#aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cicf ,,an ,,act ,to direct the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the ,secretary carries out ,veteran ,engagement ,team events where veterans can complete claims for disability compensation and pension under the laws administered by the ,secretary1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veteran ,engagement ,teams ,act or ,,vet ,act4 #b4 ,pilot program on ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,veteran ,engagement ,team events 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,pilot program ,beginning not later than ,october #a1 #bjaf1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall carry out a #c-year pilot program under which the ,secretary shall carry out events1 to be known as ,veteran ,engagement ,team events4 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that such events are carried out-- 7,a7 during the first year during which the ,secretary carries out the pilot program1 at least once a month in a location within the jurisdiction of each of #aj regional offices of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 including at least #b regional offices in each of the #e districts of the ,veterans ,benefits ,administration under the organization of such ,administration in effect as of the date of the enactment of this ,act2 and 7,b7 during each of the second and third years during which the ,secretary carries out the pilot program1 at least once a month in a location within the jurisdiction of each of #ae regional offices of the ,department1 including at least #c regional offices in each such district4 7#b7 ,veteran ,engagement ,team events ,during each ,veteran ,engagement ,team event1 the ,secretary shall provide assistance to veterans in completing and adjudicating claims for disability compensation under chapter #aa of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 and for pension under chapter #ae of such title4 ,the ,secretary shall ensure that-- 7,a7 all ,veteran ,engagement ,team events occur during the normal business hours of the sponsoring regional office2 7,b7 the events are carried out at different locations within the jurisdiction of each regional office and at least #ej miles from any regional office2 7,c7 a sufficient number of physicians 7to be available for opinions only71 veteran service representatives and rating veteran service representatives1 and other personnel are available at the events to initiate1 update1 and finalize the completion and adjudication of claims2 7,d7 veterans service organizations have access to the events for purposes of providing assistance to veterans2 and 7,e7 a veteran who is unable to complete and adjudicate a claim at an event is informed of what additional information or actions are needed to finalize the claim4 7b7 ,location ,in selecting locations for ,veteran ,engagement ,team events under this section1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 coordinate with veteran service organizations and ,state and local veterans agencies2 and 7#b7 seek to select locations that are community-based and easily accessible4 7c7 ,transfer of personnel 7#a7 ,physicians ,the ,secretary may not permanently transfer any physician employed by the ,veterans ,health ,administration for the purpose of staffing a ,veteran ,engagement ,team event4 7#b7 ,payment of salaries ,any amount payable to an employee of the ,department for work performed at a ,veteran ,engagement ,team event is payable only from amounts otherwise available for the payment of the salary of the employee4 ,no additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated under this section for the payment of salaries for ,department employee4 7d7 ,other authorities ,in carrying out the pilot program under this section1 the ,secretary may-- 7#a7 coordinate with ,states1 local governments1 nonprofit organizations1 and private sector entities to use facilities to host ,veteran ,engagement ,team events for no or minimal costs2 and 7#b7 accept1 on a without compensation basis1 services provided by non-,department physicians in rendering medical opinions relating to claims for compensation and pension4 7e7 ,customer satisfaction surveys ,in carrying out the pilot program under this section1 the ,secretary shall collect and analyze information about the customer satisfaction of veterans who have received assistance at an ,veteran ,engagement ,team event4 7f7 ,reports ,not later than ,april #cj1 #bjag1 and annually thereafter beginning on ,october #a1 #bjag1 for the duration of the program1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the implementation and effectiveness of the events4 ,such report shall include-- 7#a7 the number and types of claims completed and adjudicated at the events2 7#b7 the number and types of claims for which assistance was sought at the events that were not completed or adjudicated at the events and the reasons such claims were not completed or adjudicated2 and 7#c7 an analysis of the customer satisfaction of veterans who have received assistance at an event based on the information collected under subsection 7e74 #c4 ,modification to limitation on awards and bonuses ,section #gje of the ,veterans ,access1 ,choice1 and ,accountability ,act of #bjad 7,public ,law #aac-adf2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #gjc note7 is amended to read as follows3 #gje4 ,limitation on awards and bonuses paid to employees of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall ensure that the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses paid by the ,secretary in a fiscal year under chapter #de or #ec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 or any other awards or bonuses authorized under such title or title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 does not exceed the following amounts3 7#a7 ,with respect to fiscal year #bjag1 #bej1jjj1jjj4 7#b7 ,with respect to each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbd1 #cfj1jjj1jjj4 4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,june #ba1 #bjaf4;,clerk4