#aaeth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,in   
the ,house of ,representatives1 ,u4 ,s41
  ,december #aj1 #bjah  ,,amendment3    
,that the bill from the ,senate 7,s4    
#bbdh7 entitled ,an ,act to amend title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to authorize
 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to
 provide certain burial benefits for    
spouses and children of veterans who are
 buried in tribal cemeteries1 and for   
other purposes41 do pass with the       
following ,strike out all after the     
enacting clause and insert3  #a4 ,short 
title2 table of contents  7a7 ,short    
title ,this ,act may be cited as the    
,veterans ,benefits and ,transition ,act
 of #bjah4  7b7 ,table of contents ,the 
table of contents for this ,act is as   
follows3  ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table 
of contents4 ,title ,i--,education ,sec4
 #aja4 ,inclusion of certain additional 
periods of active duty service for      
purposes of suspension of charges to    
entitlement during periods of suspended 
participation in ,department of         

,veterans ,affairs vocational           
rehabilitation programs4 ,sec4 #ajb4    
,provision of monthly housing stipend   
information under ,post-#i_/aa          
,educational ,assistance ,program4 ,sec4
 #ajc4 ,disapproval for purposes of     
educational assistance programs of      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs of    
certain courses of education that do not
 permit individuals to attend or        
participate in courses pending payment4 
,sec4 #ajd4 ,provision of information on
 required additional actions to allow   
individuals to stay enrolled in courses 
of education pending receipt of         
educational assistance from department  
of veterans affairs4 ,sec4 #aje4        
,calculation of monthly housing stipend 
under high technology pilot program     
based on location of campus where       
veteran attends classes4 ,sec4 #ajf4    
,clarification regarding applicability  
of authority to use educational         
assistance to pursue independent study  
programs at certain educational         

institutions that are not institutions  
of higher learning4 ,title              
,,ii--,memorial affairs ,sec4 #bja4     
,eligibility of spouses and children of 
veterans buried in tribal cemeteries for
 certain ,department of ,veterans       
,affairs burial benefits4 ,sec4 #bjb4   
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
provision of headstones and markers for1
 and interment in national cemeteries   
of1 spouses and dependent children of   
members of the ,armed ,forces serving on
 active duty4 ,title ,,iii--,civil      
relief ,sec4 #cja4 ,termination of      
leases of premises of deceased          
servicemembers who die while in military
 service4 ,sec4 #cjb4 ,residence of     
spouses of servicemembers for tax       
purposes4 ,sec4 #cjc4 ,residence of     
spouses of servicemembers for voting4   
,sec4 #cjd4 ,termination of multichannel
 video programming and internet access  
service contracts4 ,title               
,,iv--,transition assistance ,sec4 #dja4
 ,study of community-based transition   

assistance programs for members of the  
,armed ,forces after separation1        
retirement1 or discharge4 ,title        
,v--,departmental administration ,sec4  
#eja4 ,misuse of ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs purchase cards by    
,department employees4 ,sec4 #ejb4      
,updating dependent information4 ,sec4  
#ejc4 ,oversight of ,electronic ,health 
,record ,modernization ,program4 ,sec4  
#ejd4 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 
notice relating to debt collection      
activities4 ,title ,,vi--,medical       
facilities ,sec4 #fja4 ,authorization of
 major medical facility projects for    
fiscal year #bjai4 ,sec4 #fjb4 ,plans to
 improve medical facilities of the      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4      
,title ,,vii--,other matters ,sec4 #gja4
 ,homeless veterans reintegration       
programs4 ,sec4 #gjb4 ,technical        
corrections4 ,sec4 #gjc4 ,medical       
,surgical ,prime ,vendor program4 ,sec4 
#gjd4 ,report on expanding access to    
dental care for veterans eligible for   

health care from the ,department of     
,veterans ,affairs4  ,i ,education      
#aja4 ,inclusion of certain additional  
periods of active duty service for      
purposes of suspension of charges to    
entitlement during periods of suspended 
participation in ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs vocational           
rehabilitation programs ,section        
#caje7;e77#b7 of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 is amended by striking or
 #abcjd and inserting #abcjd1 #abcjd;a1 
or #abcjd;b4  #ajb4 ,provision of       
monthly housing stipend information     
under ,post-#i_/aa ,educational         
,assistance ,program ,section #ccac of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended by adding at the end the        
following new subsection3  7k7          
,provision of housing stipend payment   
information  7#a7 ,in general ,the      
,secretary shall furnish to individuals 
receiving educational assistance under  
this chapter documentation that verifies
 the amount of the monthly housing      

stipend the individual receives under   
this section4  7#b7 ,manner ,the        
,secretary shall make such documentation
 available to the individual using an   
internet website in the same manner the 
,secretary provides documentation       
verifying compensation and other        
benefits furnished by the ,secretary to 
individuals4  4  #ajc4 ,disapproval for 
purposes of educational assistance      
programs of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs of certain courses of education
 that do not permit individuals to      
attend or participate in courses pending
 payment  7a7 ,in general ,section #cfgi
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is
 amended by adding at the end the       
following new subsection3  7e7 7#a7     
,notwithstanding any other provision of 
this chapter1 beginning on ,august #a1  
#bjai1 a ,state approving agency1 or the
 ,secretary when acting in the role of  
the ,state approving agency1 shall      
disapprove a course of education        
provided by an educational institution  

that has in effect a policy that is     
inconsistent with any of the following3 
7,a7 ,a policy that permits any covered 
individual to attend or participate in  
the course of education during the      
period beginning on the date on which   
the individual provides to the          
educational institution a certificate of
 eligibility for entitlement to         
educational assistance under chapter #ca
 or #cc of this title and ending on the 
earlier of the following dates3 7i7 ,the
 date on which the ,secretary provides  
payment for such course of education to 
such institution4  7ii7 ,the date that  
is #ij days after the date on which the 
educational institution certifies for   
tuition and fees following receipt from 
the student such certificate of         
eligibility4  7,b7 ,a policy that       
ensures that the educational institution
 will not impose any penalty1 including 
the assessment of late fees1 the denial 
of access to classes1 libraries1 or     
other institutional facilities1 or the  

requirement that a covered individual   
borrow additional funds1 on any covered 
individual because of the individual's  
inability to meet his or her financial  
obligations to the institution due to   
the delayed disbursement of a payment to
 be provided by the ,secretary under    
chapter #ca or #cc of this title4  7#b7 
,for purposes of this subsection1 a     
covered individual is any individual who
 is entitled to educational assistance  
under chapter #ca or #cc of this title4 
7#c7 ,the ,secretary may waive such     
requirements of paragraph 7#a7 as the   
,secretary considers appropriate4  7#d7 
,it shall not be inconsistent with a    
policy described in paragraph 7#a7 for  
an educational institution to require a 
covered individual to take the following
 additional actions3 7,a7 ,submit a     
certificate of eligibility for          
entitlement to educational assistance   
not later than the first day of a course
 of education for which the individual  
has indicated the individual wishes to  

use the individual's entitlement to     
educational assistance4  7,b7 ,submit a 
written request to use such entitlement4
  7,c7 ,provide additional information  
necessary to the proper certification of
 enrollment by the educational          
institution4  4  7b7 ,prompt payments   
7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of     
,veterans ,affairs shall take such      
actions as may be necessary to ensure   
that the ,secretary makes a payment to  
an educational institution on behalf of 
an individual1 who is entitled to       
educational assistance under chapter #ca
 or #cc of title #ch1 ,united ,states   
,code1 and who is using such assistance 
to pursue a program of education at the 
educational institution1 not later than 
#fj days after the date on which the    
educational institution certifies to the
 ,secretary the applicable tuition and  
fees for the individual4  7#b7          
,semiannual reports ,not later than ,may
 #a and ,october #a of each year1 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 semiannual report    
summarizing any cases in which the      
,secretary failed to make a payment     
described in paragraph 7#a7 within the  
period set forth in such paragraph and  
an explanation for each delayed         
disbursement of payment4  7c7 ,rule of  
construction ,in a case in which an     
individual is unable to meet a financial
 obligation to an educational           
institution due to the delayed          
disbursement of a payment to be provided
 by the ,secretary under chapter #ca or 
#cc of such title and the amount of such
 disbursement is less than anticipated1 
nothing in section #cfgi7;e7 of such    
title1 as added by subsection 7a71 shall
 be construed to prohibit an educational
 institution from requiring additional  
payment or imposing a fee for the amount
 that is the difference between the     
amount of the financial obligation and  

the amount of the disbursement4  #ajd4  
,provision of information on required   
additional actions to allow individuals 
to stay enrolled in courses of education
 pending receipt of educational         
assistance from department of veterans  
affairs ,section #cfih7;c77#a77;,c7 of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended--  7#a7 in clause 7x71 by       
striking 2 and and inserting a          
semicolon2  7#b7 in clause 7xi71 by     
striking the period at the end and      
inserting 2 and2 and  7#c7 by adding at 
the end the following new clause3  7xii7
 information on whether the institution 
requires a covered individual to take   
additional action pursuant to section   
#cfgi7;e77#d7 of this title to stay     
enrolled in a course pending receipt of 
educational assistance under a law      
administered by the ,secretary4  4      
#aje4 ,calculation of monthly housing   
stipend under high technology pilot     
program based on location of campus     
where veteran attends classes ,section  

#aaf7;d77#a7 of the ,harry ,w4 ,colmery 
,veterans ,educational ,assistance ,act 
of #bjag 7,public ,law #aae-dh1 #ch     
,u4,s4,c4 #cjja 7note771 is amended--   
7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking  
the institution at which the individual 
is enrolled and inserting the campus of 
the institution where the individual    
physically participates in a majority of
 classes2 and  7#b7 in subparagraph     
7,b71 by striking the amount payable and
 all that follows through subparagraph  
7,a7 and inserting the national average 
of the monthly amount of the basic      
allowance for housing payable under     
section #djc of title #cg1 ,united      
,states ,code1 for a member with        
dependents in pay grade ,e-#e4  #ajf4   
,clarification regarding applicability  
of authority to use educational         
assistance to pursue independent study  
programs at certain educational         
institutions that are not institutions  
of higher learning ,the section heading 
for section #cjb of the ,harry ,w4      

,colmery ,veterans ,educational         
,assistance ,act of #bjag 7,public ,law 
#aae-dh2 #aca ,stat4 #iij7 is amended to
 read as follows 7and the table of      
contents for such ,act is conformed     
accordingly73  #cjb4 ,authorization for 
use of educational assistance under any 
of the educational assistance programs  
of the department of veterans affairs to
 pursue independent study programs at   
certain educational institutions that   
are not institutions of higher learning 
4  ,,ii ,memorial affairs  #bja4        
,eligibility of spouses and children of 
veterans buried in tribal cemeteries for
 certain ,department of ,veterans       
,affairs burial benefits ,section #bcjf 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is 
amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#d71 by
 inserting or a veterans' cemetery owned
 by a tribal organization or on land    
owned by or held in trust for a tribal  
organization after ,state2  7#b7 in     
subsection 7b77#a71 by inserting 1 a    
veterans' cemetery of a tribal          

organization or on land owned by or held
 in trust for a tribal organization     
after owned by a ,state2  7#c7 in       
subsection 7f7--  7,a7 by redesignating 
paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 as             
subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b71            
respectively2  7,b7 by striking ,the    
,secretary and inserting 7#a7 ,the      
,secretary2  7,c7 by striking a national
 cemetery or in a veterans cemetery of a
 ,state or tribal organization for which
 the ,department has provided a grant   
under section #bdjh of this title and   
inserting a covered cemetery2 and  7,d7 
by adding at the end the following3     
7#b7 ,the term covered cemetery means   
any of the following3 7,a7 ,a national  
cemetery4  7,b7 ,a veterans' cemetery of
 a ,state for which the ,department has 
provided a grant under section #bdjh of 
this title4  7,c7 ,a veterans' cemetery 
of a tribal organization or on land     
owned by or held in trust for a tribal  
organization for which the ,department  
has provided a grant under subsection   

7f7 of such section4  2 and  7#d7 by    
adding at the end the following new     
subsection3  7i7 ,in this section1 the  
term tribal organization has the meaning
 given such term in section #cgfe of    
this title4  4  #bjb4 ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs provision of         
headstones and markers for1 and         
interment in national cemeteries of1    
spouses and dependent children of       
members of the ,armed ,forces serving on
 active duty  7a7 ,headstones and       
markers ,section #bcjf7;b77#b7 of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended--
 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by inserting
 1 or the spouse of a member of the     
,armed ,forces serving on active duty   
under conditions other than             
dishonorable1 as shown by a statement   
from a general court-martial convening  
authority1 at the time of the spouse's  
death if such death occurs before       
,october #a1 #bjbd after veteran2 and   
7#b7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by inserting 
1 or the eligible dependent child of a  

member of the ,armed ,forces serving on 
active duty under conditions other than 
dishonorable1 as shown by a statement   
from a general court-martial convening  
authority1 at the time of the child's   
death if such death occurs before       
,october #a1 #bjbd after veteran4  7b7  
,interment in national cemeteries       
,section #bdjb7;a77#e7 of such title is 
amended by inserting 1 and the spouse1  
minor child1 and1 in the discretion of  
the ,secretary1 unmarried adult child of
 a member of the ,armed ,forces serving 
on active duty under conditions other   
than dishonorable1 as shown by a        
statement from a general court-martial  
convening authority1 at the time of the 
spouse's or child's death if such death 
occurs before ,october #a1 #bjbd after  
paragraph 7#g74  ,,iii ,civil relief    
#cja4 ,termination of leases of premises
 of deceased servicemembers who die     
while in military service ,section      
#cje7;a7 of the ,servicemembers ,civil  
,relief ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #ciee7 is   

amended-- 7#a7 in the subsection        
heading1 by striking by lessee2  7#b7 in
 the heading for paragraph 7#a71 by     
striking ,in general and inserting      
,termination by lessee2 and  7#c7 by    
adding at the end the following new     
paragraph3  7#c7 ,death of lessee ,the  
spouse of the lessee on a lease         
described in subsection 7b77#a7 may     
terminate the lease during the one-year 
period beginning on the date of the     
death of the lessee1 if the lessee dies 
while in military service or while      
performing full-time ,national ,guard   
duty1 active ,guard and ,reserve duty1  
or inactive-duty training 7as such terms
 are defined in section #aja7;d7 of     
title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code74  4   
#cjb4 ,residence of spouses of          
servicemembers for tax purposes  7a7    
,residence for tax purposes ,section    
#eaa7;a77#b7 of the ,servicemembers     
,civil ,relief ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4      
#djja7;a77#b77 is amended--  7#a7 by    
striking ,a spouse and inserting the    

following3  7,a7 ,in general ,a spouse  
2 and  7#b7 by adding at the end the    
following new subparagraph3  7,b7       
,election ,for any taxable year of the  
marriage1 the spouse of a servicemember 
may elect to use the same residence for 
purposes of taxation as the             
servicemember regardless of the date on 
which the marriage of the spouse and the
 servicemember occurred4  4  7b7        
,applicability ,the amendments made by  
subsection 7a7 shall apply with respect 
to any return of ,state or local income 
tax filed for any taxable year beginning
 with the taxable year that includes the
 date of the enactment of this ,act4    
#cjc4 ,residence of spouses of          
servicemembers for voting  7a7 ,in      
general ,section #gje7;b7 of the        
,servicemembers ,civil ,relief ,act 7#ej
 ,u4,s4,c4 #djbe7;b77 is amended--  7#a7
 by striking ,state or local office and 
all that follows through the period at  
the end of paragraph 7#c7 and inserting 
,state or local office--2 and  7#b7 by  

adding at the end the following new     
paragraphs3  7#a7 a person who is absent
 from a ,state because the person is    
accompanying the person's spouse who is 
absent from that same ,state in         
compliance with military or naval orders
 shall not1 solely by reason of that    
absence-- 7,a7 be deemed to have lost a 
residence or domicile in that ,state1   
without regard to whether or not the    
person intends to return to that ,state2
  7,b7 be deemed to have acquired a     
residence or domicile in any other      
,state2 or  7,c7 be deemed to have      
become a resident in or a resident of   
any other ,state2 and  7#b7 the spouse  
of a servicemember may elect to use the 
same residence as the servicemember     
regardless of the date on which the     
marriage of the spouse and the          
servicemember occurred4  4  7b7         
,effective date ,the amendments made by 
subsection 7a7 shall take effect on the 
date that is #ij days after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  #cjd4      

,termination of multichannel video      
programming and internet access service 
contracts  7a7 ,in general ,section     
#cje;,a of the ,servicemembers ,civil   
,relief ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #cief7 is   
amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading1  
by inserting 1 multichannel video       
programming1 and internet access after  
telephone2  7#b7 in subsection 7b71 by  
striking cellular telephone service or  
telephone exchange service and inserting
 commercial mobile service1 telephone   
exchange service1 internet access       
service1 or multichannel video          
programming service2  7#c7 in subsection
 7c71 by inserting for commercial mobile
 service or telephone exchange service  
before terminated2  7#d7 in subsection  
7d71 in the matter preceding paragraph  
7#a71 by striking cellular telephone    
service and inserting commercial mobile 
service2  7#e7 in subsection 7e7--  7,a7
 by striking ,for any and inserting the 
following3  7#a7 ,in general ,for any  2
  7,b7 by striking ,if the and inserting

 the following3  7#b7 ,reinstatement of 
service ,if the  2 and  7,c7 by adding  
at the end the following3  7#c7 ,return 
of provider-owned equipment ,if a       
servicemember terminates a contract     
under subsection 7a71 the servicemember 
shall return any provider-owned consumer
 premises equipment to the service      
provider not later than #aj days after  
the date on which service is            
disconnected4  2 and  7#f7 in subsection
 7g7-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraph  
7#b7 as paragraph 7#d72 and  7,b7 by    
striking paragraph 7#a7 and inserting   
the following3  7#a7 ,the term          
commercial mobile service has the       
meaning given that term in section      
#ccb7;d7 of the ,communications ,act of 
#aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #ccb7;d774  7#b7   
,the term multichannel video programming
 service means a subscription video     
service offered by a multichannel video 
programming distributor1 as that term is
 defined in section #fjb of the         
,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg      

,u4,s4,c4 #ebb71 over a system the      
distributor owns or controls4  7#c7 ,the
 term provider-owned consumer premises  
equipment means any equipment that a    
provider of internet access service or  
multichannel video programming service  
rents or loans to a customer during the 
provision of that service1 including    
gateways1 routers1 cable modems1        
voice-capable modems1 ,cable,c,a,r,ds1  
converters1 digital adapters1 remote    
controls1 and any other equipment       
provided4  4  7b7 ,clerical amendments  
7#a7 ,title heading ,the heading for    
title ,,iii of the ,servicemembers      
,civil ,relief ,act is amended by       
striking telephone and inserting        
communications4  7#b7 ,table of contents
 ,the table of contents in section      
#a7;b7 of the ,servicemembers ,civil    
,relief ,act is amended--  7,a7 by      
striking the item relating to title     
,,iii and inserting the following new   
item3  ,,title ,,iii--,,rent1           
,,installment ,,contracts1 ,,mortgages1 

,,liens1 ,,assignment1 ,,leases1        
,,communications ,,service ,,contracts  
2  and  7,b7 by striking the item       
relating to section #cje;,a and         
inserting the following new item3  ,sec4
 #cje;,a4 ,termination of telephone1    
multichannel video programming1 and     
internet access service contracts4  4   
,,iv ,transition assistance  #dja4      
,study of community-based transition    
assistance programs for members of the  
,armed ,forces after separation1        
retirement1 or discharge  7a7 ,study    
,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1  
in consultation with ,state entities    
that serve members of the ,armed ,forces
 who are retired1 separated1 or         
discharged from the ,armed ,forces1     
shall enter into an agreement with an   
appropriate non-,federal entity to carry
 out a study to identify community-based
 programs-- 7#a7 that provide transition
 assistance to such members2 and  7#b7  
operated by nonprofit entities4  7b7    
,transmission to members ,the ,secretary

 of ,veterans ,affairs shall transmit   
the list of programs identified under   
this section to the ,secretary of       
,defense so the ,secretaries of the     
military departments may provide        
information in the list to members of   
the ,armed ,forces who participate in   
the ,transition ,assistance ,program    
under sections #aadb and #aadd of title 
#aj1 ,united ,states ,code4  7c7 ,online
 publication ,the ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs shall publish the    
most recent version of the list of      
programs identified under this section  
on a public website of the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs4  ,v ,departmental
 administration  #eja4 ,misuse of       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
purchase cards by ,department employees 
7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,i of       
chapter #g of title #ch1 ,united ,states
 ,code1 is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new section3      
#gbh4 ,misuse of ,department purchase   
cards  7a7 ,in general  7#a7 ,the       

,secretary shall prohibit any employee  
of the ,department who the ,secretary or
 the ,inspector ,general of the         
,department determines has knowingly    
misused a purchase card from serving as 
a purchase card holder or approving     
official4  7#b7 ,such a prohibition     
shall be in addition to any other       
applicable penalty4  7b7 ,misuse ,for   
purposes of this section1 the term      
misuse means-- 7#a7 splitting purchases2
  7#b7 exceeding applicable purchase    
card limits or purchase thresholds2     
7#c7 purchasing any unauthorized item2  
7#d7 using a purchase card without being
 an authorized purchase card holder2 or 
7#e7 violating ethics standards4  4  7b7
 ,clerical amendment ,the table of      
sections at the beginning of such       
chapter is amended by inserting after   
the item relating to section #gbh the   
following new item3  #gbh4 ,misuse of   
,department purchase cards4  4  #ejb4   
,updating dependent information ,the    
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  

make such changes to such information   
technology systems of the ,department of
 ,veterans ,affairs1 including the      
e,benefits system or successor system1  
as may be necessary so that whenever the
 ,secretary records in such systems     
information about a dependent of a      
person1 the person is able to review and
 revise such information4  #ejc4        
,oversight of ,electronic ,health       
,record ,modernization ,program  7a7    
,program documents ,not later than #cj  
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans  
,affairs shall submit to the appropriate
 congressional committees the following 
documents concerning the ,electronic    
,health ,record ,modernization ,program3
 7#a7 ,integrated ,master ,plan4  7#b7  
,integrated ,master ,schedule4  7#c7    
,program ,management ,plan4  7#d7       
,annual and lifecycle cost estimates1   
including1 at a minimum1 cost elements  
relating to-- 7,a7 ,federal ,government 
labor2  7,b7 contractor labor2  7,c7    

hardware2  7,d7 software2 and  7,e7     
testing and evaluation4  7#e7 ,cost     
baseline4  7#f7 ,risk ,management ,plan4
  7#g7 ,health ,,it ,strategic          
,architecture ,plan4  7#h7 ,transition  
,plan for implementing updated          
architecture4  7#i7 ,data ,migration    
,plan4  7#aj7 ,system and ,data         
,security ,plan4  7#aa7 ,application    
,implementation ,plan4  7#ab7 ,system   
,design ,documents4  7#ac7 ,legacy      
,veterans ,information ,systems and     
,technology ,architecture               
,standardization1 ,security             
,enhancement1 and ,consolidation        
,project ,plan4  7#ad7 ,health ,data    
,interoperability ,management ,plan4    
7#ae7 ,community ,care ,vision and      
,implementation ,plan1 including        
milestones and a detailed description of
 how complete interoperability with     
non-,department health care providers   
will be achieved4  7b7 ,quarterly       
updates ,not later than #cj days after  
the end of each fiscal quarter during   

the period beginning with the fiscal    
quarter in which this ,act is enacted   
and ending on the date on which the     
,electronic ,health ,record             
,modernization ,program is completed1   
the ,secretary shall submit to the      
appropriate congressional committees the
 most recent updated versions1 if any   
exist1 of the following documents3  7#a7
 ,integrated ,master ,schedule4  7#b7   
,program ,management ,plan1 including   
any written ,program ,management ,review
 material developed for the ,program    
,management ,plan during the fiscal     
quarter covered by the submission4  7#c7
 ,each document described in subsection 
7a77#d74  7#d7 ,performance ,baseline   
,report for the fiscal quarter covered  
by the submission or for the fiscal     
quarter ending the fiscal year prior to 
the submission4  7#e7 ,budget           
,reconciliation ,report4  7#f7 ,risk    
,management ,plan and ,risk ,register4  
7c7 ,contracts ,not later than #e days  
after awarding a contract1 order1 or    

agreement1 including any modifications  
thereto1 under the ,electronic ,health  
,record ,modernization ,program1 the    
,secretary shall submit to the          
appropriate congressional committees a  
copy of the entire such contract1 order1
 agreement1 or modification4  7d7       
,notification  7#a7 ,requirement ,not   
later than #aj days after an event      
described in paragraph 7#b7 occurs1 the 
,secretary shall notify the appropriate 
congressional committees of such        
occurrence1 including a description of  
the event and an explanation for why    
such event occurred4  7#b7 ,event       
described ,an event described in this   
paragraph is any of the following events
 regarding the ,electronic ,health      
,record ,modernization ,program3 7,a7   
,the delay of any milestone or          
deliverable by #cj or more days4  7,b7  
,a request for equitable adjustment1    
equitable adjustment1 or change order   
exceeding #a1jjj1jjj 7as such terms are 
defined in the ,federal ,acquisition    

,regulation74  7,c7 ,the submission of  
any protest1 claim1 or dispute1 and the 
resolution of any protest1 claim1 or    
dispute 7as such terms are defined in   
the ,federal ,acquisition ,regulation74 
7,d7 ,a loss of clinical or other data4 
7,e7 ,a breach of patient privacy1      
including any--  7i7 disclosure of      
protected health information that is not
 permitted under regulations promulgated
 under section #bfd7;c7 of the ,health  
,insurance ,portability and             
,accountability ,act of #aiif 7,public  
,law #ajd-aia2 #db ,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;d-#b 
note72 and  7ii7 breach of sensitive    
personal information 7as defined in     
section #egbg of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code74  7e7 ,definitions ,in   
this section3 7#a7 ,the term appropriate
 congressional committees means--  7,a7 
the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs  
of the ,house of ,representatives and   
the ,senate2 and  7,b7 the ,committees  
on ,appropriations of the ,house of     
,representatives and the ,senate4  7#b7 

,the term ,electronic ,health ,record   
,modernization ,program means-- 7,a7 any
 activities by the ,department of       
,veterans ,affairs to procure or        
implement an electronic health or       
medical record system to replace any or 
all of the ,veterans ,information       
,systems and ,technology ,architecture1 
the ,computerized ,patient ,record      
,system1 the ,joint ,legacy ,viewer1 or 
the ,enterprise ,health ,management     
,platform2 and  7,b7 any contracts or   
agreements entered into by the          
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to     
carry out1 support1 or analyze the      
activities under subparagraph 7,a74     
#ejd4 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 
notice relating to debt collection      
activities  7a7 ,debt notification      
letter formats ,the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs shall collaborate    
with veterans service organizations to  
develop a standard format for any letter
 provided to an individual who the      
,secretary determines is indebted to the

 ,united ,states by virtue of such      
individual's participation in a benefits
 program administered by the ,secretary4
 ,such letter shall be written in plain 
language and shall include a notice of  
the debt and a clear explanation of--   
7#a7 why the individual is indebted to  
the ,united ,states by virtue of such   
person's participation in a benefits    
program administered by the ,secretary2 
and  7#b7 the options available to the  
individual4  7b7 ,delivery of debt      
notices by standard mail and electronic 
means ,the ,secretary shall develop a   
method by which individuals may elect to
 receive notice of debt by electronic   
means and shall ensure1 to the extent   
practicable1 that the letter developed  
under subsection 7a7 is delivered-- 7#a7
 by both standard mail and by electronic
 means to intended recipients who have  
made such an election2 and  7#b7 only by
 standard mail to intended recipients   
who have not made such an election4  7c7
 ,notice to ,congress  7#a7 ,notices of 

completion ,upon completion of the      
development of the standard letter      
format required under subsection 7a7 and
 upon completion of development of the  
method by which individuals may elect to
 receive notice of debt by electronic   
means under subsection 7b71 the         
,secretary shall submit to ,congress    
notice of the completion of the         
respective development4  7#b7 ,progress 
reports ,if the ,secretary has not      
submitted each notice required by       
paragraph 7#a7 by the date that is #ij  
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7  
submit to ,congress a report describing 
the progress of the ,secretary toward   
implementing subsections 7a7 and 7b7 and
 an explanation for why the respective  
development has not been completed2 and 
7,b7 every #cj days thereafter until all
 of the notices required by paragraph   
7#a7 have been submitted1 submit to     
,congress an update to the report under 
subparagraph 7,a7 that includes an      

additional explanation for the failure  
to complete the respective development4 
7d7 ,study and report  7#a7 ,study ,the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 in    
coordination with the ,secretary of the 
,treasury1 shall conduct a study on the 
process by which individuals who are    
indebted to the ,united ,states by      
virtue of their participation in a      
benefits program administered by the    
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs are    
notified of debt collection efforts     
relating to such indebtedness4  7#b7    
,elements ,the study required by        
paragraph 7#a7 shall include the        
following3 7,a7 ,an analysis of the     
scope of the problem of individuals who 
are indebted to the ,united ,states by  
virtue of their participation in a      
benefits program administered by the    
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs not    
receiving debt collection notices       
relating to such indebtedness4  7,b7    
,identification of administrative       
actions the ,secretary of ,veterans     

,affairs and the ,secretary of the      
,treasury can carry out to reduce the   
number of incorrect or unknown addresses
 of such individuals in the databases of
 the ,department ,veterans ,affairs and 
the ,department of the ,treasury and a  
timeline for carrying out such actions4 
7,c7 ,an estimate of the costs          
associated with sending debt collection 
notices to such individuals by certified
 mail4  7,d7 ,an analysis of whether1 or
 to what extent1 sending debt collection
 notices to such individuals by         
certified mail would address the problem
 analyzed under subparagraph 7,a74  7,e7
 ,an analysis of the requirements and   
resources that would be necessary for   
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to 
establish a method for the ,secretary to
 display in one consolidated document   
the details regarding all of the debts  
of an individual to the ,united ,states 
by virtue of such individual's          
participation in a benefits program     
administered by the ,secretary4  7,f7   

,an analysis of the extent to which such
 individuals are so indebted by reason  
of actions by the ,secretary or by      
actions of the individual1 including any
 trends relating to whether the actions 
of the individual may be by reason of   
error1 misrepresentation1 or fraud4     
7#c7 ,report ,not later than one year   
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans       
,affairs1 in coordination with the      
,secretary of the ,treasury1 shall      
submit to ,congress a report on the     
findings of the ,secretaries with       
respect to the study conducted under    
paragraph 7#a74  ,,vi ,medical          
facilities  #fja4 ,authorization of     
major medical facility projects for     
fiscal year #bjai  7a7 ,in general ,the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may    
carry out the following major medical   
facility projects in fiscal year #bjai  
at the locations specified and in an    
amount for each project not to exceed   
the amount specified for such location3 

7#a7 ,construction of a community living
 center and renovation of domiciliary   
and outpatient facilities in            
,canandaigua1 ,new ,york1 in an amount  
not to exceed #cea1ihj1jjj 7an increase 
of #aic1jjj1jjj as compared to the      
previous authorization for such         
project74  7#b7 ,renovation of space for
 a simulation training education center 
in ,north ,chicago1 ,illinois1 in an    
amount not to exceed #ae1ihj1jjj4  7#c7 
,construction of a surgical intensive   
care unit and renovation to expand the  
operating room suite in ,oklahoma ,city1
 ,oklahoma1 in an amount not to exceed  
#bi1dfa1jjj4  7#d7 ,construction of a   
new medical facility in ,louisville1    
,kentucky1 in an amount not to exceed   
#dej1jjj1jjj 7an increase of            
#cjj1jjj1jjj as compared to the previous
 authorization for such project74  7b7  
,authorization of appropriations ,there 
is authorized to be appropriated to the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for    
fiscal year #bjai or the year in which  

funds are appropriated for the          
,construction1 ,major ,projects account1
 #hdg1dba1jjj for the projects          
authorized in subsection 7a74  #fjb4    
,plans to improve medical facilities of 
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
7a7 ,plans required  7#a7 ,plans of     
directors of medical facilities ,not    
later than #ij days after the date of   
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
require each director of a medical      
facility of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs to submit to the director of  
the ,veterans ,integrated ,service      
,network that covers the facility a plan
 to improve such facility4  7#b7 ,plans 
of directors of ,veterans ,integrated   
,service ,networks ,the ,secretary shall
 require each director of a ,veterans   
,integrated ,service ,network to submit 
to the ,secretary1 not later than #fj   
days after receiving all of the plans   
under paragraph 7#a71 a plan1 based on  
the plans received under paragraph 7#a71

 to improve the facilities within that  
,veterans ,integrated ,service ,network 
in such a fashion that would improve the
 ability of all facilities within that  
network to provide the best and most    
efficient care to patients4  7b7        
,regular reports ,the ,secretary shall  
ensure that each director of a ,veterans
 ,integrated ,service ,network submits  
to the ,secretary1 not later than two   
years after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act and not less frequently than 
once every two years thereafter1 a      
report on the actions taken by the      
director to improve the facilities      
within that ,veterans ,integrated       
,service ,network and what further such 
actions might be necessary4  7c7 ,sense 
of ,congress on use of authorities to   
investigate medical centers of the      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,it is
 the sense of ,congress that the        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs should 
make full use of the authorities        
provided by section #b of the ,enhancing

 ,veteran ,care ,act 7,public ,law      
#aae-ie2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #agja note74     
,,vii ,other matters  #gja4 ,homeless   
veterans reintegration programs ,section
 #bjba7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states
 ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking   
reintegration of homeless veterans into 
the labor force4 and inserting the      
following3 reintegration into the labor 
force of--2 and  7#b7 by adding at the  
end the following new paragraphs3  7#a7 
homeless veterans 7including veterans   
who were homeless but found housing     
during the #fj-;day period preceding the
 date on which the veteran begins to    
participate in a program under this     
section72  7#b7 veterans participating  
in the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 supported housing program for which    
rental assistance is provided pursuant  
to section #h7o77#ai7 of the ,united    
,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db     
,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o77#ai77 or the       
,tribal ,,hud-,,va ,supportive ,housing 
7,tribal ,,hud-,,vash7 program2  7#c7   

,indians who are veterans and receiving 
assistance under the ,native ,american  
,housing ,assistance and ,self          
,determination ,act of #aiif 7#be       
,u4,s4,c4 #daja et seq472  7#d7 veterans
 described in section #bjbc7;e7 of this 
title or any other veterans who are     
transitioning from being incarcerated2  
and  7#e7 veterans participating in the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs rapid 
rehousing and prevention program        
authorized in section #bjdd of this     
title4  4  #gjb4 ,technical corrections 
7a7 ,title #ch ,title #ch1 ,united      
,states ,code1 is amended as follows3   
7#a7 ,in the table of sections at the   
beginning of chapter #ee1 by inserting a
 period at the end of the item relating 
to section #eeja;,a4  7#b7 ,in section  
#gdfc7;c77#b77;,b71 by striking to      
answer to answer and inserting to       
answer4  7b7 ,veterans' ,benefits       
,improvements ,act of #aiif ,section    
#ejd of the ,veterans' ,benefits        
,improvements ,act of #aiif 7,public    

,law #ajd-bge2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note7
 is amended by redesignating the second 
subsection 7c7 as subsection 7d74  #gjc4
 ,medical ,surgical ,prime ,vendor      
program  7a7 ,vendors ,in procuring     
certain medical1 surgical1 and dental   
supplies or laboratory supplies for     
medical centers of the ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs1 the ,secretary of   
,veterans ,affairs shall carry out the  
,medical ,surgical ,prime ,vendor       
program1 or successor program1 in a     
manner that-- 7#a7 requires the         
,secretary to award contracts to        
multiple regional prime vendors instead 
of a single nationwide prime vendor2 and
  7#b7 prohibits a prime vendor from    
solely designing the formulary of such  
supplies4  7b7 ,clinically driven       
sourcing  7#a7 ,expertise ,in carrying  
out the formulary of supplies under the 
,medical ,surgical ,prime ,vendor       
program1 or successor program1 the      
,secretary shall ensure that each       
employee of the ,department of ,veterans

 ,affairs who conducts formulary        
analyses or makes decisions with respect
 to including items on the formulary has
 medical expertise relevant to the items
 for which the employee conducts such   
analyses or makes such decisions4  7#b7 
,lists ,not later than #cj days after   
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
and every six months thereafter with    
respect to any updates1 the ,secretary  
shall submit to the ,committees on      
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives and the ,senate a list 
of each employee described in paragraph 
7#a7 and the relevant medical expertise 
of the employee1 listed by the          
categories of items in the formulary    
described in such paragraph4  #gjd4     
,report on expanding access to dental   
care for veterans eligible for health   
care from the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,not later    
than #cfj 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        
feasibility and advisability of         
expanding access to dental care for     
eligible veterans4  7b7 ,elements ,the  
report required by subsection 7a7 shall 
include the following3 7#a7 ,an analysis
 of access to dental care for eligible  
veterans outside of the ,department1    
including--  7,a7 the percentage of     
eligible veterans currently enrolled in 
dental insurance through a third-party  
payer1 including-- 7i7 the dental       
insurance plan for veterans and         
survivors and dependents of veterans    
under section #agab;,c of title #ch1    
,united ,states ,code2  7ii7 the        
,medicaid program under title ,,xix of  
the ,social ,security ,act 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq472 and  7iii7    
employer-sponsored dental insurance2    
7,b7 the affordability of dental        
insurance described in subparagraph     

7,a72 and  7,c7 the comprehensiveness of
 benefits of dental insurance described 
in subparagraph 7,a74  7#b7 ,an analysis
 of the current oral health needs of    
eligible veterans1 including an estimate
 of the number of eligible veterans     
who-- 7,a7 experience untreated cavities
 or decay2  7,b7 require dentures1      
implants1 or other restorative dental   
services2 or  7,c7 have not received    
regular dental cleanings within the     
two-year period preceding the report4   
7#c7 ,an analysis of the financial      
impact to the ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs of providing dental care to    
eligible veterans1 including-- 7,a7     
whether the provision of such services  
would result in a reduction in total    
health care costs2  7,b7 a cost-benefit 
analysis that indicates potential cost  
savings to the ,department over a #e-1  
#aj-1 and #bj-year period2 and  7,c7    
projected cost savings to the           
,department and across the broader      
health care system4  7#d7 ,an analysis  

of the number and types of dental       
providers necessary to treat eligible   
veterans1 including-- 7,a7 dentists2    
7,b7 hygienists2  7,c7 dental           
technicians2 and  7,d7 dental           
therapists4  7c7 ,categories of eligible
 veterans ,the report required by       
subsection 7a7 shall be disaggregated by
 each of the following categories of    
eligible veterans3  7#a7 ,veterans      
enrolled in the system of annual patient
 enrollment of the ,department pursuant 
to the priority group under subsection  
7a77#f7 of section #agje of such title4 
7#b7 ,veterans enrolled in such system  
pursuant to the priority group under    
subsection 7a77#e7 of such section4     
7#c7 ,veterans enrolled in such system  
pursuant to a priority group under any  
of subsections 7a77#a7 through 7a77#d7  
of such section4  7#d7 ,veterans        
enrolled in such system pursuant to a   
priority group under subsection 7a77#g7 
or 7a77#h7 of such section4  7d7        
,eligible veterans defined ,in this     

section1 the term eligible veterans     
means veterans enrolled in the system of
 annual patient enrollment of the       
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
established and operated under section  
#agje of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code4  ,clerk4