,,ib  ,union ,cal5d> ,no4 #fga  #aae?   
,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4 ,r4 #efic
  ,report ,no4 #aae-hfh  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se 
,,( ,,repres5tatives  ,may #g1 #bjah    
,mr4 ,higg9s ( ,l\isiana introduc$ !    
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,july 
#bd1 #bjah;,additional sponsors3 ,mrs4  
,radewag51 ,miss ,gonzlez-,coln ( ,pu]to
 ,rico1 ,mr4 ,correa1 & ,ms4 ,br[nley ( 
,cali=nia  ,july #bd1 #bjah ,report$ )  
am5dm5ts1 committ$ to ! ,committee ( !  
,:ole ,h\se on ! ,/ate ( ! ,union1 &    
ord]$ to be pr9t$ ,/rike out all aft] ! 
enact+ clause & ins]t ! "p pr9t$ 9      
italic ,= text ( introduc$ bill1 see    
copy ( bill z introduc$ on ,may #g1     
#bjah  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to au?orize !      
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to ent]   
into contracts & agreem5ts = ! placem5t 
( vet]ans 9 non-,dep>tm5t m$ical fo/]   
homes = c]ta9 vet]ans :o are unable to  
live indep5d5tly4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is 
,act may be cit$ z ! ,long-,t]m ,c>e    

,vet]ans ,*oice ,act4  #b4 ,secret>y (  
,vet]ans ,affairs contract au?ority =   
placem5t ( vet]ans 9 non-,dep>tm5t      
m$ical fo/] homes  7a7 ,au?ority        
,section #agbj ( title #ch1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+ new subsection3  7h7  7#a7     
,dur+ ! ?ree-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on ,octob]
 #a1 #bjai1 & subject to p>agraph 7#b71 
at ! reque/ ( a vet]an = :om ! ,secret>y
 is requir$ to provide nurs+ home c>e "u
 section #agaj;,a ( ?is title1 !        
,secret>y may place ! vet]an 9 a m$ical 
fo/] home t meets ,dep>tm5t /&>ds1 at ! 
exp5se ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 pursuant to a 
contract1 agreem5t1 or o!r arrangem5t   
ent]$ into betwe5 ! ,secret>y & ! m$ical
 fo/] home = su* purpose4 ,a vet]an :o  
is plac$ 9 a m$ical fo/] home "u ?is    
subsection %all agree1 z a condition (  
su* placem5t1 to accept home heal?      
s]vices furni%$ by ! ,secret>y "u       
section #agag ( ?is title4  7#b7 ,9 any 
ye>1 n m ?an a daily av]age ( #ijj      
vet]ans plac$ 9 a m$ical fo/] home1 :e!r

 plac$ be=e or aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t 
( ?is subsection1 may h _! c>e cov]$ at 
! exp5se ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates "u subsection
 7a74  7#c7 ,9 ?is subsection1 ! t]m    
m$ical fo/] home means a home design$ to
 provide non-in/itutional1 long-t]m1    
supportive c>e = vet]ans :o are unable  
to live indep5d5tly & pref] a family    
sett+4  4  7b7 ,effective date          
,subsection 7h7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$     
,/ates ,code1 z add$ by subsection 7a71 
%all take effect on ,octob] #a1 #bjai4  
#c4 ,e/abli%m5t ( ,vet]ans ,economic    
,opportunity & ,transition ,adm9i/ration
  7a7 ,vet]ans ,economic ,opportunity & 
,transition ,adm9i/ration  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,"p ,v ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates      
,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+ new *apt]3  #hj ,vet]ans         
,economic ,opportunity & ,transition    
,adm9i/ration  ,sec4 #hjja4             
,organization ( ,adm9i/ration4 #hjjb4   
,functions ( ,adm9i/ration4 #hjjc4      
,annual report to ,congress4  #hjja4    
,organization ( ,adm9i/ration  7a7      

,vet]ans ,economic ,opportunity &       
,transition ,adm9i/ration ,!re is 9 !   
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs a ,vet]ans
 ,economic ,opportunity & ,transition   
,adm9i/ration4 ,! prim>y function ( !   
,vet]ans ,economic ,opportunity &       
,transition ,adm9i/ration is !          
adm9i/ration ( ! programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
t provide assi/ance relat$ to economic  
opportunity to vet]ans & _! dep5d5ts &  
survivors4  7b7 ,"u ,secret>y =         
,economic ,opportunity & ,transition ,! 
,vet]ans ,economic ,opportunity &       
,transition ,adm9i/ration is "u ! ,"u   
,secret>y = ,vet]ans ,economic          
,opportunity & ,transition1 :o is       
directly responsible to ! ,secret>y = ! 
op]ations ( ! ,adm9i/ration4  #hjjb4    
,functions ( ,adm9i/ration ,! ,vet]ans  
,economic ,opportunity & ,transition    
,adm9i/ration is responsible = !        
adm9i/ration ( ! foll[+ programs ( !    
,dep>tm5t3  7#a7 ,vocational            
rehabilitation & employm5t programs4    
7#b7 ,educational assi/ance programs4   

7#c7 ,vet]ans' h\s+ loan & relat$       
programs4  7#d7 ,! v]ification ( small  
bus9esses own$ & controll$ by vet]ans   
pursuant to subsection 7f7 ( section    
#habg ( ?is title1 includ+ !            
adm9i/ration ( ! database ( vet]an-own$ 
bus9esses describ$ 9 su* subsection4    
7#e7 ,! ,transition ,assi/ance ,program 
"u section #aadd ( title #aj4  7#f7 ,any
 o!r program ( ! ,dep>tm5t t ! ,secret>y
 det]m9es appropriate4  #hjjc4 ,annual  
report to ,congress ,! ,secret>y %all   
include 9 ! annual report to ! ,congress
 requir$ by section #ebi ( ?is title a  
report on ! programs adm9i/]$ by ! ,"u  
,secret>y = ,vet]ans ,economic          
,opportunity & ,transition4 ,ea* su*    
report %all include ! foll[+ ) respect  
to ea* su* program dur+ ! fiscal ye>    
cov]$ by t report3  7#a7 ,! numb] (     
claims receiv$4  7#b7 ,! numb] ( claims 
decid$4  7#c7 ,! av]age process+ "t = a 
claim4  7#d7 ,! numb] ( successful      
outcomes 7z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y74    
7#e7 ,! numb] ( full-"t equival5t       

employees4  7#f7 ,! am\nts exp5d$ =     
in=mation te*nology4  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical  
am5dm5ts ,! tables ( *apt]s at ! beg9n+ 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 & ( "p
 ,v ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1   
are ea* am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item     
relat+ to *apt] #gi ! foll[+ new item3  
#hj4 ,vet]ans ,economic ,opportunity &  
,transition ,adm9i/ration#hjja  4  7b7  
,effective date ,*apt] #hj ( title #ch1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z add$ by          
subsection 7a71 %all take effect on     
,octob] #a1 #bjai4  7c7 ,full-,"t       
employees ,= fiscal ye>s #bjai & #bjbj1 
! total numb] ( full-"t equival5t       
employees au?oriz$ = ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits
 ,adm9i/ration & ! ,vet]ans ,economic   
,opportunity & ,transition              
,adm9i/ration1 z e/abli%$ "u *apt] #hj (
 title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z add$ 
by subsection 7a71 may n exce$ #bc1fib4 
#d4 ,"u ,secret>y = ,vet]ans ,economic  
,opportunity & ,transition  7a7 ,"u     
,secret>y  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #c (    
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$

 by ins]t+ aft] section #cjf ! foll[+   
new section3  #cjf;,a4 ,"u ,secret>y =  
,vet]ans ,economic ,opportunity &       
,transition  7a7 ,"u ,secret>y ,!re is 9
 ! ,dep>tm5t an ,"u ,secret>y = ,vet]ans
 ,economic ,opportunity & ,transition1  
:o is appo9t$ by ! ,presid5t1 by & ) !  
advice & cons5t ( ! ,s5ate4 ,! ,"u      
,secret>y = ,vet]ans ,economic          
,opportunity & ,transition %all be      
appo9t$ )\t reg>d to political          
affiliation or activity & solely on !   
basis ( demon/rat$ ability 9--  7#a7    
in=mation te*nology2 &  7#b7 !          
adm9i/ration ( programs )9 ! ,vet]ans   
,economic ,opportunity & ,transition    
,adm9i/ration or programs ( simil>      
cont5t & scope4  7b7 ,responsibilities  
,! ,"u ,secret>y = ,vet]ans ,economic   
,opportunity & ,transition is ! head (1 
& is directly responsible to ! ,secret>y
 = ! op]ations (1 ! ,vet]ans ,economic  
,opportunity & ,transition              
,adm9i/ration4  7c7 ,vacancies  7#a7    
,:5ev] a vacancy 9 ! position ( ,"u     

,secret>y = ,vet]ans ,economic          
,opportunity & ,transition occurs or is 
anticipat$1 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a  
commission to recomm5d individuals to ! 
,presid5t = appo9tm5t to ! position4    
7#b7 ,a commission e/abli%$ "u ?is      
subsection %all be compos$ ( ! foll[+   
memb]s appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y3  7,a7    
,?ree p]sons repres5t+ education &      
tra9+1 vocational rehabilitation1       
employm5t1 real e/ate1 mortgage f9ance &
 relat$ indu/ries1 & survivor b5efits   
activities affect$ by ! ,vet]ans        
,economic ,opportunity & ,transition    
,adm9i/ration4  7,b7 ,two p]sons        
repres5t+ vet]ans s]v$ by ! ,vet]ans    
,economic ,opportunity & ,transition    
,adm9i/ration4  7,c7 ,two p]sons :o h   
exp]i5ce 9 ! managem5t ( private sector 
b5efits programs ( simil> cont5t & scope
 to ! economic opportunity & transition 
programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7,d7 ,! ,deputy
 ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7,e7 ,!
 *airman ( ! ,vet]ans' ,advisory        
,committee on ,education =m$ "u section 

#cfib ( ?is title4  7,f7 ,"o p]son :o   
has held ! position ( ,"u ,secret>y =   
,vet]ans ,economic ,opportunity &       
,transition1 if ! ,secret>y det]m9es t x
 is desirable = su* p]son to be a memb] 
( ! commission4  7#c7 ,a commission     
e/abli%$ "u ?is subsection %all recomm5d
 at lea/ ?ree individuals = appo9tm5t to
 ! position ( ,"u ,secret>y = ,vet]ans  
,economic ,opportunity & ,transition4 ,!
 commission %all submit all             
recomm5dations to ! ,secret>y4 ,!       
,secret>y %all =w>d ! recomm5dations to 
! ,presid5t & ! ,committees on ,vet]ans'
 ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives ) any comm5ts !         
,secret>y consid]s appropriate4         
,!reaft]1 ! ,presid5t may reque/ !      
commission to recomm5d additional       
individuals = appo9tm5t4  7#d7 ,!       
,assi/ant ,secret>y or ,deputy ,assi/ant
 ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs :o p]=ms 
p]sonnel managem5t & labor relations    
functions %all s]ve z ! executive       
secret>y ( a commission e/abli%$ "u ?is 

subsection4  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,!
 table ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( su*     
*apt] is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item    
relat+ to section #cjf ! foll[+ new     
item3  #cjf;,a4 ,"u ,secret>y = ,vet]ans
 ,economic ,opportunity & ,transition4  
4  7b7 ,con=m+ am5dm5ts ,title #ch1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is fur!r am5d$--   
7#a7 9 section #cjf7;c77#b71 by /rik+   
subp>agraphs 7,a7 & 7,e7 & r$esignat+   
subp>agraphs 7,b71 7,c71 7,d71 & 7,f71 z
 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,d71          
respectively2  7#b7 9 section           
#cag7;d77#b71 by ins]t+ aft] ,"u        
,secret>y = ,b5efits1 ! foll[+3 ! ,"u   
,secret>y = ,vet]ans ,economic          
,opportunity & ,transition12  7#c7 9    
section #cah7;d77#b71 by ins]t+ aft] ,"u
 ,secret>y = ,b5efits1 ! foll[+3 ! ,"u  
,secret>y = ,vet]ans ,economic          
,opportunity & ,transition12  7#d7 9    
section #eaf7;e77#b77;,c71 by /rik+     
,heal? & ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,b5efits &   
ins]t+ ,heal?1 ! ,"u ,secret>y =        
,b5efits1 & ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,vet]ans  

,economic ,opportunity & ,transition2   
7#e7 9 section #eda7;a77#b77;,b71 by    
/rik+ ,heal? & ! ,"u ,secret>y =        
,b5efits & ins]t+ ,heal?1 ! ,"u         
,secret>y = ,b5efits1 & ! ,"u ,secret>y 
= ,vet]ans ,economic ,opportunity &     
,transition2  7#f7 9 section            
#edb7;a77#b77;,b77iii71 by /rik+ ,heal? 
& ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,b5efits & ins]t+   
,heal?1 ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,b5efits1 & ! 
,"u ,secret>y = ,vet]ans ,economic      
,opportunity & ,transition2  7#g7 9     
section #edd7;a77#b77;,b77vi71 by /rik+ 
,heal? & ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,b5efits &   
ins]t+ ,heal?1 ! ,"u ,secret>y =        
,b5efits1 & ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,vet]ans  
,economic ,opportunity & ,transition2   
7#h7 9 section #gji7;c77#b77;,a71 by    
ins]t+ aft] ,"u ,secret>y = ,b5efits1 ! 
foll[+3 ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,vet]ans      
,economic ,opportunity & ,transition12  
7#i7 9 section #ggja7;a71 by ins]t+ aft]
 assi/ance ! foll[+3 1 o!r ?an assi/ance
 relat$ to ,economic ,opportunity &     
,transition12 &  7#aj7 9 section #ggjc1 

by /rik+ p>agraphs 7#b7 & 7#c7 &        
r$esignat+ p>agraphs 7#d7 & 7#e7 z      
p>agraphs 7#b7 & 7#c71 respectively4    
7c7 ,effective date ,section #cjf;,a (  
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z add$  
by subsection 7a71 & ! am5dm5ts made by 
?is section1 %all take effect on ,octob]
 #a1 #bjai4  #e4 ,loans gu>ante$ "u home
 loan program ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs ,! table 9 section             
#cgbi7;b77#b7 ( su* title is am5d$ by   
/rik+ ! item relat+ to subp>agraph 7,e7 
& ins]t+ ! foll[+ new item3  87,e77i7   
,int]e/ rate r$uction ref9anc+ loan     
7clos$ be=e ,janu>y #a1                 
#bjai7j4ejj4ej,,na 7,e77ii7 ,int]e/ rate
 r$uction ref9anc+ loan 7clos$ on or    
aft] ,janu>y #a1 #bjai1 b be=e ,octob]  
#a1 #bjbd7j4gej4ge,,na 7,e77iii7 ,int]e/
 rate r$uction ref9anc+ loan 7clos$ on  
or aft] ,octob] #a1 #bjbd7j4ejj4ej,,na 4
  ,am5d ! title s z to read3 ,a bill to 
am5d title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to 
au?orize ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs
 to ent] into contracts & agreem5ts = ! 

placem5t ( vet]ans 9 non-,dep>tm5t      
m$ical fo/] homes = c]ta9 vet]ans :o are
 unable to live indep5d5tly1 to e/abli% 
! ,vet]ans ,economic ,opportunity &     
,transition ,adm9i/ration & ! ,"u       
,secret>y = ,vet]ans ,economic          
,opportunity & ,transition ( ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 to am5d ! int]e/  
rate = c]ta9 loans gu>ante$ "u ! home   
loan program ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs1 & = o!r purposes44  ,july #bd1
 #bjah ,report$ ) am5dm5ts1 committ$ to 
! ,committee ( ! ,:ole ,h\se on ! ,/ate 
( ! ,union1 & ord]$ to be pr9t$