,,ib  ,union ,calendar ,no4 #egd  #aadth
 ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4 ,r4     
#dghb  ,report ,no4 #aad-gch  ,,in ,,the
 ,,house ,,of ,,representatives  ,march 
#ag1 #bjaf ,mr4 ,abraham 7for himself   
and ,ms4 ,titus7 introduced the         
following bill2 which was referred to   
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs   
,september #ab1 #bjaf ,additional       
sponsors3 ,mr4 ,cartwright1 ,mr4 ,heck  
of ,nevada1 and ,mr4 ,o',rourke         
,september #ab1 #bjaf ,reported with an 
amendment1 committed to the ,committee  
of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of   
the ,union1 and ordered to be printed   
,strike out all after the enacting      
clause and insert the part printed in   
italic ,for text of introduced bill1 see
 copy of bill as introduced on ,march   
#ag1 #bjaf  ,a ,,bill  ,to increase1    
effective as of ,december #a1 #bjaf1 the
 rates of compensation for veterans with
 service-connected disabilities and the 
rates of dependency and indemnity       
compensation for the survivors of       

certain disabled veterans1 and for other
 purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act 
may be cited as the ,veterans'          
,compensation ,cost-of-,living          
,adjustment ,act of #bjaf4  #b4         
,increase in rates of disability        
compensation and dependency and         
indemnity compensation  7a7 ,rate       
adjustment ,effective on ,december #a1  
#bjaf1 the ,secretary of ,veterans      
,affairs shall increase1 in accordance  
with subsection 7c71 the dollar amounts 
in effect on ,november #cj1 #bjaf1 for  
the payment of disability compensation  
and dependency and indemnity            
compensation under the provisions       
specified in subsection 7b74  7b7       
,amounts ,to be increased ,the dollar   
amounts to be increased pursuant to     
subsection 7a7 are the following3 7#a7  
,wartime disability compensation ,each  
of the dollar amounts under section     
#aaad of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code4  7#b7 ,additional compensation   
for dependents ,each of the dollar      

amounts under section #aaae7a7 of such  
title4  7#c7 ,clothing allowance ,the   
dollar amount under section #aafb of    
such title4  7#d7 ,dependency and       
indemnity compensation to surviving     
spouse ,each of the dollar amounts under
 subsections 7a7 through 7d7 of section 
#acaa of such title4  7#e7 ,dependency  
and indemnity compensation to children  
,each of the dollar amounts under       
sections #acac7;a7 and #acad of such    
title4  7c7 ,determination of ,increase 
7#a7 ,percentage ,except as provided in 
paragraph 7#b71 each dollar amount      
described in subsection 7b7 shall be    
increased by the same percentage as the 
percentage by which benefit amounts     
payable under title ,,ii of the ,social 
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dja et   
seq47 are increased effective ,december 
#a1 #bjaf1 as a result of a             
determination under section #bae7;i7 of 
such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dae7;i774     
7#b7 ,rounding ,each dollar amount      
increased under paragraph 7#a71 if not a

 whole dollar amount1 shall be rounded  
to the next lower whole dollar amount4  
7d7 ,special rule ,the ,secretary of    
,veterans ,affairs may adjust           
administratively1 consistent with the   
increases made under subsection 7a71 the
 rates of disability compensation       
payable to persons under section #aj of 
,public ,law #he-heg 7#gb ,stat4 #abfc7 
who have not received compensation under
 chapter #aa of title #ch1 ,united      
,states ,code4  7e7 ,publication of     
adjusted rates ,the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs shall publish in the 
,federal ,register the amounts specified
 in subsection 7b71 as increased under  
this section1 not later than the date on
 which the matters specified in section 
#bae7;i77#b77;,d7 of the ,social        
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4           
#dae7;i77#b77;,d77 are required to be   
published by reason of a determination  
made under section #bae7;i7 of such ,act
 during fiscal year #bjag4  #c4         
,transportation of deceased veterans to 

veterans' cemeteries  7a7 ,in general   
,subsection 7a7 of section #bcjh of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended to read as follows3  7a7 ,in    
,general  7#a7 ,the ,secretary may pay1 
in addition to any amount paid pursuant 
to section #bcjb or #bcjg of this title1
 the cost of transportation of the      
deceased veteran described in paragraph 
7#a7 or 7#b7 of subsection 7b7 for      
burial in a national cemetery or a      
covered veterans' cemetery4 ,such       
payment shall not exceed the cost of    
transportation to the national cemetery 
nearest the veteran's last place of     
residence in which burial space is      
available4  7#b7 ,the ,secretary may    
pay1 in addition to any amount paid     
pursuant to section #bcjb or #bcjg of   
this title1 the cost of transportation  
of the deceased veteran described in    
subsection 7b77#c7 for burial in a      
national cemetery4 ,such payment shall  
not exceed the cost of transportation to
 the national cemetery nearest the      

veteran's last place of residence in    
which burial space is available4  4  7b7
 ,covered ,veterans' ,cemetery ,defined 
,section #bcjh of such title is amended 
by adding at the end the following new  
subsection3  7c7 ,covered ,veterans'    
,cemetery ,defined ,in this section1 the
 term covered veterans' cemetery means1 
with respect to a deceased veteran      
described in subsection 7b71 a veterans'
 cemetery owned by a ,state or a tribal 
organization 7as defined in section     
#cgfe7d7 of this title7 in which the    
deceased veteran is eligible to be      
buried4  4  7c7 ,conforming ,amendment  
,section #bcjh of such title is amended 
in the section heading by adding at the 
end the following3 or a veterans'       
cemetery4  7d7 ,clerical amendment ,the 
table of sections at the beginning of   
such chapter is amended by striking the 
item relating to section #bcjh and      
inserting the following new item3       
#bcjh4 ,transportation of deceased      
veterans to a national cemetery or a    

veterans' cemetery4  4  #d4 ,expansion  
of eligibility for headstones1 markers1 
and medallions for medal of honor       
recipients ,section #bcjf7;d7 of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
paragraph3  7#e7  7,a7 ,in carrying out 
this subsection with respect to a       
deceased individual described in        
subparagraph 7,c71 the ,secretary shall 
furnish1 upon request1 a headstone or   
marker under paragraph 7#a7 or a        
medallion under paragraph 7#d7 that     
signifies the deceased's status as a    
,medal of ,honor recipient4  7,b7 ,if   
the ,secretary furnished a headstone1   
marker1 or medallion under paragraph    
7#a7 or 7#d7 for a deceased individual  
described in subparagraph 7,c7 that does
 not signify the deceased's status as a 
,medal of ,honor recipient1 the         
,secretary shall1 upon request1 replace 
such headstone1 marker1 or medallion    
with a headstone1 marker1 or medallion1 
as the case may be1 that so signifies   

the deceased's status as a ,medal of    
,honor recipient4  7,c7 ,a deceased     
individual described in this            
subparagraph is a deceased individual   
who-- 7i7 served in the ,armed ,forces  
on or after ,april #f1 #aiag2  7ii7 is  
eligible for a headstone or marker      
furnished under paragraph 7#a7 or a     
medallion furnished under paragraph 7#d7
 7or would be so eligible for such      
headstone1 marker1 or medallion but for 
the date of the death of the            
individual72 and  7iii7 was awarded the 
,medal of ,honor 7including             
posthumously74  4  #e4 ,expansion of    
,presidential ,memorial ,certificate    
program  7a7 ,in general ,section       
#aab7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states  
,code1 is amended by inserting after    
conditions1 the following3 persons      
eligible for burial in a national       
cemetery by reason of paragraph 7#b71   
7#c71 or 7#g7 of section #bdjb7;a7 of   
this title14  7b7 ,application ,the     
amendment made by subsection 7a7 shall  

apply with respect to the death of a    
person eligible for burial in a national
 cemetery by reason of paragraph 7#b71  
7#c71 or 7#g7 of section #bdjb7;a7 of   
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1       
occurring before1 on1 or after the date 
of the enactment of this ,act4  #f4     
,burial plots at ,arlington ,national   
,cemetery for individuals awarded the   
,medal of ,honor  7a7 ,reservation ,of  
the number of in-ground burial plots    
available at ,arlington ,national       
,cemetery as of the date of the         
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of the ,army shall reserve #ajj such    
plots to inter deceased individuals who 
have been awarded the ,medal of ,honor4 
7b7 ,termination ,the requirement under 
subsection 7a7 shall terminate on the   
date on which the ,secretary of the     
,army to the ,committees on ,veterans'  
,affairs and the ,committees on ,armed  
,services of the ,house of              
,representatives and the ,senate a      
report on the interment and inurnment   

capacity of ,arlington ,national        
,cemetery that includes--  7#a7 the     
estimated date that the ,secretary      
determines the cemetery will reach      
maximum interment and inurnment         
capacity2 and  7#b7 in light of the     
unique and iconic meaning of the        
cemetery to the ,united ,states1        
recommendations for legislative actions 
and nonlegislative options that the     
,secretary determines necessary to      
ensure that the maximum interment and   
inurnment capacity of the cemetery is   
not reached until well into the future1 
including such actions and options with 
respect to--  7,a7 redefining           
eligibility criteria for interment and  
inurnment in the cemetery2 and  7,b7    
considerations for additional expansion 
opportunities beyond the current        
boundaries of the cemetery4  #g4 ,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    
three-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 two regional offices 
in each of the five 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 three 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  ,september #ab1  
#bjaf ,reported with an amendment1      
committed to the ,committee of the      
,whole ,house on the ,state of the      
,union1 and ordered to be printed