,,ib ,union ,calendar ,no4 #fga #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #efic ,report ,no4 #aae-hfh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #g1 #bjah ,mr4 ,higgins of ,louisiana introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,july #bd1 #bjah;,additional sponsors3 ,mrs4 ,radewagen1 ,miss ,gonzlez-,coln of ,puerto ,rico1 ,mr4 ,correa1 and ,ms4 ,brownley of ,california ,july #bd1 #bjah ,reported with amendments1 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 ,may #g1 #bjah ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to authorize the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to enter into contracts and agreements for the placement of veterans in non-,department medical foster homes for certain veterans who are unable to live independently4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,long-,term ,care ,veterans ,choice ,act4 #b4 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs contract authority for placement of veterans in non-,department medical foster homes 7a7 ,authority ,section #agbj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7h7 7#a7 ,during the three-year period beginning on ,october #a1 #bjai1 and subject to paragraph 7#b71 at the request of a veteran for whom the ,secretary is required to provide nursing home care under section #agaj;,a of this title1 the ,secretary may place the veteran in a medical foster home that meets ,department standards1 at the expense of the ,united ,states1 pursuant to a contract1 agreement1 or other arrangement entered into between the ,secretary and the medical foster home for such purpose4 ,a veteran who is placed in a medical foster home under this subsection shall agree1 as a condition of such placement1 to accept home health services furnished by the ,secretary under section #agag of this title4 7#b7 ,in any year1 not more than a daily average of #ijj veterans placed in a medical foster home1 whether placed before or after the date of the enactment of this subsection1 may have their care covered at the expense of the ,united ,states under subsection 7a74 7#c7 ,in this subsection1 the term medical foster home means a home designed to provide non-institutional1 long-term1 supportive care for veterans who are unable to live independently and prefer a family setting4 4 7b7 ,effective date ,subsection 7h7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 shall take effect on ,october #a1 #bjai4 #c4 ,establishment of ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration 7a7 ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration 7#a7 ,in general ,part ,v of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter3 #hj ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration ,sec4 #hjja4 ,organization of ,administration4 #hjjb4 ,functions of ,administration4 #hjjc4 ,annual report to ,congress4 #hjja4 ,organization of ,administration 7a7 ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration ,there is in the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs a ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration4 ,the primary function of the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration is the administration of the programs of the ,department that provide assistance related to economic opportunity to veterans and their dependents and survivors4 7b7 ,under ,secretary for ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration is under the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition1 who is directly responsible to the ,secretary for the operations of the ,administration4 #hjjb4 ,functions of ,administration ,the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration is responsible for the administration of the following programs of the ,department3 7#a7 ,vocational rehabilitation and employment programs4 7#b7 ,educational assistance programs4 7#c7 ,veterans' housing loan and related programs4 7#d7 ,the verification of small businesses owned and controlled by veterans pursuant to subsection 7f7 of section #habg of this title1 including the administration of the database of veteran-owned businesses described in such subsection4 7#e7 ,the ,transition ,assistance ,program under section #aadd of title #aj4 7#f7 ,any other program of the ,department that the ,secretary determines appropriate4 #hjjc4 ,annual report to ,congress ,the ,secretary shall include in the annual report to the ,congress required by section #ebi of this title a report on the programs administered by the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition4 ,each such report shall include the following with respect to each such program during the fiscal year covered by that report3 7#a7 ,the number of claims received4 7#b7 ,the number of claims decided4 7#c7 ,the average processing time for a claim4 7#d7 ,the number of successful outcomes 7as determined by the ,secretary74 7#e7 ,the number of full-time equivalent employees4 7#f7 ,the amounts expended for information technology4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendments ,the tables of chapters at the beginning of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 and of part ,v of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 are each amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter #gi the following new item3 #hj4 ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration#hjja 4 7b7 ,effective date ,chapter #hj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 shall take effect on ,october #a1 #bjai4 7c7 ,full-,time employees ,for fiscal years #bjai and #bjbj1 the total number of full-time equivalent employees authorized for the ,veterans ,benefits ,administration and the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration1 as established under chapter #hj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 may not exceed #bc1fib4 #d4 ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition 7a7 ,under ,secretary 7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #c of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #cjf the following new section3 #cjf;,a4 ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition 7a7 ,under ,secretary ,there is in the ,department an ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition1 who is appointed by the ,president1 by and with the advice and consent of the ,senate4 ,the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation or activity and solely on the basis of demonstrated ability in-- 7#a7 information technology2 and 7#b7 the administration of programs within the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration or programs of similar content and scope4 7b7 ,responsibilities ,the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition is the head of1 and is directly responsible to the ,secretary for the operations of1 the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration4 7c7 ,vacancies 7#a7 ,whenever a vacancy in the position of ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition occurs or is anticipated1 the ,secretary shall establish a commission to recommend individuals to the ,president for appointment to the position4 7#b7 ,a commission established under this subsection shall be composed of the following members appointed by the ,secretary3 7,a7 ,three persons representing education and training1 vocational rehabilitation1 employment1 real estate1 mortgage finance and related industries1 and survivor benefits activities affected by the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration4 7,b7 ,two persons representing veterans served by the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration4 7,c7 ,two persons who have experience in the management of private sector benefits programs of similar content and scope to the economic opportunity and transition programs of the ,department4 7,d7 ,the ,deputy ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4 7,e7 ,the chairman of the ,veterans' ,advisory ,committee on ,education formed under section #cfib of this title4 7,f7 ,one person who has held the position of ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition1 if the ,secretary determines that it is desirable for such person to be a member of the commission4 7#c7 ,a commission established under this subsection shall recommend at least three individuals for appointment to the position of ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition4 ,the commission shall submit all recommendations to the ,secretary4 ,the ,secretary shall forward the recommendations to the ,president and the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and ,house of ,representatives with any comments the ,secretary considers appropriate4 ,thereafter1 the ,president may request the commission to recommend additional individuals for appointment4 7#d7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary or ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs who performs personnel management and labor relations functions shall serve as the executive secretary of a commission established under this subsection4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #cjf the following new item3 #cjf;,a4 ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is further amended-- 7#a7 in section #cjf7;c77#b71 by striking subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,e7 and redesignating subparagraphs 7,b71 7,c71 7,d71 and 7,f71 as subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d71 respectively2 7#b7 in section #cag7;d77#b71 by inserting after ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 the following3 the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition12 7#c7 in section #cah7;d77#b71 by inserting after ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 the following3 the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition12 7#d7 in section #eaf7;e77#b77;,c71 by striking ,health and the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits and inserting ,health1 the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 and the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition2 7#e7 in section #eda7;a77#b77;,b71 by striking ,health and the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits and inserting ,health1 the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 and the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition2 7#f7 in section #edb7;a77#b77;,b77iii71 by striking ,health and the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits and inserting ,health1 the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 and the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition2 7#g7 in section #edd7;a77#b77;,b77vi71 by striking ,health and the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits and inserting ,health1 the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 and the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition2 7#h7 in section #gji7;c77#b77;,a71 by inserting after ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 the following3 the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition12 7#i7 in section #ggja7;a71 by inserting after assistance the following3 1 other than assistance related to ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition12 and 7#aj7 in section #ggjc1 by striking paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 and redesignating paragraphs 7#d7 and 7#e7 as paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c71 respectively4 7c7 ,effective date ,section #cjf;,a of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 and the amendments made by this section1 shall take effect on ,october #a1 #bjai4 #e4 ,loans guaranteed under home loan program of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,the table in section #cgbi7;b77#b7 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to subparagraph 7,e7 and inserting the following new item3 87,e77i7 ,interest rate reduction refinancing loan 7closed before ,january #a1 #bjai7j4ejj4ej,,na 7,e77ii7 ,interest rate reduction refinancing loan 7closed on or after ,january #a1 #bjai1 but before ,october #a1 #bjbd7j4gej4ge,,na 7,e77iii7 ,interest rate reduction refinancing loan 7closed on or after ,october #a1 #bjbd7j4ejj4ej,,na 4 ,amend the title so as to read3 ,a bill to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to authorize the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to enter into contracts and agreements for the placement of veterans in non-,department medical foster homes for certain veterans who are unable to live independently1 to establish the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration and the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 to amend the interest rate for certain loans guaranteed under the home loan program of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and for other purposes44 ,july #bd1 #bjah ,reported with amendments1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed