#aadth ,,congress  #ast ,session  ,s4   
#abjc  ,,an ,,act  ,to amend title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 to improve the   
furnishing of health care to veterans by
 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 
to improve the processing by the        
,department of claims for disability    
compensation1 and for other purposes4   
#a4 ,short title2 table of contents  7a7
 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as
 the #bast ,century ,veterans ,benefits 
,delivery and ,other ,improvements ,act4
  7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of  
contents for this ,act is as follows3   
,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of        
contents4,,title ,i--,health care       
matters,subtitle ,a--,expansion and     
improvement of health care benefits,sec4
 #aja4 ,improved access to appropriate  
immunizations for veterans4,sec4 #ajb4  
,expansion of provision of chiropractic 
care and services to veterans4,subtitle 
,b--,health care administration,sec4    
#aaa4 ,expansion of availability of     
prosthetic and orthotic care for        

veterans4,sec4 #aab4 ,reports on public 
access to ,department of ,veterans      
,affairs research4,sec4 #aac4 ,revival  
of ,intermediate ,care ,technician      
,pilot ,program of ,department of       
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #aad4 ,transfer
 of health care provider credentialing  
data from ,secretary of ,defense to     
,secretary of ,veterans                 
,affairs4,subtitle ,c--,improvement of  
medical workforce,sec4 #aba4 ,inclusion 
of mental health professionals in       
education and training program for      
health personnel of the ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #abb4          
,expansion of qualifications for        
licensed mental health counselors of the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to   
include doctoral degrees4,sec4 #abc4    
,report on medical workforce of the     
,department of ,veterans                
,affairs4,,title ,,ii--,compensation and
 other benefits matters,subtitle        
,a--,benefits claims submission,sec4    
#bja4 ,participation of veterans service

 organizations in ,transition           
,assistance ,program4,sec4 #bjb4        
,requirement that ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs publish the average  
time required to adjudicate timely and  
untimely appeals4,sec4 #bjc4            
,determination of manner of appearance  
for hearings before ,board of ,veterans'
 ,appeals4,subtitle ,b--,practices of   
regional offices relating to benefits   
claims,sec4 #baa4 ,comptroller ,general 
review of claims processing performance 
of regional offices of ,veterans        
,benefits ,administration4,sec4 #bab4   
,inclusion in annual budget submission  
of information on capacity of ,veterans 
,benefits ,administration to process    
benefits claims4,sec4 #bac4 ,report on  
staffing levels at regional offices of  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs after 
transition to ,national ,work           
,queue4,sec4 #bad4 ,annual report on    
progress in implementing ,veterans      
,benefits ,management ,system4,sec4     
#bae4 ,report on plans of ,secretary of 

,veterans ,affairs to reduce inventory  
of non-rating workload4,sec4 #baf4      
,sense of ,congress on increased        
transparency relating to claims for     
benefits and appeals of decisions       
relating to benefits in ,monday ,morning
 ,workload ,report4,subtitle ,c--,other 
benefits matters,sec4 #bba4             
,modification of pilot program for use  
of contract physicians for disability   
examinations4,sec4 #bbb4 ,development of
 procedures to increase cooperation with
 ,national ,guard ,bureau4,sec4 #bbc4   
,review of determination of certain     
service in ,philippines during ,world   
,war ,,ii4,sec4 #bbd4 ,sense of         
,congress on submittal of information   
relating to claims for disabilities     
incurred or aggravated by military      
sexual trauma4,,title ,,iii--,education 
matters,sec4 #cja4 ,retention of        
entitlement to educational assistance   
during certain additional periods of    
active duty4,sec4 #cjb4 ,reports on     
progress of students receiving          

,post-#i_/aa ,educational               
,assistance4,sec4 #cjc4 ,secretary of   
,defense report on level of education   
attained by those who transfer          
entitlement to ,post-#i_/aa educational 
assistance4,sec4 #cjd4 ,reports on      
educational levels attained by certain  
members of the ,armed ,forces at time of
 separation from the ,armed             
,forces4,,title ,,iv--,employment and   
transition matters,sec4 #dja4 ,required 
coordination between ,directors for     
,veterans' ,employment and ,training    
with ,state departments of labor and    
veterans affairs4,sec4 #djb4 ,report on 
job fairs attended by one-stop career   
center employees at which such employees
 encounter veterans4,sec4 #djc4 ,review 
of challenges faced by employers seeking
 to hire veterans and sharing of        
information among ,federal agencies that
 serve veterans4,sec4 #djd4 ,review of  
,transition ,,gps ,program ,core        
,curriculum4,sec4 #dje4 ,modification of
 requirement for provision of           

preseparation counseling4,,title        
,v--,veteran small business matters,sec4
 #eja4 ,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 #ejb4 ,treatment  
of businesses after deaths of           
servicemember-owners for purposes of    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
contracting goals and                   
preferences4,,title ,,vi--,burial       
matters,sec4 #fja4 ,department of       
,veterans ,affairs study on matters     
relating to burial of unclaimed remains 
of veterans in national                 
cemeteries4,,title ,,vii--,other        
matters,sec4 #gja4 ,honoring as veterans
 certain persons who performed service  
in the reserve components of the ,armed 
,forces4,sec4 #gjb4 ,report on ,laotian 
military support of ,armed ,forces of   
the ,united ,states during ,vietnam     
,war4,sec4 #gjc4 ,restoration of prior  

reporting fee multipliers4  ,i ,health  
care matters  ,a ,expansion and         
improvement of health care benefits     
#aja4 ,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 of title #ch1 ,united  
,states ,code1 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 of such title 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 of such title 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  #ajb4 ,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 two years after the   
date of the enactment of the #bast      
,century ,veterans ,benefits ,delivery  
and ,other ,improvements ,act1 and at   
not fewer than #ej percent of all       
medical centers in each ,veterans       
,integrated ,service ,network by not    
later than three years after such date  
of enactment4  4  7b7 ,expanded         
chiropractor services available to      
veterans  7#a7 ,medical services        
,paragraph 7#f7 of section #agja of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 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  ,b       
,health care administration  #aaa4      
,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 effective date       

specified in subsection 7d71 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 #bjag for the          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs1      
#e1jjj1jjj 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   
#bjai4  7d7 ,effective date ,this       
section shall take effect on the date   

that is one year after the date of the  
enactment of this ,act4  #aab4 ,reports 
on public access to ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs research  7a7 ,in    
general ,not later than #ahj days after 
the date of the enactment of this ,act  
and 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 
increasing public access to scientific  
publications and digital data from      
research funded by the ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs4  7b7 ,contents ,the 
report submitted under subsection 7a7   
shall include the following3 7#a7       
,identification of where on the         
,internet website of the ,department the
 public will be able to access results  
of research funded by the ,department or
 be referred to other sources to access 
the results of research funded by the   

,department4  7#b7 ,a description of the
 progress made by the ,department in    
meeting public access requirements set  
forth in the ,federal ,register notice  
entitled ,policy and ,implementation    
,plan for ,public ,access to ,scientific
 ,publications and ,digital ,data from  
,research ,funded by the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs 7#hj ,fed4 ,reg4     
#fjgea71 including the following3  7,a7 
,compliance of ,department investigators
 with requirements relating to ensuring 
that research funded by the ,department 
is accessible by the public4  7,b7      
,ensuring data management plans of the  
,department include provisions for      
long-term preservation of the scientific
 data resulting from research funded by 
the ,department4  7#c7 ,an explanation  
of the factors used to evaluate the     
merit of data management plans of       
research funded by the ,veterans ,health
 ,administration4  7#d7 ,an explanation 
of the process of the ,department in    
effect that enables stakeholders to     

petition a change to the embargo period 
for a specific field and the factors    
considered during such process4  #aac4  
,revival of ,intermediate ,care         
,technician ,pilot ,program of          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,revival ,the ,secretary of ,veterans   
,affairs shall revive the ,intermediate 
,care ,technician ,pilot ,program of the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs that 
was carried out by the ,secretary       
between ,january #bjac and ,february    
#bjad4  7b7 ,technicians  7#a7          
,selection ,the ,secretary shall select 
not less than #gb intermediate care     
technicians to participate in the pilot 
program4  7#b7 ,facilities  7,a7 ,in    
general ,any intermediate care          
technician hired pursuant to paragraph  
7#a7 may be assigned to a medical       
facility of the ,department as          
determined by the ,secretary for        
purposes of this section4  7,b7         
,priority ,in assigning intermediate    
care technicians under subparagraph     

7,a71 the ,secretary shall give priority
 to facilities at which veterans have   
the longest wait times for appointments 
for the receipt of hospital care or     
medical services from the ,department1  
as determined by the ,secretary for     
purposes of this section4  7c7          
,termination ,the ,secretary shall carry
 out the pilot program under subsection 
7a7 during the three-year period        
beginning on the effective date         
specified in subsection 7e74  7d7       
,hospital care and medical services     
defined ,in this section1 the terms     
hospital care and medical services have 
the meanings given such terms in section
 #agja 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  #aad4 ,transfer
 of health care provider credentialing  
data from ,secretary of ,defense to     
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7   
,in general ,in a case in which the     

,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs hires a
 covered health care provider1 the      
,secretary of ,defense shall1 after     
receiving a request from the ,secretary 
of ,veterans ,affairs for the           
credentialing data of the ,secretary of 
,defense relating to such health care   
provider1 transfer to the ,secretary of 
,veterans ,affairs such credentialing   
data4  7b7 ,covered health care         
providers ,for purposes of this section1
 a covered provider is a health care    
provider who-- 7#a7 is or was employed  
by the ,secretary of ,defense2  7#b7    
provides or provided health care related
 services as part of such employment2   
and  7#c7 was credentialed by the       
,secretary of ,defense4  7c7 ,policies  
and regulations ,the ,secretary of      
,veterans ,affairs and the ,secretary of
 ,defense shall establish such policies 
and promulgate such regulations as may  
be necessary to carry out this section4 
7d7 ,credentialing defined ,in this     
section1 the term credentialing means   

the systematic process of screening and 
evaluating qualifications and other     
credentials1 including licensure1       
required education1 relevant training   
and experience1 and current competence  
and health status4  7e7 ,effective date 
,this section shall take effect on the  
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #aae4      
,examination and treatment by           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
emergency medical conditions and women  
in labor  7a7 ,in general ,subchapter   
,,viii of chapter #ag of title #ch1     
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
inserting after section #aghd the       
following new section3  #aghd;,a4       
,examination and treatment for emergency
 medical conditions and women in labor  
7a7 ,in general ,in the case of a       
hospital of the ,department that has an 
emergency department1 if any individual 
comes to the hospital or the campus of  
the hospital and a request is made on   
behalf of the individual for examination

 or treatment for a medical condition1  
the hospital must provide for an        
appropriate medical screening           
examination within the capability of the
 emergency department1 including        
ancillary services routinely available  
to the emergency department1 to         
determine whether or not an emergency   
medical condition exists4  7b7          
,necessary stabilizing treatment for    
emergency medical conditions and labor  
7#a7 ,if any individual comes to a      
hospital of the ,department that has an 
emergency department or the campus of   
such a hospital and the hospital        
determines that the individual has an   
emergency medical condition1 the        
hospital must provide either--  7,a7    
within the staff and facilities         
available at the hospital1 for such     
further medical examination and such    
treatment as may be required to         
stabilize the medical condition2 or     
7,b7 for transfer of the individual to  
another medical facility in accordance  

with subsection 7c74  7#b7 ,a hospital  
is deemed to meet the requirement of    
paragraph 7#a77;,a7 with respect to an  
individual if the hospital offers the   
individual the further medical          
examination and treatment described in  
that paragraph and informs the          
individual 7or a person acting on behalf
 of the individual7 of the risks and    
benefits to the individual of such      
examination and treatment1 but the      
individual 7or a person acting on behalf
 of the individual7 refuses to consent  
to the examination and treatment4 ,the  
hospital shall take all reasonable steps
 to secure the written informed consent 
of the individual 7or person7 to refuse 
such examination and treatment4  7#c7 ,a
 hospital is deemed to meet the         
requirement of paragraph 7#a7 with      
respect to an individual if the hospital
 offers to transfer the individual to   
another medical facility in accordance  
with subsection 7c7 and informs the     
individual 7or a person acting on behalf

 of the individual7 of the risks and    
benefits to the individual of such      
transfer1 but the individual 7or a      
person acting on behalf of the          
individual7 refuses to consent to the   
transfer4 ,the hospital shall take all  
reasonable steps to secure the written  
informed consent of the individual 7or  
person7 to refuse such transfer4  7c7   
,restricting transfers until individual 
stabilized  7#a7 ,if an individual at a 
hospital of the ,department has an      
emergency medical condition that has not
 been stabilized1 the hospital may not  
transfer the individual unless--  7,a7  
7i7 the individual 7or a legally        
responsible person acting on behalf of  
the individual71 after being informed of
 the obligations of the hospital under  
this section and of the risk of         
transfer1 requests1 in writing1 transfer
 to another medical facility2  7ii7 a   
physician of the ,department has signed 
a certification that1 based upon the    
information available at the time of    

transfer1 the medical benefits          
reasonably expected from the provision  
of appropriate medical treatment at     
another medical facility outweigh the   
increased risks to the individual and1  
in the case of labor1 to the unborn     
child from effecting the transfer2 or   
7iii7 if a physician of the ,department 
is not physically present in the        
emergency department at the time an     
individual is transferred1 a qualified  
medical person 7as defined by the       
,secretary for purposes of this section7
 has signed a certification described in
 clause 7ii7 after a physician of the   
,department1 in consultation with the   
person1 has made the determination      
described in such clause1 and           
subsequently countersigns the           
certification2 and  7,b7 the transfer is
 an appropriate transfer to that        
facility4  7#b7 ,a certification        
described in clause 7ii7 or 7iii7 of    
paragraph 7#a77;,a7 shall include a     
summary of the risks and benefits upon  

which the certification is based4  7#c7 
,for purposes of paragraph 7#a77;,b71 an
 appropriate transfer to a medical      
facility is a transfer-- 7,a7 in which  
the transferring hospital provides the  
medical treatment within its capacity   
that minimizes the risks to the health  
of the individual and1 in the case of a 
woman in labor1 the health of the unborn
 child2  7,b7 in which the receiving    
facility-- 7i7 has available space and  
qualified personnel for the treatment of
 the individual2 and  7ii7 has agreed to
 accept transfer of the individual and  
to provide appropriate medical          
treatment2  7,c7 in which the           
transferring hospital sends to the      
receiving facility all medical records  
7or copies thereof7 available at the    
time of the transfer relating to the    
emergency medical condition for which   
the individual has presented1           
including--  7i7 observations of signs  
or symptoms2  7ii7 preliminary          
diagnosis2  7iii7 treatment provided2   

7iv7 the results of any tests2 and  7v7 
the informed written consent or         
certification 7or copy thereof7 provided
 under paragraph 7#a77;,a72  7,d7 in    
which the transfer is effected through  
qualified personnel and transportation  
equipment1 including the use of         
necessary and medically appropriate life
 support measures during the transfer2  
and  7,e7 that meets such other         
requirements as the ,secretary considers
 necessary in the interest of the health
 and safety of individuals transferred4 
7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 
,the term campus means1 with respect to 
a hospital of the ,department--  7,a7   
the physical area immediately adjacent  
to the main buildings of the hospital2  
7,b7 other areas and structures that are
 not strictly contiguous to the main    
buildings but are located not less than 
#bej yards from the main buildings2 and 
7,c7 any other areas determined by the  
,secretary to be part of the campus of  
the hospital4  7#b7 ,the term emergency 

medical condition means--  7,a7 a       
medical condition manifesting itself by 
acute symptoms of sufficient severity   
7including severe pain7 such that the   
absence of immediate medical attention  
could reasonably be expected to result  
in--  7i7 placing the health of the     
individual 7or1 with respect to a       
pregnant woman1 the health of the woman 
or her unborn child7 in serious         
jeopardy2  7ii7 serious impairment to   
bodily functions2 or  7iii7 serious     
dysfunction of any bodily organ or part2
 or  7,b7 with respect to a pregnant    
woman who is having contractions-- 7i7  
that there is inadequate time to effect 
a safe transfer to another hospital     
before delivery2 or  7ii7 that transfer 
may pose a threat to the health or      
safety of the woman or the unborn child4
  7#c7 7,a7 ,the term to stabilize      
means1 with respect to an emergency     
medical condition described in paragraph
 7#b77;,a71 to provide such medical     
treatment of the condition as may be    

necessary to assure1 within reasonable  
medical probability1 that no material   
deterioration of the condition is likely
 to result from or occur during the     
transfer of the individual from a       
facility1 or1 with respect to an        
emergency medical condition described in
 paragraph 7#b77;,b71 to deliver        
7including the placenta74  7,b7 ,the    
term stabilized means1 with respect to  
an emergency medical condition described
 in paragraph 7#b77;,a71 that no        
material deterioration of the condition 
is likely1 within reasonable medical    
probability1 to result from or occur    
during the transfer of the individual   
from a facility1 or1 with respect to an 
emergency medical condition described in
 paragraph 7#b77;,b71 that the woman has
 delivered 7including the placenta74    
7#d7 ,the term transfer means the       
movement 7including the discharge7 of an
 individual outside the facilities of a 
hospital of the ,department at the      
direction of any person employed by 7or 

affiliated or associated1 directly or   
indirectly1 with7 the hospital1 but does
 not include such a movement of an      
individual who--  7,a7 has been declared
 dead2 or  7,b7 leaves the facility     
without the permission of any such      
person4  4  7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the
 table of sections at the beginning of  
chapter #ag of such title is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to    
section #aghd the following new item3   
,sec4 #aghd;,a4 ,examination and        
treatment for emergency medical         
conditions and women in labor4  4  ,c   
,improvement of medical workforce  #aba4
 ,inclusion of mental health            
professionals in 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 ,effective date        
,subsection 7a7 shall take effect on the
 date that is one year after the date of
 the enactment of this ,act4  #abb4     
,expansion of qualifications for        
licensed mental health counselors of the
 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to   
include doctoral degrees ,section       
#gdjb7;b77#aa77;,a7 of title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
inserting or doctoral degree after      
master's degree4  #abc4 ,report on      
medical workforce of the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,not
 later than #abj 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 medical workforce of the ,department
 of ,veterans ,affairs4  7b7 ,elements  

,the report required by subsection 7a7  
shall include the following3 7#a7 ,with 
respect to licensed professional mental 
health counselors and marriage and      
family therapists of the ,department--  
7,a7 how many such counselors and       
therapists are currently enrolled in the
 mental health professionals trainee    
program of the ,department2  7,b7 how   
many such counselors and therapists are 
expected to enroll in the mental health 
professionals trainee program of the    
,department during the #ahj-;day period 
beginning on the date of the submittal  
of the report2  7,c7 a description of   
the eligibility criteria for such       
counselors and therapists as compared to
 other behavioral health professions in 
the ,department2  7,d7 a description of 
the objectives1 goals1 and timing of the
 ,department with respect to increasing 
the representation of such counselors   
and therapists in the behavioral health 
workforce of the ,department2 and  7,e7 
a description of the actions taken by   

the ,secretary1 in consultation with the
 ,director of the ,office of ,personnel 
,management1 to create an occupational  
series for such counselors and          
therapists and a timeline for the       
creation of such an occupational series4
  7#b7 ,a breakdown of spending by the  
,department in connection with the      
education debt reduction program of the 
,department under subchapter ,,vii of   
chapter #gf of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 including--  7,a7 the    
amount spent by the ,department in debt 
reduction payments during the three-year
 period preceding the submittal of the  
report disaggregated by the medical     
profession of the individual receiving  
the payments2  7,b7 a description of how
 the ,department prioritizes such       
spending by medical profession1         
including an assessment of whether such 
priority reflects the five occupations  
identified in the most recent           
determination by the ,inspector ,general
 of the ,department of ,veterans        

,affairs as having the largest staffing 
shortages in the ,veterans ,health      
,administration2 and  7,c7 a description
 of the actions taken by the ,secretary 
to increase the effectiveness of such   
spending for purposes of recruitment of 
health care providers to the            
,department1 including efforts to more  
consistently include eligibility for the
 education debt reduction program in    
vacancy announcements of positions for  
health care providers at the            
,department4  7#c7 ,a description of any
 impediments to the delivery by the     
,department of telemedicine services to 
veterans and any actions taken by the   
,department to address such impediments1
 including with respect to--  7,a7      
restrictions under ,federal or ,state   
laws2  7,b7 licensing or credentialing  
issues for health care providers1       
including non-,department health care   
providers1 practicing telemedicine with 
a veteran located in a different ,state2
  7,c7 the effect of limited broadband  

access or limited information technology
 capabilities on the delivery of health 
care2  7,d7 the distance a veteran is   
required to travel to access a facility 
or clinic with telemedicine             
capabilities2  7,e7 the effect on the   
provision of telemedicine services to   
veterans of policies of and limited     
liability protection for certain        
entities2 and  7,f7 issues relating to  
reimbursement and travel limitations for
 veterans that affect the participation 
of non-,department health care providers
 in the telemedicine program4  7#d7 ,an 
update on the efforts of the ,secretary 
to offer training opportunities in      
telemedicine to medical residents in    
medical facilities of the ,department   
that use telemedicine1 consistent with  
medical residency program requirements  
established by the ,accreditation       
,council for ,graduate ,medical         
,education1 as required in section      
#ajh7;b7 of the ,honoring ,america's    
,veterans and ,caring for ,camp ,lejeune

 ,families ,act of #bjab 7,public ,law  
#aab-aed2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #gdjf note74    
7#e7 ,an assessment of the development  
and implementation by the ,secretary of 
succession planning policies to address 
the prevalence of vacancies in positions
 in the ,veterans ,health               
,administration of more than #ahj days1 
including the development of an         
enterprise position management system to
 more effectively identify1 track1 and  
resolve such vacancies4  7#f7 ,a        
description of the actions taken by the 
,secretary1 in consultation with the    
,director of the ,office of ,personnel  
,management1 to address any impediments 
to the timely appointment and           
determination of qualifications for     
,directors of ,veterans ,integrated     
,service ,networks and ,medical         
,directors of the ,department4  ,,ii    
,compensation and other benefits matters
  ,a ,benefits claims submission  #bja4 
,participation of veterans service      
organizations in ,transition ,assistance

 ,program  7a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it  
is the sense of ,congress that the      
,secretary of ,defense1 in collaboration
 with the ,secretary of ,labor1 the     
,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 and  
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1   
should establish a process by which a   
representative of a veterans service    
organization may be present at any      
portion of the program carried out under
 section #aadd of title #aj1 ,united    
,states ,code1 relating to the submittal
 of claims to the ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs for compensation     
under chapter #aa or #ac of title #ch1  
,united ,states ,code4  7b7 ,report     
7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ah    
months after the date of the enactment  
of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,defense
 shall submit to ,congress a report on  
participation of veterans service       
organizations in the program carried out
 under section #aadd of title #aj1      
,united ,states ,code4  7#b7 ,contents  
,the report required by paragraph 7#a7  

shall include the following3 7,a7 ,an   
assessment of the compliance of         
facilities of the ,department of        
,defense with the directives included in
 the memorandum of the ,secretary of    
,defense entitled ,installation ,access 
and ,support ,services for ,nonprofit   
,non-,federal ,entities and dated       
,december #bc1 #bjad4  7,b7 ,the number 
of military bases that have complied    
with such directives4  7,c7 ,how many   
veterans service organizations have been
 present at a portion of a program as   
described in subsection 7a74  7c7       
,veterans service organization defined  
,in this section1 the term veterans     
service organization means any          
organization recognized by the          
,secretary for the representation of    
veterans under section #eijb of title   
#ch4  #bjb4 ,requirement that ,secretary
 of ,veterans ,affairs publish the      
average time required to adjudicate     
timely and untimely appeals  7a7        
,publication requirement  7#a7 ,in      

general ,on an ongoing basis1 the       
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
make available to the public the        
following3  7,a7 ,the average length of 
time to adjudicate a timely appeal4     
7,b7 ,the average length of time to     
adjudicate an untimely appeal4  7#b7    
,effective date ,paragraph 7#a7 shall   
take effect on the date that is one year
 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act and shall apply until the date    
that is three years after the date of   
the enactment of this ,act4  7b7 ,report
  7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ci  
months 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 
whether publication pursuant to         
subsection 7a77#a7 has had an effect on 
the number of timely appeals filed4     
7#b7 ,contents ,the report required by  
paragraph 7#a7 shall include the        

following3 7,a7 ,the number of appeals  
and timely appeals that were filed      
during the one-year period ending on the
 effective date specified in subsection 
7a77#b74  7,b7 ,the number of appeals   
and timely appeals that were filed      
during the one-year period ending on the
 date that is two years after the       
effective date specified in subsection  
7a77#b74  7c7 ,definitions ,in this     
section3 7#a7 ,appeal ,the term appeal  
means a notice of disagreement filed    
pursuant to section #gaje7;a7 of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 in response 
to notice of the result of an initial   
review or determination regarding a     
claim for a benefit under a law         
administered by the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs4  7#b7 ,timely ,the  
term timely with respect to an appeal   
means that the notice of disagreement   
was filed not more than #ahj days after 
the date of mailing of the notice of the
 result of the initial review or        
determination described in paragraph    

7#a74  7#c7 ,untimely ,the term untimely
 with respect to an appeal means the    
notice of disagreement was filed more   
than #ahj days after the date of mailing
 of the notice of the result of the     
initial review or determination         
described in paragraph 7#a74  #bjc4     
,determination of manner of appearance  
for hearings before ,board of ,veterans'
 ,appeals  7a7 ,in general ,section     
#gajg of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code1 is amended--  7#a7 by striking   
subsection 7e72  7#b7 by redesignating  
subsections 7d7 and 7f7 as subsections  
7f7 and 7g71 respectively2  7#c7 by     
inserting after subsection 7c7 the      
following new subsections 7d7 and 7e73  
7d7 7#a7 ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 a  
hearing before the ,board shall be      
conducted1 as the ,board considers      
appropriate--  7,a7 in person2 or  7,b7 
through picture and voice transmission1 
by electronic or other means1 in such   
manner that the appellant is not present
 in the same location as the member or  

members of the ,board during the        
hearing4  7#b7 ,upon request by an      
appellant1 a hearing before the ,board  
shall be conducted1 as the appellant    
considers appropriate--  7,a7 in person2
 or  7,b7 through picture and voice     
transmission as described in paragraph  
7#a77;,b74  7e7 7#a7 ,in a case in which
 a hearing before the ,board is to be   
conducted through picture and voice     
transmission as described in subsection 
7d77#a77;,b71 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 
through picture and voice transmission  
as described in subsection 7d77#a77;,b7 
shall be conducted in the same manner   
as1 and shall be considered the         
equivalent of1 a personal hearing4  2   
and  7#d7 in subsection 7f77#a71 as     

redesignated by paragraph 7#b71 by      
striking ,an appellant may request and  
all that follows through office of the  
,department and inserting ,in a case in 
which a hearing before the ,board is to 
be conducted in person1 the hearing     
shall 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  7b7 ,conforming amendment 
,subsection 7a77#a7 of such section is  
amended by striking in subsection 7f7   
and inserting in subsection 7g74  7c7   
,effective date ,the amendment 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 
,b ,practices of regional offices       
relating to benefits claims  #baa4      
,comptroller ,general review of claims  
processing performance of regional      
offices of ,veterans ,benefits          

,administration  7a7 ,review required   
,not later than #ae months after the    
effective date specified in subsection  
7e71 the ,comptroller ,general of the   
,united ,states shall complete a review 
of the regional offices of the ,veterans
 ,benefits ,administration to help the  
,veterans ,benefits ,administration     
achieve more consistent performance in  
the processing of claims for disability 
compensation4  7b7 ,elements ,the review
 required by subsection 7a7 shall       
include the following3 7#a7 ,an         
identification of the following3  7,a7  
,the factors1 including management      
practices1 that distinguish higher      
performing regional offices from other  
regional offices with respect to claims 
for disability compensation4  7,b7 ,the 
best practices employed by higher       
performing regional offices that        
distinguish the performance of such     
offices from other regional offices4    
7,c7 ,such other management practices or
 tools as the ,comptroller ,general     

determines could be used to improve the 
performance of regional offices4  7#b7  
,an assessment of the effectiveness of  
communication with respect to the       
processing of claims for disability     
compensation between the regional       
offices and veterans service            
organizations and caseworkers employed  
by ,members of ,congress4  7c7 ,report  
,not later than #ae months after the    
effective date specified in subsection  
7e71 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 results of the review completed     
under subsection 7a74  7d7 ,veterans    
service organization defined ,in this   
section1 the term veterans service      
organization means any organization     
recognized by the ,secretary for the    
representation of veterans under section
 #eijb of title #ch1 ,united ,states    
,code4  7e7 ,effective date ,this       

section shall take effect on the date   
that is #bgj days after the date of the 
enactment of this ,act4  #bab4          
,inclusion in annual budget submission  
of information on capacity of ,veterans 
,benefits ,administration to process    
benefits claims  7a7 ,in general ,along 
with the supporting information included
 in the budget submitted to ,congress by
 the ,president pursuant to section     
#aaje7;a7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states 
,code1 the ,president shall include     
information on the capacity of the      
,veterans ,benefits ,administration to  
process claims for benefits under the   
laws administered by the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs1 including           
information described in subsection 7b71
 during the fiscal year covered by the  
budget with which the information is    
submitted4  7b7 ,information described  
,the information described in this      
subsection is the following3 7#a7 ,an   
estimate of the average number of claims
 for benefits under the laws            

administered by the ,secretary1         
excluding such claims completed during  
mandatory overtime1 that a single       
full-time equivalent employee of the    
,administration can process in a year1  
based on the following3  7,a7 ,a time   
and motion study that the ,secretary    
shall conduct on the processing of such 
claims4  7,b7 ,such other information   
relating to such claims as the          
,secretary considers appropriate4  7#b7 
,a description of the actions the       
,secretary will take to improve the     
processing of such claims4  7#c7 ,an    
assessment of the actions identified by 
the ,secretary under paragraph 7#b7 in  
the previous year and an identification 
of the effects of those actions4  7c7   
,effective date ,this section shall     
apply with respect to any budget        
submitted as described in subsection 7a7
 with respect to any fiscal year after  
fiscal year #bjag4  #bac4 ,report on    
staffing levels at regional offices of  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs after 

transition to ,national ,work ,queue    
,not later than #ae 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 criteria and procedures that the    
,secretary will use to determine        
appropriate staffing levels at the      
regional offices of the ,department once
 the ,department has transitioned to    
using the ,national ,work ,queue for the
 distribution of the claims processing  
workload4  #bad4 ,annual report on      
progress in implementing ,veterans      
,benefits ,management ,system  7a7 ,in  
general ,not later than each of one     
year1 two years1 and three years after  
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
shall submit to ,congress a report on   
the progress of the ,secretary in       
implementing the ,veterans ,benefits    

,management ,system4  7b7 ,contents     
,each report required by subsection 7a7 
shall include the following3 7#a7 ,an   
assessment of the current functionality 
of the ,veterans ,benefits ,management  
,system4  7#b7 ,recommendations         
submitted to the ,secretary by employees
 of the ,department of ,veterans        
,affairs who are involved in processing 
claims for benefits under the laws      
administered by the ,secretary1         
including veterans service              
representatives1 rating veterans service
 representatives1 and decision review   
officers1 for such legislative or       
administrative action as the employees  
consider appropriate to improve the     
processing of such claims4  7#c7        
,recommendations submitted to the       
,secretary by veterans service          
organizations who use the ,veterans     
,benefits ,management ,system for such  
legislative or administrative action as 
the veterans service organizations      
consider appropriate to improve such    

system4  7c7 ,veterans service          
organization defined ,in this section1  
the term veterans service organization  
means any organization recognized by the
 ,secretary for the representation of   
veterans under section #eijb of title   
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  #bae4      
,report on plans of ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs to reduce inventory  
of non-rating workload ,not later than  
#abj 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 that details  
the plans of the ,secretary to reduce   
the inventory of work items listed in   
the ,monday ,morning ,workload ,report  
under ,end ,products #acj1 #acg1 #agc1  
#bij1 #djj1 #fjj1 #fjg1 #fij1 #icj1 and 
#ifj4  #baf4 ,sense of ,congress on     
increased transparency relating to      
claims for benefits and appeals of      

decisions relating to benefits in       
,monday ,morning ,workload ,report ,it  
is the sense of ,congress that the      
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs should 
include in each ,monday ,morning        
,workload ,report published by the      
,secretary the following3  7#a7 ,with   
respect to each regional office of the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 the  
following3 7,a7 ,the number of fully    
developed claims for benefits under the 
laws administered by the ,secretary that
 have been received4  7,b7 ,the number  
of claims described in subparagraph 7,a7
 that are pending a decision4  7,c7 ,the
 number of claims described in          
subparagraph 7,a7 that have been pending
 a decision for more than #abe days4    
7#b7 ,enhanced information on appeals of
 decisions relating to claims for       
benefits under the laws administered by 
the ,secretary that are pending1        
including information contained in the  
reports of the ,department entitled     
,appeals ,pending and ,appeals ,workload

 ,by ,station4  ,c ,other benefits      
matters  #bba4 ,modification of pilot   
program for use of contract physicians  
for disability examinations ,section    
#ejd of the ,veterans' ,benefits        
,improvement ,act of #aiif 7,public ,law
 #ajd-bge2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note7 is 
amended--  7#a7 by redesignating        
subsections 7c7 and 7d7 as subsections  
7d7 and 7e71 respectively2 and  7#b7 by 
inserting after subsection 7b7 the      
following new subsection 7c73  7c7      
,licensure of contract physicians  7#a7 
,in general ,notwithstanding any law    
regarding the licensure of physicians1 a
 physician described in paragraph 7#b7  
may conduct an examination pursuant to a
 contract entered into under subsection 
7a7 at any location in any ,state1 the  
,district of ,columbia1 or a            
,commonwealth1 territory1 or possession 
of the ,united ,states1 so long as the  
examination is within the scope of the  
authorized duties under such contract4  
7#b7 ,physician described ,a physician  

described in this paragraph is a        
physician who-- 7,a7 has a current      
license to practice the health care     
profession of the physician2 and  7,b7  
is performing authorized duties for the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
pursuant to a contract entered into     
under subsection 7a74  4  #bbb4         
,development of procedures to increase  
cooperation with ,national ,guard       
,bureau  7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary
 of ,veterans ,affairs and the ,chief of
 the ,national ,guard ,bureau shall     
jointly develop and implement           
procedures1 including requirements      
relating to timeliness1 to improve the  
timely provision to the ,secretary of   
such information in the possession of   
the ,chief as the ,secretary requires to
 process claims submitted to the        
,secretary for benefits under the laws  
administered by the ,secretary4  7b7    
,report ,not later than one year after  
the implementation of the procedures    
under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary and

 the ,chief shall jointly submit to     
,congress a report describing--  7#a7   
the requests for information relating to
 records of members of the ,national    
,guard made by the ,secretary to the    
,chief pursuant to such procedures2 and 
7#b7 the timeliness of the responses of 
the ,chief to such requests4  #bbc4     
,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  #bbd4 ,sense of      
,congress on submittal of information   
relating to claims for disabilities     
incurred or aggravated by military      
sexual trauma  7a7 ,in general ,it is   
the sense of ,congress that the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs should 
submit to ,congress information on the  
covered claims submitted to the         
,secretary during each fiscal year1     
including the information specified in  
subsection 7b74  7b7 ,elements ,the     

information specified in this subsection
 with respect to each fiscal year is the
 following3 7#a7 ,the number of covered 
claims submitted to or considered by the
 ,secretary during such fiscal year4    
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 such fiscal year2  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   
such fiscal year1 are pending and1      
separately1 the number of such claims on
 appeal4  7#g7 ,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     
,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#b7 ,military sexual trauma ,the term  
military sexual trauma shall have the   
meaning specified by the ,secretary for 
purposes of this section and shall      
include sexual harassment 7as so        
specified74  ,,iii ,education matters   
#cja4 ,retention of entitlement to      

educational assistance during certain   
additional periods of active duty  7a7  
,educational assistance allowance       
,section #afaca7;c77#c77;,b77i7 of title
 #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended 
by striking or #abcjd and inserting     
#abcjd1 #abcjd;a1 or #abcjd;b4  7b7     
,expiration date ,section #afacc7;b77#d7
 of such title is amended by striking or
 #abcjd and inserting #abcjd1 #abcjd;a1 
or #abcjd;b4  #cjb4 ,reports on progress
 of students receiving ,post-#i_/aa     
,educational ,assistance  7a7 ,in       
general ,chapter #cc of title #ch1      
,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7
 in subsection #ccbe7;c7--  7,a7 in     
paragraph 7#b71 by striking and after   
the semicolon2  7,b7 by redesignating   
paragraph 7#c7 as paragraph 7#d72 and   
7,c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#b7  
the following new paragraph 7#c73  7#c7 
the information received by the         
,secretary under section #ccbf of this  
title2 and  2 and  7#b7 by adding at the
 end the following new section3  #ccbf4 

,report on student progress ,as a       
condition on approval under chapter #cf 
of this title of a course offered by an 
educational institution 7as defined in  
section #cdeb of this title71 each year1
 each educational institution 7as so    
defined7 that received a payment in that
 year on behalf of an individual        
entitled to educational assistance under
 this chapter shall submit to the       
,secretary such information regarding   
the academic progress of the individual 
as the ,secretary may require4  4  7b7  
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of such       
chapter is amended by adding at the end 
the following new item3  #ccbf4 ,report 
on student progress4  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  #cjc4          
,secretary of ,defense report on level  
of education attained by those who      
transfer entitlement to ,post-#i_/aa    

educational assistance  7a7 ,in general 
,section #ccbe7;b77#a7 of title #ch1    
,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7
 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking and  
after the semicolon2 and  7#b7 by adding
 at the end the following new           
subparagraph3  7,d7 indicating the      
highest level of education attained by  
each individual who transfers a portion 
of the individual's entitlement to      
educational assistance under section    
#ccai of this title2 and  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  #cjd4      
,reports on educational levels attained 
by certain members of the ,armed ,forces
 at time of separation from the ,armed  
,forces  7a7 ,annual reports required   
,each ,secretary concerned shall submit 
to ,congress each year a report on the  
educational levels attained by members  
of the ,armed ,forces described in      
subsection 7b7 under the jurisdiction of

 such ,secretary who separated from the 
,armed ,forces during the preceding     
year4  7b7 ,covered members ,the members
 of the ,armed ,forces described in this
 subsection are members of the ,armed   
,forces who transferred unused education
 benefits to family members pursuant to 
section #ccai of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 while serving as members 
of the ,armed ,forces4  7c7 ,secretary  
concerned defined ,in this section1 the 
term ,secretary concerned has the       
meaning given that 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  ,,iv ,employment and transition 
matters  #dja4 ,required coordination   
between ,directors for ,veterans'       
,employment and ,training with ,state   
departments of labor and veterans       
affairs  7a7 ,in general ,section #dajc 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is 
amended by adding at the end the        

following new subsection3  7c7          
,coordination with ,state departments of
 labor and veterans affairs ,each       
,director for ,veterans' ,employment and
 ,training for a ,state shall coordinate
 the ,director's activities under this  
chapter with the ,state department of   
labor and the ,state department of      
veterans affairs4  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  #djb4 ,report  
on job fairs attended by one-stop career
 center employees at which such         
employees encounter veterans  7a7 ,in   
general ,section #acf7;d77#a7 of the    
,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih    
7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhga7;d77#a77 is amended
 by adding at the end the following new 
sentence3 ,the report also shall include
 information1 for the year preceding the
 year the report is submitted1 on the   
number of job fairs attended by         
,one-,stop ,career ,center employees at 

which the employees had contact with a  
veteran1 and the number of veterans     
contacted at each such job fair44  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  #djc4      
,review of challenges faced by employers
 seeking to hire veterans and sharing of
 information among ,federal agencies    
that serve veterans  7a7 ,review  7#a7  
,in general ,the ,secretary of ,labor1  
in consultation with the ,secretary of  
,defense and the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs1 shall conduct a review of--  
7,a7 the challenges faced by employers  
seeking to hire veterans2 and  7,b7     
information sharing among ,federal      
departments and agencies that serve     
veterans and members of the ,armed      
,forces who are separating from service4
  7#b7 ,matters reviewed ,in conducting 
the review required by paragraph 7#a71  
the ,secretary of ,labor shall examine  
the following3  7,a7 ,the barriers      

employers face in gaining information   
identifying veterans who are seeking    
jobs4  7,b7 ,the extent and quality of  
information sharing among ,federal      
departments and agencies that serve     
veterans and members of the ,armed      
,forces who are separating from service1
 including how the departments and      
agencies may more easily connect        
employers with such veterans and        
members4  7b7 ,report  7#a7 ,in general 
,not later than #abj days after the     
effective date specified in subsection  
7c71 the ,secretary of ,labor shall     
submit to the appropriate committees of 
,congress a report on the review        
conducted under subsection 7a74  7#b7   
,contents ,the report required by       
paragraph 7#a7 shall include the        
following3 7,a7 ,recommendations for    
addressing the barriers described in    
subsection 7a77#b77;,a74  7,b7          
,recommendations for improving          
information sharing described in        
subsection 7a77#b77;,b74  7#c7          

,appropriate committees of ,congress    
defined ,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  7c7 ,effective date  
,this section shall take effect on the  
date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #djd4      
,review of ,transition ,,gps ,program   
,core ,curriculum  7a7 ,review  7#a7 ,in
 general ,the ,secretary of ,defense1 in
 consultation with the ,secretary of    
,veterans ,affairs and the ,secretary of
 ,labor1 shall conduct a review of the  
,department of ,defense ,transition     
,,gps ,program ,core ,curriculum in     
effect on the date of the enactment of  
this ,act4  7#b7 ,matters reviewed ,the 
review shall examine the following3 7,a7
 ,the ,department of ,defense           

,transition ,,gps ,program ,core        
,curriculum in effect on the date of the
 enactment of this ,act4  7,b7 ,the     
roles and responsibilities of each      
,federal department participating in the
 ,transition ,,gps ,program and whether 
the various roles and responsibilities  
of the ,federal departments are         
adequately aligned with one another4    
7,c7 ,the allotment of time spent on    
issues under the jurisdiction of each   
,federal department participating in the
 ,transition ,,gps ,program and whether 
the allotment is adequate to provide    
members of the ,armed ,forces with all  
the information the members need        
regarding important benefits that can   
assist members in transitioning out of  
military service4  7,d7 ,whether any of 
the information in the three optional   
tracks in the ,transition ,,gps ,program
 ,core ,curriculum should be addressed  
more appropriately in mandatory tracks  
rather than optional tracks4  7,e7 ,the 
benefits of and obstacles to            

establishing-- 7i7 a standard           
implementation plan of long-term outcome
 measures for the ,transition ,,gps     
,program2 and  7ii7 a comprehensive     
system of metrics for such measures4    
7b7 ,report  7#a7 ,in general ,not later
 than #abj days after the date of the   
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,defense1 in consultation with the   
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and the
 ,secretary of ,labor1 shall submit to  
the appropriate committees of ,congress 
a report on the review conducted under  
subsection 7a74  7#b7 ,contents ,the    
report required by paragraph 7#a7 shall 
include the following3 7,a7             
,recommendations for improving the      
,department of ,defense ,transition     
,,gps ,program ,core ,curriculum in     
order to more accurately address the    
needs of members of the ,armed ,forces  
transitioning out of military service4  
7,b7 ,recommendations for improving the 
roles and responsibilities described in 
subsection 7a77#b77;,b74  7,c7          

,recommendations for improving the      
allotment of time described in          
subsection 7a77#b77;,c74  7,d7 ,such    
recommendations as the ,secretary of    
,defense may have regarding the optional
 and mandatory tracks in the ,transition
 ,,gps ,program ,core ,curriculum4  7,e7
 ,such recommendations as the ,secretary
 of ,defense may have with respect to   
the outcome measures and metrics        
described in subsection 7a77#b77;,e74   
7,f7 ,identification of such other areas
 of concern as the ,secretary of        
,defense may have with respect to the   
,transition ,,gps ,program and such     
recommendations for legislative or      
administrative action as the ,secretary 
may have to address such concerns4  7#c7
 ,appropriate committees of ,congress   
defined ,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  #dje4 ,modification  
of requirement for provision of         
preseparation counseling  7a7           
,clarification of requirement for #ahj  
continuous days of active duty service  
,subparagraph 7,a7 of section           
#aadb7;a77#d7 of title #aj1 ,united     
,states ,code1 is amended by inserting  
continuous before #ahj days4  7b7       
,exclusion of training from periods of  
active duty ,such section is further    
amended by adding at the end the        
following new subparagraph3  7,c7 ,for  
purposes of subparagraph 7,a71 the term 
active duty does not include full-time  
training duty1 annual training duty1 and
 attendance1 while in the active        
military service1 at a school designated
 as a service school by law or by the   
,secretary concerned4  4  ,v ,veteran   
small business matters  #eja4           
,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 of title #ch1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 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     
#ejb4 ,treatment of businesses after    
deaths of servicemember-owners for      
purposes of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs contracting goals and          
preferences  7a7 ,in general ,section   
#habg of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code1 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 such title1 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  ,,vi  
,burial matters  #fja4 ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs study on matters     
relating to burial of unclaimed remains 
of veterans in national cemeteries  7a7 
,study and report required ,not later   

than one year after the effective date  
specified in subsection 7d71 the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall--
  7#a7 complete a study on matters      
relating to the interring of unclaimed  
remains of veterans in national         
cemeteries under the control of the     
,national ,cemetery ,administration2 and
  7#b7 submit to ,congress a report on  
the findings of the ,secretary with     
respect to the study required under     
paragraph 7#a74  7b7 ,matters studied   
,the matters studied under subsection   
7a77#a7 shall include the following3    
7#a7 ,determining the scope of issues   
relating to unclaimed remains of        
veterans1 including an estimate of the  
number of unclaimed remains of veterans4
  7#b7 ,assessing the effectiveness of  
the procedures of the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs for working with     
persons or entities having custody of   
unclaimed remains to facilitate         
interment of unclaimed remains of       
veterans in national cemeteries under   

the control of the ,national ,cemetery  
,administration4  7#c7 ,assessing ,state
 and local laws that affect the ability 
of the ,secretary to inter unclaimed    
remains of veterans in national         
cemeteries under the control of the     
,national ,cemetery ,administration4    
7#d7 ,developing recommendations for    
such legislative or administrative      
action as the ,secretary considers      
appropriate4  7c7 ,methodology  7#a7    
,number of unclaimed remains ,in        
estimating the number of unclaimed      
remains of veterans under subsection    
7b77#a71 the ,secretary may review such 
subset of applicable entities as the    
,secretary considers appropriate1       
including a subset of funeral homes and 
coroner offices that possess unclaimed  
veterans remains4  7#b7 ,assessment of  
,state and local laws ,in assessing     
,state and local laws under subsection  
7b77#c71 the ,secretary may assess such 
sample of applicable ,state and local   
laws as the ,secretary considers        

appropriate in lieu of reviewing all    
applicable ,state and local laws4  7d7  
,effective date ,this section shall take
 effect on the date that is one year    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  ,,vii ,other matters  #gja4      
,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  #gjb4 ,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 such recommendations as the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may    
have 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  #gjc4      
,restoration of prior reporting fee     
multipliers  7a7 ,in general ,during the
 #aj-year period beginning on ,september
 #bf1 #bjae1 the second sentence of     
subsection 7c7 of section #cfhd of title
 #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall be   
applied--  7#a7 by substituting #h for  
#ab2 and  7#b7 by substituting #ab for  
#ae4  7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section
 #djf of the ,department of ,veterans   
,affairs ,expiring ,authorities ,act of 
#bjad 7,public ,law #aac-age2 #ch       
,u4,s4,c4 #cfhd note71 as amended by    
section #daj of the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs ,expiring            
,authorities ,act of #bjae 7,public ,law
 #aad-eh71 is hereby repealed4  ,passed 
the ,senate ,november #aj1              
#bjae4,secretary