapter #dc of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 occurring on or  
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  7e7 ,annual report ,section      
#dccb7;a7 is amended-- 7#a7 by          
redesignating paragraph 7#aj7 as        
paragraph 7#aa72 and  7#b7 by inserting 
after paragraph 7#i7 the following new  
paragraph 7#aj73  7#aj7 ,the number of  
suspensions1 terminations1 and          
debarments under section #dcbh of this  
title1 disaggregated by the agency or   
department imposing the suspension or   
debarment4  4  #dcc4 ,subpoena power for
 ,special ,counsel in enforcement of    
employment and reemployment rights of   
members of uniformed services with      

respect to ,federal executive agencies  
,section #dcbd is amended by adding at  
the end the following new subsection3   
7e7 7#a7 ,in order to carry out the     
,special ,counsel's responsibilities    
under this section1 the ,special        
,counsel may require by subpoena the    
attendance and testimony of ,federal    
employees and the production of         
documents from ,federal employees and   
,federal executive agencies4  7#b7 ,in  
the case of contumacy or failure to obey
 a subpoena issued under paragraph 7#a71
 upon application by the ,special       
,counsel1 the ,merit ,systems           
,protection ,board may issue an order   
requiring a ,federal employee or        
,federal executive agency to comply with
 a subpoena of the ,special ,counsel4   
7#c7 ,an order issued under paragraph   
7#b7 may be enforced by the ,merit      
,systems ,protection ,board in the same 
manner as any order issued under section
 #abjd of title #e4  4  #dcd4 ,issuance 
and service of civil investigative      

demands by ,attorney ,general  7a7 ,in  
general ,section #dcbc is amended-- 7#a7
 by redesignating subsection 7i7 as     
subsection 7j72 and  7#b7 by inserting  
after subsection 7h7 the following new  
subsection 7i73  7i7 ,issuance and      
service of civil investigative demands  
7#a7 ,whenever the ,attorney ,general   
has reason to believe that any person   
may be in possession1 custody1 or       
control of any documentary material     
relevant to an investigation under this 
subchapter1 the ,attorney ,general may1 
before commencing a civil action under  
subsection 7a71 issue in writing and    
serve upon such person1 a civil         
investigative demand requiring-- 7,a7   
the production of such documentary      
material for inspection and copying2    
7,b7 that the custodian of such         
documentary material answer in writing  
written questions with respect to such  
documentary material2 or  7,c7 the      
production of any combination of such   
documentary material or answers4  7#b7  

,the provisions of section #cgcc of     
title #ca governing the authority to    
issue1 use1 and enforce civil           
investigative demands shall apply with  
respect to the authority to issue1 use1 
and enforce civil investigative demands 
under this section1 except that1 for    
purposes of applying such section       
#cgcc-- 7,a7 references to false claims 
law investigators or investigations     
shall be considered references to       
investigators or investigations under   
this subchapter2  7,b7 references to    
interrogatories shall be considered     
references to written questions1 and    
answers to such need not be under oath2 
7,c7 the definitions relating to false  
claims law shall not apply2 and  7,d7   
provisions relating to qui tam relators 
shall not apply4  4  7b7 ,effective date
 ,subsection 7i7 of section #dcbc of    
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
added by subsection 7a77#b71 shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of  
this ,act and shall apply with respect  

to violations of chapter #dc of title   
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 alleged to  
have occurred on or after such date4    
7c7 ,annual reports ,section            
#dccb7;b77#b7 is amended-- 7#a7 by      
striking ,not later than and inserting  
the following3  7,a7 ,in general ,not   
later than  2 and  7#b7 by adding at the
 end the following new subparagraph3    
7,b7 ,annual supplement on civil        
investigative demands  7i7 ,in general  
,the ,attorney ,general shall include   
with each report submitted under        
subparagraph 7,a7 for the last quarter  
of each fiscal year a report on the     
issuance of civil investigative demands 
under section #dcbc7;i7 of this title   
during the most recently completed      
fiscal year4  7ii7 ,elements ,each      
report submitted under clause 7i7 shall 
include the following for the fiscal    
year covered by the report3 7,i7 ,the   
number of times that a civil            
investigative demand was issued under   
section #dcbc7;i7 of this title4  7,,ii7

 ,for each civil investigative demand   
issued under such section with respect  
to an investigation1 whether such       
investigation resulted in a settlement1 
order1 or judgment4  4  ,e ,small       
,business ,matters  #dda4 ,expansion of 
contracting goals and preferences of    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
include conditionally owned small       
business concerns #ajj percent owned by 
veterans ,section #habg7l7 is amended-- 
7#a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by inserting    
unconditionally before owned by each    
place it appears2 and  7#b7 by adding at
 the end the following new paragraph3   
7#c7 ,the term unconditionally owned    
includes1 with respect to ownership of a
 small business concern1 conditional    
ownership of such small business concern
 if such business concern is #ajj       
percent owned by one or more veterans4  
4  #ddb4 ,modification of treatment     
under contracting goals and preferences 
of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs for
 small businesses owned by veterans of  

small businesses after death of disabled
 veteran owners  7a7 ,in general        
,section #habg7;h7 is amended-- 7#a7 in 
paragraph 7#c71 by striking rated as and
 all that follows through disability4   
and inserting a period2 and  7#b7 in    
paragraph 7#b71 by amending subparagraph
 7,c7 to read as follows3  7,c7 ,the    
date that-- 7i7 in the case of a        
surviving spouse of a veteran with a    
service-connected disability rated as   
#ajj percent disabling or who dies as a 
result of a service-connected           
disability1 is #aj years after the date 
of the veteran's death2 or  7ii7 in the 
case of a surviving spouse of a veteran 
with a service-connected disability     
rated as less than #ajj percent         
disabling who does not die as a result  
of a service-connected disability1 is   
three years after the date of the       
veteran's death4  4  7b7 ,effective date
 ,the amendments made by subsection 7a7 
shall take effect on the date that is   
#ahj days after the date of the         

enactment of this ,act and shall apply  
with respect to applications received   
pursuant to section #habg7;f77#b7 of    
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 that  
are verified on or after such date4     
#ddc4 ,treatment of businesses after    
deaths of servicemember-owners for      
purposes of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs contracting goals and          
preferences  7a7 ,in general ,section   
#habg is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating
 subsections 7i7 through 7l7 as         
subsections 7j7 through 7m71            
respectively2 and  7#b7 by inserting    
after subsection 7h7 the following new  
subsection 7i73  7i7 ,treatment of      
businesses after death of               
servicemember-,owner  7#a7 ,if a member 
of the ,armed ,forces owns at least #ea 
percent of a small business concern and 
such member is killed in line of duty in
 the active military1 naval1 or air     
service1 the surviving spouse or        
dependent child of such member who      
acquires such ownership rights in such  

small business concern shall1 for the   
period described in paragraph 7#b71 be  
treated as if the surviving spouse or   
dependent child were a veteran with a   
service-connected disability for        
purposes of determining the status of   
the small business concern as a small   
business concern owned and controlled by
 veterans for purposes of contracting   
goals and preferences under this        
section4  7#b7 ,the period referred to  
in paragraph 7#a7 is the period         
beginning on the date on which the      
member of the ,armed ,forces dies and   
ending on the date as follows3 7,a7 ,in 
the case of a surviving spouse1 the     
earliest of the following dates3 7i7    
,the date on which the surviving spouse 
remarries4  7ii7 ,the date on which the 
surviving spouse relinquishes an        
ownership interest in the small business
 concern and no longer owns at least #ea
 percent of such small business concern4
  7iii7 ,the date that is ten years     
after the date of the member's death4   

7,b7 ,in the case of a dependent child1 
the earliest of the following dates3 7i7
 ,the date on which the surviving       
dependent child relinquishes an         
ownership interest in the small business
 concern and no longer owns at least #ea
 percent of such small business concern4
  7ii7 ,the date that is ten years after
 the date of the member's death4  4  7b7
 ,effective date ,subsection 7i7 of     
section #habg of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 as added by subsection   
7a71 shall take effect on the date of   
the enactment of this ,act and shall    
apply with respect to the deaths of     
members of the ,armed ,forces occurring 
on or after such date4  #ddd4 ,special  
rule for treatment under contracting    
goals and preferences of ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs of small business    
concerns licensed in community property 
,states ,section #habg1 as amended by   
section #ddc of this ,act1 is further   
amended by adding at the end the        
following new subsection3  7n7 ,special 

rule for community property ,states     
,whenever the ,secretary assesses1 for  
purposes of this section1 the degree of 
ownership by an individual of a small   
business concern licensed in a community
 property ,state1 the ,secretary shall  
also assess what that degree of         
ownership would be if such small        
business concern had been licensed in a 
,state other than a community property  
,state4 ,if the ,secretary determines   
that such individual would have had a   
greater degree of ownership of the small
 business concern had such small        
business concern been licensed in a     
,state other than a community property  
,state1 the ,secretary shall treat1 for 
purposes of this section1 such small    
business concern as if it had been      
licensed in a ,state other than a       
community property ,state4  4  #dde4    
,report on assistance for veterans in   
obtaining training on purchasing and    
operating a franchise  7a7 ,report      
required ,not later than one year after 

the effective date specified in         
subsection 7c71 the ,secretary of ,labor
 shall1 in consultation with the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 the   
,administrator of the ,small ,business  
,administration1 and other appropriate  
entities1 submit to ,congress a report  
on the assistance available to veterans 
to obtain training necessary to purchase
 and operate a franchise4  7b7 ,elements
 ,the report required by subsection 7a7 
shall include the following3 7#a7 ,a    
description of the assistance available 
for veterans through the ,department of 
,labor1 the ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs1 the ,small ,business          
,administration1 or any other agency of 
the ,federal ,government in order to    
obtain training necessary to purchase or
 operate a franchise4  7#b7 ,information
 on the number of veterans who have     
sought and obtained the training        
described in paragraph 7#a7 during the  
five calendar years preceding the       
report4  7#c7 ,a description of any     

barriers encountered by veterans in     
obtaining the training described in     
paragraph 7#a74  7c7 ,effective date    
,this section shall take effect on the  
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  ,v         
,accountability and ,administrative     
,improvements  #eja4 ,administration of 
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,networks
  7a7 ,veterans ,integrated ,service    
,networks  7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter 
,i of chapter #gc is amended by adding  
at the end the following new section3   
#gcaj4 ,veterans ,integrated ,service   
,networks  7a7 ,organization  7#a7 ,the 
,secretary shall organize the ,veterans 
,health ,administration in              
geographically defined ,veterans        
,integrated ,service ,networks4  7#b7   
,each ,veterans ,integrated ,service    
,network shall be organized in          
consideration of the following3 7,a7    
,the size of the veteran population of  
the region of the network4  7,b7 ,the   
complexity of the medical needs of the  

veterans in such region4  7,c7 ,patient 
referral patterns4  7,d7 ,the           
availability of a full continuum of     
health care services4  7,e7 ,the ability
 of the ,department to furnish health   
care efficiently4  7,f7 ,partnerships   
with non-,department health care        
entities4  7b7 ,staffing model  7#a7    
,the ,secretary shall establish a       
staffing model for each ,veterans       
,integrated ,service ,network that--    
7,a7 is appropriate for the mission and 
responsibilities of the ,veterans       
,integrated ,service ,network2 and  7,b7
 accounts for the specific health care  
needs of differing populations in the   
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network4
  7#b7 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that
 each ,veterans ,integrated ,service    
,network complies with the staffing     
model established by the ,secretary     
under paragraph 7#a7 for such ,veterans 
,integrated ,service ,network4  7c7     
,integrated health care system ,the     
,secretary shall ensure that each       

,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
maintains a regional integrated         
healthcare system by-- 7#a7 implementing
 alliances with such other governmental1
 public1 and private health care        
organizations and practitioners as the  
,secretary considers appropriate to meet
 the needs of veterans in the ,network2 
7#b7 providing oversight and management 
of1 and taking responsibility for1 a    
regional budget for the activities of   
the ,veterans ,health ,administration in
 the geographic area of the ,network    
that is-- 7,a7 aligned with the budget  
guidelines of the ,department and the   
,veterans ,health ,administration2  7,b7
 balanced at the end of each fiscal     
year2 and  7,c7 sufficient to provide   
high-quality health care to veterans    
within the region and to meet any unique
 needs of the veterans of the region2   
7#c7 using national metrics to develop  
systems to provide effective1 efficient1
 and safe delivery of health care2 and  
7#d7 ensuring high-quality clinical     

programs and services are rendered in   
and through-- 7,a7 the medical centers  
and outpatient clinics of the           
,department that are located in the     
,network2 and  7,b7 other               
non-,department clinical or health care 
delivery settings located in the        
,network4  7d7 ,reduction in duplicate  
functions ,the ,secretary shall ensure  
that the ,veterans ,integrated ,service 
,networks identify and reduce1 whenever 
practicable1 the duplication of         
functions in clinical1 administrative1  
and operational processes and practices 
of the ,veterans ,health                
,administration4  7e7 ,collaboration and
 cooperation ,the ,secretary shall      
ensure that each ,veterans ,integrated  
,service ,network-- 7#a7 works to       
achieve maximum effectiveness in patient
 care and safety1 graduate medical      
education1 and research2 and  7#b7      
assesses the consolidation or           
realignment of institutional functions1 
including capital asset1 safety1 and    

operational support functions1 in       
collaboration and cooperation with other
 ,veterans ,integrated ,service         
,networks and the following offices or  
entities within the geographical area of
 the ,network3 7,a7 ,the offices of the 
,veterans ,benefits ,administration and 
the ,national ,cemetery ,administration4
  7,b7 ,the offices1 installations1 and 
facilities of the ,department of        
,defense1 including the offices1        
installations1 and facilities of each   
branch of the ,armed ,forces and the    
reserve components of the ,armed        
,forces4  7,c7 ,the offices1            
installations1 and facilities of the    
,coast ,guard4  7,d7 ,offices of ,state 
and local agencies that have a mission  
to provide assistance to veterans4  7,e7
 ,medical schools and other affiliates4 
7,f7 ,offices of ,congress1 offices of  
,state and local elected officials1 and 
other government offices4  7,g7         
,federal1 ,state1 and local emergency   
preparedness organizations4  7,h7       

,community and nonprofit organizations4 
7,i7 ,such other entities of the        
,federal ,government as the ,secretary  
considers appropriate4  7f7             
,headquarters  7#a7 ,the ,secretary     
shall ensure that each ,veterans        
,integrated ,service ,network has only  
one headquarters office4  7#b7 ,the     
location of a headquarters office for a 
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
shall be determined by the ,secretary   
and co-located with a ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs medical center4  7#c7
 7,a7 ,the ,secretary may employ or     
contract for the services of such full  
time equivalent employees and           
contractors at the headquarters of each 
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
as the ,secretary considers appropriate 
in accordance with the staffing models  
established under subsection 7b74  7,b7 
,not later than ,december #ca each year1
 the ,secretary shall submit to the     
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          

,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on employment 
at the headquarters of ,veterans        
,integrated ,service ,networks during   
the most recently completed fiscal year4
  7,c7 ,each report submitted under     
subparagraph 7,b7 shall include the     
following for the year covered by the   
report3 7i7 ,the number of individuals  
employed at each headquarters of a      
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network4
  7ii7 ,the number of individuals       
employed by the ,veterans ,health       
,administration in each ,veterans       
,integrated ,service ,network who are   
not employed at the same location as the
 headquarters of the ,network4  7iii7   
,the title for each position of         
employment at a headquarters of a       
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network4
  7iv7 ,the title for each position of  
employment with the ,veterans ,health   
,administration in each ,veterans       
,integrated ,service ,network that is   
not at the same location as the         

headquarters of the ,network4  7v7 ,an  
assessment of the impact on the budget  
of the ,department by the employment of 
individuals at the headquarters of the  
,veterans ,integrated ,service          
,networks4  7g7 ,triennial structure    
review1 reassessment1 and report  7#a7  
,beginning three years after the date of
 the enactment of this section and not  
less frequently than once every three   
years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall  
conduct a review and assessment of the  
structure and operations of the         
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,networks
 in order to identify recommendations-- 
7,a7 for streamlining and reducing costs
 associated with the operation of each  
headquarters of a ,veterans ,integrated 
,service ,network2 and  7,b7 for        
reducing costs of health care within the
 ,veterans ,health ,administration4     
7#b7 ,not later than #ahj days after    
conducting a review and assessment under
 paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall   
submit to the ,committee of ,veterans'  

,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
such review and assessment1 which shall 
include such recommendations for        
legislative or administrative action as 
the ,secretary considers appropriate to 
improve the ,veterans ,integrated       
,service ,networks4  4  7#b7 ,clerical  
amendment ,the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter #gc is amended by  
inserting after the item relating to    
section #gcji the following new item3   
#gcaj4 ,veterans ,integrated ,service   
,networks4  4  7b7 ,relocation of       
headquarters  7#a7 ,in general ,in the  
case of a headquarters office of a      
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
that on the day before the date of the  
enactment of this ,act was in a location
 that was not co-located with a         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
medical center and the ,secretary is    
engaged in a lease for such location1   
the ,secretary may-- 7,a7 relocate such 

headquarters upon the expiration of such
 lease so that such headquarters is     
co-located as required by section       
#gcaj7;f77#b7 of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code 7as added by subsection   
7a77#a772 or  7,b7 notwithstanding such 
section #gcaj7;f77#b7 7as so added71    
renew such lease or enter into a new    
lease to keep such headquarters in such 
location4  7#b7 ,report ,if the         
,secretary renews a lease or engages in 
a new lease under paragraph 7#a77;,b71  
the ,secretary shall submit to the      
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives1 before renewing such  
lease or engaging in such lease1 a      
report describing the reasons for such  
renewal or engagement4 ,such report     
shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a    
list of ,department of ,veterans        
,affairs medical centers in the         
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
of the headquarters with underutilized  

buildings1 the number of such buildings1
 and the total underutilized square     
footage for each such medical center4   
7,b7 ,the cost of the current lease 7the
 annual amount of rent1 the total cost  
over the life of the lease1 and the     
total cost per square foot7 and the     
current square footage being leased4    
7,c7 ,the cost of the new lease 7the    
annual amount of rent1 the total cost   
over the life of the lease1 and the     
total cost per square foot7 and the     
square footage to be leased4  7c7       
,construction ,nothing in this section  
shall be construed to require any change
 in the location or type of medical care
 or service provided by a ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs medical center1 a   
,department community based outpatient  
clinic1 a center for readjustment       
counseling and related mental health    
services for veterans under section     
#agab;,a of title #ch1 ,united ,states  
,code 7known as a vet center71 or other 
facility that provides direct care or   

services under a law administered by the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4  7d7 
,effective date ,this section1 and the  
amendments made by this section1 shall  
take effect on the date that is one year
 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act4  #ejb4 ,regional support centers 
for ,veterans ,integrated ,service      
,networks  7a7 ,in general ,subchapter  
,i of chapter #gc1 as amended by section
 #eja7;a77#a7 of this ,act1 is further  
amended by adding at the end the        
following new section3  #gcaj;,a4       
,regional support centers for ,veterans 
,integrated ,service ,networks  7a7     
,establishment ,the ,secretary shall    
establish not more than four regional   
support centers within the ,veterans    
,health ,administration to assess the   
effectiveness and efficiency of the     
,veterans ,integrated ,service          
,networks4 ,the head of each regional   
support center shall report to the      
,under ,secretary of ,health4  7b7      
,functions ,the functions of the        

regional support centers established    
under subsection 7a7 are as follows3    
7#a7 ,to assess the quality of work     
performed within finance operations and 
other compliance related activities of  
the ,veterans ,integrated ,service      
,networks4  7#b7 ,to assess how         
effectively and efficiently each        
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
conducts outreach to veterans who served
 in ,operation ,enduring ,freedom1      
,operation ,iraqi ,freedom1 ,operation  
,new ,dawn1 or any other contingency    
operation 7as that term is defined in   
section #aja of title #aj74  7#c7 ,to   
assess how effectively and efficiently  
each ,veterans ,integrated ,service     
,network conducts programs for the      
benefit of women veterans4  7#d7 ,to    
assess how effectively and efficiently  
each ,veterans ,integrated ,service     
,network conducts programs that address 
homelessness among veterans4  7#e7 ,to  
assess how effectively and efficiently  
each ,veterans ,integrated ,service     

,network consumes energy4  7#f7 ,to     
assess such other matters concerning the
 operations and activities of the       
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,networks
 as the ,secretary considers            
appropriate4  7c7 ,staff ,the ,secretary
 may hire such employees and contractors
 as the ,secretary considers appropriate
 to carry out the functions of the      
regional support centers4  7d7 ,location
 of regional support centers  7#a7      
,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71  
the location of each regional support   
center established under subsection 7a7 
shall be determined by the ,secretary   
and co-located with a medical center of 
the ,department4  7#b7 ,the ,secretary  
may choose a location for a regional    
support center established under        
subsection 7a7 that is not co-located   
with a medical center of the ,department
 if the ,secretary submits to the       
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    

,representatives1 before entering into a
 contract for a location that is not    
co-located with a medical center1 a     
report describing the reasons for       
choosing a location for the regional    
support center that is not co-located   
with a medical center of the            
,department4 ,such report shall include 
the following3 7,a7 ,a list of medical  
centers of the ,department in the       
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
of the regional support center with     
underutilized buildings1 the number of  
all ,veterans ,health ,administration   
buildings in such ,network1 and the     
total underutilized square footage for  
each medical center of the ,department  
in such ,network4  7,b7 ,the estimated  
cost of such lease 7the annual amount of
 rent1 the total cost over the life of  
the lease1 and the total cost per square
 foot7 and the square footage to be     
leased4  4  7b7 ,initial staffing ,in   
providing for the initial staff of each 
regional support center established     

under section #gcaj;,a7a7 of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 as added by      
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs shall1 to the degree 
practicable1 transfer employees from    
headquarters of ,veterans ,integrated   
,service ,networks to regional support  
centers who were employed in positions  
at such headquarters that covered       
functions similar to those described in 
section #gcaj;,a7b7 of such title1 as so
 added4  7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the   
table of sections at the beginning of   
chapter #gc1 as amended by section      
#eja7;a77#b7 of this ,act1 is further   
amended by inserting after the item     
relating to section #gcaj the following 
new item3  #gcaj;,a4 ,regional support  
centers for ,veterans ,integrated       
,service ,networks4  4  7d7             
,construction ,nothing in this section  
shall be construed to require any change
 in the location or type of medical care
 or service provided by a ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs medical center1 a   

,department community based outpatient  
clinic1 a center for readjustment       
counseling and related mental health    
services for veterans under section     
#agab;,a of title #ch1 ,united ,states  
,code 7known as a vet center71 or other 
facility that provides direct care or   
services under a law administered by the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4  7e7 
,effective date ,this section1 and the  
amendments made by this section1 shall  
take effect on the date that is one year
 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act4  #ejc4 ,commission on ,capital   
,planning for ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs ,medical ,facilities  7a7      
,establishment of commission  7#a7      
,establishment ,there is established the
 ,commission on ,capital ,planning for  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
,medical ,facilities 7in this section   
referred to as the ,commission74  7#b7  
,membership  7,a7 ,voting members ,the  
,commission shall1 subject to           
subparagraph 7,b71 be composed of #aj   

voting members as follows3 7i7 #a shall 
be appointed by the ,president4  7ii7 #a
 shall be appointed by the              
,administrator of ,general ,services4   
7iii7 #c shall be appointed by the      
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 of    
whom-- 7,i7 #a shall be an employee of  
the ,veterans ,health ,administration2  
7,,ii7 #a shall be an employee of the   
,office of ,asset ,enterprise           
,management of the ,department of       
,veterans ,affairs2 and  7,,iii7 #a     
shall be an employee of the ,office of  
,construction and ,facilities           
,management of the ,department of       
,veterans ,affairs4  7iv7 #a shall be   
appointed by the ,secretary of ,defense 
from among employees of the ,army ,corps
 of ,engineers4  7v7 #a shall be        
appointed by the majority leader of the 
,senate4  7vi7 #a shall be appointed by 
the minority leader of the ,senate4     
7vii7 #a shall be appointed by the      
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives4  7viii7 #a shall be   

appointed by the minority leader of the 
,house of ,representatives4  7,b7       
,requirement relating to certain        
appointments of voting members ,of the  
members appointed pursuant to clause    
7i71 7ii71 and 7iv7 through 7viii7 of   
subparagraph 7,a71 all shall have       
expertise in capital leasing1           
construction1 or health facility        
management planning4  7,c7 ,non-voting  
members ,the ,commission shall be       
assisted by #aj non-voting members1     
appointed by the vote of a majority of  
members of the ,commission under        
subparagraph 7,a71 of whom-- 7i7 #f     
shall be representatives of veterans    
service organizations recognized by the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs2 and   
7ii7 #d shall be individuals from       
outside the ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs with experience and expertise  
in matters relating to management1      
construction1 and leasing of capital    
assets4  7,d7 ,date of appointment of   
voting members ,the appointments of the 

members of the ,commission under        
subparagraph 7,a7 shall be made not     
later than #fj days after the date of   
the enactment of this ,act4  7#c7       
,period of appointment2 vacancies       
,members shall be appointed for the life
 of the ,commission4 ,any vacancy in the
 ,commission shall not affect its       
powers1 but shall be filled in the same 
manner as the original appointment4     
7#d7 ,initial meeting ,not later than   
#ae days after the date on which #g     
members of the ,commission have been    
appointed1 the ,commission shall hold   
its first meeting4  7#e7 ,meetings ,the 
,commission shall meet at the call of   
the ,chair4  7#f7 ,quorum ,a majority of
 the members of the ,commission shall   
constitute a quorum1 but a lesser number
 of members may hold hearings4  7#g7    
,chair and vice chair ,the ,commission  
shall select a ,chair and ,vice ,chair  
from among its members4  7b7 ,duties of 
commission  7#a7 ,in general ,the       
,commission shall undertake a           

comprehensive evaluation and assessment 
of various options for capital planning 
for ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
medical facilities1 including an        
evaluation and assessment of the        
mechanisms by which the ,department     
currently selects means for the delivery
 of health care1 whether by major       
construction1 major medical facility    
leases1 sharing agreements with the     
,department of ,defense1 the ,indian    
,health ,service1 and ,federally        
,qualified ,health ,clinics under       
section #ccj of the ,public ,health     
,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;b71   
contract care1 multisite care1          
telemedicine1 extended hours for care1  
or other means4  7#b7 ,context of       
evaluation and assessment ,in           
undertaking the evaluation and          
assessment1 the ,commission shall       
consider-- 7,a7 the importance of access
 to health care through the ,department1
 including associated guidelines of the 
,department on access to1 and drive time

 for1 health care2  7,b7 limitations and
 requirements applicable to the         
construction and leasing of medical     
facilities for the ,department1         
including applicable laws1 regulations1 
and costs as determined by both the     
,congressional ,budget ,office and the  
,office of ,management and ,budget2     
7,c7 the nature of capital planning for 
,department medical facilities in an era
 of fiscal uncertainty2  7,d7 projected 
future fluctuations in the population of
 veterans2 and  7,e7 the extent to which
 the ,department was able to meet the   
mandates of the ,capital ,asset         
,realignment for ,enhanced ,services    
,commission4  7#c7 ,particular          
considerations ,in undertaking the      
evaluation and assessment1 the          
,commission shall address1 in           
particular1 the following3 7,a7 ,the    
,major ,medical ,facility ,lease        
,program of the ,department1 including  
an identification of potential          
improvements to the lease authorization 

processes under that ,program4  7,b7    
,the management processes of the        
,department for its ,major ,medical     
,facility ,construction ,program1       
including processes relating to contract
 award and management1 project          
management1 and processing of change    
orders4  7,c7 ,the overall capital      
planning program of the ,department for 
medical facilities1 including an        
evaluation and assessment of-- 7i7 the  
manner in which the ,department         
determines whether to use capital or    
non-capital means to expand access to   
health care2  7ii7 the manner in which  
the ,department determines the          
disposition of under-utilized and       
un-utilized buildings on campuses of    
,department medical centers1 and any    
barriers to disposition2  7iii7 the     
effectiveness of the facility master    
planning initiative of the ,department2 
and  7iv7 the extent to which           
sustainable attributes are planned for  
to decrease operating costs for         

,department medical facilities4  7,d7   
,the current backlog of construction    
projects for ,department medical        
facilities1 including an identification 
of the most effective means to quickly  
secure the most critical repairs        
required1 including repairs relating to 
facility condition deficiencies1        
structural safety1 and compliance with  
the ,americans ,with ,disabilities ,act 
of #aiij4  7#d7 ,reports ,subject to    
paragraph 7#e71 the ,commission shall   
submit to the ,secretary of ,veterans   
,affairs1 and to the ,committee         
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives1 reports
 as follows3 7,a7 ,not later than six   
months after its initial meeting under  
subsection 7a77#d71 a report on the     
,major ,medical ,facility ,lease        
,program and the ,congressional lease   
authorization process4  7,b7 ,not later 
than one year after its initial meeting1
 a report-- 7i7 on the management       

processes of the ,department for the    
construction of ,department medical     
facilities2 and  7ii7 setting forth an  
update of any matters covered in the    
report under subparagraph 7,a74  7,c7   
,not later than #ah months after its    
initial meeting1 a report-- 7i7 on the  
overall capital planning program of the 
,department for medical facilities2 and 
7ii7 setting forth an update of any     
matters covered in earlier reports under
 this paragraph4  7,d7 ,not later than  
two years after its initial meeting1 a  
report-- 7i7 on the current backlog of  
construction projects for ,department   
medical facilities2  7ii7 setting forth 
an update of any matters covered in     
earlier reports under this paragraph2   
and  7iii7 including such other matters 
relating to the duties of the           
,commission that the ,commission        
considers appropriate4  7,e7 ,not later 
than #bg months after its initial       
meeting1 a report on the implementation 
by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs 

pursuant to subsection 7g7 of the       
recommendations included pursuant to    
paragraph 7#e7 in the reports under this
 paragraph4  7#e7 ,recommendations ,each
 report under paragraph 7#d7 shall      
include1 for the aspect of the capital  
asset planning process of the           
,department covered by such report1 such
 recommendations as the ,commission     
considers appropriate for the           
improvement and enhancement of such     
aspect of the capital asset planning    
process4  7c7 ,powers of commission     
7#a7 ,hearings ,the ,commission may hold
 such hearings1 sit and act at such     
times and places1 take such testimony1  
and receive such evidence as the        
,commission considers advisable to carry
 out this section4  7#b7 ,information   
from ,federal agencies ,the ,commission 
may secure directly from any ,federal   
department or agency such information as
 the ,commission considers necessary to 
carry out this section4 ,upon request of
 the ,chair of the ,commission1 the head

 of such department or agency shall     
furnish such information to the         
,commission4  7d7 ,commission personnel 
matters  7#a7 ,compensation of members  
,each member of the ,commission who is  
not an officer or employee of the       
,federal ,government shall be           
compensated at a rate equal to the daily
 equivalent of the annual rate of basic 
pay prescribed for level ,,iv of the    
,executive ,schedule under section #ecae
 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 for
 each day 7including travel time7 during
 which such member is engaged in the    
performance of the duties of the        
,commission4 ,all members of the        
,commission who are officers or         
employees of the ,united ,states shall  
serve without compensation in addition  
to that received for their services as  
officers or employees of the ,united    
,states4  7#b7 ,travel expenses ,the    
members of the ,commission shall be     
allowed travel expenses1 including per  
diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates   

authorized for employees of agencies    
under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of   
title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while  
away from their homes or regular places 
of business in the performance of       
services for the ,commission4  7#c7     
,staff  7,a7 ,in general ,the ,chair of 
the ,commission may1 without regard to  
the civil service laws and regulations1 
appoint and terminate an executive      
director and such other additional      
personnel as may be necessary to enable 
the ,commission to perform its duties4  
,the employment of an executive director
 shall be subject to confirmation by the
 ,commission4  7,b7 ,compensation ,the  
,chair of the ,commission may fix the   
compensation of the executive director  
and other personnel without regard to   
chapter #ea and subchapter ,,iii of     
chapter #ec of title #e1 ,united ,states
 ,code1 relating to classification of   
positions and ,general ,schedule pay    
rates1 except that the rate of pay for  
the executive director and other        

personnel may not exceed the rate       
payable for level ,v of the ,executive  
,schedule under section #ecaf of such   
title4  7#d7 ,detail of government      
employees ,any ,federal ,government     
employee may be detailed to the         
,commission without reimbursement1 and  
such detail shall be without            
interruption or loss of civil service   
status or privilege4  7#e7 ,procurement 
of temporary and intermittent services  
,the ,chair of the ,commission may      
procure temporary and intermittent      
services under section #caji7;b7 of     
title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 at     
rates for individuals which do not      
exceed the daily equivalent of the      
annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 
level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule    
under section #ecaf of such title4  7e7 
,termination of commission ,the         
,commission shall terminate #fj days    
after the date on which the ,commission 
submits its report under subsection     
7b77#d77;,e74  7f7 ,funding ,the        

,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
make available to the ,commission such  
amounts as the ,secretary and the ,chair
 of the ,commission jointly consider    
appropriate for the ,commission to      
perform its duties under this section4  
7g7 ,action on recommendations  7#a7 ,in
 general ,the ,secretary of ,veterans   
,affairs shall implement each           
recommendation included in a report     
under subsection 7b77#d7 that the       
,secretary considers feasible and       
advisable and can be implemented without
 further legislative action4  7#b7      
,reports ,not later than #abj days after
 receipt of a report under subparagraphs
 7,a7 through 7,d7 of subsection        
7b77#d71 the ,secretary shall submit to 
the ,committee ,veterans' ,affairs of   
the ,senate and the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report setting forth 
the following3 7,a7 ,an assessment of   
the feasibility and advisability of each
 recommendation contained in such       

report4  7,b7 ,for each recommendation  
assessed as feasible and advisable-- 7i7
 if such recommendation does not require
 further legislative action for         
implementation1 a description of the    
actions taken1 and to be taken1 by the  
,secretary to implement such            
recommendation2 and  7ii7 if such       
recommendation requires further         
legislative action for implementation1  
recommendations for such legislative    
action4  #ejd4 ,advance appropriations  
for certain accounts of the ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,in general  
,section #aag is amended-- 7#a7 by      
striking medical care accounts of the   
,department each place it appears and   
inserting covered accounts of the       
,department2  7#b7 in subsection 7c7--  
7,a7 by striking medical care accounts  
of the ,veterans ,health                
,administration1 ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs account and inserting
 accounts of the ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs account2  7,b7 in    

paragraph 7#a71 by inserting ,veterans  
,health ,administration1 after 7#a72    
7,c7 in paragraph 7#b71 by inserting    
,veterans ,health ,administration1 after
 7#b72  7,d7 in paragraph 7#c71 by      
inserting ,veterans ,health             
,administration1 after 7#c72  7,e7 by   
redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through   
7#c7 as paragraphs 7#g7 through 7#i71   
respectively2  7,f7 by inserting before 
paragraph 7#g71 as redesignated by      
subparagraph 7,e71 the following new    
paragraphs3  7#a7 ,veterans ,benefits   
,administration1 ,compensation and      
,pensions4  7#b7 ,veterans ,benefits    
,administration1 ,readjustment          
,benefits4  7#c7 ,veterans ,benefits    
,administration1 ,veterans ,insurance   
and ,indemnities4  7#d7 ,veterans       
,benefits ,administration1 ,veterans    
,housing ,benefit ,program ,fund4  7#e7 
,veterans ,benefits ,administration1    
,vocational ,rehabilitation ,loans      
,program ,account4  7#f7 ,veterans      
,benefits ,administration1 ,native      

,american ,veteran ,housing ,loan       
,program ,account4  2 and  7,g7 in the  
subsection heading1 by striking ,medical
 care accounts and inserting ,covered   
accounts2 and  7#c7 in the section      
heading1 by striking certain medical    
care accounts and inserting certain     
accounts4  7b7 ,effective date ,the     
amendments made by subsection 7a7 shall 
apply with respect to fiscal year #bjaf 
and each subsequent fiscal year4  7c7   
,conforming amendment ,section #aaje of 
title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended by striking the first paragraph 
7#cg7 and inserting the following3      
7#cg7 information on estimates of       
appropriations for the fiscal year      
following the fiscal year for which the 
budget is submitted for the following   
accounts of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs3 7,a7 ,veterans ,benefits     
,administration1 ,compensation and      
,pensions4  7,b7 ,veterans ,benefits    
,administration1 ,readjustment          
,benefits4  7,c7 ,veterans ,benefits    

,administration1 ,veterans ,insurance   
and ,indemnities4  7,d7 ,veterans       
,benefits ,administration1 ,veterans    
,housing ,benefit ,program ,fund4  7,e7 
,veterans ,benefits ,administration1    
,vocational ,rehabilitation ,loans      
,program ,account4  7,f7 ,veterans      
,benefits ,administration1 ,native      
,american ,veteran ,housing ,loan       
,program ,account4  7,g7 ,veterans      
,health ,administration1 ,medical       
,services4  7,h7 ,veterans ,health      
,administration1 ,medical ,support and  
,compliance4  7,i7 ,veterans ,health    
,administration1 ,medical ,facilities4  
4  7d7 ,technical correction ,such      
section is further amended by           
redesignating the second paragraph      
7#cg71 as added by section #aa7;a77#b7  
of the ,,gpra ,modernization ,act of    
#bjaj 7,public ,law #aaa-ceb2 #abd      
,stat4 #chha71 as paragraph 7#ci74      
#eje4 ,public access to ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs research and data    
sharing between ,departments  7a7       

,establishment of ,internet website ,the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall 
make available on an ,internet website  
of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 available to the public the following3 
7#a7 ,data files that contain           
information on research of the          
,department4  7#b7 ,a data dictionary on
 each data file4  7#c7 ,instructions for
 how to obtain access to each data file 
for use in research4  7b7 ,public access
 to manuscripts on ,department funded   
research  7#a7 ,in general ,beginning   
not later than #edj days after the      
effective date specified in subsection  
7e71 the ,secretary shall require1 as a 
condition on the use of any data        
gathered or formulated from research    
funded by the ,department1 that any     
final1 peer-reviewed manuscript prepared
 for publication that uses such data be 
submitted to the ,secretary for deposit 
in the digital archive under paragraph  
7#b7 and publication under paragraph    
7#c74  7#b7 ,digital archive ,not later 

than #edj days after the effective date 
specified in subsection 7e71 the        
,secretary shall-- 7,a7 establish a     
digital archive consisting of           
manuscripts described in paragraph 7#a72
 or  7,b7 partner with another executive
 agency to compile such manuscripts in a
 digital archive4  7#c7 ,public         
availability  7,a7 ,availability of     
archive ,the ,secretary shall ensure    
that the digital archive under paragraph
 7#b7 and the contents of such archive  
are available to the public via a       
publicly accessible ,internet website at
 no cost to the public4  7,b7           
,availability of manuscripts ,the       
,secretary shall ensure that each       
manuscript submitted to the ,secretary  
under paragraph 7#a7 is available to the
 public under subparagraph 7,a7 not     
later than one year after the official  
date on which the manuscript is         
otherwise published4  7#d7 ,consistent  
with copyright law ,the ,secretary shall
 carry out this subsection in a manner  

consistent with applicable copyright    
law4  7#e7 ,annual report  7,a7 ,in     
general ,not later than one year after  
the date the ,secretary begins making   
manuscripts available to the public     
under this subsection and not less      
frequently than once each year          
thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit 
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
 of the ,senate and the ,committee on   
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
implementation of this subsection during
 the most recent one-year period4  7,b7 
,contents ,each report submitted under  
subparagraph 7,a7 shall include for the 
period of the report3 7i7 ,the number of
 manuscripts submitted under paragraph  
7#a74  7ii7 ,the titles of such         
manuscripts4  7iii7 ,the authors of such
 manuscripts4  7iv7 ,for each such      
manuscript1 the name and issue number or
 volume number1 as the case may be1 of  
the journal or other publication in     
which such manuscript was published4    

7c7 ,recommendations for data sharing   
between ,department of ,veterans        
,affairs and ,department of ,defense    
,not later than one year after the      
effective date specified in subsection  
7e71 the ,department of ,veterans       
,affairs-,department of ,defense ,joint 
,executive ,committee established by    
section #cbj7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united  
,states ,code1 shall submit to the      
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and the
 ,secretary of ,defense options and     
recommendations for the establishment of
 a program for long-term cooperation and
 data sharing between and within the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs and   
the ,department of ,defense to          
facilitate research on outcomes of      
military service1 readjustment after    
combat deployment1 and other topics of  
importance to the following3 7#a7       
,veterans4  7#b7 ,members of the ,armed 
,forces4  7#c7 ,family members of       
veterans4  7#d7 ,family members of      
members of the ,armed ,forces4  7#e7    

,members of communities that have a     
significant population of veterans or   
members of the ,armed ,forces4  7d7     
,executive agency defined ,in this      
section1 the term executive agency has  
the meaning given that term in section  
#acc of title #da1 ,united ,states      
,code4  7e7 ,effective date ,this       
section shall take effect on the date   
that is one year after the date of the  
enactment of this ,act4  #ejf4          
,assessment by ,comptroller ,general of 
the ,united ,states of information made 
available by ,veterans ,benefits        
,administration  7a7 ,assessment of     
information currently available ,not    
later than two years after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,comptroller ,general of the ,united    
,states shall-- 7#a7 conduct an         
assessment of the process by which the  
,veterans ,benefits ,administration     
informs veterans1 veterans service      
organizations1 and such other persons as
 the ,comptroller ,general considers    

appropriate regarding the furnishing of 
benefits under laws administered by the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to     
determine the extent to which the       
process results in disseminated         
information that-- 7,a7 adequately      
supports and improves the timeliness and
 accuracy of decisions made by the      
,administration with respect to claims  
for disability compensation and such    
other benefits furnished under laws     
administered by the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs as the ,comptroller  
,general considers appropriate2 and     
7,b7 encourages the filing of fully     
developed claims for benefits under laws
 administered by the ,secretary2 and    
7#b7 assess how the ,veterans ,benefits 
,administration notifies each claimant  
during1 and as part of1 any electronic  
filing process established by the       
,secretary for the filing of            
applications for disability compensation
 and such other benefits under laws     
administered by the ,secretary as the   

,comptroller ,general considers         
appropriate that services may be        
available to the claimant from a        
veterans service organization4  7b7     
,report ,not later than two years after 
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
the ,comptroller ,general shall submit  
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
 of the ,senate and the ,committee on   
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
findings of the ,comptroller ,general   
under subsection 7a74 ,such report shall
 include such recommendations as the    
,comptroller ,general may have for      
legislative or administrative action to 
improve the availability of information 
made available to the public by the     
,veterans ,benefits ,administration     
regarding the furnishing of benefits    
under laws administered by the          
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4  7c7  
,veterans service organization defined  
,in this section1 the term veterans     
service organization means an           

organization recognized by the          
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for the
 representation of veterans under       
section #eijb of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code4  7d7 ,effective date     
,this section shall take effect on the  
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #ejg4      
,comptroller general report on advisory 
committees of the ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,not
 later than one year after the effective
 date specified in subsection 7c71 the  
,comptroller ,general shall submit to   
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,senate and the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
advisory committees of the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs4  7b7 ,contents   
,the report required by subsection 7a7--
 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7              
recommendations or proposals for        
continuing1 modifying1 or terminating   
certain advisory committees1 including  

noting areas of overlap and duplication 
among the advisory committees2 and  7,b7
 such other information as the          
,comptroller ,general considers         
appropriate2 and  7#b7 may include--    
7,a7 a description of each advisory     
committee1 including with respect to    
each committee-- 7i7 the purpose of the 
committee2  7ii7 the commencement date  
of the committee2 and  7iii7 the        
anticipated termination date of the     
committee2  7,b7 a summary of the       
anticipated expenses and the actual     
expenses incurred for each advisory     
committee during the most recent three  
fiscal years ending before the date of  
the enactment of this ,act2 and  7,c7   
with respect to meetings held by each   
advisory committee-- 7i7 the frequency  
with which each committee has met during
 the shorter of-- 7,i7 the most recent  
three fiscal years ending before the    
date of the enactment of this ,act2 and 
7,,ii7 the life of the committee2  7ii7 
the date of the most recent meeting held

 by the committee before such date of   
enactment2 and  7iii7 the date of the   
most recent report or other written     
product developed by the committee      
before such date of enactment4  7c7     
,effective date ,this section shall take
 effect on the date that is one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  ,,vi ,improvement of ,processing 
of ,claims for ,compensation  ,a ,claims
 ,based on ,military ,sexual ,trauma    
#fja4 ,medical examination and opinion  
for disability compensation claims based
 on military sexual trauma  7a7 ,in     
general ,section #eajc;,a7d7 is amended 
by adding at the end the following new  
paragraph3  7#c7 7,a7 ,in the case of a 
claim for disability compensation based 
on a mental health condition related to 
military sexual trauma1 the ,secretary  
shall treat an examination or opinion as
 being necessary to make a decision on a
 claim for purposes of paragraph 7#a7 if
 the evidence of record before the      
,secretary1 taking into consideration   

all information and lay or medical      
evidence 7including statements of the   
claimant7-- 7i7 7,i7 contains competent 
evidence that the claimant has a current
 disability1 or persistent or recurrent 
symptoms of disability2 and  7,,ii7     
indicates that the disability or        
symptoms may be associated with the     
claimant's active military1 naval1 or   
air service2 but  7ii7 does not contain 
a diagnosis or opinion by a mental      
health professional that may assist in  
corroborating the occurrence of a       
military sexual trauma stressor related 
to a diagnosable mental health          
condition4  7,b7 ,in this paragraph1 the
 term military sexual trauma shall have 
the meaning specified by the ,secretary 
for purposes of this paragraph1 and     
shall include sexual harassment 7as so  
specified74  4  7b7 ,report ,not later  
than #ah months after the date of the   
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to   
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of

 the ,senate and the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the number 
of examinations and opinions conducted  
by the ,secretary pursuant to paragraph 
7#c7 of section #eajc;,a7d7 of title    
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code 7as added by 
subsection 7a771 including the          
following3 7#a7 ,the number of          
examinations conducted using a          
standardized disability assessment4     
7#b7 ,the number of examinations        
conducted using a non-standardized      
clinical interview4  #fjb4 ,case        
representative officers for military    
sexual trauma support  7a7 ,in general  
,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs   
shall assign to each individual seeking 
compensation under the laws administered
 by the ,secretary based on military    
sexual trauma a case representative     
officer who shall provide advice and    
general information to such individual  
on the claims process for such          
compensation4 ,each case representative 

officer so assigned shall be assigned   
from among current personnel of the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  7b7 
,liaison ,a case representative officer 
assigned to an individual under         
subsection 7a7 shall be responsible for 
serving as a liaison between the        
individual1 an authorized agent or      
attorney of the individual under section
 #eijd of title #ch1 ,united ,states    
,code1 or an otherwise accredited       
representative of the individual1 and   
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs on
 matters relating to the claim of the   
individual for compensation under the   
laws administered by the ,secretary4    
7c7 ,case representative officer        
requirements  7#a7 ,competence and      
knowledge ,each case representative     
officer assigned under subsection 7a7   
shall be competent and knowledgeable    
about the following3 7,a7 ,the claims   
adjudication process and applicable     
laws1 regulations1 and other authority  
applicable to the adjudication of       

disability claims based on military     
sexual trauma4  7,b7 ,such other        
services to victims of sexual trauma as 
the ,secretary considers appropriate4   
7#b7 ,limitation on number of           
individuals to which assigned ,a case   
representative officer may not be       
assigned to more individuals described  
in subsection 7a7 than1 as determined by
 the ,secretary1 is appropriate for the 
provision of individual case management 
assistance by such officer4  7d7        
,information on benefits and programs   
relating to military sexual trauma  7#a7
 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall make 
available to the public information on  
the availability of case representative 
officers under subsection 7a7 to assist 
in the application for benefits based on
 military sexual trauma4 ,the ,secretary
 shall revise and update the information
 so made available in order to ensure   
that the information is as current as   
possible4  7#b7 ,individuals separating 
from military service ,the ,secretary   

shall1 in consultation with the         
,secretary of ,defense1 ensure that     
individuals who are being separated from
 the active military1 naval1 or air     
service are provided appropriate        
information about programs1             
requirements1 and procedures for        
applying for benefits based on military 
sexual trauma and the availability of   
case representative officers under      
subsection 7a74  7e7 ,information on    
training for agents and representatives 
of individuals assigned case            
representative officer ,the ,secretary  
shall make available to the authorized  
agent or attorney of an individual      
assigned a case representative under    
subsection 7a71 or to the otherwise     
accredited representative of the        
individual1 any relevant materials used 
to train such case representative       
officer for the duties of such position4
  7f7 ,advisory ,committee on ,women    
,veterans consideration of mechanisms   
,to enhance coordination between ,,vba  

and ,,vha on benefits for military      
sexual trauma ,the ,advisory ,committee 
on ,women ,veterans established under   
section #edb of title #ch1 ,united      
,states ,code1 shall undertake actions  
to identify mechanisms to enhance       
coordination between the ,veterans      
,benefits ,administration and the       
,veterans ,health ,administration in the
 provision of benefits based on military
 sexual trauma1 including the           
identification of barriers to the       
appropriate provision of benefits for   
military sexual trauma by such          
,administrations and of means of        
eliminating or reducing such barriers4  
7g7 ,annual reports ,not less frequently
 than annually1 the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs shall submit to the  
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report setting forth 
the following3 7#a7 ,a certification    
whether or not the case representative  

officers assigned under subsection 7a7  
during the preceding year met the       
requirements specified in subsection    
7c74  7#b7 ,a description of the current
 training the ,secretary provides to    
employees of the ,veterans ,benefits    
,administration on claims for benefits  
based on military sexual trauma1        
including the frequency1 length1 and    
content of such training4  7#c7 ,a      
description of current policies and     
procedures on the training the          
,secretary provides to case             
representative officers1 including the  
current position descriptions for case  
representative officers4  7#d7 ,a       
description of current efforts to       
coordinate activities and assistance    
provided to individuals who seek care or
 benefits for military sexual trauma    
between the ,veterans ,health           
,administration and ,veterans ,benefits 
,administration1 including the efforts  
of the ,advisory ,committee on ,women   
,veterans under subsection 7f74  7h7    

,sunset  7#a7 ,in general ,no case      
representative officer may be assigned  
under subsection 7a7 after ,december    
#ca1 #bjah4  7#b7 ,continuation of      
duties after sunset date ,paragraph 7#a7
 shall not be construed to prohibit any 
case representative officer assigned to 
an individual before the date specified 
in that paragraph from performing duties
 pursuant to this section after that    
date with respect to a claim for which  
that case representative officer was    
assigned to such individual before that 
date4  7i7 ,definitions ,in this        
section3 7#a7 ,active military1 naval1  
or air service ,the term active         
military1 naval1 or air service has the 
meaning given that term in section #aja 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4    
7#b7 ,military sexual trauma ,the term  
military sexual trauma shall have the   
meaning specified by the ,secretary for 
purposes of this section1 and shall     
include sexual harassment 7as so        
specified74  #fjc4 ,report on standard  

of proof for service-connection of      
mental health conditions related to     
military sexual trauma  7a7 ,in general 
,not later than #ij days after the date 
of the enactment of this ,act1 the      
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
the current standard of proof for       
service-connection under chapter #aa of 
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 for   
covered mental health conditions based  
on military sexual trauma4  7b7         
,recommendations ,the ,secretary shall  
include in the report under subsection  
7a7 any recommendations the ,secretary  
considers appropriate to improve the    
adjudication of claims for compensation 
based on military sexual trauma1        
including-- 7#a7 recommendations for an 
appropriate standard of proof for such  
claims if the ,secretary considers such 
recommendations advisable2 and  7#b7    

recommendations for legislative action1 
if necessary1 to carry out such         
improvement4  7c7 ,definitions ,in this 
section3 7#a7 ,active military1 naval1  
or air service ,the term active         
military1 naval1 or air service has the 
meaning given that term in section #aja 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4    
7#b7 ,covered mental health condition   
,the term covered mental health         
condition means post-traumatic stress   
disorder1 anxiety1 depression1 or other 
mental health diagnosis that the        
,secretary determines to be related to  
military sexual trauma4  7#c7 ,military 
sexual trauma ,the term military sexual 
trauma shall have the meaning specified 
by the ,secretary for purposes of this  
section1 and shall include sexual       
harassment 7as so specified74  #fjd4    
,reports on claims for disabilities     
incurred or aggravated by military      
sexual trauma  7a7 ,reports ,not later  
than ,december #a1 #bjad1 and each year 
thereafter through #bjah1 the ,secretary

 of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to  
,congress a report on the covered claims
 submitted to the ,secretary during the 
previous fiscal year4  7b7 ,elements    
,each report under subsection 7a7 shall 
include the following3 7#a7 ,the number 
of covered claims submitted to or       
considered by the ,secretary during the 
fiscal year covered by the report4  7#b7
 ,of the covered claims under paragraph 
7#a71 the number and percentage of such 
claims-- 7,a7 submitted by each gender2 
7,b7 that were approved1 including the  
number and percentage of such approved  
claims submitted by each gender2 and    
7,c7 that were denied1 including the    
number and percentage of such denied    
claims submitted by each gender4  7#c7  
,of the covered claims under paragraph  
7#a7 that were approved1 the number and 
percentage1 listed by each gender1 of   
claims assigned to each rating          
percentage of disability4  7#d7 ,of the 
covered claims under paragraph 7#a7 that
 were denied-- 7,a7 the three most      

common reasons given by the ,secretary  
under section #eajd7;b77#a7 of title    
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 for such    
denials2 and  7,b7 the number of denials
 that were based on the failure of a    
veteran to report for a medical         
examination4  7#e7 ,of the covered      
claims under paragraph 7#a7 that were   
resubmitted to the ,secretary after     
denial in a previous adjudication-- 7,a7
 the number of such claims submitted to 
or considered by the ,secretary during  
the fiscal year covered by the report2  
7,b7 the number and percentage of such  
claims-- 7i7 submitted by each gender2  
7ii7 that were approved1 including the  
number and percentage of such approved  
claims submitted by each gender2 and    
7iii7 that were denied1 including the   
number and percentage of such denied    
claims submitted by each gender2  7,c7  
the number and percentage1 listed by    
each gender1 of claims assigned to each 
rating percentage of disability2 and    
7,d7 of such claims that were again     

denied-- 7i7 the three most common      
reasons given by the ,secretary under   
section #eajd7;b77#a7 of such title for 
such denials2 and  7ii7 the number of   
denials that were based on the failure  
of a veteran to report for a medical    
examination4  7#f7 ,the number of       
covered claims that1 as of the end of   
the fiscal year covered by the report1  
are pending and1 separately1 the number 
of such claims on appeal4  7#g7 ,for the
 fiscal year covered by the report1 the 
average number of days that covered     
claims take to complete beginning on the
 date on which the claim is submitted4  
7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 
,active military1 naval1 or air service 
,the term active military1 naval1 or air
 service has the meaning given that term
 in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united  
,states ,code4  7#b7 ,covered claims    
,the term covered claims means claims   
for disability compensation submitted to
 the ,secretary based on post traumatic 
stress disorder alleged to have been    

incurred or aggravated by military      
sexual trauma4  7#c7 ,military sexual   
trauma ,the term military sexual trauma 
shall have the meaning specified by the 
,secretary for purposes of this section1
 and shall include sexual harassment 7as
 so specified74  ,b ,claims for         
dependency and indemnity compensation   
#faa4 ,program on treatment of certain  
applications for dependency and         
indemnity compensation as fully         
developed claims  7a7 ,in general ,the  
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
carry out a program to assess the       
feasibility and advisability of         
expediting the treatment of a covered   
dependency and indemnity compensation   
claim4  7b7 ,covered dependency and     
indemnity compensation claims ,for      
purposes of this section1 a covered     
dependency and indemnity compensation   
claim is a claim submitted to the       
,secretary for compensation under       
chapter #ac of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 for which the claimant-- 

7#a7 applies for such compensation      
within one-year of the death of the     
veteran upon whose service the claim is 
based2  7#b7 was the dependent on the   
claim of a veteran who was receiving    
benefits for one or more                
service-connected conditions as of the  
date of death2  7#c7 submits a death    
certificate or other evidence with the  
claim indicating that the veteran's     
death was due to a service-connected or 
compensable disability2 and  7#d7 in the
 case that the claimant is the spouse of
 the deceased veteran1 certifies that he
 or she has not remarried since the date
 of the veteran's death4  7c7 ,duration 
,the program shall be carried out during
 the one-year period beginning on the   
date that is #ij days after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  7d7        
,locations ,the program shall be carried
 out at the ,pension ,management ,center
 of the ,department of ,veterans        
,affairs or such centers selected by the
 ,secretary for purposes of the program4

  7e7 ,report  7#a7 ,in general ,not    
later than #bgj days after the date on  
which the program is completed1 the     
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the        
program4  7#b7 ,contents ,the report    
required by paragraph 7#a7 shall include
 the following3 7,a7 ,the number of     
covered dependency and indemnity        
compensation claims that were           
adjudicated under the program1          
disaggregated by the following3 7i7     
,claims in which the claimant claimed   
entitlement to compensation on the basis
 of the claimant's status as the spouse 
of a deceased veteran4  7ii7 ,claims in 
which the claimant claimed entitlement  
to compensation on the basis of the     
claimant's status as the child of a     
deceased veteran4  7iii7 ,claims in     
which the claimant claimed entitlement  
to compensation on the basis of the     

claimant's status as the parent of a    
deceased veteran4  7,b7 ,the number of  
covered dependency and indemnity        
compensation claims that were           
adjudicated under the program and for   
which compensation was not awarded1     
disaggregated by clauses 7i7 through    
7iii7 of subparagraph 7,a74  7,c7 ,a    
comparison of the accuracy and          
timeliness of claims adjudicated under  
the program with claims submitted to the
 ,secretary for compensation under      
chapter #ac of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 that were not provided   
expeditious treatment under the program4
  7,d7 ,the findings of the ,secretary  
with respect to the program4  7,e7 ,such
 recommendations as the ,secretary may  
have for legislative or administrative  
action to improve the adjudication of   
claims submitted to the ,secretary for  
compensation under chapter #ac of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  #fab4      
,report by ,secretary of ,veterans      
,affairs on improving timeliness and    

accuracy of administration of claims for
 dependency and indemnity compensation  
and pension for surviving spouses and   
children  7a7 ,in general ,not later    
than #dee days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to   
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,senate and the ,committee on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report with          
recommendations for legislative or      
administrative actions to improve the   
timeliness and accuracy with which the  
,secretary processes and adjudicates    
claims for compensation under chapter   
#ac of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1
 and pension under sections #aeda and   
#aedb of such title4  7b7 ,effective    
date ,this section shall take effect on 
the date that is one year after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act4  ,c     
,agency of ,original ,jurisdiction      
#fba4 ,working group to improve employee
 work credit and work management systems

 of ,veterans ,benefits ,administration 
in an electronic environment  7a7       
,establishment ,not later than #ij days 
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs shall establish a working group
 to assess and develop recommendations  
for the improvement of the employee work
 credit and work management systems of  
the ,veterans ,benefits ,administration 
in an electronic environment4  7b7      
,composition ,the working group shall be
 composed of the following3 7#a7 ,the   
,secretary or the ,secretary's designee4
  7#b7 ,individuals selected by the     
,secretary from among employees of the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs who   
handle claims for compensation and      
pension benefits and are recommended to 
the ,secretary by a labor organization  
for purposes of this section1 including 
at least one of each of the following   
individuals3 7,a7 ,a veterans service   
representative4  7,b7 ,a rating veterans
 service representative4  7,c7 ,a       

decision review officer4  7#c7 ,not     
fewer than three individuals selected by
 the ,secretary to represent different  
organizations recognized by the         
,secretary for the representation of    
veterans under section #eijb of title   
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#d7       
,individuals selected by the            
,secretary-- 7,a7 that are not employees
 of the ,department2 and  7,b7 that are 
experts in work credit and work         
management systems4  7c7 ,duties ,the   
duties of the working group are to      
assess and develop recommendations for  
the following3 7#a7 ,the improvement of 
the employee work credit and work       
management systems of the ,veterans     
,benefits ,administration in an         
electronic environment4  7#b7 ,a        
scientific1 data based methodology to be
 used in revising the employee work     
credit system of the ,department to     
improve the quality and quantity of work
 produced by employees of the           
,department4  7#c7 ,the improvement of  

the resource allocation model of the    
,veterans ,benefits ,administration1    
with a focus on the processing of claims
 in an electronic environment4  7#d7 ,a 
schedule by which the revisions referred
 to in paragraph 7#b7 will be           
implemented by the ,department4  7d7    
,review and incorporation of findings   
from prior study ,in carrying out its   
duties under subsection 7c71 the working
 group shall review the findings and    
conclusions of previous studies of the  
employee work credit and work management
 systems of the ,veterans ,benefits     
,administration4  7e7 ,role of the      
,secretary ,the ,secretary shall        
consider the recommendations of the     
working group and implement such        
recommendations as the ,secretary       
determines appropriate4  7f7 ,reports   
7#a7 ,interim report ,not later than    
#ahj days after the date of the         
establishment of the working group1 the 
working group shall submit to ,congress 
a report on the progress of the working 

group4  7#b7 ,final report ,not later   
than one year after the date of the     
establishment of the working group1 the 
,secretary shall submit to ,congress the
 methodology described in subsection    
7c77#b7 and the schedule described in   
subsection 7c77#d7 that the ,secretary  
has decided to implement pursuant to    
subsection 7e74  7g7 ,implementation of 
methodology and schedule ,after         
submitting the report under subsection  
7f71 the ,secretary shall take such     
actions as may be necessary to apply the
 methodology described in subsection    
7c77#b7 and the schedule described in   
subsection 7c77#d7 that the ,secretary  
has decided to implement pursuant to    
subsection 7e74  #fbb4 ,task force on   
retention and training of ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs claims processors   
and adjudicators  7a7 ,establishment    
,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs   
shall establish a task force to assess  
retention and training of claims        
processors and adjudicators that are    

employed by the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs and other departments and     
agencies of the ,federal ,government4   
7b7 ,composition ,the task force shall  
be composed of the following3 7#a7 ,the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs or     
designee4  7#b7 ,the ,director of the   
,office of ,personnel ,management or    
designee4  7#c7 ,the ,commissioner of   
,social ,security or designee4  7#d7 ,an
 individual selected by the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs who represents an 
organization recognized by the          
,secretary for the representation of    
veterans under section #eijb of title   
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#e7 ,such 
other individuals selected by the       
,secretary who represent such other     
organizations and institutions as the   
,secretary considers appropriate4  7c7  
,duration ,the task force established   
under subsection 7a7 shall terminate not
 later than two years after the date on 
which the task force is established     
under such subsection4  7d7 ,duties ,the

 duties of the task force are as        
follows3 7#a7 ,to identify key skills   
required by claims processors and       
adjudicators to perform the duties of   
claims processors and adjudicators in   
the various claims processing and       
adjudication positions throughout the   
,federal ,government4  7#b7 ,to identify
 reasons for employee attrition from    
claims processing positions4  7#c7 ,to  
coordinate with educational institutions
 to develop training and programs of    
education for members of the ,armed     
,forces to prepare such members for     
employment in claims processing and     
adjudication positions in the ,federal  
,government4  7#d7 ,to identify and     
coordinate offices of the ,department of
 ,defense and the ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs located throughout   
the ,united ,states to provide          
information about1 and promotion of1    
available claims processing positions to
 members of the ,armed ,forces          
transitioning to civilian life and to   

veterans with disabilities4  7#e7 ,to   
establish performance measures to       
evaluate the effectiveness of the task  
force4  7#f7 ,not later than one year   
after the date of the establishment of  
the task force1 to develop a            
,government-wide strategic and          
operational plan for promoting          
employment of veterans in claims        
processing positions in the ,federal    
,government4  7#g7 ,to establish        
performance measures to assess the plan 
developed under paragraph 7#f71 to      
assess the implementation of such plan1 
and to revise such plan as the task     
force considers appropriate4  7e7       
,reports  7#a7 ,submittal of plan ,not  
later than one year after the date of   
the establishment of the task force1 the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall 
submit to ,congress a report on the plan
 developed by the task force under      
subsection 7d77#f74  7#b7 ,assessment of
 implementation ,not later than #abj    
days after the termination of the task  

force1 the ,secretary shall submit to   
,congress a report that assesses the    
implementation of the plan developed by 
the task force under subsection 7d77#f74
  #fbc4 ,reports on requests by the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
records of other ,federal agencies  7a7 
,reports required ,not later than #ahj  
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 and every #ahj days          
thereafter through the date that is #iaj
 days after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans 
,affairs shall submit to the ,committee 
on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate   
and the ,committee on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,house of               
,representatives a report on the        
attempts of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs to obtain records necessary to
 adjudicate claims for benefits from    
another department or agency of the     
,federal ,government during the         
#ahj-;day period ending on the date of  
such report4  7b7 ,elements  7#a7 ,in   

general ,each report shall set forth the
 following3 7,a7 ,for the period covered
 by such report1 the following3 7i7 ,the
 total number of requests made by the   
,department4  7ii7 ,the types of records
 requested4  7iii7 ,the number of       
requests made before the receipt of each
 record4  7iv7 ,the amount of time      
between the initial request for each    
record and the receipt of each record4  
7v7 ,the number of occurrences of the   
receipt of a record after the           
adjudication of the claim for which the 
record was sought4  7vi7 ,a description 
of the efforts of the ,secretary to     
expedite the delivery of records to the 
,department from other departments and  
agencies of the ,federal ,government4   
7,b7 ,such recommendations for          
legislative or administrative action as 
the ,secretary considers appropriate in 
light of such report4  7#b7             
,presentation ,the information in a     
report under clause 7i7 through 7v7 of  
paragraph 7#a77;,a7 shall be set forth  

separately for each department and      
agency of the ,federal ,government      
covered by such report4  #fbd4          
,recognition of representatives of      
,indian tribes in the preparation1      
presentation1 and prosecution of claims 
under laws administered by the          
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs        
,section #eijb7;a77#a7 is amended by    
inserting 1 including ,indian tribes 7as
 defined in section #d of the ,indian   
,self-,determination and ,education     
,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b77
 after as the ,secretary may approve4   
#fbe4 ,program on participation of local
 and tribal governments in improving    
quality of claims for disability        
compensation submitted to ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,program       
required ,the ,secretary of ,veterans   
,affairs shall carry out a program to   
assess the feasibility and advisability 
of entering into memoranda of           
understanding with local governments and
 tribal organizations-- 7#a7 to improve 

the quality of claims submitted to the  
,secretary for compensation under       
chapter #aa of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 and pension under chapter
 #ae of such title2 and  7#b7 to provide
 assistance to veterans who may be      
eligible for such compensation or       
pension in submitting such claims4  7b7 
,minimum number of participating tribal 
organizations ,in carrying out the      
program required by subsection 7a71 the 
,secretary shall enter into1 or maintain
 existing1 memoranda of understanding   
with at least-- 7#a7 two tribal         
organizations2 and  7#b7 #aj ,state or  
local governments4  7c7 ,duration ,the  
program shall be carried out during the 
two-year period beginning on the date of
 the commencement of the program4  7d7  
,report  7#a7 ,initial report ,not later
 than one year after the date of the    
commencement of the program1 the        
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          

,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report that includes 
the following3 7,a7 ,a description of   
the implementation and operation of the 
program1 including a description of     
outreach conducted by the ,secretary to 
tribal organizations and ,state and     
local governments4  7,b7 ,an evaluation 
of the program1 including the total     
number of memoranda of understanding    
entered into or maintained by the       
,secretary4  7#b7 ,final report ,not    
later than #ahj days after the          
termination of the program1 the         
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report that includes 
the following3 7,a7 ,a description of   
the implementation and operation of the 
program1 including a description of     
outreach conducted by the ,secretary to 
tribal organizations and ,state and     
local governments4  7,b7 ,an evaluation 

of the program1 including the total     
number of memoranda of understanding    
entered into or maintained by the       
,secretary4  7,c7 ,the findings and     
conclusions of the ,secretary with      
respect to the program4  7,d7 ,such     
recommendations for continuation or     
expansion of the program as the         
,secretary considers appropriate4  7e7  
,tribal organization defined ,in this   
section1 the term tribal organization   
has the meaning given that term in      
section #cgfe of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code4  #fbf4 ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs notice of average    
times for processing compensation claims
  7a7 ,public notice ,the ,secretary of 
,veterans ,affairs shall1 to the extent 
practicable1 post the information       
described in subsection 7b7-- 7#a7 in   
physical locations1 such as ,regional   
,offices or other claims in-take        
facilities1 that the ,secretary         
considers appropriate2  7#b7 on the     
,internet website of the ,department2   

and  7#c7 through other mediums or using
 such other methods1 including          
collaboration with veterans service     
organizations1 as the ,secretary        
considers appropriate4  7b7 ,information
 described  7#a7 ,in general ,the       
information described in this subsection
 is the average processing time of the  
claims described in paragraph 7#b74     
7#b7 ,claims described ,the claims      
described in this paragraph are each of 
the following types of claims for       
benefits under the laws administered by 
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs3   
7,a7 ,a fully developed claim4  7,b7 ,a 
claim that is not fully developed4  7#c7
 ,update of information ,the information
 described in this subsection shall be  
updated not less frequently than once   
each fiscal quarter4  7c7 ,expiration of
 requirements ,the requirements of      
subsection 7a7 shall expire on ,december
 #ca1 #bjae4  7d7 ,veterans service     
organization defined ,in this section1  
the term veterans service organization  

means an organization recognized by the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for the
 representation of veterans under       
section #eijb of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code4  #fbg4 ,quarterly reports
 on progress of ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs in eliminating backlog of     
claims for compensation that have not   
been adjudicated  7a7 ,in general ,not  
later than #ij days after the date of   
the enactment of this ,act and not less 
frequently than quarterly thereafter    
through calendar year #bjae1 the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
the backlog of claims filed with the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
compensation that have not been         
adjudicated by the ,department4  7b7    
,contents ,each report submitted under  
subsection 7a7 shall include the        
following3 7#a7 ,for each month through 

calendar year #bjae1 a projection of the
 following3 7,a7 ,the number of claims  
completed4  7,b7 ,the number of claims  
received4  7,c7 ,the number of claims on
 backlog at the end of the month4  7,d7 
,the number of claims pending at the end
 of the month4  7,e7 ,the number of     
appeals pending at the end of the month4
  7,f7 ,a description of the status of  
the implementation of initiatives       
carried out by the ,secretary to address
 the backlog1 including the expected    
impact of those initiatives on accuracy 
and timeliness of adjudication of       
claims4  7#b7 ,for each quarter through 
calendar year #bjae1 a projection of the
 average accuracy of disability         
determinations for compensation claims  
that require a disability rating 7or    
disability decision74  7#c7 ,for each   
month during the most recently completed
 quarter1 the following3 7,a7 ,the      
number of claims completed4  7,b7 ,the  
number of claims received4  7,c7 ,the   
number of claims on backlog at the end  

of the month4  7,d7 ,the number of      
claims pending at the end of the month4 
7,e7 ,the number of appeals pending at  
the end of the month4  7,f7 ,a          
description of the status of the        
implementation of initiatives carried   
out by the ,secretary to address the    
backlog1 including the impact of those  
initiatives on accuracy and timeliness  
of adjudication of claims4  7,g7 ,an    
assessment of the accuracy of disability
 determinations for compensation claims 
that require a disability rating 7or    
disability decision74  7#d7 ,for the    
most recently completed quarter-- 7,a7  
the number of cases physically received 
at the ,board of ,veterans' ,appeals and
 docketed2  7,b7 the number of cases    
pending at the ,board of ,veterans'     
,appeals at the end of the quarter2     
7,c7 the number of cases physically at  
the ,board of ,veterans' ,appeals at the
 end of the quarter2  7,d7 the number of
 notices of disagreement and appeals    
filed to the agency of original         

jurisdiction referred to in section     
#gaje7;b77#a7 of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code2 and  7,e7 the number of  
decisions made by the ,board of         
,veterans' ,appeals and the percentage  
of such decisions that were allowed1    
remanded1 denied1 or otherwise disposed 
of4  7c7 ,availability to public ,the   
,secretary shall make each report       
submitted under subsection 7a7 available
 to the public4  7d7 ,on backlog and    
pending defined ,in this section1 the   
terms on backlog and pending1 with      
respect to a claim for compensation     
received by the ,secretary1 shall have  
the meaning specified by the ,secretary 
for purposes of this section4  #fbh4    
,reports on use of existing authorities 
to expedite benefits decisions  7a7     
,report on current use of temporary1    
intermediate1 and provisional rating    
decisions  7#a7 ,report required ,not   
later than #ahj days after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  

submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
the use of temporary1 intermediate1 and 
provisional rating decisions to expedite
 the benefits decisions of the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4  7#b7
 ,report elements ,the report required  
by paragraph 7#a7 shall include the     
following3 7,a7 ,with respect to        
temporary and intermediate rating       
decisions1 the following3 7i7 ,the      
number of temporary and intermediate    
rating decisions issued by the          
,department during each of fiscal years 
#bjaa1 #bjab1 and #bjac4  7ii7 ,a       
description of any reasons or obstacles 
that prevent use of existing authorities
 to issue temporary or intermediate     
rating decisions4  7iii7 ,a description 
of the ,quick ,pay ,disability          
initiative1 including the rationale for 
not expanding the initiative beyond     
pilot program status4  7,b7 ,with       

respect to provisional rating decisions1
 the following3 7i7 ,the number of      
provisional rating decisions issued by  
the ,department during the oldest claims
 first initiative4  7ii7 ,of the        
provisional rating decisions issued     
during the oldest claims first          
initiative-- 7,i7 the number of such    
decisions that involved a claim granted2
  7,,ii7 the number of such decisions   
that involved a claim denied2 and       
7,,iii7 the number of such decisions    
that involved a claim granted in part or
 a claim denied in part4  7iii7 ,a      
statement of the most common reasons    
claims were not granted earlier under   
the oldest claims first initiative when 
there was sufficient evidence to render 
an award of benefits in the provisional 
rating decision4  7iv7 ,the average     
number of days to issue a provisional   
rating decision under the oldest claims 
first initiative4  7v7 ,of the total    
number of decisions that were completed 
under the oldest claims first           

initiative-- 7,i7 the number that were  
,category #a claims and received a final
 rating decision2 and  7,,ii7 the number
 that were ,category #b claims and      
received a provisional rating decision4 
7vi7 ,the number of rating decisions    
issued during the oldest claims first   
imitative that involved a brokered      
claim1 set forth by number of such      
claims by ,regional ,office of the      
,department1 including-- 7,i7 the number
 of brokered claims received by each    
,regional ,office2 and  7,,ii7 the      
number of brokered claims issued by each
 ,regional ,office4  7vii7 ,the number  
of provisional rating decisions issued  
during the oldest claims first          
initiative with respect to which the    
veteran requested that the provisional  
decision become final in order to       
appeal4  7viii7 ,the number of          
provisional rating decisions issued     
during the oldest claims first          
initiative with respect to which the    
veteran requested an appeal after the   

expiration of the #a-year period        
beginning on the date of notification of
 the provisional rating decision4  7ix7 
,an assessment of the accuracy of       
provisional rating decisions issued     
during the oldest claims first          
initiative1 set forth by ,category #a   
claims and ,category #b claims4  7,c7   
,such other matters as the ,secretary   
considers appropriate for purposes of   
the report4  7#c7 ,supplemental         
information ,if the ,secretary continues
 to obtain information on rating        
decisions under clauses 7vii7 and 7viii7
 of paragraph 7#b77;,b7 after the date  
of the submittal of the report required 
by paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall 
submit to the committees of ,congress   
referred to in paragraph 7#a7 a report  
on such information that supplements the
 information on such clauses in the     
report under paragraph 7#a7 when the    
,secretary completes accumulation of    
such information4  7b7 ,plan for        
increase in use of temporary or         

intermediate rating decisions  7#a7     
,report on plan required ,not later than
 #ahj days after the date of the        
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives a report
 setting forth a plan to increase the   
use of temporary or intermediate rating 
decisions to expedite benefit decisions 
of the ,department when the record      
contains sufficient evidence to grant   
any claim at issue1 including service   
connection4  7#b7 ,plan elements ,the   
plan required under paragraph 7#a7 shall
 include the following3 7,a7 ,mechanisms
 to overcome obstacles to the use of    
temporary or intermediate rating        
decisions1 including mechanisms 7such as
 upgrades7 to assure the ability of the 
,veterans ,benefits ,management ,system 
to facilitate the issuance of temporary 
or intermediate rating decisions4  7,b7 
,mechanisms to ensure that appropriate  

claimant populations1 such as claimants 
who file complex or multi-issue         
disability compensation claims1 benefit 
from the availability of temporary or   
intermediate rating decisions4  7,c7    
,mechanisms to provide for the use of   
temporary or intermediate rating        
decisions1 including mechanisms to      
resolve whether a request by a claimant 
or claimant representative should       
trigger use of a temporary or           
intermediate rating decision depending  
on the circumstances of the claimant4   
7,d7 ,mechanisms to prevent the use of  
temporary or intermediate rating        
decisions in lieu of a final rating     
decision when a final rating decision   
could be made with little or no         
additional claim development4  7,e7     
,such recommendations for legislative or
 administrative action as the ,secretary
 considers appropriate to increase the  
use of temporary or intermediate rating 
decisions to expedite benefit decisions 
of the ,department4  #fbi4 ,reports on  

,department disability medical          
examinations and prevention of          
unnecessary medical examinations  7a7   
,report on disability medical           
examinations furnished by ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs  7#a7 ,in general   
,not later than #ahj days after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act1 the     
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives a report on 
the furnishing of general medical and   
specialty medical examinations by the   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
purposes of adjudicating claims for     
benefits under laws administered by the 
,secretary4  7#b7 ,contents ,the report 
submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall    
include the following3 7,a7 ,the number 
of general medical examinations         
furnished by the ,department during the 
period of fiscal years #bjji through    
#bjab for purposes of adjudicating      

claims for benefits under laws          
administered by the ,secretary4  7,b7   
,the number of general medical          
examinations furnished by the           
,department during the period of fiscal 
years #bjji through #bjab for purposes  
of adjudicating a claim in which a      
comprehensive joint examination was     
conducted1 but for which no disability  
relating to a joint1 bone1 or muscle had
 been asserted as an issue in the claim4
  7,c7 ,the number of specialty medical 
examinations furnished by the           
,department during the period of fiscal 
years #bjji through #bjab for purposes  
of adjudicating a claim4  7,d7 ,the     
number of specialty medical examinations
 furnished by the ,department during the
 period of fiscal years #bjji through   
#bjab for purposes of adjudicating a    
claim in which one or more joint        
examinations were conducted4  7,e7 ,a   
summary with citations to any medical   
and scientific studies that provide a   
basis for determining that three        

repetitions is adequate to determine the
 effect of repetitive use on functional 
impairments4  7,f7 ,the names of all    
examination reports1 including general  
medical examinations and ,disability    
,benefits ,questionnaires1 used for     
evaluation of compensation and pension  
disability claims which require         
measurement of repeated ranges of motion
 testing and the number of examinations 
requiring such measurements which were  
conducted in fiscal year #bjab4  7,g7   
,the average amount of time taken by an 
individual conducting a medical         
examination to perform the three        
repetitions of movement of each joint4  
7,h7 ,a discussion of whether there are 
more efficient and effective            
scientifically reliable methods of      
testing for functional loss on          
repetitive use of an extremity other    
than the three time repetition currently
 used by the ,department4  7,i7         
,recommendations as to the continuation 
of the practice of measuring functional 

impairment by using three repetitions of
 movement of each joint during the      
examination as a criteria for evaluating
 the effect of repetitive motion on     
functional impairment with supporting   
rationale4  7b7 ,report and plan to     
prevent the ordering of unnecessary     
medical examinations  7#a7 ,in general  
,not later than #ahj days after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act1 the     
,secretary shall submit to the          
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the efforts
 of the ,secretary in reducing the      
necessity for in-person disability      
examinations and other efforts to comply
 with the provisions of section #eabe of
 title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#b7
 ,contents ,the report required by      
paragraph 7#a7 shall include the        
following3 7,a7 ,criteria used by the   
,secretary to determine if a claim is   
eligible for the ,acceptable ,clinical  

,evidence initiative4  7,b7 ,the number 
of claims determined to be eligible for 
the ,acceptable ,clinical ,evidence     
initiative during the period beginning  
on the date of the initiation of the    
initiative and ending on the date of the
 enactment of this ,act1 disaggregated--
 7i7 by fiscal year2 and  7ii7 by claims
 determined eligible based in whole or  
in part on medical evidence provided by 
a private health care provider4  7,c7   
,the total number of claims determined  
to be eligible for the ,acceptable      
,clinical ,evidence initiative that     
required an employee of the ,department 
to supplement the evidence with         
information obtained during a telephone 
interview with a claimant or health care
 provider4  7,d7 ,information on any    
other initiatives or efforts1 including 
disability benefits questionnaires1 of  
the ,department to further encourage the
 use of medical evidence provided by a  
private health care provider and        
reliance upon reports of a medical      

examination administered by a private   
physician if the report is sufficiently 
complete to be adequate for the purposes
 of adjudicating a claim4  7,e7 ,a      
plan-- 7i7 to measure1 track1 and       
prevent the ordering of unnecessary     
medical examinations when the provision 
by a claimant of a medical examination  
administered by a private physician in  
support of a claim for benefits under   
chapter #aa or #ae of title #ch1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 is adequate for the     
purpose of making a decision on that    
claim2 and  7ii7 that includes the      
actions the ,secretary will take to     
eliminate any request by the ,department
 for a medical examination in the case  
of a claim for benefits under chapter   
#aa or #ae of such title in support of  
which a claimant submits medical        
evidence or a medical opinion provided  
by a private health care provider that  
is competent1 credible1 probative1 and  
otherwise adequate for purposes of      
making a decision on that claim4  ,d    

,board of ,veterans' ,appeals and ,court
 of ,appeals for ,veterans ,claims      
#fca4 ,treatment of certain misfiled    
documents as a notice of appeal to the  
,court of ,appeals for ,veterans ,claims
 ,section #gbff is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection3   
7e7 7#a7 ,if a person adversely affected
 by a final decision of the ,board1 who 
has not filed a notice of appeal with   
the ,united ,states ,court of ,appeals  
for ,veterans ,claims under subsection  
7a71 misfiles a document with the ,board
 or the agency of original jurisdiction 
referred to in section #gaje7;b77#a7 of 
this title that expresses disagreement  
with such decision and a clear intent to
 seek review of such decision by the    
,united ,states ,court of ,appeals for  
,veterans ,claims1 not later than #abj  
days after the date of such decision1   
such document shall be treated as timely
 filed under subsection 7a74  7#b7 ,the 
treatment of misfiled documents under   
paragraph 7#a7 does not limit equitable 

relief that may be otherwise available  
to a person described in that paragraph4
  4  #fcb4 ,determination of manner of  
appearance for hearings before ,board of
 ,veterans' ,appeals  7a7 ,in general   
,section #gajg is amended-- 7#a7 in     
subsection 7a77#a71 by striking in      
subsection 7f7 and inserting in         
subsection 7g72  7#b7 by redesignating  
subsection 7f7 as subsection 7g72 and   
7#c7 by striking subsections 7d7 and 7e7
 and inserting the following new        
subsections3  7d7 7#a7 ,except as       
provided in paragraph 7#b71 a hearing   
before the ,board shall be conducted    
through picture and voice transmission1 
by electronic or other means1 in such a 
manner that the appellant is not present
 in the same location as the members of 
the ,board during the hearing4  7#b7    
7,a7 ,a hearing before the ,board shall 
be conducted in person upon the request 
of an appellant4  7,b7 ,in the absence  
of a request under subparagraph 7,a71 a 
hearing before the ,board may also be   

conducted in person as the ,board       
considers appropriate4  7e7 7#a7 ,in a  
case in which a hearing before the      
,board is to be held as described in    
subsection 7d77#a71 the ,secretary shall
 provide suitable facilities and        
equipment to the ,board or other        
components of the ,department to enable 
an appellant located at an appropriate  
facility within the area served by a    
regional office to participate as so    
described4  7#b7 ,any hearing conducted 
as described in subsection 7d77#a7 shall
 be conducted in the same manner as1 and
 shall be considered the equivalent of1 
a personal hearing4  7f7 7#a7 ,in a case
 in which a hearing before the ,board is
 to be held as described in subsection  
7d77#b71 the appellant may request that 
the hearing be held at the principal    
location of the ,board or at a facility 
of the ,department located within the   
area served by a regional office of the 
,department4  7#b7 ,a hearing to be held
 within an area served by a regional    

office of the ,department shall 7except 
as provided in paragraph 7#c77 be       
scheduled to be held in accordance with 
the place of the case on the docket     
under subsection 7a7 relative to other  
cases on the docket for which hearings  
are scheduled to be held within that    
area4  7#c7 ,a hearing to be held within
 an area served by a regional office of 
the ,department may1 for cause shown1 be
 advanced on motion for an earlier      
hearing4 ,any such motion shall set     
forth succinctly the grounds upon which 
the motion is based4 ,such a motion may 
be granted only-- 7,a7 if the case      
involves interpretation of law of       
general application affecting other     
claims2  7,b7 if the appellant is       
seriously ill or is under severe        
financial hardship2 or  7,c7 for other  
sufficient cause shown4  4  7b7         
,effective date ,the amendments made by 
subsection 7a7 shall apply with respect 
to cases received by the ,board of      
,veterans' ,appeals pursuant to notices 

of disagreement submitted on or after   
the date of the enactment of this ,act4 
,,vii ,outreach ,matters  #gja4 ,program
 to increase coordination of outreach   
efforts between the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs and ,federal1 ,state1
 and local agencies and nonprofit       
organizations  7a7 ,program required    
,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs   
shall carry out a program to assess the 
feasibility and advisability of using   
,state and local government agencies and
 nonprofit organizations-- 7#a7 to      
increase awareness of veterans regarding
 benefits and services for veterans2 and
  7#b7 to improve coordination of       
outreach activities regarding such      
benefits and services between the       
,secretary and ,federal1 ,state1 and    
local government and nonprofit providers
 of health care and benefit services for
 veterans4  7b7 ,duration ,the          
,secretary shall carry out the program  
for a two-year period4  7c7 ,grants     
7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall  

carry out the program through the       
competitive award of grants to ,state   
and local government agencies and       
nonprofit organizations-- 7,a7 to       
increase the awareness of veterans      
regarding benefits and services for     
veterans2 and  7,b7 to improve          
coordination of outreach activities     
regarding such benefits and services    
between the ,secretary and ,federal1    
,state1 and local government and        
nonprofit providers of health care and  
benefit services for veterans4  7#b7    
,application  7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state
 or local government agency or nonprofit
 organization seeking a grant under the 
program shall submit to the ,secretary  
an application therefor in such form and
 in such manner as the ,secretary       
considers appropriate4  7,b7 ,elements  
,each application submitted under       
subparagraph 7,a7 shall include the     
following3 7i7 ,a description of the    
consultations1 if any1 with the         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs in the

 development of any proposal under the  
application4  7ii7 ,a description of the
 project for which the applicant is     
seeking a grant under the program1      
including a plan to coordinate under the
 program1 to the greatest extent        
possible1 the outreach activities of    
,federal1 ,state1 and local government  
agencies that provide health care1      
benefits1 and services for veterans and 
nonprofit organizations that provide    
such care1 benefits1 and services to    
enhance the awareness and availability  
of such care1 benefits1 and services4   
7iii7 ,an agreement to report to the    
,secretary standardized data and other  
performance measures necessary for the  
,secretary to evaluate the program and  
to facilitate evaluation of projects for
 which grants are awarded under the     
program4  7iv7 ,such other information  
as the ,secretary may require4  7#c7    
,considerations  7,a7 ,in general ,in   
awarding grants under the program to    
carry out projects1 the ,secretary shall

 consider-- 7i7 where the projects will 
be carried out and which populations are
 targeted2 and  7ii7 the likelihood that
 each potential grantee will            
successfully carry out the grant        
proposal4  7,b7 ,considerations         
regarding location and target population
 ,in taking the matters specified in    
subparagraph 7,a77ii7 into              
consideration1 the ,secretary shall     
consider in particular the advisability 
of awarding grants for projects-- 7i7   
carried out in areas with populations   
that have a high proportion of veteran  
representation2  7ii7 carried out in a  
variety of geographic areas1 including  
urban1 rural1 and highly rural areas2   
and  7iii7 that target a variety of     
veteran populations1 including racial   
and ethnic minorities1 low-income       
populations1 and older populations4     
7#d7 ,use of funds ,the ,secretary shall
 establish appropriate uses of grant    
amounts received under the program4     
7#e7 ,oversight of use of funds ,the    

,secretary shall establish appropriate  
mechanisms for oversight of the use of  
grant amounts received under the        
program1 including the evidence grantees
 must submit to demonstrate use of grant
 amounts and procedures for the recovery
 of grant amounts that were improperly  
used4  7#f7 ,limitation ,in a fiscal    
year1 not more than #bj percent of all  
grant amounts awarded in that fiscal    
year may be awarded to a single ,state  
entity4  7d7 ,state matching requirement
 ,the ,secretary may not make a grant to
 a ,state under subsection 7c7 unless   
that ,state agrees that1 with respect to
 the costs to be incurred by the ,state 
in carrying out the program or projects 
for which the grant was awarded1 the    
,state will make available 7directly or 
through donations from public or private
 entities7 non-,federal contributions in
 an amount equal to #ej percent of      
,federal funds provided under the grant4
  7e7 ,authorization of appropriations  
,there is hereby authorized to be       

appropriated to carry out this section  
the following3 7#a7 #b1ejj1jjj for      
fiscal year #bjae4  7#b7 #b1ejj1jjj for 
fiscal year #bjaf4  7f7 ,annual report  
7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #abj   
days after the completion of the first  
calendar year beginning after the date  
of the commencement of the program1 and 
not less frequently than once every year
 thereafter for the duration of the     
program1 the ,secretary shall submit to 
,congress a report evaluating the       
program and the projects supported by   
grants awarded under the program4  7#b7 
,elements ,the report required by       
paragraph 7#a7 shall include the        
following3 7,a7 ,the findings and       
conclusions of the ,secretary with      
respect to the program4  7,b7 ,an       
assessment of the benefit to veterans of
 the program4  7,c7 ,the performance    
measures used by the ,secretary for     
purposes of the program and data showing
 the performance of grantees under the  
program under such measures4  7,d7 ,the 

recommendations of the ,secretary as to 
the feasibility and advisability of     
continuing or expanding or modifying the
 program4  7g7 ,effective date ,this    
section shall take effect on the date   
that is one year after the date of the  
enactment of this ,act4  #gjb4          
,cooperative agreements between         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and    
,states on outreach activities  7a7 ,in 
general ,chapter #fc is amended by      
inserting after section #fcjf the       
following new section3  #fcjf;,a4       
,cooperative agreements with ,states    
7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may     
enter into cooperative agreements and   
arrangements with various ,state        
agencies and ,state departments to carry
 out this chapter and to otherwise carry
 out1 coordinate1 improve1 or enhance   
outreach activities of the ,department  
and the ,states4  7b7 ,report ,the      
,secretary shall include in each report 
submitted under section #fcjh of this   
title a description of the agreements   

and arrangements entered into by the    
,secretary under subsection 7a74  4  7b7
 ,clerical amendment ,the table of      
sections at the beginning of chapter #fc
 is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section #fcjf the following 
new item3  #fcjf;,a4 ,cooperative       
agreements with ,states4  4  #gjc4      
,advisory committee on outreach         
activities of ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs  7a7 ,establishment ,not later 
than #ahj days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall establish an
 advisory committee on outreach         
activities of the ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs4  7b7 ,membership    
,the advisory committee shall be        
composed of individuals selected by the 
,secretary from among the following3    
7#a7 ,to the maximum extent practicable1
 individuals who are eminent in their   
respective fields of public relations4  
7#b7 ,representatives of organizations  
with offices that focus on              

communications and distribute messages  
through major media news outlets and    
social media4  7#c7 ,to the maximum     
extent practicable1 individuals with    
experience communicating financial      
results and business strategy for       
purposes of shaping a confident brand   
image4  7#d7 ,to the maximum extent     
practicable1 individuals with experience
 with consumer and lifestyle imaging and
 creating publicity for a particular    
product or service4  7#e7 ,to the       
maximum extent practicable1 veterans who
 have experience in press and public    
relations4  7c7 ,duties ,the advisory   
committee shall advise the ,assistant   
,secretary for ,public and              
,intergovernmental ,affairs-- 7#a7 to   
ensure that the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs is strategically and          
effectively-- 7,a7 engaging the public  
and ,department stakeholders to increase
 awareness nationally regarding all     
benefits and services furnished by the  
,department2  7,b7 explaining new or    

changing policies of the ,department2   
7,c7 improving the image and reputation 
of the ,department2 and  7,d7           
coordinating and collaborating with     
national community-based organizations1 
nonprofits1 and ,state and local        
government agencies2  7#b7 to assist the
 ,secretary in conducting such other    
press or public relations activities    
relating to outreach activities of the  
,department as the ,secretary and the   
,assistant ,secretary for ,public and   
,intergovernmental ,affairs consider    
appropriate2 and  7#c7 to ensure        
coordination and collaboration on       
efforts within the ,department for the  
development1 implementation1 and review 
of local outreach with respect to       
benefits that include the following3    
7,a7 ,compensation and pension benefits4
  7,b7 ,insurance benefits4  7,c7       
,burial and memorial benefits4  7,d7    
,education benefits4  7,e7 ,vocational  
rehabilitation and employment benefits4 
7,f7 ,readjustment counseling benefits4 

7,g7 ,loan guarantee benefits4  7,h7    
,such other benefits as the ,secretary  
considers appropriate4  7d7 ,location of
 meetings ,each meeting of the advisory 
committee shall take place at a location
 that is property of the ,department and
 shall1 to the maximum extent           
practicable1 use teleconference         
technology4  7e7 ,consultation ,the     
,secretary shall consult with and seek  
the advice of the advisory committee not
 less frequently than quarterly on      
matters relating to the duties of the   
advisory committee under subsection 7c74
  7f7 ,reports  7#a7 ,in general ,not   
less frequently than once every #ij days
 for the first year and semiannually    
thereafter1 the advisory committee shall
 submit to ,congress and to the         
,secretary a report on outreach         
activities of the ,department4  7#b7    
,recommendations ,each report submitted 
under paragraph 7#a7 shall include such 
recommendations for legislative and     
administrative action as the advisory   

committee considers appropriate to      
improve the press and public relations  
of the ,department relating to outreach4
  7g7 ,termination ,the advisory        
committee shall terminate on ,october   
#a1 #bjae1 and the requirements and     
authorities under this section shall    
terminate on such date4  7h7 ,outreach  
defined ,in this section1 the term      
outreach has the meaning given the term 
in section #fcja of title #ch1 ,united  
,states ,code4  #gjd4 ,advisory boards  
on outreach activities of ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs relating to health  
care  7a7 ,establishment  7#a7 ,in      
general ,for each entity described in   
paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs shall1 acting through
 the director of that entity1 establish 
not later than #ahj days after the      
effective date specified in subsection  
7h7 an advisory board at that entity on 
matters relating to outreach activities 
of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 at that entity4  7#b7 ,entity described

 ,an entity described in this paragraph 
is-- 7,a7 a healthcare system of the    
,department2 or  7,b7 a ,veterans       
,integrated ,system ,network1 if such   
,veterans ,integrated ,system ,network  
does not contain a healthcare system4   
7b7 ,membership  7#a7 ,in general ,each 
advisory board established under        
subsection 7a77#a7 shall be1 to the     
maximum extent practicable1 composed of 
individuals selected by the ,secretary  
from among the following3 7,a7          
,individuals who are eminent in their   
respective fields of public relations4  
7,b7 ,representatives of organizations  
with offices that focus on              
communications and distribute messages  
through major media news outlets and    
social media4  7,c7 ,individuals with   
experience communicating financial      
results and business strategy for       
purposes of shaping a confident brand   
image4  7,d7 ,individuals with          
experience with consumer and lifestyle  
imaging and creating publicity for a    

particular product or service4  7,e7    
,employees of the ,department who are   
involved in press and public relations  
strategy for an entity described in     
subsection 7a77#b74  7,f7 ,to the       
maximum extent practicable1 veterans who
 have experience in press and public    
relations4  7#b7 ,voluntary             
participation ,the participation of an  
individual selected under paragraph 7#a7
 shall be at the election of the        
individual4  7c7 ,duties ,each advisory 
board established under subsection      
7a77#a7 at an entity described in       
subsection 7a77#b7 shall advise the     
,assistant ,secretary for ,public and   
,intergovernmental ,affairs-- 7#a7 to   
ensure that the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs is strategically and          
effectively-- 7,a7 engaging the public  
and ,department stakeholders to increase
 awareness nationally regarding benefits
 and services furnished by the          
,department2  7,b7 explaining new or    
changing policies of the ,department2   

7,c7 improving the image and reputation 
of the ,department2  7,d7 coordinating  
and collaborating with national         
community-based organizations1          
nonprofits1 and ,state and local        
government agencies2 and  7,e7          
coordinating and collaborating on       
efforts within the ,department for the  
development1 implementation1 and review 
of local outreach with respect to       
benefits that include-- 7i7 compensation
 and pension benefits2  7ii7 insurance  
benefits2  7iii7 burial and memorial    
benefits2  7iv7 education benefits2  7v7
 vocational rehabilitation and          
employment benefits2  7vi7 readjustment 
counseling benefits2  7vii7 loan        
guarantee benefits2 and  7viii7 such    
other benefits as the ,secretary        
considers appropriate2 and  7#b7 to     
assist the director of that entity in   
conducting such other press or public   
relations activities relating to        
outreach activities of the ,department  
as that advisory board considers        

appropriate4  7d7 ,meeting location     
7#a7 ,in general ,if teleconference     
technology is not used1 meetings of each
 advisory board established under       
subsection 7a77#a7 shall be held at a   
location that is property of the        
,department4  7#b7 ,teleconference      
technology ,each advisory board shall   
use1 to the maximum extent practicable1 
teleconference technology4  7e7         
,consultation ,each director of an      
entity described in subsection 7a77#b7  
shall consult with and seek the advice  
of the advisory board established at    
such entity not less frequently than    
once every two months on matters        
relating to the duties of the advisory  
board under subsection 7c74  7f7 ,annual
 reports ,not less frequently than each 
year1 each advisory board established   
under subsection 7a77#a7 shall submit to
 the ,secretary a report with such      
information as may be beneficial to the 
,secretary in preparing the reports     
required by section #fcjh of title #ch1 

,united ,states ,code4  7g7 ,termination
 ,each advisory board established under 
subsection 7a77#a7 and the authorities  
and requirements of this section shall  
terminate three years after the         
effective date specified in subsection  
7h74  7h7 ,effective date ,this section 
shall take effect on the date that is   
one year after the date of the enactment
 of this ,act4  #gje4 ,modification of  
requirement for periodic reports to     
,congress on outreach activities of     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,in general ,section #fcjh is amended-- 
7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking     
even-numbered2 and  7#b7 in subsection  
7b7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by        
striking biennial2  7,b7 in paragraph   
7#b71 by inserting for legislative and  
administrative action after             
,recommendations2 and  7,c7 by adding at
 the end the following new paragraph3   
7#c7 ,recommendations that such         
administrative actions as may be taken--
 7,a7 to maximize resources for outreach

 activities of the ,department2 and     
7,b7 to focus outreach efforts on       
activities that are proven to be more   
effective4  4  7b7 ,clerical amendments 
7#a7 ,section heading ,the heading for  
section #fcjh is amended by striking    
,biennial and inserting ,annual4  7#b7  
,table of sections ,the table of        
sections at the beginning of chapter #fc
 is amended by striking the item        
relating to section #fcjh and inserting 
the following new item3  #fcjh4 ,annual 
report to ,congress4  4  #gjf4 ,budget  
transparency for outreach activities of 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,in general ,chapter #fc is amended by  
inserting after section #fcjh the       
following new section3  #fcji4 ,budget  
transparency  7a7 ,budget requirements  
,in the budget justification materials  
submitted to ,congress in support of the
 ,department budget for a fiscal year   
7as submitted with the budget of the    
,president under section #aaje7;a7 of   
title #ca71 the ,secretary shall include

 a separate statement of the amount     
requested for such fiscal year for      
activities of the ,office of ,public and
 ,intergovernmental ,affairs as follows3
 7#a7 ,for outreach activities of the   
,department in aggregate4  7#b7 ,for    
outreach activities of each element of  
the ,department specified in subsection 
7b77#a74  7b7 ,procedures for effective 
coordination and collaboration  7#a7    
,not later than #ahj days after the date
 of the enactment of the ,comprehensive 
,veterans ,health and ,benefits and     
,military ,retirement ,pay ,restoration 
,act of #bjad1 the ,secretary shall     
establish and maintain procedures for   
the ,office of ,public and              
,intergovernmental ,affairs to ensure   
the effective coordination and          
collaboration of outreach activities of 
the ,department between and among the   
following3 7,a7 ,office of the          
,secretary4  7,b7 ,veterans ,health     
,administration4  7,c7 ,veterans        
,benefits ,administration4  7,d7        

,national ,cemetery ,administration4    
7#b7 ,the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7       
beginning after the date on which the   
,secretary establishes procedures under 
paragraph 7#a71 not less frequently than
 once every two years conduct a review  
of the procedures established and       
maintained under paragraph 7#a7 to      
ensure that such procedures meet the    
requirements of such paragraph2  7,b7   
make such modifications to such         
procedures as the ,secretary considers  
appropriate based upon reviews conducted
 under subparagraph 7,a7 in order to    
better meet such requirements2 and  7,c7
 not later than #de days after          
completing a review under subparagraph  
7,a71 submit to ,congress a report on   
the findings of such review4  4  7b7    
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of chapter #fc
 is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section #fcjh the following 
new item3  #fcji4 ,budget transparency4 
4  ,,viii ,other ,matters  #hja4 ,repeal

 of reductions made by ,bipartisan      
,budget ,act of #bjac ,section #djc of  
the ,bipartisan ,budget ,act of #bjac is
 repealed as of the date of the         
enactment of such ,act4  #hjb4          
,consideration by ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs of resources disposed
 of for less than fair market value by  
individuals applying for pension  7a7   
,veterans ,section #aebb is amended--   
7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by        
inserting 7#a7 before ,the ,secretary2  
and  7,b7 by adding at the end the      
following new paragraph3  7#b7 7,a7 ,if 
a veteran otherwise eligible for payment
 of pension under section #aeac or #aeba
 of this title or the spouse of such    
veteran disposes of covered resources   
for less than fair market value on or   
after the look-back date described in   
subparagraph 7,c77i71 the ,secretary    
shall deny or discontinue the payment of
 pension to such veteran under section  
#aeac or #aeba of this title1 as the    
case may be1 for months during the      

period beginning on the date described  
in subparagraph 7,d7 and equal to the   
number of months calculated as provided 
in subparagraph 7,e74  7,b7 7i7 ,for    
purposes of this paragraph1 a covered   
resource is any resource that was a part
 of the corpus of the estate of the     
veteran or1 if the veteran has a spouse1
 the corpus of the estates of the       
veteran and of the veteran's spouse1    
that the ,secretary considers that under
 all the circumstances1 if the veteran  
or spouse had not disposed of such      
resource1 it would be reasonable that   
the resource 7or some portion of the    
resource7 be consumed for the veteran's 
maintenance4  7ii7 ,for purposes of this
 paragraph1 the ,secretary may consider1
 in accordance with regulations the     
,secretary shall prescribe1 a transfer  
of an asset 7including a transfer of an 
asset to an annuity1 trust1 or other    
financial instrument or investment7 a   
disposal of a covered resource for less 
than fair market value if such transfer 

reduces the amount in the corpus of the 
estate of the veteran or1 if the veteran
 has a spouse1 the corpus of the estates
 of the veteran and of the veteran's    
spouse1 that the ,secretary considers1  
under all the circumstances1 would be   
reasonable to be consumed for the       
veteran's maintenance4  7,c7 7i7 ,the   
look-back date described in this clause 
is a date that is #cf months before the 
date described in clause 7ii74  7ii7    
,the date described in this clause is   
the date on which the veteran applies   
for pension under section #aeac or #aeba
 of this title or1 if later1 the date on
 which the veteran 7or the spouse of the
 veteran7 disposes of covered resources 
for less than fair market value4  7,d7  
,the date described in this subparagraph
 is the first day of the first month in 
or after which covered resources were   
disposed of for less than fair market   
value and which does not occur in any   
other period of ineligibility under this
 paragraph4  7,e7 ,the number of months 

calculated under this subparagraph shall
 be equal to-- 7i7 the total1 cumulative
 uncompensated value of the portion of  
covered resources so disposed of by the 
veteran 7or the spouse of the veteran7  
on or after the look-back date described
 in subparagraph 7,c77i7 that the       
,secretary determines would reasonably  
have been consumed for the veteran's    
maintenance2 divided by  7ii7 the       
maximum amount of monthly pension that  
is payable to a veteran under section   
#aeac or #aeba of this title1 including 
the maximum amount of increased pension 
payable under such sections on account  
of family members1 but not including any
 amount of pension payable under such   
sections because a veteran is in need of
 regular aid and attendance or is       
permanently housebound1  rounded down1  
in the case of any fraction1 to the     
nearest whole number1 but shall not in  
any case exceed #cf months4  2  7#b7 in 
subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 by inserting 7#a7 
before ,the ,secretary2 and  7,b7 by    

adding at the end the following new     
paragraph3  7#b7 7,a7 ,if a veteran     
otherwise eligible for payment of       
increased pension under subsection 7c71 
7d71 7e71 or 7f7 of section #aeba of    
this title on account of a child1 the   
spouse of the veteran1 or the child     
disposes of covered resources for less  
than fair market value on or after the  
look-back date described in subparagraph
 7,c77i71 the ,secretary shall deny or  
discontinue payment of such increased   
pension for months during the period    
beginning on the date described in      
subparagraph 7,d7 and equal to the      
number of months calculated as provided 
in subparagraph 7,e74  7,b7 7i7 ,for    
purposes of this paragraph1 a covered   
resource is any resource that was a part
 of the corpus of the estate of the     
child that the ,secretary considers that
 under all the circumstances1 if the    
veteran1 the spouse of the veteran1 or  
the child had not disposed of such      
resource1 it would be reasonable that   

the resource 7or some portion of the    
resource7 be consumed for the child's   
maintenance4  7ii7 ,for purposes of this
 paragraph1 the ,secretary may consider1
 in accordance with regulations the     
,secretary shall prescribe1 a transfer  
of an asset 7including a transfer of an 
asset to an annuity1 trust1 or other    
financial instrument or investment7 a   
disposal of a covered resource for less 
than fair market value if such transfer 
reduces the amount in the corpus of the 
estate of the child that the ,secretary 
considers1 under all the circumstances1 
would be reasonable to be consumed for  
the child's maintenance4  7,c7 7i7 ,the 
look-back date described in this clause 
is a date that is #cf months before the 
date described in clause 7ii74  7ii7    
,the date described in this clause is   
the date on which the veteran applies   
for payment of increased pension under  
subsection 7c71 7d71 7e71 or 7f7 of     
section #aeba of this title on account  
of a child or1 if later1 the date on    

which the veteran1 the spouse of the    
veteran1 or the child disposes of       
covered resources for less than fair    
market value4  7,d7 ,the date described 
in this subparagraph is the first day of
 the first month in or after which      
covered resources were disposed of for  
less than fair market value and which   
does not occur in any other period of   
ineligibility under this paragraph4     
7,e7 ,the number of months calculated   
under this subparagraph shall be equal  
to-- 7i7 the total1 cumulative          
uncompensated value of the portion of   
the covered resources so disposed of by 
the veteran1 the spouse of the veteran1 
or the child on or after the look-back  
date described in subparagraph 7,c77i7  
that the ,secretary determines would    
reasonably have been consumed for the   
child's maintenance2 divided by  7ii7   
the maximum amount of increased monthly 
pension that is payable to a veteran    
under subsection 7c71 7d71 7e71 or 7f7  
of section #aeba of this title on       

account of a child1  rounded down1 in   
the case of any fraction1 to the nearest
 whole number1 but shall not in any case
 exceed #cf months4  2 and  7#c7 by     
adding at the end the following new     
subsection3  7c7 7#a7 7,a7 ,the         
,secretary shall not deny or discontinue
 payment of pension under section #aeac 
or #aeba of this title or payment of    
increased pension under subsection 7c71 
7d71 7e71 or 7f7 of section #aeba of    
this title on account of a child by     
reason of the application of subsection 
7a77#b7 or 7b77#b7 of this section to   
the disposal of resources by an         
individual-- 7i7 if-- 7,i7 a            
satisfactory showing is made to the     
,secretary 7in accordance with          
regulations promulgated by the          
,secretary7 that all resources disposed 
of for less than fair market value have 
been returned to the individual who     
disposed of the resources2 or  7,,ii7   
the ,secretary determines1 under        
procedures established by the ,secretary

 in accordance with subparagraph 7,b71  
that the denial or discontinuance of    
payment would work an undue hardship2 or
  7ii7 to the extent that any portion of
 the resources disposed of for less than
 fair market value have been returned to
 the individual who disposed of the     
resources4  7,b7 ,undue hardship would  
be worked by the denial or              
discontinuance of payment for purposes  
of subparagraph 7,a77i77,,ii7 if the    
denial or discontinuance of payment     
would deprive the individual during the 
period of denial or discontinuance-- 7i7
 of medical care such that the          
individual's life or health would be    
endangered2  7ii7 of necessary food or  
clothing1 or other necessities of life2 
or  7iii7 on such other basis as the    
,secretary shall specify in the         
procedures required by subparagraph     
7,a77i77,,ii74  7,c7 ,if payment of     
pension or increased pension that would 
otherwise be denied or discontinued by  
reason of the application of subsection 

7a77#b7 or 7b77#b7 is denied or         
discontinued only in part by reason of  
the return of resources as described in 
subparagraph 7,a77ii71 the period of the
 denial or discontinuance as determined 
pursuant to subparagraph 7,e7 of        
subsection 7a77#b7 or 7b77#b71 as       
applicable1 shall be recalculated to    
take into account such return of        
resources4  7#b7 ,at the time a veteran 
applies for pension under section #aeac 
or #aeba of this title or increased     
pension under subsection 7c71 7d71 7e71 
or 7f7 of section #aeba of this title on
 account of a child1 and at such other  
times as the ,secretary considers       
appropriate1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7
 inform such veteran of the provisions  
of subsections 7a77#b7 and 7b77#b7      
providing for a period of ineligibility 
for payment of pension under such       
sections for individuals who make       
certain dispositions of resources for   
less than fair market value1 including  
the exception for hardship from such    

period of ineligibility2  7,b7 obtain   
from such veteran information which may 
be used in determining whether or not a 
period of ineligibility for such        
payments would be required by reason of 
such subsections2 and  7,c7 provide such
 veteran a timely process for           
determining whether or not the exception
 for hardship shall apply to such       
veteran4  4  7b7 ,surviving spouses and 
children ,section #aedc is amended--    
7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by        
redesignating paragraph 7#b7 as         
paragraph 7#c72  7,b7 by inserting after
 paragraph 7#a7 the following new       
paragraph 7#b73  7#b7 7,a7 ,if a        
surviving spouse otherwise eligible for 
payment of pension under section #aeda  
of this title disposes of covered       
resources for less than fair market     
value on or after the look-back date    
described in subparagraph 7,c77i71 the  
,secretary shall deny or discontinue the
 payment of pension to such surviving   
spouse under section #aeda of this title

 for months during the period beginning 
on the date described in subparagraph   
7,d7 and equal to the number of months  
calculated as provided in subparagraph  
7,e74  7,b7 7i7 ,for purposes of this   
paragraph1 a covered resource is any    
resource that was a part of the corpus  
of the estate of the surviving spouse   
that the ,secretary considers that under
 all the circumstances1 if the surviving
 spouse had not disposed of such        
resource1 it would be reasonable that   
the resource 7or some portion of the    
resource7 be consumed for the surviving 
spouse's maintenance4  7ii7 ,for        
purposes of this paragraph1 the         
,secretary may consider1 in accordance  
with regulations the ,secretary shall   
prescribe1 a transfer of an asset       
7including a transfer of an asset to an 
annuity1 trust1 or other financial      
instrument or investment7 a disposal of 
a covered resource for less than fair   
market value if such transfer reduces   
the amount in the corpus of the estate  

of the surviving spouse that the        
,secretary considers1 under all the     
circumstances1 would be reasonable to be
 consumed for the surviving spouse's    
maintenance4  7,c7 7i7 ,the look-back   
date described in this clause is a date 
that is #cf months before the date      
described in clause 7ii74  7ii7 ,the    
date described in this clause is the    
date on which the surviving spouse      
applies for pension under section #aeda 
of this title or1 if later1 the date on 
which the surviving spouse disposes of  
covered resources for less than fair    
market value4  7,d7 ,the date described 
in this subparagraph is the first day of
 the first month in or after which      
covered resources were disposed of for  
less than fair market value and which   
does not occur in any other period of   
ineligibility under this paragraph4     
7,e7 ,the number of months calculated   
under this subparagraph shall be equal  
to-- 7i7 the total1 cumulative          
uncompensated value of the portion of   

the covered resources so disposed of by 
the surviving spouse on or after the    
look-back date described in subparagraph
 7,c77i7 that the ,secretary determines 
would reasonably have been consumed for 
the surviving spouse's maintenance2     
divided by  7ii7 the maximum amount of  
monthly pension that is payable to a    
surviving spouse under section #aeda of 
this title1 including the maximum amount
 of increased pension payable under such
 section on account of a child1 but not 
including any amount of pension payable 
under such section because a surviving  
spouse is in need of regular aid and    
attendance or is permanently housebound1
  rounded down1 in the case of any      
fraction1 to the nearest whole number1  
but shall not in any case exceed #cf    
months4  2  7,c7 by adding at the end   
the following new paragraph3  7#d7 7,a7 
,if a surviving spouse otherwise        
eligible for payment of increased       
pension under subsection 7c71 7d71 or   
7e7 of section #aeda of this title on   

account of a child or the child disposes
 of covered resources for less than fair
 market value on or after the look-back 
date described in subparagraph 7,c77i71 
the ,secretary shall deny or discontinue
 payment of such increased pension for  
months during the period beginning on   
the date described in subparagraph 7,d7 
and equal to the number of months       
calculated as provided in subparagraph  
7,e74  7,b7 7i7 ,for purposes of this   
paragraph1 a covered resource is any    
resource that was a part of the corpus  
of the estate of the child that the     
,secretary considers that under all the 
circumstances1 if the surviving spouse  
or the child had not disposed of such   
resource1 it would be reasonable that   
the resource 7or some portion of the    
resource7 be consumed for the child's   
maintenance4  7ii7 ,for purposes of this
 paragraph1 the ,secretary may consider1
 in accordance with regulations the     
,secretary shall prescribe1 a transfer  
of an asset 7including a transfer of an 

asset to an annuity1 trust1 or other    
financial instrument or investment7 a   
disposal of a covered resource for less 
than fair market value if such transfer 
reduces the amount in the corpus of the 
estate of the child that the ,secretary 
considers1 under all the circumstances1 
would be reasonable to be consumed for  
the child's maintenance4  7,c7 7i7 ,the 
look-back date described in this clause 
is a date that is #cf months before the 
date described in clause 7ii74  7ii7    
,the date described in this clause is   
the date on which the surviving spouse  
applies for payment of increased pension
 under subsection 7c71 7d71 or 7e7 of   
section #aeda of this title on account  
of a child or1 if later1 the date on    
which the surviving spouse 7or the      
child7 disposes of covered resources for
 less than fair market value4  7,d7 ,the
 date described in this subparagraph is 
the first day of the first month in or  
after which covered resources were      
disposed of for less than fair market   

value and which does not occur in any   
other period of ineligibility under this
 paragraph4  7,e7 ,the number of months 
calculated under this clause shall be   
equal to-- 7i7 the total1 cumulative    
uncompensated value of the portion of   
the covered resources so disposed of by 
the surviving spouse 7or the child7 on  
or after the look-back date described in
 subparagraph 7,c77i7 that the          
,secretary determines would reasonably  
have been consumed for the child's      
maintenance2 divided by  7ii7 the       
maximum amount of increased monthly     
pension that is payable to a surviving  
spouse under subsection 7c71 7d71 or 7e7
 of section #aeda of this title on      
account of a child1  rounded down1 in   
the case of any fraction1 to the nearest
 whole number1 but shall not in any case
 exceed #cf months4  2  7#b7 in         
subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 by inserting 7#a7 
before ,the ,secretary2 and  7,b7 by    
adding at the end the following new     
paragraph3  7#b7 7,a7 ,if a child       

otherwise eligible for payment of       
pension under section #aedb of this     
title or any person with whom such child
 is residing who is legally responsible 
for such child's support disposes of    
covered resources for less than fair    
market value on or after the look-back  
date described in subparagraph 7,c77i71 
the ,secretary shall deny or discontinue
 the payment of pension to such child   
under section #aedb of this title for   
months during the period beginning on   
the date described in subparagraph 7,d7 
and equal to the number of months       
calculated as provided in subparagraph  
7,e74  7,b7 7i7 ,for purposes of this   
paragraph1 a covered resource is any    
resource that was a part of the corpus  
of the estate of the child or the corpus
 of the estate of any person with whom  
such child is residing who is legally   
responsible for such child's support    
that the ,secretary considers that under
 all the circumstances1 if the child or 
person had not disposed of such         

resource1 it would be reasonable that   
the resource 7or some portion of the    
resource7 be consumed for the child's   
maintenance4  7ii7 ,for purposes of this
 paragraph1 the ,secretary may consider1
 in accordance with regulations the     
,secretary shall prescribe1 a transfer  
of an asset 7including a transfer of an 
asset to an annuity1 trust1 or other    
financial instrument or investment7 a   
disposal of a covered resource for less 
than fair market value if such transfer 
reduces the amount in the corpus of the 
estate described in clause 7i7 that the 
,secretary considers1 under all the     
circumstances1 would be reasonable to be
 consumed for the child's maintenance4  
7,c7 7i7 ,the look-back date described  
in this clause is a date that is #cf    
months before the date described in     
clause 7ii74  7ii7 ,the date described  
in this clause is the date on which the 
child applies for pension under section 
#aedb of this title or1 if later1 the   
date on which the child 7or person      

described in subparagraph 7,b77 disposes
 of covered resources for less than fair
 market value4  7,d7 ,the date described
 in this clause is the first day of the 
first month in or after which covered   
resources were disposed of for less than
 fair market value and which does not   
occur in any other period of            
ineligibility under this paragraph4     
7,e7 ,the number of months calculated   
under this clause shall be equal to--   
7i7 the total1 cumulative uncompensated 
value of the portion of the covered     
resources so disposed of by the child   
7or person described in subparagraph    
7,b77 on or after the look-back date    
described in subparagraph 7,c77i7 that  
the ,secretary determines would         
reasonably have been consumed for the   
child's maintenance2 divided by  7ii7   
the maximum amount of monthly pension   
that is payable to a child under section
 #aedb of this title1  rounded down1 in 
the case of any fraction1 to the nearest
 whole number1 but shall not in any case

 exceed #cf months4  2 and  7#c7 by     
adding at the end the following new     
subsection3  7c7 7#a7 7,a7 ,the         
,secretary shall not deny or discontinue
 payment of pension under section #aeda 
or #aedb of this title or payment of    
increased pension under subsection 7c71 
7d71 or 7e7 of section #aeda of this    
title on account of a child by reason of
 the application of subsection 7a77#b71 
7a77#d71 or 7b77#b7 of this section to  
the disposal of resources by an         
individual-- 7i7 if-- 7,i7 a            
satisfactory showing is made to the     
,secretary 7in accordance with          
regulations promulgated by the          
,secretary7 that all resources disposed 
of for less than fair market value have 
been returned to the individual who     
disposed of the resources2 or  7,,ii7   
the ,secretary determines1 under        
procedures established by the ,secretary
 in accordance with subparagraph 7,b71  
that the denial or discontinuance of    
payment would work an undue hardship2 or

  7ii7 to the extent that any portion of
 the resources disposed of for less than
 fair market value have been returned to
 the individual who disposed of the     
resources4  7,b7 ,undue hardship would  
be worked by the denial or              
discontinuance of payment for purposes  
of subparagraph 7,a77i77,,ii7 if the    
denial or discontinuance of payment     
would deprive the individual during the 
period of denial or discontinuance-- 7i7
 of medical care such that the          
individual's life or health would be    
endangered2  7ii7 of necessary food or  
clothing1 or other necessities of life2 
or  7iii7 on such other basis as the    
,secretary shall specify in the         
procedures required by subparagraph     
7,a77i77,,ii74  7,c7 ,if payment of     
pension or increased pension that would 
otherwise be denied or discontinued by  
reason of the application of subsection 
7a77#b71 7a77#d71 or 7b77#b7 is denied  
or discontinued only in part by reason  
of the return of resources as described 

in subparagraph 7,a77ii71 the period of 
the denial or discontinuance as         
determined pursuant to subparagraph 7,e7
 of subsection 7a77#b71 7a77#d71 or     
7b77#b71 as applicable1 shall be        
recalculated to take into account such  
return of resources4  7#b7 ,at the time 
a surviving spouse or child applies for 
pension under section #aeda or #aedb of 
this title or increased pension under   
subsection 7c71 7d71 or 7e7 of section  
#aeda of this title on account of a     
child1 and at such other times as the   
,secretary considers appropriate1 the   
,secretary shall-- 7,a7 inform such     
surviving spouse or child of the        
provisions of subsections 7a77#b71      
7a77#d71 and 7b77#b71 as applicable1    
providing for a period of ineligibility 
for payment of pension or increased     
pension under such sections for         
individuals who make certain            
dispositions of resources for less than 
fair market value1 including the        
exception for hardship from such period 

of ineligibility2  7,b7 obtain from such
 surviving spouse or child information  
which may be used in determining whether
 or not a period of ineligibility for   
such payments would be required by      
reason of such subsections2 and  7,c7   
provide such surviving spouse or child a
 timely process for determining whether 
or not the exception for hardship shall 
apply to such surviving spouse or child4
  4  7c7 ,effective date ,subsections   
7a77#b71 7b77#b71 and 7c7 of section    
#aebb of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 and  
subsections 7a77#b71 7a77#d71 7b77#b71  
and 7c7 of section #aedc of such title1 
as added by subsection 7b71 shall take  
effect on the date that is one year     
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act and shall apply with respect to    
payments of pension and increased       
pension applied for after such date and 
to payments of pension and increased    
pension for which eligibility is        
redetermined after such date1 except    

that no reduction in pension shall be   
made under such subsections because of  
any disposal of covered resources made  
before such date4  7d7 ,annual reports  
7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj    
months after the date of the enactment  
of this ,act and not less frequently    
than once each year thereafter through  
#bjah1 the ,secretary of ,veterans      
,affairs shall submit to the appropriate
 committees of ,congress a report on the
 administration of subsections 7a77#b71 
7b77#b71 and 7c7 of section #aebb of    
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
added by subsection 7a71 and subsections
 7a77#b71 7a77#d71 7b77#b71 and 7c7 of  
section #aedc of such title1 as added by
 subsection 7b71 during the most recent 
#ab-month period4  7#b7 ,elements ,each 
report submitted under paragraph 7#a7   
shall include the following1 for the    
period covered by the report3 7,a7 ,the 
number of individuals who applied for   
pension under chapter #ae of such title4
  7,b7 ,the number of individuals who   

received pension under such chapter4    
7,c7 ,the number of individuals with    
respect to whom the ,secretary denied or
 discontinued payment of pension under  
the subsections referred to in paragraph
 7#a74  7,d7 ,a description of any      
trends identified by the ,secretary     
regarding pension payments that have    
occurred as a result of the amendments  
made by this section4  7,e7 ,such other 
information as the ,secretary considers 
appropriate4  7#c7 ,appropriate         
committees of ,congress defined ,in this
 subsection1 the term appropriate       
committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the
 ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs and  
the ,select ,committee on ,aging of the 
,senate2 and  7,b7 the ,committee on    
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives4  #hjc4 ,extension of  
reduced pension for certain veterans    
covered by medicaid plans for services  
furnished by nursing facilities  7a7 ,in
 general ,subsection 7d77#g7 of section 
#eejc is amended by striking ,november  

#cj1 #bjaf and inserting ,september #cj1
 #bjah4  7b7 ,clerical amendments  7#a7 
,section heading ,the section heading of
 such section is amended to read as     
follows3 ,reduced pension for certain   
hospitalized veterans and certain       
veterans receiving domiciliary1 nursing 
home1 or nursing facility care4  7#b7   
,table of sections ,the table of        
sections at the beginning of chapter #ee
 is amended by striking the item        
relating to section #eejc and inserting 
the following new item3  #eejc4 ,reduced
 pension for certain hospitalized       
veterans and certain veterans receiving 
domiciliary1 nursing home1 or nursing   
facility care4  4  #hjd4 ,conditions on 
award of per diem payments by ,secretary
 of ,veterans ,affairs for provision of 
housing or services to homeless veterans
  7a7 ,condition  7#a7 ,in general      
,section #bjab7;c77#a7 is amended by    
striking unless the facilities and all  
that follows through may specify4 and   
inserting the following3 8unless the    

,secretary certifies the following3     
7,a7 ,that the building where the grant 
recipient or eligible entity provides   
housing or services for which the grant 
recipient or eligible entity would      
receive such payment is in compliance   
with the codes relevant to the          
operations and level of care provided1  
including applicable provisions of the  
most recently published version of the  
,life ,safety ,code of the ,national    
,fire ,protection ,association or such  
other comparable fire and safety        
requirements as the ,secretary may      
specify4  7,b7 ,that such building and  
such housing or services are in         
compliance with licensing requirements1 
fire and safety requirements1 and any   
other requirements in the jurisdiction  
in which the building is located        
regarding the condition of the building 
and the provision of such housing or    
services4  4  7#b7 ,effective date ,the 
amendment made by paragraph 7#a7 shall  
apply with respect to an application for

 a per diem payment under section #bjab 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1    
submitted on or after the date of the   
enactment of this ,act4  7b7 ,annual    
inspections required ,section #bjab is  
amended by striking subsection 7b7 and  
inserting the following new subsection  
7b73  7b7 7#a7 ,not less frequently than
 once each fiscal year1 the ,secretary  
shall inspect each facility of each     
grant recipient or entity eligible for  
payments under subsection 7a7 at which  
the recipients and entities provide     
services under section #bjaa of this    
title or this section4  7#b7 ,except as 
provided in paragraph 7#a71 inspections 
made under such paragraph shall be made 
at such times as the ,secretary         
considers necessary4  7#c7 ,an          
inspection of a facility of a recipient 
or entity described in paragraph 7#a7   
made under such paragraph may be made   
with or without prior notice to the     
recipient or entity1 as the ,secretary  
considers appropriate4  7#d7 ,no per    

diem payment may be provided to a grant 
recipient or eligible entity under this 
section unless the facilities of the    
grant recipient or eligible entity meet 
such standards as the ,secretary shall  
prescribe4  4  7c7 ,revocation of       
certification authorized ,subsection 7c7
 of such section is amended-- 7#a7 by   
redesignating paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7  
as paragraphs 7#d7 and 7#e71            
respectively2  7#b7 in paragraph 7#a71  
as amended by subsection 7a77#a71 by    
striking in paragraph 7#b7 and inserting
 in paragraph 7#d72 and  7#c7 by        
inserting after paragraph 7#a7 the      
following new paragraph 7#b73  7#b7 ,the
 ,secretary may revoke any certification
 made under paragraph 7#a7 if the       
,secretary determines that such         
certification is no longer accurate4  4 
7d7 ,congressional notification of      
termination of per diem required ,such  
subsection is further amended by        
inserting after paragraph 7#b7 the      
following new paragraph 7#c73  7#c7 ,not

 later than #cj days after the date on  
which the ,secretary terminates         
provision of per diem payment under this
 section to a grant recipient or an     
eligible entity1 the ,secretary shall   
submit to the ,committee on ,veterans'  
,affairs of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,house of ,representatives notice of   
such termination if such termination    
were made because a facility of the     
grant recipient or eligible entity did  
not comply with-- 7,a7 an applicable    
provision of the most recently published
 version of the ,life ,safety ,code of  
the ,national ,fire ,protection         
,association or such other comparable   
fire and safety requirement as the      
,secretary has specified2 or  7,b7 a    
licensing requirement1 fire or safety   
requirement1 or another requirement in  
the jurisdiction in which the facility  
is located regarding the condition of   
the facility4  4  7e7 ,treatment of     
current recipients of per diem payments 

7#a7 ,assessment ,in the case of the    
recipient of a per diem payment under   
section #bjab of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 that receives such a     
payment during the year in which this   
,act is enacted for the provision of    
housing or services1 the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs shall assess whether 
the building where such housing or      
services are provided is and whether the
 housing and services are in compliance 
as required by section #bjab7;c77#a7 of 
such title1 as amended by subsection    
7a77#a74  7#b7 ,failure to comply ,in   
the case described in paragraph 7#a71 if
 the ,secretary does not certify the    
compliance of the building and the      
housing or services under such section  
before the date that is two years after 
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
the ,secretary may not make any         
additional per diem payments to the     
recipient for the provision of such     
housing or services under section #bjab 
of such title until the ,secretary      

certifies that such building is and such
 housing or services are in compliance4 
7f7 ,conforming condition on award of   
grants by ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs for comprehensive service      
programs ,section #bjaa7;b77#e77;,a7 is 
amended by inserting 1 including housing
 and building codes14  #hje4 ,exception 
to certain recapture requirements and   
treatment of contracts and grants with  
,state homes with respect to care for   
homeless veterans  7a7 ,exception to    
certain recapture requirements ,section 
#hacf7;b7 is amended by inserting 1 or  
the provision of services or conduct of 
a program pursuant to a contract or     
grant issued or awarded by the          
,secretary under subchapter ,,ii of     
chapter #bj or section #bjca7;a77#b7 of 
this title1 after outpatient clinic4    
7b7 ,construction ,the amendment made by
 subsection 7a7 may not be construed to 
authorize the ,secretary of ,veterans   
,affairs to enter into a contract with a
 ,state home or award a grant to a      

,state home for the furnishing of       
residential care for a veteran without--
 7#a7 identifying a substantial need for
 such care2 and  7#b7 determining that  
the ,state home is the most appropriate 
provider of such care4  #hjf4 ,extended 
period for scheduling of medical exams  
for veterans receiving temporary        
disability ratings for severe mental    
disorders ,section #aaef7;a77#c7 is     
amended by striking six months and      
inserting #ah months4  #hjg4 ,authority 
to issue ,veterans ,,id ,cards  7a7     
,authority  7#a7 ,in general ,the       
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may    
issue a card to a veteran that          
identifies the veteran as a veteran and 
includes a photo of the veteran and the 
name of the veteran4  7#b7 ,no          
requirement for enrollment or receipt of
 benefits ,the ,secretary may issue a   
card under paragraph 7#a7 to a veteran1 
whether or not such veteran is-- 7,a7   
enrolled in the system of annual patient
 enrollment established under section   

#agje7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states 
,code2 or  7,b7 in receipt of           
educational assistance1 compensation1 or
 pension under laws administered by the 
,secretary4  7#c7 ,designation ,a card  
issued under paragraph 7#a7 may be known
 as a ,veterans ,,id ,card4  7b7        
,recognition of ,veterans ,,id ,cards   
for reduced pricing of pharmaceuticals1 
consumer products1 and services ,the    
,secretary may work with national retail
 chains that offer reduced prices on    
pharmaceuticals1 consumer products1 and 
services to veterans to ensure that such
 retail chains recognize cards issued   
under subsection 7a77#a7 for purposes of
 offering reduced prices on             
pharmaceuticals1 consumer products1 and 
services4  7c7 ,veteran defined ,in this
 section1 the term veteran has the      
meaning given the term in section #aja  
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4    
7d7 ,effective date ,this section shall 
take effect on the date that is one year
 after the date of the enactment of this

 ,act4  #hjh4 ,honoring as veterans     
certain persons who performed service in
 the reserve components of the ,armed   
,forces ,any person who is entitled     
under chapter #abbc of title #aj1       
,united ,states ,code1 to retired pay   
for nonregular service or1 but for age1 
would be entitled under such chapter to 
retired pay for nonregular service shall
 be honored as a veteran but shall not  
be entitled to any benefit by reason of 
this honor4  #hji4 ,extension of        
authority for ,secretary of ,veterans   
,affairs to obtain information from     
,secretary of ,treasury and             
,commissioner of ,social ,security for  
income verification purposes ,section   
#ecag7;g7 is amended by striking        
,september #cj1 #bjaf and inserting     
,september #cj1 #bjah4  #haj4 ,extension
 of authority for ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs to issue and         
guarantee certain loans ,section        
#cgbi7;b77#b7 is amended-- 7#a7 in      
subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,a7 in clause      

7iii71 by striking ,october #a1 #bjag   
and inserting ,may #a1 #bjah2 and  7,b7 
in clause 7iv71 by striking ,october #a1
 #bjag and inserting ,may #a1 #bjah2    
7#b7 in subparagraph 7,b7-- 7,a7 in     
clause 7i71 by striking ,october #a1    
#bjag and inserting ,may #a1 #bjah2 and 
7,b7 in clause 7ii71 by striking        
,october #a1 #bjag and inserting ,may   
#a1 #bjah2  7#c7 in subparagraph 7,c7-- 
7,a7 in clause 7i71 by striking ,october
 #a1 #bjag and inserting ,may #a1 #bjah2
 and  7,b7 in clause 7ii71 by striking  
,october #a1 #bjag and inserting ,may   
#a1 #bjah2 and  7#d7 in subparagraph    
7,d7-- 7,a7 in clause 7i71 by striking  
,october #a1 #bjag and inserting ,may   
#a1 #bjah2 and  7,b7 in clause 7ii71 by 
striking ,october #a1 #bjag and         
inserting ,may #a1 #bjah4  #haa4 ,review
 of determination of certain service in 
,philippines during ,world ,war ,,ii    
7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of      
,veterans ,affairs1 in consultation with
 the ,secretary of ,defense and such    

military historians as the ,secretary of
 ,defense recommends1 shall review the  
process used to determine whether a     
covered individual served in support of 
the ,armed ,forces of the ,united       
,states during ,world ,war ,,ii in      
accordance with section #ajjb7;d7 of    
title ,x of ,division ,a of the         
,american ,recovery and ,reinvestment   
,act of #bjji 7,public ,law #aaa-e2 #ch 
,u4,s4,c4 #ajg note7 for purposes of    
determining whether such covered        
individual is eligible for payments     
described in such section4  7b7 ,covered
 individuals ,in this section1 a covered
 individual is any individual who timely
 submitted a claim for benefits under   
subsection 7c7 of section #ajjb of title
 ,x of ,division ,a of the ,american    
,recovery and ,reinvestment ,act of     
#bjji 7,public ,law #aaa-e2 #ch         
,u4,s4,c4 #ajg note7 based on service as
 described in subsection 7d7 of that    
section4  7c7 ,report ,not later than   
#ij days after the date of the enactment

 of this ,act1 the ,secretary of        
,veterans ,affairs shall submit to the  
,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report detailing any 
findings1 actions taken1 or             
recommendations for legislative action  
with respect to the review conducted    
under subsection 7a74  7d7 ,prohibition 
on benefits for disqualifying conduct   
under new process pursuant to review ,if
 pursuant to the review conducted under 
subsection 7a7 the ,secretary of        
,veterans ,affairs determines to        
establish a new process for the making  
of payments as described in that        
subsection1 the process shall include   
mechanisms to ensure that individuals   
are not treated as covered individuals  
for purposes of such payments if such   
individuals engaged in any disqualifying
 conduct during service described in    
that subsection1 including collaboration
 with the enemy or criminal conduct4    

#hab4 ,review of determination of       
certain service of merchant mariners    
during ,world ,war ,,ii  7a7 ,in general
 ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 
in consultation with the ,secretary of  
,defense1 the ,secretary of ,homeland   
,security and such military historians  
as the ,secretary of ,defense           
recommends1 shall review the process    
used to determine whether an individual 
performed service under honorable       
conditions that satisfies the           
requirements of a coastwise merchant    
seaman who is recognized pursuant to    
section #dja of the ,,gi ,bill          
,improvement ,act of #aigg 7,public ,law
 #ie-bjb2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #ajf note7 as   
having performed active duty service 4  
7b7 ,report ,not later than #ij days    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs shall submit to the ,committee 
on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate   
and the ,committee on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,house of               

,representatives a report detailing any 
findings1 actions taken1 or             
recommendations for legislative action  
with respect to the review conducted    
under subsection 7a74  #hac4 ,report on 
,laotian military support of ,armed     
,forces of the ,united ,states during   
,vietnam ,war  7a7 ,in general ,not     
later than one year after the effective 
date specified in subsection 7c71 the   
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 in    
consultation with the ,secretary of     
,defense and such agencies and          
individuals as the ,secretary of        
,veterans ,affairs considers            
appropriate1 shall submit to the        
appropriate committees of ,congress a   
report on-- 7#a7 the extent to which    
,laotian military forces provided combat
 support to the ,armed ,forces of the   
,united ,states between ,february #bh1  
#aifa1 and ,may #ae1 #aige2  7#b7       
whether the current classification by   
the ,civilian_/,military ,service       
,review ,board of the ,department of    

,defense of service by individuals of   
,hmong ethnicity is appropriate2 and    
7#c7 any recommendations for legislative
 action4  7b7 ,appropriate committees of
 ,congress ,in this section1 the term   
appropriate committees of ,congress     
means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,armed   
,services and the ,committee on         
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate2 and 
7#b7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services 
and the ,committee on ,veterans'        
,affairs of the ,house of               
,representatives4  7c7 ,effective date  
,this section shall take effect on the  
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #had4      
,report on practices of the ,department 
of ,veterans ,affairs to adequately     
provide services to veterans with       
hearing loss  7a7 ,in general ,not later
 than two years after the date of the   
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to   
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,senate and the ,committee on      

,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives a report on the actions
 taken by the ,secretary to implement   
the findings and recommendations        
included in the #bjjf report by the     
,institute of ,medicine of the ,national
 ,academies entitled ,noise and         
,military ,service3 ,implications for   
,hearing ,loss and ,tinnitus that was   
prepared pursuant to section #ajd of the
 ,veterans ,benefits ,act of #bjjb      
7,public ,law #ajg-ccj2 #aaf ,stat4     
#bhbb74  7b7 ,effect of ,duty ,military 
,occupational ,specialty ,noise         
,exposure ,listing on receipt of        
benefits by veterans  7#a7 ,in general  
,the ,secretary shall include in the    
report required by subsection 7a7 an    
evaluation of the extent to which       
veterans who had a military occupational
 specialty during service as a member of
 the ,armed ,forces that is not included
 on the ,duty ,military ,occupational   
,specialty ,noise ,exposure ,listing 7in
 this subsection referred to as the     

,,mos ,list7 are precluded from         
receiving benefits related to hearing   
loss from the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs4  7#b7 ,data ,the ,secretary   
shall include in the evaluation required
 by paragraph 7#a7 the following3 7,a7  
,with respect to veterans who had a     
military occupational specialty included
 on the ,,mos ,list-- 7i7 the number of 
claims for benefits related to hearing  
loss from the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs that were granted2 and  7ii7   
the number of claims for benefits       
related to hearing loss from the        
,department that were denied4  7,b7     
,with respect to veterans who had a     
military occupational specialty not     
included on the ,,mos ,list-- 7i7 the   
number of claims for benefits related to
 hearing loss from the ,department that 
were granted2  7ii7 the number of claims
 for benefits related to hearing loss   
from the ,department that were denied2  
7iii7 of the number of denied claims    
under clause 7ii71 the number of those  

claims that were appealed2 and  7iv7 of 
the number of appealed claims under     
clause 7iii71 the number of those       
appealed claims that were successfully  
appealed4  7c7 ,additional matters ,the 
,secretary shall include in the report  
required by subsection 7a7 the          
following3 7#a7 ,in the case of a       
veteran with unilateral hearing loss1 an
 explanation of the scientific basis for
 the practice of the ,department of     
determining a disability rating level   
with respect to hearing based on an     
examination of that veteran's healthy   
ear instead of the injured ear4  7#b7   
,an analysis of the reduction in earning
 capacity for veterans as a result of   
unilateral hearing loss1 with a focus on
 the ability of those veterans-- 7,a7 to
 detect the direction of sound2 and     
7,b7 to understand speech4  7#c7 ,an    
explanation of the rationale for the    
practice of the ,department of not      
issuing a compensable rating for hearing
 loss at certain levels that are severe 

enough to require the use of hearing    
aids4  7#d7 ,a survey of the            
audiologists that conduct compensation  
and pension examinations for the        
,department to assess the implementation
 of the most recent edition of the best 
practices manual for hearing loss and   
tinnitus examinations that includes the 
following3 7,a7 ,a description of the   
training received by those audiologists 
compared to the methods described in the
 most recent edition of the best        
practices manual for hearing loss and   
tinnitus examinations4  7,b7 ,an        
assessment of how those audiologists    
have complied with that training4  7,c7 
,whether those audiologists are using a 
range of tones up to #hjjj hertz to test
 the hearing of veterans4  7d7          
,construction ,nothing in this section  
shall be construed to authorize or      
require the ,secretary to defer1 delay1 
or replace the ongoing efforts of the   
,secretary to update the schedule of    
ratings required by section #aaee of    

title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7e7  
,effective date ,this section shall take
 effect on the date that is one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #hae4 ,report on joint programs  
of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs and
 ,department of ,defense with respect to
 hearing loss of members of the ,armed  
,forces and veterans  7a7 ,in general   
,not later than two years after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act1 the     
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall1 
in consultation with the ,secretary of  
,defense1 submit to ,congress a report  
that identifies the following3 7#a7     
,goals for the ,department of ,veterans 
,affairs and the ,department of ,defense
 for the prevention1 early detection1   
and treatment of hearing loss by the    
,national ,center for ,rehabilitative   
,auditory ,research of the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs and the ,hearing  
,center of ,excellence of the           
,department of ,defense4  7#b7          
,resources of the ,department of        

,veterans ,affairs that could be made   
available to assist the ,department of  
,defense in conducting audiometric tests
 and tinnitus screenings for members of 
the ,armed ,forces4  7#c7 ,barriers to  
information being added to the ,hearing 
,loss and ,auditory ,system ,injury     
,registry required under section        
#gba7;c77#a7 of the ,duncan ,hunter     
,national ,defense ,authorization ,act  
for ,fiscal ,year #bjji 7,public ,law   
#aaj-dag2 #abb ,stat4 #dejf74  7#d7     
,recommendations for any legislative or 
administrative actions necessary with   
respect to the ,hearing ,loss and       
,auditory ,system ,injury ,registry--   
7,a7 to assist in achieving the goals   
specified in paragraph 7#a72  7,b7 to   
improve the adjudication of claims for  
benefits with respect to hearing loss2  
and  7,c7 to further the research       
objectives of the ,national ,center for 
,rehabilitative ,auditory ,research of  
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
and the ,hearing ,center of ,excellence 

of the ,department of ,defense4  7b7    
,effective date ,this section shall take
 effect on the date that is one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #haf4 ,limitation on aggregate   
amount of bonuses payable to personnel  
of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 during fiscal year #bjad ,the aggregate
 amount of bonuses and awards payable to
 personnel of the ,department of        
,veterans ,affairs under chapter #de or 
#ec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 
or any other provision of such title1   
during fiscal year #bjad may not exceed 
#cfh1jjj1jjj4  ,january #bg1 #bjad,read 
the second time and placed on the       
calendar