,,ii ,calendar ,no4 #fjc #aafth         
,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,s4 #deaa    
,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united 
,,states  ,august #f1 #bjbj,mr4 ,moran  
7for himself1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 ,mr4        
,rounds1 ,mr4 ,boozman1 ,mr4 ,daines1   
,ms4 ,collins1 ,mr4 ,lankford1 ,mr4     
,rubio1 and ,mr4 ,hoeven7 introduced the
 following bill2 which was read twice   
and referred to the ,committee on       
,veterans' ,affairs  ,december #h1      
#bjbj,reported by ,mr4 ,moran1 with an  
amendment,strike out all after the      
enacting clause and insert the part     
printed in italic  ,a ,,bill  ,to make  
certain improvements in the laws        
administered by the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs relating to          
education1 burial benefits1 and other   
matters1 and for other purposes4  #a4   
,short title2 table of contents  7a7    
,short title ,this ,act may be cited as 
the ,veteran ,benefits ,enhancement and 
,expansion ,act of #bjbj4  7b7 ,table of
 contents ,the table of contents for    

this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4      
,short title2 table of contents4,,title 
,i--,education matters,sec4 #aja4       
,expansion of eligibility for ,fry      
,scholarship to children and spouses of 
certain deceased members of the ,armed  
,forces4,sec4 #ajb4 ,period for election
 to receive benefits under              
,all-,volunteer ,educational ,assistance
 ,program of ,department of ,veterans   
,affairs4,sec4 #ajc4 ,phase out of      
,all-,volunteer ,educational ,assistance
 ,program4,sec4 #ajd4 ,requirements for 
in-,state tuition4,sec4 #aje4 ,expansion
 of authority for certain qualifying    
work-study activities for purposes of   
the educational assistance programs of  
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to
 include outreach services provided     
through congressional offices4,,title   
,,ii--,burial matters,sec4 #bja4        
,transportation of deceased veterans to 
veterans' cemeteries4,sec4 #bjb4        
,increase in certain funeral benefits   
under laws administered by the          

,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4  
#bjc4 ,outer burial receptacles for each
 new grave in cemeteries that are the   
subjects of certain grants made by the  
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4  
#bjd4 ,provision of inscriptions for    
spouses and children on certain         
headstones and markers furnished by the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4,,title
 ,,iii--,representation and financial   
exploitation matters,sec4 #cja4 ,short  
title4,sec4 #cjb4 ,penalties for        
representing veterans as agents and     
attorneys without recognition by        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4  
#cjc4 ,plan to address the financial    
exploitation of veterans receiving      
pension from the ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #cjd4          
,overpayments of pension to veterans    
receiving pension from the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #cje4       
,evaluation of additional actions for   
verifying direct deposit information    
provided by veterans on applications for

 veterans pension4,sec4 #cjf4 ,annual   
report on efforts of ,department of     
,veterans ,affairs to address the       
financial exploitation of veterans      
receiving pension4,sec4 #cjg4 ,notice   
regarding fees charged in connection    
with filing an application for veterans 
pension4,sec4 #cjh4 ,outreach plan for  
educating vulnerable veterans about     
potential financial exploitation        
relating to the receipt of              
pension4,,title ,,iv--,other            
matters,sec4 #dja4 ,eligibility of      
certain members of the reserve          
components of the ,armed ,forces for    
home loans from the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #djb4          
,extension of certain housing loan      
fees4,sec4 #djc4 ,clarification of      
licensure requirements for contractor   
medical professionals to perform medical
 disability examinations for the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 
#djd4 ,medal of ,honor special pension  
for surviving spouses4,sec4 #dje4       

,modernization of service-disabled      
veterans insurance4,sec4 #djf4          
,publication and acceptance of          
disability benefit questionnaire forms  
of ,department of ,veterans             
,affairs4,sec4 #djg4 ,determination of  
budgetary effects4  ,i ,education       
matters  #aja4 ,expansion of eligibility
 for ,fry ,scholarship to children and  
spouses of certain deceased members of  
the ,armed ,forces  7a7 ,in general     
,subsection 7b7 of section #ccaa of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as    
amended by section #aje of the ,harry   
,w4 ,colmery ,veterans ,educational     
,assistance ,act of #bjag 7,public ,law 
#aae-dh71 is further amended-- 7#a7 by  
redesignating paragraph 7#i7 as         
paragraph 7#aa72 and  7#b7 by inserting 
after paragraph 7#h7 the following new  
paragraphs 7#i7 and 7#aj73  7#i7 ,an    
individual who is the child or spouse of
 a person who1 on or after ,september   
#aa1 #bjja1 dies in line of duty while  
serving on duty other than active duty  

as a member of the ,armed ,forces4      
7#aj7 ,an individual who is the child or
 spouse of a member of the ,selected    
,reserve who dies on or after ,september
 #aa1 #bjja1 while a member of the      
,selected ,reserve from a               
service-connected disability4  4  7b7   
,conforming amendments  7#a7 ,subsection
 7f7 of such section is amended by      
striking paragraph 7#h7 each place it   
appears and inserting paragraphs 7#h71  
7#i71 and 7#aj74  7#b7 ,in section      
#ccac7;c77#a71 by striking 7#h71 or 7#i7
 and inserting 7#h71 7#i71 7#aj71 or    
7#aa74  7#c7 ,in section #ccag7;a71 in  
the second sentence1 by striking        
paragraphs 7#a71 7#b71 7#h71 and 7#i7   
and inserting paragraphs 7#a71 7#b71    
7#h71 7#i71 7#aj71 and 7#aa74  7#d7     
,section #ccbb of such title is         
amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7e71 by    
striking both sections #ccaa7;b77#h7 and
 #ccai and inserting section #ccai and  
paragraph 7#h71 7#i71 or 7#aj7 of       
section #ccaa of this title2  7,b7 in   

subsection 7f71 by striking section     
#ccaa7;b77#h7 and inserting paragraph   
7#h71 7#i71 or 7#aj7 of section #ccaa of
 this title2 and  7,c7 in subsection    
7h77#b71 by striking either section     
#ccaa7;b77#h7 or chapter #ce and        
inserting either chapter #ce or         
paragraph 7#h71 7#i71 or 7#aj7 of       
section #ccaa4  7c7 ,applicability date 
,the amendments made by this section    
shall take effect immediately after the 
amendments made by section #aje of the  
,harry ,w4 ,colmery ,veterans           
,educational ,assistance ,act of #bjag  
7,public ,law #aae-dh7 take effect and  
shall apply with respect to a quarter1  
semester1 or term1 as applicable1       
commencing on or after ,august #a1      
#bjbj4  #ajb4 ,period for election to   
receive benefits under ,all-,volunteer  
,educational ,assistance ,program of    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,in general ,section #cjaa of title #ch1
 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended--    
7#a7 in subsection 7c77#a71 by striking 

,any such election shall be made at the 
time the individual initially enters on 
active duty as a member of the ,armed   
,forces and inserting ,any such election
 shall be made during the #ij-;day      
period beginning on the day that is #ahj
 days after the date on which the       
individual initially enters initial     
training2 and  7#b7 in subsection       
7b77#a71 by striking that such          
individual is entitled to such pay and  
inserting that begin after the date that
 is #bgj days after the date on which   
the individual initially enters initial 
training4  7b7 ,effective date ,the     
amendments made by subsection 7a7 shall 
take effect #ahj days after the date of 
enactment of this ,act4  #ajc4 ,phase   
out of ,all-,volunteer ,educational     
,assistance ,program ,subsection        
7a77#a77;,a7 of section #cjaa of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as amended  
by section #ajb1 is further amended by  
striking after ,june #cj1 #aihe and     
inserting during the period beginning   

,july #a1 #aihe1 and ending ,september  
#cj1 #bjcj4  #ajd4 ,requirements for    
in-,state tuition  7a7 ,in general      
,section #cfgi7;c7 of title #ch1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in    
paragraph 7#b77;,a71 by striking less   
than three years before the date of     
enrollment in the course concerned2 and 
7#b7 in paragraph 7#d7-- 7,a7 by        
striking ,it shall and inserting 7,a7   
,it shall2 and  7,b7 by adding at the   
end the following new subparagraph3     
7,b7 ,to the extent feasible1 the       
,secretary shall make publicly available
 on the internet website of the         
,department a database explaining any   
requirements described in subparagraph  
7,a7 that are established by a public   
institution of higher learning for an   
individual to be charged tuition and    
fees at a rate that is equal to or less 
than the rate the institution charges   
for tuition and fees for residents of   
the ,state in which the institution is  
located4 ,the ,secretary shall          

disapprove a course of education        
provided by such an institution that    
does not provide the ,secretary-- 7i7 an
 initial explanation of such            
requirements2 and  7ii7 not later than  
#ij days after the date on which any    
such requirements change1 the updated   
requirements4  4  7b7 ,application ,the 
amendments made by this section shall   
apply with respect to a quarter1        
semester1 or term1 as applicable1       
commencing on or after ,august #a1      
#bjbj4  #aje4 ,expansion of authority   
for certain qualifying work-study       
activities for purposes of the          
educational assistance programs of the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
include outreach services provided      
through congressional offices ,section  
#cdhe7;a77#d7 of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 is amended by adding at  
the end the following new subparagraph3 
7,k7 ,the following activities carried  
out at the offices of ,members of       
,congress for such ,members3 7i7 ,the   

distribution of information to members  
of the ,armed ,forces1 veterans1 and    
their dependents about the benefits and 
services under laws administered by the 
,secretary and other appropriate        
governmental and nongovernmental        
programs4  7ii7 ,the preparation and    
processing of papers and other          
documents1 including documents to assist
 in the preparation and presentation of 
claims for benefits under laws          
administered by the ,secretary4  4  ,,ii
 ,burial matters  #bja4 ,transportation 
of deceased veterans to veterans'       
cemeteries  7a7 ,in general ,subsection 
7a7 of section #bcjh of title #ch1      
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
striking in a national cemetery and     
inserting in a national cemetery or a   
covered veterans' cemetery4  7b7        
,covered ,veterans' ,cemetery ,defined  
,section #bcjh of such title is amended 
by adding at the end the following new  
subsection3  7c7 ,covered ,veterans'    
,cemetery ,defined ,in this section1 the

 term covered veterans' cemetery means a
 veterans' cemetery-- 7#a7 in which a   
deceased veteran described in subsection
 7b7 is eligible to be buried2 and  7#b7
 for which the ,secretary has made a    
grant under section #bdjh of this title4
  4  7c7 ,conforming ,amendment ,section
 #bcjh of such title is amended in the  
section heading by adding at the end the
 following3 or a veterans' cemetery4    
7d7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of   
sections at the beginning of chapter #bc
 of such title is amended by striking   
the item relating to section #bcjh and  
inserting the following new item3       
#bcjh4 ,transportation of deceased      
veteran to a national cemetery or a     
veterans' cemetery4  4  #bjb4 ,increase 
in certain funeral benefits under laws  
administered by the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,funeral        
expenses for non-,service-,connected    
disabilities ,chapter #bc of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 is amended as    
follows3 7#a7 ,by transferring          

subsection 7b7 of section #bcjb to the  
end of section #bcjc and redesignating  
such subsection as subsection 7d74  7#b7
 ,by striking section #bcjb4  7#c7 ,in  
section #bcjc-- 7,a7 in the section     
heading1 by striking ,death in          
,department facility and inserting      
,death from non-service-connected       
disability2 and  7,b7 in subsection     
7a7-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking
 a veteran dies in a facility described 
in paragraph 7#b7 and inserting a       
veteran described in paragraph 7#b7     
dies2  7ii7 by striking paragraph 7#b7  
and inserting the following new         
paragraph 7#b73  7#b7 ,a veteran        
described in this paragraph is a        
deceased veteran who is not covered by  
section #bcjg and who meets any of the  
following criteria3 7,a7 ,the deceased  
veteran dies in-- 7i7 a facility of the 
,department 7as defined in section      
#agja7c7 of this title7 to which the    
deceased veteran was properly admitted  
for hospital1 nursing home1 or          

domiciliary care under section #agaj or 
#agaa7;a7 of this title2 or  7ii7 an    
institution at which the deceased       
veteran was1 at the time of death1      
receiving-- 7,i7 hospital care in       
accordance with sections #agjc;,a1      
#haaa1 and #haec of this title2  7,,ii7 
nursing home care under section #agbj of
 this title2 or  7,,iii7 nursing home   
care for which payments are made under  
section #agda of this title4  7,b7 ,at  
the time of death1 the deceased veteran 
7including a person who died during a   
period deemed to be active military1    
naval1 or air service under section     
#ajf7;c7 of this title7 is in receipt of
 compensation under chapter #aa of this 
title 7or but for the receipt of        
retirement pay would have been entitled 
to such compensation7 or was in receipt 
of pension under chapter #ae of this    
title4  7,c7 ,the ,secretary            
determines-- 7i7 the deceased veteran   
7including a person who died during a   
period deemed to be active military1    

naval1 or air service under section     
#ajf7;c7 of this title7 has no next of  
kin or other person claiming the body of
 the deceased veteran2 and  7ii7 that   
there are not available sufficient      
resources to cover burial and funeral   
expenses4  2  7iii7 in subsection 7b7-- 
7,i7 in the matter preceding paragraph  
7#a71 by striking section #bcjb of this 
title and2 and  7,,ii7 in paragraph     
7#b71 by striking under section #bcjb of
 this title or2 and  7iv7 in subsection 
7d71 as added by paragraph 7#a7 of this 
subsection1 by striking ,except as and  
inserting ,with respect to a deceased   
veteran described in subparagraph 7,b7  
or 7,c7 of subsection 7a77#b71 except   
as4  7b7 ,conforming amendments  7#a7   
,title #ch ,such title is amended as    
follows3 7,a7 ,in section #bcjd1 by     
striking ,applications for payments     
under section #bcjb of this title and   
inserting ,applications for payments    
under section #bcjc of this title       
regarding veterans described in         

subparagraph 7,b7 or 7,c7 of subsection 
7a77#b7 of such section4  7,b7 ,in      
section #bcjg1 by striking sections     
#bcjb and #bcjc7;a77#a7 and 7b77#b7 of  
this title and inserting subsections    
7a77#a7 and 7b77#b7 of section #bcjc of 
this title4  7,c7 ,in section #bcjh--   
7i7 in subsection 7a71 by striking      
pursuant to section #bcjb or #bcjg of   
this title1 and inserting pursuant to   
section #bcjc of this title regarding   
veterans described in subparagraph 7,b7 
or 7,c7 of subsection 7a77#b7 of such   
section1 or pursuant to section #bcjg of
 this title12 and  7ii7 in subsection   
7b77#c7-- 7,i7 by striking section #bcjb
 and inserting section #bcjc2 and       
7,,ii7 by striking subsection           
7a77#b77;,a7 and inserting subsection   
7a77#b77;,c74  7,d7 ,in section         
#aac7;c77#a71 by striking #bcjb14  7,e7 
,in section #eaja7;a77#a77;,b77i71 by   
striking #bcjb and inserting #bcjc4     
7#b7 ,emergency medical care ,section   
#aa of the ,military ,selective ,service

 ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #chaj7 is amended  
by striking section #bcjb7;a7 of title  
#ch and inserting section #bcjc of title
 #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 regarding  
veterans described in subparagraph 7,b7 
or 7,c7 of subsection 7a77#b7 of such   
section4  7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the  
table of sections at the beginning of   
chapter #bc of such title is amended by 
striking the items relating to sections 
#bcjb and #bcjc and inserting the       
following new item3  #bcjc4 ,death from 
non-service-connected disability2 plot  
allowance4  4  7d7 ,effective date ,the 
amendments made by this ,act shall apply
 to deaths that occur on or after the   
date that is #ahj days after the date of
 the enactment of this ,act4  #bjc4     
,outer burial receptacles for each new  
grave in cemeteries that are the        
subjects of certain grants made by the  
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs        
,section #bcjf7;e7 of title #ch1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in    
paragraph 7#a77;,a71 by inserting 1 or  

in a cemetery that is the subject of a  
grant to a ,state or a tribal           
organization under section #bdjh of this
 title1 after ,national ,cemetery       
,administration2 and  7#b7 by striking  
paragraph 7#b7 and inserting the        
following new paragraph 7#b73  7#b7 7,a7
 ,the use of outer burial receptacles in
 a cemetery under the control of the    
,national ,cemetery ,administration or  
in a cemetery that is the subject of a  
grant to a ,state or a tribal           
organization under section #bdjh of this
 title shall be in accordance with      
regulations or procedures approved by   
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4   
7,b7 ,the use of outer burial           
receptacles in ,arlington ,national     
,cemetery shall be in accordance with   
regulations or procedures approved by   
the ,secretary of the ,army4  7,c7 ,the 
use of outer burial receptacles in a    
national cemetery administered by the   
,national ,park ,service shall be in    
accordance with regulations or          

procedures approved by the ,secretary of
 the ,interior4  4  #bjd4 ,provision of 
inscriptions for spouses and children on
 certain headstones and markers         
furnished by the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,section     
#bcjf of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code1 is amended by adding at the end  
the following new subsection3  7j7 7#a7 
,in addition to any other authority     
under this section1 in the case of an   
individual whose grave is not in a      
covered cemetery 7as that term is       
defined in subsection 7f77#b77 and for  
whom the ,secretary has furnished a     
headstone or marker under subsection 7a7
 or 7d71 the ,secretary1 if feasible and
 upon request1 may replace the headstone
 or marker to add an inscription for the
 surviving spouse or eligible dependent 
child of such individual following the  
death of the surviving spouse or        
eligible dependent child4  7#b7 ,if the 
spouse or eligible dependent child of an
 individual referred to in paragraph    

7#a7 predeceases the individual1 the    
,secretary may1 if feasible and upon    
request1 include an inscription for the 
spouse or dependent child on the        
headstone or marker furnished for the   
individual under subsection 7a7 or 7d74 
4  7b7 ,application ,subsection 7j7 of  
section #bcjf of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 as added by subsection   
7a71 shall apply with respect to an     
individual who dies on or after ,october
 #a1 #bjba4  ,,iii ,representation and  
financial exploitation matters  #cja4   
,short title ,this title may be cited as
 the ,financial ,refuge for ,every      
,elderly ,veteran ,act of #bjbj or the  
,,free ,veteran ,act of #bjbj4  #cjb4   
,penalties for representing veterans as 
agents and attorneys without recognition
 by ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
7a7 ,penalties  7#a7 ,in general        
,section #eije of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended to read as    
follows3  #eije4 ,penalty for certain   
acts  7a7 ,in general ,whoever commits  

any of the following acts shall be fined
 as provided in title #ah1 or imprisoned
 for not more than one year1 or both3   
7#a7 ,undertakes or attempts to         
undertake any work in furtherance of the
 preparation1 presentation1 or          
prosecution of a claim under a law      
administered by the ,secretary-- 7,a7   
without recognition by the ,secretary   
under sections #eijb through #eijd of   
this title2 or  7,b7 while suspended or 
excluded under section #eijd7;b7 of this
 title4  7#b7 ,unlawfully withholds from
 any claimant or beneficiary any part of
 a benefit or claim under the laws      
administered by the ,secretary that is  
allowed and due to the claimant or      
beneficiary4  7b7 ,seeking recognition  
,subsection 7a77#a77;,a7 shall not be   
construed to include the seeking of     
recognition from the ,secretary to      
prepare1 present1 or prosecute a claim  
under a law administered by the         
,secretary4  7c7 ,legal interns1 law    
students1 and paralegals ,subsection    

7a77#a77;,a7 shall not apply to a legal 
intern1 a law student1 or a paralegal   
undertaking or attempting to undertake  
work in furtherance of the preparation1 
presentation1 or prosecution of a claim 
under a law administered by the         
,secretary to the degree that such legal
 intern1 law student1 or paralegal is   
doing so-- 7#a7 on behalf of or under   
the supervision of an attorney          
recognized by the ,secretary under      
sections #eijb through #eijd of this    
title2 and  7#b7 in a manner that is    
consistent with the ,model ,rules of    
,professional ,conduct of the ,american 
,bar ,association4  4  7#b7 ,effective  
date ,the amendment made by subsection  
7a7 shall apply with respect to acts    
committed after the date that is #ahj   
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act4  7b7 ,biennial reviews by    
,general ,counsel of the ,department of 
,veterans ,affairs ,section #eijd of    
such title is amended by adding at the  
end the following new subsection3  7e7  

,biennial reviews by ,general ,counsel  
7#a7 ,not less frequently than once     
every two years1 the ,general ,counsel  
of the ,department shall submit to      
,congress a report on activities under  
this section4  7#b7 ,each report        
submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall 
include1 for the period covered by the  
report1 the following3 7,a7 ,a          
discussion of the rates generally       
charged for services covered by this    
section4  7,b7 ,a discussion of the     
requests made by claimants under        
subsection 7c77#c77;,a74  7,c7 ,a       
discussion of the fees reduced under    
such subsection4  7,d7 ,the number of   
claims for benefits under laws          
administered by the ,secretary that were
 prepared1 presented1 or prosecuted by  
an individual acting as an agent or     
attorney who did so while not recognized
 under this section4  4  #cjc4 ,plan to 
address the financial exploitation of   
veterans receiving pension from the     
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  

,development of method for solicitation 
and collection of information ,not later
 than one year after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall develop a   
method for systematically soliciting and
 collecting information on complaints   
received1 referrals made1 and actions   
taken by the pension management centers 
of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 and any other relevant components of   
the ,department1 in cases of potential  
financial exploitation of individuals   
receiving pension under chapter #ae of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7b7  
,plan ,to assess and address financial  
exploitation of veterans  7#a7 ,in      
general ,the ,secretary shall develop   
and periodically update a plan-- 7,a7 to
 regularly assess the information       
solicited and collected under subsection
 7a7 to identify trends of potential    
financial exploitation of the           
individuals described in subsection 7a7 
across the ,department2 and  7,b7 to    

outline actions that the ,department can
 take to improve education and training 
to address those trends4  7#b7          
,submission of plan ,not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 and not less frequently than 
once every two years thereafter1 the    
,secretary shall submit the plan most   
recently developed or updated under     
paragraph 7#a7 to-- 7,a7 the            
,comptroller ,general of the ,united    
,states2 and  7,b7 the ,committee on    
,veterans' ,affairs and the ,special    
,committee on ,aging of the ,senate and 
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives4  #cjd4 
,overpayments of pension to veterans    
receiving pension from the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,guidance and
 training for claims processors ,as the 
,secretary considers necessary1 but not 
less frequently than once every three   
years1 the ,under ,secretary for        
,benefits of the ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs shall update guidance

 and training curriculum for the        
processors of claims for pension under  
chapter #ae of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code1 regarding the evaluation 
of questionable medical expenses on     
applications for pension1 including by  
updating such guidance with respect to  
what constitutes a questionable medical 
expense and by including examples of    
such expenses4  7b7 ,identification and 
tracking ,the ,under ,secretary shall   
develop a method for identifying and    
tracking the number of individuals who  
have received overpayments of pension   
under chapter #ae of title #ch1 ,united 
,states ,code4  7c7 ,annual report ,not 
later than one year after the date of   
the enactment of this ,act1 and not     
later than ,october #ca of each fiscal  
year beginning thereafter1 the ,under   
,secretary shall submit to ,congress a  
report that includes1 for the period    
covered by the report-- 7#a7 the number 
of individuals who received overpayments
 of pension under chapter #ae of title  

#ch1 ,united ,states ,code2 and  7#b7   
the reason for each overpayment4  #cje4 
,evaluation of additional actions for   
verifying direct deposit information    
provided by veterans on applications for
 veterans pension  7a7 ,in general ,the 
,under ,secretary for ,benefits of the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
shall-- 7#a7 conduct an evaluation of   
the feasibility and advisability of     
requiring the processors of claims for  
pension under chapter #ae of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 to take          
additional actions to verify that the   
direct deposit information provided by  
an individual on an application for     
pension is for the appropriate          
recipient2 and  7#b7 identify such      
legislative or administrative actions as
 the ,under ,secretary considers        
appropriate to ensure that payments of  
pension are provided to the correct     
recipients4  7b7 ,submission to         
,congress  7#a7 ,in general ,not later  
than #bdj days after the date of the    

enactment of this ,act1 the ,under      
,secretary shall submit to ,congress a  
report on the evaluation and            
identification under subsection 7a74    
7#b7 ,contents ,the report required by  
paragraph 7#a7 shall include the        
following3 7,a7 ,the findings of the    
,under ,secretary with respect to the   
evaluation conducted under subsection   
7a77#a74  7,b7 ,the actions identified  
under subsection 7a77#b74  7,c7 ,a plan 
for implementing any administrative     
actions identified under subsection     
7a77#b74  7,d7 ,a rationale for not     
implementing any actions evaluated under
 paragraph 7#a7 of subsection 7a7 but   
not identified under paragraph 7#b7 of  
such subsection4  #cjf4 ,annual report  
on efforts of ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs to address the financial       
exploitation of veterans receiving      
pension  7a7 ,in general ,not less      
frequently than once each year1 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 
efforts to address the financial        
exploitation of individuals receiving   
pension under chapter #ae of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code4  7b7 ,contents   
,each report required by subsection 7a7 
shall include1 for the period covered by
 the report1 the following3 7#a7 ,the   
number of individuals who received      
pension under chapter #ae of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 who have been    
referred by any component of the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to the
 ,office of ,inspector ,general of the  
,department as likely or proven victims 
of financial exploitation4  7#b7 ,the   
number of referrals and reports relating
 to the financial exploitation of such  
individuals made by the ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs to-- 7,a7 the        
,consumer ,sentinel ,network of the     
,federal ,trade ,commission2 and  7,b7  
the ,department of ,justice4  7#c7 ,a   

description of the actions taken as a   
result of such referrals and reports    
against-- 7,a7 individuals recognized by
 the ,secretary as agents or attorneys  
under section #eijd of title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code2 and  7,b7        
individuals not so recognized4  #cjg4   
,notice regarding fees charged in       
connection with filing an application   
for veterans pension ,the ,under        
,secretary for ,benefits of the         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs shall 
ensure that every paper or electronic   
document relating to the receipt of     
pension under chapter #ae of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 that is available
 to individuals who apply for such      
pension1 including educational forms    
about or applications for such pension1 
includes a notice that the ,department  
does not charge any fee in connection   
with the filing of an application for   
such pension4  #cjh4 ,outreach plan for 
educating vulnerable veterans about     
potential financial exploitation        

relating to the receipt of pension  7a7 
,development of plan ,the ,under        
,secretary for ,benefits of the         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs shall 
develop1 in collaboration with veterans 
service organizations1 an outreach plan 
for educating vulnerable individuals    
about potential financial exploitation  
relating to the receipt of pension under
 chapter #ae of title #ch1 ,united      
,states ,code4  7b7 ,submission to      
,congress ,not later than #ahj days     
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,under ,secretary shall submit
 to the ,committee on ,veterans'        
,affairs and the ,special ,committee on 
,aging of the ,senate and the ,committee
 on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of
 ,representatives the plan developed    
under subsection 7a74  7c7 ,veterans    
service organization defined ,in this   
section1 the term veterans service      
organization means an organization      
recognized by the ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs for the              

representation of veterans under section
 #eijb of title #ch1 ,united ,states    
,code4  ,,iv ,other matters  #dja4      
,eligibility of certain members of the  
reserve components of the ,armed ,forces
 for home loans from the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,expansion of   
definition of veteran for purposes of   
home loans ,section #cgja7;b7 of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
paragraph3  7#g7 ,the term veteran also 
includes1 for purposes of home loans1 an
 individual who performed active service
 7as that term is defined in section    
#aja of title #aj7 for a period-- 7,a7  
of not less than #ij cumulative days2   
and  7,b7 that includes #cj consecutive 
days4  4  7b7 ,expansion of eligibility 
,section #cgjb7;a77#b7 of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the        
following new subparagraph3  7,g7 ,each 
individual described in section         
#cgja7;b77#g7 of this title4  4  #djb4  
,extension of certain housing loan fees 

,section #cgbi7;b77#b7 of title #ch1    
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
striking ,october #a1 #bjbi each place  
it appears and inserting ,october #a1   
#bjcj4  #djc4 ,clarification of         
licensure requirements for contractor   
medical professionals to perform medical
 disability examinations for the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
,subsection 7c7 of section #ejd of the  
,veterans' ,benefits ,improvements ,act 
of #aiif 7,public ,law #ajd-bge2 #ch    
,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note7 is amended to read
 as follows3  7c7 ,licensure of contract
 health care professionals  7#a7 ,in    
general ,notwithstanding any law        
regarding the licensure of health care  
professionals1 a health care            
professional 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 ,health care professional described
 ,a health care professional described  
in this paragraph is a physician1       
physician assistant1 nurse practitioner1
 audiologist1 or psychologist1 who--    
7,a7 has a current unrestricted license 
to practice the health care profession  
of the physician1 physician assistant1  
nurse practitioner1 audiologist1 or     
psychologist1 as the case may be2  7,b7 
is not barred from practicing such      
health care profession in any ,state1   
the ,district of ,columbia1 or a        
,commonwealth1 territory1 or possession 
of the ,united ,states2 and  7,c7 is    
performing authorized duties for the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
pursuant to a contract entered into     
under subsection 7a74  4  #djd4 ,medal  
of ,honor special pension for surviving 
spouses  7a7 ,codification of current   
rate of special pension ,subsection 7a7 
of section #aefb of title #ch1 ,united  

,states ,code1 is amended by striking   
#a1jjj and inserting #a1chh4fh4  7b7    
,special pension for surviving spouses  
7#a7 ,surviving spouse benefit ,such    
subsection is further amended-- 7,a7 by 
inserting 7#a7 after 7a72 and  7,b7 by  
adding at the end the following new     
paragraph3  7#b7 7,a7 ,except as        
provided in subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c71
 the ,secretary shall pay special       
pension under this section to the       
surviving spouse of a person whose name 
has been entered on the ,army1 ,navy1   
,air ,force1 and ,coast ,guard ,medal of
 ,honor ,roll and a copy of whose       
certificate has been delivered to the   
,secretary under section #aacd;a7d7 of  
title #aj4  7,b7 ,no special pension    
shall be paid to a surviving spouse of a
 person under this section unless such  
surviving spouse was married to such    
person-- 7i7 for one year or more prior 
to the veteran's death2 or  7ii7 for any
 period of time if a child was born of  
the marriage1 or was born to them before

 the marriage4  7,c7 ,no special pension
 shall be paid to a surviving spouse of 
a person under this section if such     
surviving spouse is eligible for or     
receiving benefits under section #acaa  
or #acah of this title4  4  7#b7        
,conforming amendments  7,a7 ,in general
 ,such section is amended-- 7i7 in      
subsection 7d71 by inserting or married 
to more than one person who has been    
awarded a medal of honor1 after honor12 
and  7ii7 in subsection 7f77#a71 by     
striking this section and inserting     
paragraph 7#a7 of subsection 7a71 or    
under paragraph 7#b7 of such subsection 
in the case of a posthumous entry on the
 ,army1 ,navy1 ,air ,force1 and ,coast  
,guard ,medal of ,honor ,roll14  7,b7   
,special provisions relating to         
marriages ,section #ajc7;d77#e7 of such 
title is amended by adding at the end   
the following new subparagraph3  7,e7   
,section #aefb7;a77#b71 relating to     
,medal of ,honor special pension4  4    
7#c7 ,effective date ,the amendments    

made by this subsection shall apply with
 respect to payment of pension under    
section #aefb of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 for months beginning     
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #dje4 ,modernization of          
service-disabled veterans insurance  7a7
 ,establishment of modernized program   
7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #ai of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by inserting after section #aibb;,a the 
following new section3  #aibb;,b4       
,service-disabled veterans insurance    
7a7 ,insurance  7#a7 ,beginning ,january
 #a1 #bjbc1 the ,secretary shall carry  
out a service-disabled veterans         
insurance program under which a veteran 
is granted insurance by the ,united     
,states against the death of such       
individual occurring while such         
insurance is in force4  7#b7 ,the       
,secretary may only issue whole-life    
policies under the insurance program    
under paragraph 7#a74  7#c7 ,the        
,secretary may not grant insurance to a 

veteran under paragraph 7#a7 unless--   
7,a7 the veteran submits the application
 for such insurance before the veteran  
attains #ha years of age2 or  7,b7 with 
respect to a veteran who has attained   
#ha years of age-- 7i7 the veteran filed
 a claim for compensation under chapter 
#aa of this title before attaining such 
age2  7ii7 based on such claim1 and     
after the veteran attained such age1 the
 ,secretary first determines that the   
veteran has a service-connected         
disability2 and  7iii7 the veteran      
submits the application for such        
insurance during the two-year period    
following the date of such              
determination4  7#d7 7,a7 ,a veteran    
enrolled in the insurance program under 
paragraph 7#a7 may elect to be insured  
in any of the following amounts3 7i7    
#aj1jjj4  7ii7 #bj1jjj4  7iii7 #cj1jjj4 
7iv7 #dj1jjj4  7v7 ,in accordance with  
subparagraph 7,b71 a maximum amount     
greater than #dj1jjj4  7,b7 ,the        
,secretary may establish a maximum      

amount to be insured under paragraph    
7#a7 that is greater than #dj1jjj if the
 ,secretary-- 7i7 determines that such  
maximum amount and the premiums for such
 amount-- 7,i7 are administratively and 
actuarially sound for the insurance     
program under paragraph 7#a72 and       
7,,ii7 will not result in such program  
operating at a loss2 and  7ii7 publishes
 in the ,federal ,register1 and submits 
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
 of the ,senate and the ,committee on   
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives1 such maximum amount   
and determination4  7#e7 7,a7 7i7       
,insurance granted under this section   
shall be on a nonparticipating basis and
 all premiums and other collections     
therefor shall be credited directly to a
 revolving fund in the ,treasury of the 
,united ,states4  7ii7 ,any payments on 
such insurance shall be made directly   
from such fund4  7,b7 7i7 ,the          
,secretary of the ,treasury may invest  
in and sell and retire special          

interest-bearing obligations of the     
,united ,states for the account of the  
revolving fund under subparagraph 7,a74 
7ii7 ,such obligations issued for that  
purpose shall-- 7,i7 have maturities    
fixed with due regard for the needs of  
the fund2 and  7,,ii7 bear interest at a
 rate equal to the average market yield 
7computed by the ,secretary of the      
,treasury on the basis of market        
quotations as of the end of the calendar
 month preceding the date of issue7 on  
all marketable interest-bearing         
obligations of the ,united ,states then 
forming a part of the public debt which 
are not due or callable until after the 
expiration of four years from the end of
 such calendar month2 except that where 
such average market yield is not a      
multiple of one-eighth of #a per centum1
 the rate of interest of such obligation
 shall be the multiple of one-eighth of 
#a per centum nearest such market yield4
  7#f7 7,a7 ,administrative support     
financed by the appropriations for      

,general ,operating ,expenses1          
,department of ,veterans ,affairs and   
,information ,technology ,systems1      
,department of ,veterans ,affairs for   
the insurance program under paragraph   
7#a7 shall be paid from premiums        
credited to the fund under paragraph    
7#e74  7,b7 ,such payment for           
administrative support shall be         
reimbursed for that fiscal year from    
funds that are available on such        
insurance after claims have been paid4  
7b7 ,eligibility ,a veteran is eligible 
to enroll in the insurance program under
 subsection 7a77#a7 if the veteran has a
 service-connected disability1 without  
regard to-- 7#a7 whether such disability
 is compensable under chapter #aa of    
this title2 or  7#b7 whether the veteran
 meets standards of good health required
 for other life insurance policies4  7c7
 ,enrollment and waiting period  7#a7   
,an eligible veteran may enroll in the  
insurance program under subsection      
7a77#a7 at any time4  7#b7 ,the life    

insurance policy of a veteran who       
enrolls in the insurance program under  
subsection 7a77#a7 does not go into     
force unless-- 7,a7 a period of two     
years elapses following the date of such
 enrollment2 and  7,b7 the veteran pays 
the premiums required during such       
two-year period4  7#c7 7,a7 ,if a       
veteran dies during the two-year period 
described in paragraph 7#b71 the        
,secretary shall pay to the beneficiary 
of the veteran the amount of premiums   
paid by the veteran under this section1 
plus interest4  7,b7 ,the ,secretary--  
7i7 for the initial year of the         
insurance program under subsection      
7a77#a7-- 7,i7 shall set such interest  
at a rate of one percent2 and  7,,ii7   
may adjust such rate during such year   
based on program performance1 except    
that the interest rate may not be less  
than zero percent2  7ii7 for the second 
and each subsequent year of the program1
 shall calculate such interest at an    
annual rate equal to the rate of return 

on the revolving fund under subsection  
7a77#e7 for the calendar year preceding 
the year of the veteran's death1 except 
that the interest rate may not be less  
than zero percent2 and  7iii7 on an     
annual basis1 shall publish on the      
internet website of the ,department the 
average interest rate calculated under  
clause 7ii7 for the preceding calendar  
year4  7d7 ,premiums  7#a7 ,the         
,secretary shall establish a schedule of
 basic premium rates by age per #aj1jjj 
of insurance under subsection 7a77#a7   
consistent with basic premium rates     
generally charged for guaranteed        
acceptance life insurance policies by   
private life insurance companies4  7#b7 
,the ,secretary may adjust such schedule
 after the first policy year in a manner
 consistent with the general practice of
 guaranteed acceptance life insurance   
policies issued by private life         
insurance companies4  7#c7 ,section     
#aiab of this title shall not apply to  
life insurance policies under subsection

 7a77#a71 and the ,secretary may not    
otherwise waive premiums for such       
insurance policies4  7e7 ,beneficiaries 
7#a7 ,a veteran who enrolls in the      
insurance program under subsection      
7a77#a7 may designate a beneficiary of  
the life insurance policy4  7#b7 ,if a  
veteran enrolled in the insurance       
program under subsection 7a77#a7 does   
not designate a beneficiary under       
paragraph 7#a7 before the veteran dies1 
or if a designated beneficiary          
predeceases the veteran1 the ,secretary 
shall determine the beneficiary in the  
following order3 7,a7 ,the surviving    
spouse of the veteran4  7,b7 ,the       
children of the veteran and descendants 
of deceased children by representation4 
7,c7 ,the parents of the veteran or the 
survivors of the parents4  7,d7 ,the    
duly appointed executor or administrator
 of the estate of the veteran4  7,e7    
,other next of kin of the veteran       
entitled under the laws of domicile of  
the veteran at the time of the death of 

the veteran4  7f7 ,claims  7#a7 ,if the 
deceased veteran designated a           
beneficiary under subsection 7e77#a7--  
7,a7 the designated beneficiary is the  
only person who may file a claim for    
payment under subsection 7g7 during the 
one-year period beginning on the date of
 the death of the veteran2 and  7,b7 if 
the designated beneficiary does not file
 a claim for the payment during the     
period described in paragraph 7#a71 or  
if payment to the designated beneficiary
 within that period is prohibited by    
,federal statute or regulation1 a       
beneficiary described in subsection     
7e77#b7 may file a claim for such       
payment during the one-year period      
following the period described in       
subparagraph 7,a7 as if the designated  
beneficiary had predeceased the veteran4
  7#b7 ,if the deceased veteran did not 
designate a beneficiary under subsection
 7e77#a71 or if the designated          
beneficiary predeceased the veteran1 a  
beneficiary described in subsection     

7e77#b7 may file a claim for payment    
under subsection 7g7 during the two-year
 period beginning on the date of the    
death of the veteran4  7#c7 ,if1 on the 
date that is two years after the date of
 the death of the veteran1 no claim for 
payment has been filed by any           
beneficiary pursuant to paragraph 7#a7  
or 7#b71 and the ,secretary has not     
received notice that any such claim will
 be so filed during the subsequent      
one-year period1 the ,secretary may make
 the payment to a claimant whom the     
,secretary determines to be equitably   
entitled to such payment4  7g7 ,payments
  7#a7 ,in a case described in          
subsection 7f7-- 7,a7 in paragraph      
7#a77;,a71 the ,secretary shall pay the 
designated beneficiary not later than   
#ij days after the designated           
beneficiary files a complete and        
acceptable claim for payment2  7,b7 in  
paragraph 7#a77;,b7 or 7#b71 the        
,secretary shall make any payment not   
later than one year after the end of the

 period described in the applicable such
 paragraph1 if the ,secretary receives a
 complete and acceptable claim for      
payment in accordance with the          
applicable such paragraph2 or  7,c7 in  
paragraph 7#c71 the ,secretary shall    
make any payment not later than one year
 after the end of the period described  
in such paragraph4  7#b7 ,in a case     
where the ,secretary has not made an    
insurance payment under this section    
during the applicable period specified  
in paragraph 7#a7 by reason of a        
beneficiary not yet having filed a      
claim1 or the ,secretary not yet making 
a determination under subsection        
7f77#c71 the ,secretary may make the    
payment after such applicable period4   
7#c7 ,notwithstanding section #aiag of  
this title1 the ,secretary shall make an
 insurance payment under this section in
 a lump sum4  7#d7 ,the ,secretary may  
not make an insurance payment under this
 section if such payment will escheat to
 a ,state4  7#e7 ,any payment under this

 subsection shall be a bar to recovery  
by any other person4  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 #aibb;,a the following new item3
  #aibb;,b4 ,service-disabled veterans  
insurance4  4  7b7 ,sunset of previous  
program and transition  7#a7 ,s-,,dvi   
,section #aibb of such title is amended 
by adding at the end the following new  
subsection3  7d7 7#a7 ,the ,secretary   
may not accept any application by a     
veteran to be insured under this section
 after ,december #ca1 #bjbb4  7#b7 7,a7 
,during the period beginning ,january   
#a1 #bjbc1 and ending ,december #ca1    
#bjbe1 a veteran who is insured under   
this section may elect to instead be    
insured under section #aibb;,b of this  
title based on the age of the veteran at
 the time of such election4  7,b7 7i7 ,a
 veteran who elects under subparagraph  
7,a7 to be insured under section        
#aibb;,b of this title shall be subject 

to the two-year waiting period specified
 in subsection 7c7 of such section4     
7ii7 ,if the veteran dies during such   
period1 the ,secretary shall pay the    
beneficiary under this section1 and1 if 
applicable1 under section #aibb;,a1 plus
 the amount of premiums paid by the     
veteran under such section #aibb;,b1    
plus interest4  7#c7 ,except as provided
 by paragraph 7#b77;,b71 a veteran may  
not be insured under this section and   
section #aibb;,b simultaneously4  4     
7#b7 ,supplemental ,s-,,dvi ,section    
#aibb;,a7b7 of such title is amended by 
adding after the period the following3  
,the ,secretary may not accept any such 
application after ,december #ca1 #bjbb4 
,except as provided by section          
#aibb7;d77#b77;,b71 a veteran may not   
have supplemental insurance under this  
section and be insured under section    
#aibb;,b simultaneously44  7c7          
,conforming amendments ,chapter #ai of  
such title is amended-- 7#a7 in the     
section heading of section #aibb1 by    

striking ,service and inserting ,legacy 
service2  7#b7 in the section heading of
 section #aibb;,a1 by striking          
,supplemental and inserting ,legacy     
supplemental2 and  7#c7 in the table of 
sections at the beginning of such       
chapter by striking the items relating  
to sections #aibb and #aibb;,a and      
inserting the following new items3      
#aibb4 ,legacy service disabled         
veterans' insurance4 #aibb;,a4 ,legacy  
supplemental service disabled veterans' 
insurance for totally disabled veterans4
  4  #djf4 ,publication and acceptance  
of disability benefit questionnaire     
forms of ,department of ,veterans       
,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,section #eaja
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is
 amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating        
subsection 7d7 as subsection 7e72 and   
7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7c7  
the following new subsection 7d73  7d7  
7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall publish in a 
central location on the internet website
 of the ,department disability benefit  

questionnaire forms of the ,department  
for the submittal of evidence from      
non-,department medical providers       
regarding a disability of a claimant4   
7#b7 ,subject to section #fajc of this  
title1 if the ,secretary updates a form 
described in paragraph 7#a71 the        
,secretary shall-- 7,a7 accept the      
previous version of the form filed by a 
claimant if-- 7i7 the claimant provided 
to the non-,department medical provider 
the previous version of the form before 
the date on which the updated version of
 the form was made available2 and  7ii7 
the claimant files the previous version 
of the form during the one-year period  
following the date the form was         
completed by the non-,department medical
 provider2  7,b7 request from the       
claimant any other information that the 
updated version of the form requires2   
and  7,c7 apply the laws and regulations
 required to adjudicate the claim as if 
the claimant filed the updated version  
of the form4  7#c7 ,the ,secretary may  

waive any interagency approval process  
required to approve a modification to a 
disability benefit questionnaire form if
 such requirement only applies by reason
 of the forms being made public4  4  7b7
 ,reports by ,inspector ,general of the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,not  
less frequently than once each year     
through #bjbc1 the ,inspector ,general  
of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 shall submit to ,congress a report on  
the findings of the ,inspector ,general 
with respect to the use of the forms    
published under section #eaja7;d77#a7 of
 such title1 as added by subsection 7a74
  7c7 ,initial form ,the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs shall begin carrying 
out section #eaja7;d77#a7 of such title1
 as added by subsection 7a71 by         
publishing1 as described in such        
section1 the form described in such     
section that was in effect on ,january  
#a1 #bjbj4  7d7 ,alternate process  7#a7
 ,assessment and report ,subject to     
paragraph 7#b71 not later than #ahj days

 after the date of the enactment of this
 act1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 assess
 the feasibility and advisability of    
replacing disability benefit            
questionnaire forms that are used by    
non-,department medical providers to    
submit to the ,secretary evidence       
regarding a disability of a claimant for
 benefits under laws administered by the
 ,secretary1 with another consistent    
process that considers evidence equally1
 whether provided by a ,department or a 
non-,department medical provider2 and   
7,b7 submit to ,congress-- 7i7 a report 
on the findings of the ,secretary with  
respect to the assessment conducted     
under subparagraph 7,a72 and  7ii7 a    
plan to replace the disability benefit  
questionnaire forms as described in     
subparagraph 7,a74  7#b7 ,requirements  
,the ,secretary may only determine under
 paragraph 7#a77;,a7 that replacing the 
forms described in such paragraph is    
feasibility and advisable if the        
,secretary certifies that-- 7,a7 it is  

in the best interest of veterans to do  
so2  7,b7 the replacement process would 
include all the medical information     
needed to adjudicate a claim for        
benefits under laws administered by the 
,secretary2 and  7,c7 the new process   
will ensure that all medical information
 provided will be considered equally1   
whether it is provided by a ,department 
medical provider or a non-,department   
medical provider4  7#c7 ,implementation 
7,a7 ,in general ,subject to            
subparagraph 7,b71 if the ,secretary    
determines under paragraph 7#a77;,a7    
that replacing the forms as described in
 such paragraph is feasible and         
advisable1 the ,secretary shall1 not    
later than two years after the date on  
which the ,secretary submits the report 
under paragraph 7#a77;,b77i71 replace   
the forms as described in paragraph     
7#a77;,a74  7,b7 ,reports by ,inspector 
,general of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs ,if the ,secretary replaces   
the forms under subparagraph 7,a71 the  

,inspector ,general of the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall1 not        
frequently than once each year1 submit  
to ,congress an report on the process   
that replaced forms that ascertains     
whether the process properly protects   
veterans4  7e7 ,rule of construction    
,nothing in this section or section     
#eaja7;d7 of such title1 as added by    
subsection 7a71 may be construed to     
require the ,secretary to develop any   
new information technology system or    
otherwise require the ,secretary to make
 any significant changes to the internet
 website of the ,department4  #djg4     
,determination of budgetary effects ,the
 budgetary effects of this ,act1 for the
 purpose of complying with the          
,statutory ,pay-,as-,you-,go ,act of    
#bjaj1 shall be determined by reference 
to the latest statement titled          
,budgetary ,effects of ,,paygo          
,legislation for this ,act1 submitted   
for printing in the ,congressional      
,record by the ,chairman of the ,senate 

,budget ,committee1 provided that such  
statement has been submitted prior to   
the vote on passage4  #a4 ,short title2 
table of contents  7a7 ,short title     
,this ,act may be cited as the ,veteran 
,benefits ,enhancement and ,expansion   
,act of #bjbj4  7b7 ,table of contents  
,the table of contents for this ,act is 
as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2     
table of contents4,,title ,i--,education
 matters,sec4 #aja4 ,expansion of       
eligibility for ,fry ,scholarship to    
children and spouses of certain deceased
 members of the ,armed ,forces4,sec4    
#ajb4 ,period for election to receive   
benefits under ,all-,volunteer          
,educational ,assistance ,program of    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 
#ajc4 ,phase out of ,all-,volunteer     
,educational ,assistance ,program4,sec4 
#ajd4 ,requirements for in-,state       
tuition4,sec4 #aje4 ,expansion of       
authority for certain qualifying        
work-study activities for purposes of   
the educational assistance programs of  

the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to
 include outreach services provided     
through congressional offices4,sec4     
#ajf4 ,restoration of entitlement to    
rehabilitation programs for veterans    
affected by school closure or           
disapproval4,sec4 #ajg4 ,technical      
correction to clarify eligibility for   
participation in ,yellow ,ribbon        
,program of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs4,,title ,,ii--,burial          
matters,sec4 #bja4 ,transportation of   
deceased veterans to veterans'          
cemeteries4,sec4 #bjb4 ,increase in     
certain funeral benefits under laws     
administered by the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #bjc4 ,outer   
burial receptacles for each new grave in
 cemeteries that are the subjects of    
certain grants made by the ,secretary of
 ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #bjd4         
,provision of inscriptions for spouses  
and children on certain headstones and  
markers furnished by the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #bje4 ,aid to  

counties for establishment1 expansion1  
and improvement of veterans'            
cemeteries4,sec4 #bjf4 ,increase in     
maximum amount of grants to ,states1    
counties1 and tribal organizations for  
operating and maintaining veterans'     
cemeteries4,sec4 #bjg4 ,provision of    
urns for remains of certain veterans    
whose cremated remains are not interred 
in certain cemeteries4,,title           
,,iii--,representation and financial    
exploitation matters,sec4 #cja4 ,short  
title4,sec4 #cjb4 ,penalties for        
representing veterans as agents and     
attorneys without recognition by        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4  
#cjc4 ,plan to address the financial    
exploitation of veterans receiving      
pension from the ,department of         
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #cjd4          
,overpayments of pension to veterans    
receiving pension from the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #cje4       
,evaluation of additional actions for   
verifying direct deposit information    

provided by veterans on applications for
 veterans pension4,sec4 #cjf4 ,annual   
report on efforts of ,department of     
,veterans ,affairs to address the       
financial exploitation of veterans      
receiving pension4,sec4 #cjg4 ,notice   
regarding fees charged in connection    
with filing an application for veterans 
pension4,sec4 #cjh4 ,outreach plan for  
educating vulnerable veterans about     
potential financial exploitation        
relating to the receipt of              
pension4,,title ,,iv--,other            
matters,sec4 #dja4 ,eligibility of      
certain members of the reserve          
components of the ,armed ,forces for    
home loans from the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #djb4 ,reducing
 loan fees for certain veterans affected
 by major disasters4,sec4 #djc4         
,extension of certain housing loan      
fees4,sec4 #djd4 ,collection of         
overpayments of specially adapted       
housing assistance4,sec4 #dje4 ,revision
 of definition of ,vietnam era for      

purposes of the laws administered by the
 ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 
#djf4 ,matters relating to ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs medical disability
 examinations4,sec4 #djg4 ,medal of     
,honor special pension for surviving    
spouses4,sec4 #djh4 ,modernization of   
service-disabled veterans               
insurance4,sec4 #dji4 ,publication and  
acceptance of disability benefit        
questionnaire forms of ,department of   
,veterans ,affairs4,sec4 #daj4          
,preference for offerors employing      
veterans4,sec4 #daa4 ,elimination of    
period of eligibility for training and  
rehabilitation for certain veterans with
 service-connected disabilities4,sec4   
#dab4 ,clarification of termination of  
leases of premises and motor vehicles of
 servicemembers who incur catastrophic  
injury or illness or die while in       
military service4,sec4 #dac4            
,clarification of delivery of notice of 
termination of leases of premises and   
motor vehicles for purposes of relief   

under ,servicemembers ,civil ,relief    
,act4,sec4 #dad4 ,technical correction  
regarding extension of lease protections
 for servicemembers under stop movement 
orders in response to local1 national1  
or global emergency4,sec4 #dae4         
,termination of contracts for telephone1
 multichannel video programming1 or     
internet access service by certain      
individuals under ,servicemembers ,civil
 ,relief ,act4,sec4 #daf4 ,extension of 
certain employment and reemployment     
rights to members of the ,national      
,guard who perform ,state active        
duty4,sec4 #dag4 ,repayment of misused  
benefits4,sec4 #dah4 ,study regarding   
the accessibility of websites of the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs to    
individuals with disabilities4,sec4     
#dai4 ,determination of budgetary       
effects4  ,i ,education matters  #aja4  
,expansion of eligibility for ,fry      
,scholarship to children and spouses of 
certain deceased members of the ,armed  
,forces  7a7 ,in general ,subsection 7b7

 of section #ccaa of title #ch1 ,united 
,states ,code1 as amended by section    
#aje of the ,harry ,w4 ,colmery         
,veterans ,educational ,assistance ,act 
of #bjag 7,public ,law #aae-dh71 is     
further amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating 
paragraph 7#i7 as paragraph 7#aa72 and  
7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#h7  
the following new paragraphs 7#i7 and   
7#aj73  7#i7 ,an individual who is the  
child or spouse of a person who1 on or  
after ,september #aa1 #bjja1 dies in    
line of duty while serving on duty other
 than active duty as a member of the    
,armed ,forces4  7#aj7 ,an individual   
who is the child or spouse of a member  
of the ,selected ,reserve who dies on or
 after ,september #aa1 #bjja1 while a   
member of the ,selected ,reserve from a 
service-connected disability4  4  7b7   
,conforming amendments ,title #ch1      
,united ,states ,code1 is amended as    
follows3 7#a7 ,in section #ccaa7;f71 by 
striking paragraph 7#h7 each place it   
appears and inserting paragraphs 7#h71  

7#i71 and 7#aj74  7#b7 ,in section      
#ccac7;c77#a71 by striking 7#h71 or 7#i7
 and inserting 7#h71 7#i71 7#aj71 or    
7#aa74  7#c7 ,in section #ccag7;a71 in  
the second sentence1 by striking        
paragraphs 7#a71 7#b71 7#h71 and 7#i7   
and inserting paragraphs 7#a71 7#b71    
7#h71 7#i71 7#aj71 and 7#aa74  7#d7 ,in 
section #ccbb-- 7,a7 in subsection 7e71 
by striking both sections #ccaa7;b77#h7 
and #ccai and inserting section #ccai   
and paragraph 7#h71 7#i71 or 7#aj7 of   
section #ccaa of this title2  7,b7 in   
subsection 7f71 by striking section     
#ccaa7;b77#h7 and inserting paragraph   
7#h71 7#i71 or 7#aj7 of section #ccaa of
 this title2 and  7,c7 in subsection    
7h77#b71 by striking either section     
#ccaa7;b77#h7 or chapter #ce and        
inserting either chapter #ce or         
paragraph 7#h71 7#i71 or 7#aj7 of       
section #ccaa4  7c7 ,applicability date 
,the amendments made by this section    
shall take effect immediately after the 
amendments made by section #aje of the  

,harry ,w4 ,colmery ,veterans           
,educational ,assistance ,act of #bjag  
7,public ,law #aae-dh7 take effect and  
shall apply with respect to a quarter1  
semester1 or term1 as applicable1       
commencing on or after ,august #a1      
#bjba4  #ajb4 ,period for election to   
receive benefits under ,all-,volunteer  
,educational ,assistance ,program of    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,in general ,section #cjaa of title #ch1
 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended--    
7#a7 in subsection 7c77#a71 by striking 
,any such election shall be made at the 
time the individual initially enters on 
active duty as a member of the ,armed   
,forces and inserting ,any such election
 shall be made during the #ij-;day      
period beginning on the day that is #ahj
 days after the date on which the       
individual initially enters initial     
training2 and  7#b7 in subsection       
7b77#a71 by striking that such          
individual is entitled to such pay and  
inserting that begin after the date that

 is #bgj days after the date on which   
the individual initially enters initial 
training4  7b7 ,effective date ,the     
amendments made by subsection 7a7 shall 
take effect on the date that is two     
years after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act4  #ajc4 ,phase out of        
,all-,volunteer ,educational ,assistance
 ,program ,subsection 7a77#a77;,a7 of   
section #cjaa of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 as amended by section    
#ajb1 is further amended by striking    
after ,june #cj1 #aihe and inserting    
during the period beginning ,july #a1   
#aihe1 and ending ,september #cj1 #bjcj4
  #ajd4 ,requirements for in-,state     
tuition  7a7 ,in general ,section       
#cfgi7;c7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states 
,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph   
7#b77;,a71 by striking less than three  
years before the date of enrollment in  
the course concerned2 and  7#b7 in      
paragraph 7#d7-- 7,a7 by striking ,it   
shall and inserting 7,a7 ,it shall2 and 
7,b7 by adding at the end the following 

new subparagraph3  7,b7 ,to the extent  
feasible1 the ,secretary shall make     
publicly available on the internet      
website of the ,department a database   
explaining any requirements described in
 subparagraph 7,a7 that are established 
by a public institution of higher       
learning for an individual to be charged
 tuition and fees at a rate that is     
equal to or less than the rate the      
institution charges for tuition and fees
 for residents of the ,state in which   
the institution is located4 ,the        
,secretary shall disapprove a course of 
education provided by such an           
institution that does not provide the   
,secretary-- 7i7 an initial explanation 
of such requirements2 and  7ii7 not     
later than #ij days after the date on   
which any such requirements change1 the 
updated requirements4  4  7b7           
,application ,the amendments made by    
this section shall apply with respect to
 a quarter1 semester1 or term1 as       
applicable1 commencing on or after      

,august #a1 #bjba4  #aje4 ,expansion of 
authority for certain qualifying        
work-study activities for purposes of   
the educational assistance programs of  
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to
 include outreach services provided     
through congressional offices  7a7 ,in  
general ,section #cdhe7;a77#d7 of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
subparagraph3  7,k7 ,the following      
activities carried out at the offices of
 ,members of ,congress for such         
,members3 7i7 ,the distribution of      
information to members of the ,armed    
,forces1 veterans1 and their dependents 
about the benefits and services under   
laws administered by the ,secretary and 
other appropriate governmental and      
nongovernmental programs4  7ii7 ,the    
preparation and processing of papers and
 other documents1 including documents to
 assist in the preparation and          
presentation of claims for benefits     
under laws administered by the          

,secretary4  4  7b7 ,effective date ,the
 amendment made by subsection 7a7 shall 
take effect on ,august #a1 #bjba4  #ajf4
 ,restoration of entitlement to         
rehabilitation programs for veterans    
affected by school closure or           
disapproval  7a7 ,entitlement ,section  
#cfii of title #ch1 ,united ,states     
,code1 is amended by striking chapter   
#cj1 each time it appears and inserting 
chapter #cj1 #ca14  7b7 ,payment of     
subsistence allowances ,section         
#cfhj7;a77#b77;,b7 of title #ch1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by    
inserting or a subsistence allowance    
described in section #cajh before 1     
during2 and  7#b7 by inserting or       
allowance after such a stipend4  7c7    
,conforming amendment ,section #g of the
 ,student ,veteran ,coronavirus         
,response ,act of #bjbj 7#acd ,stat4    
#fcd2 ,public ,law #aaf-adj7 is hereby  
repealed4  7d7 ,effective date ,the     
amendments made by this section shall   
apply as if included in the enactment of

 section #aji of the ,harry ,w4 ,colmery
 ,veterans ,educational ,assistance ,act
 of #bjag 7,public ,law #aae-dh2 #aca   
,stat4 #igh74  #ajg4 ,technical         
correction to clarify eligibility for   
participation in ,yellow ,ribbon        
,program of ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs ,section #ccag7;a7 of title    
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended--
 7#a7 by striking the full cost of      
established charges 7as specified in    
section #ccac7 and inserting the full   
cost of tuition and fees for a program  
of education2 and  7#b7 by striking     
those established charges and inserting 
such tuition and fees4  ,,ii ,burial    
matters  #bja4 ,transportation of       
deceased veterans to veterans'          
cemeteries  7a7 ,in general ,subsection 
7a7 of section #bcjh of title #ch1      
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
striking in a national cemetery and     
inserting in a national cemetery or a   
covered veterans' cemetery4  7b7        
,covered ,veterans' ,cemetery ,defined  

,section #bcjh of such title is amended 
by adding at the end the following new  
subsection3  7c7 ,covered ,veterans'    
,cemetery ,defined ,in this section1 the
 term covered veterans' cemetery means a
 veterans' cemetery-- 7#a7 in which a   
deceased veteran described in subsection
 7b7 is eligible to be buried2  7#b7    
that-- 7,a7 is owned by a ,state2 or    
7,b7 is on trust land owned by1 or held 
in trust for1 a tribal organization2 and
  7#c7 for which the ,secretary has made
 a grant under section #bdjh of this    
title4  4  7c7 ,conforming ,amendment   
,section #bcjh of such title is amended 
in the section heading by adding at the 
end the following3 or a covered         
veterans' cemetery4  7d7 ,clerical      
amendment ,the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter #bc of such title  
is amended by striking the item relating
 to section #bcjh and inserting the     
following new item3  #bcjh4             
,transportation of deceased veteran to a
 national cemetery or a covered         

veterans' cemetery4  4  7e7 ,effective  
date ,the amendments made by this       
section shall take effect on the date   
that is two years after the date of the 
enactment of this ,act4  #bjb4 ,increase
 in certain funeral benefits under laws 
administered by the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,funeral        
expenses for non-,service-,connected    
disabilities ,chapter #bc of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 is amended as    
follows3 7#a7 ,by transferring          
subsection 7b7 of section #bcjb to the  
end of section #bcjc and redesignating  
such subsection as subsection 7d74  7#b7
 ,by striking section #bcjb4  7#c7 ,in  
section #bcjc-- 7,a7 in the section     
heading1 by striking ,death in          
,department facility and inserting      
,death from non-service-connected       
disability2 and  7,b7 in subsection     
7a7-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking
 a veteran dies in a facility described 
in paragraph 7#b7 and inserting a       
veteran described in paragraph 7#b7     

dies2  7ii7 by striking paragraph 7#b7  
and inserting the following new         
paragraph 7#b73  7#b7 ,a veteran        
described in this paragraph is a        
deceased veteran who is not covered by  
section #bcjg of this title and who     
meets any of the following criteria3    
7,a7 ,the deceased veteran dies in-- 7i7
 a facility of the ,department 7as      
defined in section #agja7c7 of this     
title7 to which the deceased veteran was
 properly admitted for hospital1 nursing
 home1 or domiciliary care under section
 #agaj or #agaa7;a7 of this title2 or   
7ii7 an institution at which the        
deceased veteran was1 at the time of    
death1 receiving-- 7,i7 hospital care in
 accordance with sections #agjc;,a1     
#haaa1 and #haec of this title2  7,,ii7 
nursing home care under section #agbj of
 this title2 or  7,,iii7 nursing home   
care for which payments are made under  
section #agda of this title4  7,b7 ,at  
the time of death1 the deceased veteran 
7including a person who died during a   

period deemed to be active military1    
naval1 or air service under section     
#ajf7;c7 of this title7 is in receipt of
 compensation under chapter #aa of this 
title 7or but for the receipt of        
retirement pay would have been entitled 
to such compensation7 or was in receipt 
of pension under chapter #ae of this    
title4  7,c7 ,the ,secretary            
determines-- 7i7 the deceased veteran   
7including a person who died during a   
period deemed to be active military1    
naval1 or air service under section     
#ajf7;c7 of this title7 has no next of  
kin or other person claiming the body of
 the deceased veteran2 and  7ii7 that   
there are not available sufficient      
resources to cover burial and funeral   
expenses4  2  7iii7 in subsection 7b7-- 
7,i7 in the matter preceding paragraph  
7#a71 by striking section #bcjb of this 
title and2 and  7,,ii7 in paragraph     
7#b71 by striking under section #bcjb of
 this title or2 and  7iv7 in subsection 
7d71 as added by paragraph 7#a7 of this 

subsection1 by striking ,except as and  
inserting ,with respect to a deceased   
veteran described in subparagraph 7,b7  
or 7,c7 of subsection 7a77#b71 except   
as4  7b7 ,conforming amendments  7#a7   
,title #ch ,such title is amended as    
follows3 7,a7 ,in section #bcjd1 by     
striking ,applications for payments     
under section #bcjb of this title and   
inserting ,applications for payments    
under section #bcjc of this title       
regarding veterans described in         
subparagraph 7,b7 or 7,c7 of subsection 
7a77#b7 of such section4  7,b7 ,in      
section #bcjg1 by striking sections     
#bcjb and #bcjc7;a77#a7 and 7b77#b7 of  
this title and inserting subsections    
7a77#a7 and 7b77#b7 of section #bcjc of 
this title4  7,c7 ,in section #bcjh--   
7i7 in subsection 7a71 by striking      
pursuant to section #bcjb or #bcjg of   
this title1 and inserting pursuant to   
section #bcjc of this title regarding   
veterans described in subparagraph 7,b7 
or 7,c7 of subsection 7a77#b7 of such   

section1 or pursuant to section #bcjg of
 this title12 and  7ii7 in subsection   
7b77#c7-- 7,i7 by striking section #bcjb
 and inserting section #bcjc2 and       
7,,ii7 by striking subsection           
7a77#b77;,a7 and inserting subsection   
7a77#b77;,c74  7,d7 ,in section         
#aac7;c77#a71 by striking #bcjb14  7,e7 
,in section #eaja7;a77#a77;,b77i71 by   
striking #bcjb and inserting #bcjc4     
7#b7 ,emergency medical care ,section   
#aa of the ,military ,selective ,service
 ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #chaj7 is amended  
by striking section #bcjb7;a7 of title  
#ch and inserting section #bcjc of title
 #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 regarding  
veterans described in subparagraph 7,b7 
or 7,c7 of subsection 7a77#b7 of such   
section4  7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the  
table of sections at the beginning of   
chapter #bc of such title is amended by 
striking the items relating to sections 
#bcjb and #bcjc and inserting the       
following new item3  #bcjc4 ,death from 
non-service-connected disability2 plot  

allowance4  4  7d7 ,effective date ,the 
amendments made by this ,act shall apply
 to deaths that occur on or after the   
date that is two years after the date of
 the enactment of this ,act4  #bjc4     
,outer burial receptacles for each new  
grave in cemeteries that are the        
subjects of certain grants made by the  
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7   
,in general ,section #bcjf7;e7 of title 
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended--
 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 by        
inserting 1 or in a cemetery that is the
 subject of a grant to a ,state or a    
tribal organization under section #bdjh 
of this title1 after ,national ,cemetery
 ,administration2 and  7#b7 by striking 
paragraph 7#b7 and inserting the        
following new paragraph 7#b73  7#b7 7,a7
 ,the use of outer burial receptacles in
 a cemetery under the control of the    
,national ,cemetery ,administration or  
in a cemetery that is the subject of a  
grant to a ,state or a tribal           
organization under section #bdjh of this

 title shall be in accordance with      
regulations or procedures approved by   
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4   
7,b7 ,the use of outer burial           
receptacles in ,arlington ,national     
,cemetery shall be in accordance with   
regulations or procedures approved by   
the ,secretary of the ,army4  7,c7 ,the 
use of outer burial receptacles in a    
national cemetery administered by the   
,national ,park ,service shall be in    
accordance with regulations or          
procedures approved by the ,secretary of
 the ,interior4  4  7b7 ,effective date 
,the amendments made by this section    
shall take effect on the date that is   
two years after the date of the         
enactment of this ,act4  #bjd4          
,provision of inscriptions for spouses  
and children on certain headstones and  
markers furnished by the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,in general     
,section #bcjf of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended by adding at  
the end the following new subsection3   

7j7 7#a7 ,in addition to any other      
authority under this section1 in the    
case of an individual whose grave is not
 in a covered cemetery 7as that term is 
defined in subsection 7f77#b77 and for  
whom the ,secretary has furnished a     
headstone or marker under subsection 7a7
 or 7d71 the ,secretary1 if feasible and
 upon request1 may replace the headstone
 or marker to add an inscription for the
 surviving spouse or eligible dependent 
child of such individual following the  
death of the surviving spouse or        
eligible dependent child4  7#b7 ,if the 
spouse or eligible dependent child of an
 individual referred to in paragraph    
7#a7 predeceases the individual1 the    
,secretary may1 if feasible and upon    
request1 include an inscription for the 
spouse or dependent child on the        
headstone or marker furnished for the   
individual under subsection 7a7 or 7d74 
4  7b7 ,application ,subsection 7j7 of  
section #bcjf of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 as added by subsection   

7a71 shall apply with respect to an     
individual who dies on or after ,october
 #a1 #bjai4  #bje4 ,aid to counties for 
establishment1 expansion1 and           
improvement of veterans' cemeteries  7a7
 ,in general ,section #bdjh of title    
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended--
 7#a7 by inserting or county after      
,state each place it appears2 and  7#b7 
in subsection 7a71 by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph3  7#c7 7,a7 
,the ,secretary may make a grant to a   
county under this section only if-- 7i7 
7,i7 the ,state in which the county is  
located does not have a veterans'       
cemetery owned by the ,state2 or  7,,ii7
 the ,state in which the county is      
located did not apply for a grant under 
this section during the previous year2  
and  7ii7 the county demonstrates in the
 application under paragraph 7#b71 to   
the satisfaction of the ,secretary1 that
 the county has the resources necessary 
to operate and maintain the veterans'   
cemetery owned by the county4  7,b7 ,if 

a county and the ,state in which the    
county is located both apply for a grant
 under this section for the same year1  
the ,secretary shall give priority to   
the ,state4  7,c7 ,the ,secretary shall 
prescribe regulations to carry out this 
paragraph4  4  7b7 ,clerical amendments 
7#a7 ,section heading ,the heading of   
such section is amended by inserting 1  
counties1 and tribal organizations after
 ,states4  7#b7 ,table of sections ,the 
table of sections at the beginning of   
chapter #bd of such title is amended by 
striking the item relating to section   
#bdjh and inserting the following new   
item3  #bdjh4 ,aid to ,states1 counties1
 and tribal organizations for           
establishment1 expansion1 and           
improvement of veterans' cemeteries4  4 
7c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made
 by this section shall take on effect on
 the date that is two years after the   
date of the enactment of this ,act4     
#bjf4 ,increase in maximum amount of    
grants to ,states1 counties1 and tribal 

organizations for operating and         
maintaining veterans' cemeteries        
,section #bdjh7;e77#b7 of title #ch1    
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
striking #e1jjj1jjj and inserting       
#aj1jjj1jjj4  #bjg4 ,provision of urns  
for remains of certain veterans whose   
cremated remains are not interred in    
certain cemeteries  7a7 ,in general     
,section #bcjf of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 as amended by section    
#bjd1 is further amended-- 7#a7 by      
redesignating subsections 7h71 7i71 and 
7j7 as subsections 7i71 7j71 and 7k71   
respectively2 and  7#b7 by inserting    
after subsection 7g7 the following new  
subsection 7h73  7h7 7#a7 ,in lieu of   
furnishing a headstone or marker under  
this section to a deceased individual   
described in paragraph 7#c71 the        
,secretary shall furnish1 upon request  
and at the expense of the ,united       
,states-- 7,a7 an urn made of any       
material to signify the individual's    
status as a veteran1 in which the       

remains of such individual may be placed
 at private expense2 or  7,b7 a         
commemorative plaque signifying the     
individual's status as a veteran4  7#b7 
,if the ,secretary provides an urn or   
commemorative plaque for a veteran under
 paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary may not 
provide for such veteran-- 7,a7 a       
headstone or marker under this section2 
or  7,b7 any burial benefit under       
section #bdjb of this title4  7#c7 ,a   
deceased individual described in this   
paragraph is an individual-- 7,a7 who   
served in the ,armed ,forces on or after
 ,april #f1 #aiag2  7,b7 who is eligible
 for a headstone or marker furnished    
under subsection 7d7 7or would be so    
eligible but for the date of the death  
of the individual72 and  7,c7 whose     
remains were cremated and not interred  
in a national cemetery1 a ,state        
veterans' cemetery1 a tribal cemetery1  
or a private cemetery4  4  7b7          
,effective date ,the amendments made by 
this section shall take on effect on the

 date that is two years after the date  
of the enactment of this ,act4  ,,iii   
,representation and financial           
exploitation matters  #cja4 ,short title
 ,this title may be cited as the        
,financial ,refuge for ,every ,elderly  
,veteran ,act of #bjbj or the ,,free    
,veteran ,act of #bjbj4  #cjb4          
,penalties for representing veterans as 
agents and attorneys without recognition
 by ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
7a7 ,penalties  7#a7 ,in general        
,section #eije of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended to read as    
follows3  #eije4 ,penalty for certain   
acts  7a7 ,in general ,whoever commits  
any of the following acts shall be fined
 as provided in title #ah1 or imprisoned
 for not more than one year1 or both3   
7#a7 ,undertakes or attempts to         
undertake any work in furtherance of the
 preparation1 presentation1 or          
prosecution of a claim under a law      
administered by the ,secretary-- 7,a7   
without recognition by the ,secretary   

under sections #eijb through #eijd of   
this title2 or  7,b7 while suspended or 
excluded under section #eijd7;b7 of this
 title4  7#b7 ,unlawfully withholds from
 any claimant or beneficiary any part of
 a benefit or claim under the laws      
administered by the ,secretary that is  
allowed and due to the claimant or      
beneficiary4  7b7 ,seeking recognition  
,subsection 7a77#a77;,a7 shall not be   
construed to include the seeking of     
recognition from the ,secretary to      
prepare1 present1 or prosecute a claim  
under a law administered by the         
,secretary4  7c7 ,legal interns1 law    
students1 and paralegals ,subsection    
7a77#a77;,a7 shall not apply to a legal 
intern1 a law student1 or a paralegal   
undertaking or attempting to undertake  
work in furtherance of the preparation1 
presentation1 or prosecution of a claim 
under a law administered by the         
,secretary to the degree that such legal
 intern1 law student1 or paralegal is   
doing so-- 7#a7 on behalf of or under   

the supervision of an attorney          
recognized by the ,secretary under      
sections #eijb through #eijd of this    
title2 and  7#b7 in a manner that is    
consistent with the ,model ,rules of    
,professional ,conduct of the ,american 
,bar ,association4  4  7#b7 ,effective  
date ,the amendment made by subsection  
7a7 shall apply with respect to acts    
committed after the date that is #ahj   
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act4  7b7 ,biennial reports by    
,general ,counsel  7#a7 ,in general ,not
 later than two years after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act and not less 
frequently than once every two years    
thereafter until the date that is seven 
years after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act1 the ,general ,counsel of the
 ,department shall submit to ,congress a
 report on activities that are carried  
out by persons in violation of section  
#eije7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states 
,code1 as amended by subsection 7a77#a74
  7#b7 ,contents ,each report submitted 

under paragraph 7#a7 shall include1 for 
the period covered by the report1 the   
following3 7,a7 ,a discussion of the    
rates generally charged for services    
provided by persons in violation of     
section #eije7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united 
,states ,code4  7,b7 ,the number of     
claims for benefits under laws          
administered by the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs that were prepared1  
presented1 or prosecuted by a person    
acting as an agent or attorney in       
violation of such section4  #cjc4 ,plan 
to address the financial exploitation of
 veterans receiving pension from the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7  
,development of method for solicitation 
and collection of information ,not later
 than one year after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall develop a   
method for systematically soliciting and
 collecting information on complaints   
received1 referrals made1 and actions   
taken by the pension management centers 

of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 and any other relevant components of   
the ,department1 in cases of potential  
financial exploitation of individuals   
receiving pension under chapter #ae of  
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7b7  
,plan ,to assess and address financial  
exploitation of veterans  7#a7 ,in      
general ,the ,secretary shall develop   
and periodically update a plan-- 7,a7 to
 regularly assess the information       
solicited and collected under subsection
 7a7 to identify trends of potential    
financial exploitation of the           
individuals described in subsection 7a7 
across the ,department2 and  7,b7 to    
outline actions that the ,department can
 take to improve education and training 
to address those trends4  7#b7          
,submission of plan ,not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act and not less frequently than  
once every two years thereafter until   
the date that is six years after the    
date of the enactment of this ,act1 the 

,secretary shall submit the plan most   
recently developed or updated under     
paragraph 7#a7 to-- 7,a7 the            
,comptroller ,general of the ,united    
,states2 and  7,b7 the ,committee on    
,veterans' ,affairs and the ,special    
,committee on ,aging of the ,senate and 
the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of
 the ,house of ,representatives4  #cjd4 
,overpayments of pension to veterans    
receiving pension from the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,guidance and
 training for claims processors ,as the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs        
considers necessary1 but not less       
frequently than once every three years  
until the date that is #aj years after  
the date of the enactment of this ,act1 
the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits of  
the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs   
shall update guidance and training      
curriculum for the processors of claims 
for pension under chapter #ae of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 regarding   
the evaluation of questionable medical  

expenses on applications for pension1   
including by updating such guidance with
 respect to what constitutes a          
questionable medical expense and by     
including examples of such expenses4    
7b7 ,identification and tracking ,the   
,under ,secretary shall develop a method
 for identifying and tracking the number
 of individuals who have received       
overpayments of pension under chapter   
#ae of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4
  7c7 ,annual report ,not later than one
 year after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act and not later than ,october  
#ca of each fiscal year beginning       
thereafter until the date that is three 
years after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act1 the ,under ,secretary shall 
submit to ,congress a report that       
includes1 for the period covered by the 
report1 the following3 7#a7 ,the number 
of individuals who received overpayments
 of pension under chapter #ae of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#b7 ,the  
reason for each overpayment described in

 paragraph 7#a74  7#c7 ,the number of   
veterans who had to repay overpayments  
described in paragraph 7#a74  7#d7 ,the 
number of veterans for whom the         
,secretary waived a requirement to repay
 an overpayment described in paragraph  
7#a74  7#e7 ,the total dollar amount of 
overpayments described in paragraph     
7#a74  7#f7 ,the total dollar amount of 
repayments of veterans for overpayments 
described in paragraph 7#a74  7#g7 ,the 
average dollar amount of repayments     
described in paragraph 7#f74  #cje4     
,evaluation of additional actions for   
verifying direct deposit information    
provided by veterans on applications for
 veterans pension  7a7 ,in general ,the 
,under ,secretary for ,benefits of the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
shall-- 7#a7 conduct an evaluation of   
the feasibility and advisability of     
requiring the processors of claims for  
pension under chapter #ae of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 to take          
additional actions to verify that the   

direct deposit information provided by  
an individual on an application for     
pension is for the appropriate          
recipient2 and  7#b7 identify such      
legislative or administrative actions as
 the ,under ,secretary considers        
appropriate to ensure that payments of  
pension are provided to the correct     
recipients4  7b7 ,submission to         
,congress  7#a7 ,in general ,not later  
than #bdj days after the date of the    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,under      
,secretary shall submit to ,congress a  
report on the evaluation and            
identification under subsection 7a74    
7#b7 ,contents ,the report required by  
paragraph 7#a7 shall include the        
following3 7,a7 ,the findings of the    
,under ,secretary with respect to the   
evaluation conducted under subsection   
7a77#a74  7,b7 ,the actions identified  
under subsection 7a77#b74  7,c7 ,a plan 
for implementing any administrative     
actions identified under subsection     
7a77#b74  7,d7 ,a rationale for not     

implementing any actions evaluated under
 paragraph 7#a7 of subsection 7a7 but   
not identified under paragraph 7#b7 of  
such subsection4  #cjf4 ,annual report  
on efforts of ,department of ,veterans  
,affairs to address the financial       
exploitation of veterans receiving      
pension  7a7 ,in general ,not later than
 one year after the date of the         
enactment of this ,act and not less     
frequently than once each year          
thereafter until the date that is four  
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 efforts to 
address the financial exploitation of   
individuals receiving pension under     
chapter #ae of title #ch1 ,united       
,states ,code4  7b7 ,contents ,each     
report required by subsection 7a7 shall 
include1 for the period covered by the  

report1 the following3 7#a7 ,the number 
of individuals who received pension     
under chapter #ae of title #ch1 ,united 
,states ,code1 who have been referred by
 any component of the ,department of    
,veterans ,affairs to the ,office of    
,inspector ,general of the ,department  
as likely or proven victims of financial
 exploitation4  7#b7 ,the number of     
referrals and reports relating to the   
financial exploitation of such          
individuals made by the ,department of  
,veterans ,affairs to-- 7,a7 the        
,consumer ,sentinel ,network of the     
,federal ,trade ,commission2 and  7,b7  
the ,department of ,justice4  7#c7 ,a   
description of the actions taken as a   
result of such referrals and reports    
against-- 7,a7 individuals recognized by
 the ,secretary as agents or attorneys  
under section #eijd of title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code2 and  7,b7        
individuals not so recognized4  #cjg4   
,notice regarding fees charged in       
connection with filing an application   

for veterans pension ,the ,under        
,secretary for ,benefits of the         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs shall 
ensure that every paper or electronic   
document relating to the receipt of     
pension under chapter #ae of title #ch1 
,united ,states ,code1 that is available
 to individuals who apply for such      
pension1 including educational forms    
about or applications for such pension1 
includes a notice that the ,department  
does not charge any fee in connection   
with the filing of an application for   
such pension4  #cjh4 ,outreach plan for 
educating vulnerable veterans about     
potential financial exploitation        
relating to the receipt of pension  7a7 
,development of plan ,the ,under        
,secretary for ,benefits of the         
,department of ,veterans ,affairs shall 
develop1 in collaboration with veterans 
service organizations1 an outreach plan 
for educating vulnerable individuals    
about potential financial exploitation  
relating to the receipt of pension under

 chapter #ae of title #ch1 ,united      
,states ,code4  7b7 ,submission to      
,congress ,not later than #ahj days     
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 the ,under ,secretary shall submit
 to the ,committee on ,veterans'        
,affairs and the ,special ,committee on 
,aging of the ,senate and the ,committee
 on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of
 ,representatives the plan developed    
under subsection 7a74  7c7 ,veterans    
service organization defined ,in this   
section1 the term veterans service      
organization means an organization      
recognized by the ,secretary of         
,veterans ,affairs for the              
representation of veterans under section
 #eijb of title #ch1 ,united ,states    
,code4  ,,iv ,other matters  #dja4      
,eligibility of certain members of the  
reserve components of the ,armed ,forces
 for home loans from the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs  7a7 ,expansion of   
definition of veteran for purposes of   
home loans ,section #cgja7;b7 of title  

#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
paragraph3  7#g7 ,the term veteran also 
includes1 for purposes of home loans1 an
 individual who performed full-time     
,national ,guard duty 7as that term is  
defined in section #aja of title #aj7   
for a period-- 7,a7 of not less than #ij
 cumulative days2 and  7,b7 that        
includes #cj consecutive days4  4  7b7  
,expansion of eligibility ,section      
#cgjb7;a77#b7 of such title is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
subparagraph3  7,g7 ,each individual    
described in section #cgja7;b77#g7 of   
this title4  4  7c7 ,retroactive        
applicability ,the amendments made by   
this section shall apply with respect to
 full-time ,national ,guard duty 7as    
defined in section #aja of title #aj1   
,united ,states ,code7 performed before1
 on1 or after the date of the enactment 
of this ,act4  #djb4 ,reducing loan fees
 for certain veterans affected by major 
disasters ,section #cgbi7;b77#d7 of     

title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended-- 7#a7 by amending subparagraph 
7,d7 to read as follows3  7,d7 7i7 ,the 
term initial loan means a loan to a     
veteran guaranteed under section #cgaj  
or made under section #cgaa of this     
title if the veteran has never obtained 
a loan guaranteed under section #cgaj or
 made under section #cgaa of this title4
  7ii7 ,if a veteran has obtained a loan
 guaranteed under section #cgaj or made 
under section #cgaa of this title and   
the dwelling securing such loan was     
substantially damaged or destroyed by a 
major disaster declared by the          
,president under section #dja of the    
,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief 
and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db    
,u4,s4,c4 #eagj71 the ,secretary shall  
treat as an initial loan1 as defined in 
clause 7i71 the next loan the ,secretary
 guarantees or makes to such veteran    
under section #cgaj or #cgaa1           
respectively1 if-- 7,i7 such loan is    
guaranteed or made before the date that 

is three years after the date on which  
the dwelling was substantially damaged  
or destroyed2 and  7,,ii7 such loan is  
only for repairs or construction of the 
dwelling1 as determined by the          
,secretary4  2 and  7#b7 in subparagraph
 7,e71 by striking if the veteran has   
previously obtained a loan guaranteed   
under section #cgaj or made under       
section #cgaa of this title and         
inserting that is not an initial loan4  
#djc4 ,extension of certain housing loan
 fees ,section #cgbi7;b77#b7 of title   
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by striking ,october #a1 #bjbi each     
place it appears and inserting ,october 
#a1 #bjcj4  #djd4 ,collection of        
overpayments of specially adapted       
housing assistance ,section #bajb of    
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended by adding at the end the        
following new subsection3  7g7 7#a7     
,whenever the ,secretary finds that an  
overpayment has been made to1 or on     
behalf of1 a person described in        

paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary shall    
determine-- 7,a7 the amounts to recover1
 if any2 and  7,b7 who is liable to the 
,united ,states for such overpayment4   
7#b7 ,a person described in this        
paragraph is any of the following3 7,a7 
,an individual who applied for          
assistance-- 7i7 under this chapter2 or 
7ii7 under chapter #ca of this title who
 is pursuing a rehabilitation program   
under such chapter in acquiring         
adaptations to a residence4  7,b7 ,an   
owner or seller of real estate used1 or 
intended to be used1 in connection with 
assistance under this chapter4  7,c7 ,a 
builder1 contractor1 supplier1          
tradesperson1 corporation1 trust1       
partnership1 or other person1 who       
provided services or goods relating to  
assistance under this chapter4  7,d7 ,an
 attorney1 escrow agent1 or financial   
institution1 that receives1 or holds in 
escrow1 funds relating to assistance    
under this chapter4  7,e7 ,a surviving  
spouse1 heir1 assignee1 or successor in 

interest of or to1 any person described 
in this paragraph4  7#c7 7,a7 ,any      
overpayment referred to in this         
subsection may be recovered in the same 
manner as any other debt due the ,united
 ,states4  7,b7 ,in recovering the      
overpayment1 the ,secretary may charge  
administrative costs1 fees1 and         
interest1 as appropriate1 in a manner   
similar to the authority under section  
#ecae of this title4  7#d7 7,a7 ,the    
recovery of any overpayment referred to 
in this subsection may be waived by the 
,secretary4  7,b7 ,waiver of any such   
overpayment as to a person described in 
paragraph 7#b7 shall in no way release  
any other person described in such      
paragraph from liability4  7#e7 ,the    
,secretary shall waive recovery under   
this subsection of any overpayment to a 
person described in paragraph 7#b77;,a71
 or a dependent or survivor of such     
person1 that arises from administrative 
error described in paragraph 7#g77;,a74 
7#f7 ,nothing in this subsection shall  

be construed as precluding the          
imposition of any civil or criminal     
liability under this title or any other 
law4  7#g7 ,the ,secretary shall        
prescribe in regulations what           
constitutes an overpayment for the      
purposes of this subsection1 which1 at a
 minimum1 shall include-- 7,a7          
administrative error that results in an 
individual receiving assistance to which
 that individual is not entitled2  7,b7 
the failure of any person described in  
paragraph 7#b7 to-- 7i7 perform or allow
 to be performed any act relating to    
assistance under this chapter2 or  7ii7 
compensate any party performing services
 or supplying goods relating to         
assistance under this chapter2 and  7,c7
 any disbursement of funds relating to  
assistance under this chapter1 that1 in 
the sole discretion of the ,secretary1  
constitutes a misuse of such assistance4
  7#h7 ,prior to collecting an          
overpayment under this subsection1 the  
,secretary shall provide to the person  

whom the ,secretary has determined      
liable for such overpayment-- 7,a7      
notice of the finding by the ,secretary 
of such overpayment2  7,b7 a reasonable 
opportunity for such person to remedy   
the circumstances that effectuated the  
overpayment2 and  7,c7 a reasonable     
opportunity for such person to present  
evidence to the ,secretary that an      
overpayment was not made4  7#i7 ,for the
 purposes of section #eaa of this title1
 a decision to collect an overpayment   
from a person other than a person       
described in paragraph 7#b77;,a71 or a  
dependent or survivor of such person1   
may not be treated as a decision that   
affects the provision of benefits4  4   
#dje4 ,revision of definition of        
,vietnam era for purposes of the laws   
administered by the ,secretary of       
,veterans ,affairs ,section             
#aja7bi77;,a7 of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 is amended by striking   
,february #bh1 #aifa and inserting      
,november #a1 #aiee4  #djf4 ,matters    

relating to ,department of ,veterans    
,affairs medical disability examinations
  7a7 ,temporary clarification of       
licensure requirements for contractor   
medical professionals to perform medical
 disability examinations for the        
,department of ,veterans ,affairs under 
pilot program for use of contract       
physicians for disability examinations  
7#a7 ,in general ,subsection 7c7 of     
section #ejd of the ,veterans' ,benefits
 ,improvements ,act of #aiif 7,public   
,law #ajd-bge2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note7
 is amended to read as follows3  7c7    
,licensure of contract health care      
professionals  7#a7 ,in general         
,notwithstanding any law regarding the  
licensure of health care professionals1 
a health care professional 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       
,health care professional described ,a  
health care professional described in   
this paragraph is a physician1 physician
 assistant1 nurse practitioner1         
audiologist1 or psychologist1 who-- 7,a7
 has a current unrestricted license to  
practice the health care profession of  
the physician1 physician assistant1     
nurse practitioner1 audiologist1 or     
psychologist1 as the case may be2  7,b7 
is not barred from practicing such      
health care profession in any ,state1   
the ,district of ,columbia1 or a        
,commonwealth1 territory1 or possession 
of the ,united ,states2 and  7,c7 is    
performing authorized duties for the    
,department of ,veterans ,affairs       
pursuant to a contract entered into     
under subsection 7a74  4  7#b7 ,purpose 
,the purpose of the amendment made by   
paragraph 7#a7 is to expand the license 
portability for physicians assistants1  

nurse practitioners1 audiologists1 and  
psychologists to supplement the capacity
 of employees of the ,department to     
provide medical examinations described  
in subsection 7b74  7#c7 ,sunset ,on the
 date that is three years after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act1         
subsection 7c7 of such section shall    
read as it read on the day before the   
date of the enactment of this ,act4  7b7
 ,temporary halt on elimination of      
medical examiner positions in           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,the  
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall  
immediately suspend the efforts of the  
,secretary in effect on the day before  
the date of the enactment of this ,act  
to eliminate medical examiner positions 
in the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 until the number of individuals        
awaiting a medical examination with     
respect to medical disability of the    
individuals for benefits under laws     
administered by the ,secretary that are 
carried out through the ,under          

,secretary for ,benefits is equal to or 
less than the number of such individuals
 who were awaiting such a medical       
examination with respect to such        
purposes on ,march #a1 #bjbj4  7c7      
,report on provision of medical         
examinations  7#a7 ,in general ,not     
later than #ahj days after the date of  
the enactment of this ,act1 the         
,secretary shall submit to the          
appropriate committees of ,congress a   
report on the provision of medical      
examinations described in subsection 7b7
 by the ,department4  7#b7 ,contents    
,the report submitted under paragraph   
7#a7 shall cover the following3 7,a7    
,how the ,secretary will increase the   
capacity1 efficiency1 and timeliness of 
medical examiners of the ,veterans      
,health ,administration with respect to 
completing medical examinations         
described in subsection 7a74  7,b7 ,the 
total number of full-time equivalent    
employees among all medical and health  
care professions needed for the         

increases described in subparagraph     
7,a74  7,c7 ,an assessment regarding the
 importance of retaining a critical     
knowledge base within the ,department   
for performing medical examinations for 
veterans filing claims for compensation 
under chapters #aa and #ac of title #ch1
 ,united ,states ,code1 including with  
respect to military sexual trauma1      
post-traumatic stress disorder1         
traumatic brain injury1 and toxic       
exposure4  7#c7 ,collaboration ,the     
,secretary shall collaborate with the   
veterans community and stakeholders in  
the preparation of the report required  
by paragraph 7#a74  7#d7 ,appropriate   
committees of ,congress defined ,in this
 subsection1 the term appropriate       
committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the
 ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs and  
the ,committee on ,appropriations of the
 ,senate2 and  7,b7 the ,committee on   
,veterans' ,affairs and the ,committee  
on ,appropriations of the ,house of     
,representatives4  7d7 ,comptroller     

,general of the ,united ,states review  
7#a7 ,review required ,not later than   
#cfj days after the date of the         
enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller
 ,general of the ,united ,states shall  
commence a review of the implementation 
of the pilot program authorized under   
subsection 7a7 of section #ejd of the   
,veterans' ,benefits ,improvements ,act 
of #aiif 7,public ,law #ajd-bge2 #ch    
,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note74  7#b7 ,elements  
,the review conducted under paragraph   
7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7  
,an assessment of the use of subsection 
7c7 of section #ejd of such ,act1 as    
amended by subsection 7a77#a7 of this   
section4  7,b7 ,efforts to retain and   
recruit medical examiners as employees  
of the ,department4  7,c7 ,use of       
telehealth for medical examinations     
described in subsection 7b7 that are    
administered by the ,department4  7e7   
,report on recommendations of           
,comptroller ,general of the ,united    
,states ,not later than #fj days 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 how the    
,secretary will implement the           
recommendations of the ,comptroller     
,general of the ,united ,states         
regarding-- 7#a7 the monitoring of the  
training of providers of examinations   
pursuant to contracts under section #ejd
 of the ,veterans' ,benefits            
,improvements ,act of #aiif 7,public    
,law #ajd-bge2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #eaja      
note72 and  7#b7 ensuring such providers
 receive such training4  7f7 ,holding   
underperforming contract medical        
examiners accountable ,the ,secretary   
shall take such actions as may be       
necessary to hold accountable the       
providers of medical examinations       
pursuant to contracts under section #ejd
 of the ,veterans' ,benefits            
,improvements ,act of #aiif 7,public    

,law #ajd-bge2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note7
 who are underperforming in the meeting 
of the needs of veterans through the    
performance of medical examinations     
pursuant to such contracts4  #djg4      
,medal of ,honor special pension for    
surviving spouses  7a7 ,codification of 
current rate of special pension         
,subsection 7a7 of section #aefb of     
title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended by striking #a1jjj and inserting
 #a1chh4fh4  7b7 ,special pension for   
surviving spouses  7#a7 ,surviving      
spouse benefit ,such subsection is      
further amended-- 7,a7 by inserting 7#a7
 after 7a72 and  7,b7 by adding at the  
end the following new paragraph3  7#b7  
7,a7 ,except as provided in             
subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c71 the        
,secretary shall pay special pension    
under this section to the surviving     
spouse of a person whose name has been  
entered on the ,army1 ,navy1 ,air       
,force1 and ,coast ,guard ,medal of     
,honor ,roll and a copy of whose        

certificate has been delivered to the   
,secretary under section #aacd;a7d7 of  
title #aj4  7,b7 ,no special pension    
shall be paid to a surviving spouse of a
 person under this section unless such  
surviving spouse was married to such    
person-- 7i7 for one year or more prior 
to the veteran's death2 or  7ii7 for any
 period of time if a child was born of  
the marriage1 or was born to them before
 the marriage4  7,c7 ,no special pension
 shall be paid to a surviving spouse of 
a person under this section if such     
surviving spouse is receiving benefits  
under section #acaa or #acah of this    
title4  4  7#b7 ,conforming amendments  
7,a7 ,in general ,such section is       
amended-- 7i7 in subsection 7d71 by     
inserting or married to more than one   
person who has been awarded a medal of  
honor1 after honor12 and  7ii7 in       
subsection 7f77#a71 by striking this    
section and inserting paragraph 7#a7 of 
subsection 7a71 or under paragraph 7#b7 
of such subsection in the case of a     

posthumous entry on the ,army1 ,navy1   
,air ,force1 and ,coast ,guard ,medal of
 ,honor ,roll14  7,b7 ,special          
provisions relating to marriages        
,section #ajc7;d77#e7 of such title is  
amended by adding at the end the        
following new subparagraph3  7,e7       
,section #aefb7;a77#b71 relating to     
,medal of ,honor special pension4  4    
7#c7 ,effective date ,the amendments    
made by this subsection shall apply with
 respect to payment of pension under    
section #aefb of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code1 for months beginning     
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act4  #djh4 ,modernization of          
service-disabled veterans insurance  7a7
 ,establishment of modernized program   
7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #ai of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by inserting after section #aibb;,a the 
following new section3  #aibb;,b4       
,service-disabled veterans insurance    
7a7 ,insurance  7#a7 ,beginning ,january
 #a1 #bjbc1 the ,secretary shall carry  

out a service-disabled veterans         
insurance program under which a veteran 
is granted insurance by the ,united     
,states against the death of such       
individual occurring while such         
insurance is in force4  7#b7 ,the       
,secretary may only issue whole-life    
policies under the insurance program    
under paragraph 7#a74  7#c7 ,the        
,secretary may not grant insurance to a 
veteran under paragraph 7#a7 unless--   
7,a7 the veteran submits the application
 for such insurance before the veteran  
attains #ha years of age2 or  7,b7 with 
respect to a veteran who has attained   
#ha years of age-- 7i7 the veteran filed
 a claim for compensation under chapter 
#aa of this title before attaining such 
age2  7ii7 based on such claim1 and     
after the veteran attained such age1 the
 ,secretary first determines that the   
veteran has a service-connected         
disability2 and  7iii7 the veteran      
submits the application for such        
insurance during the two-year period    

following the date of such              
determination4  7#d7 7,a7 ,a veteran    
enrolled in the insurance program under 
paragraph 7#a7 may elect to be insured  
in any of the following amounts3 7i7    
#aj1jjj4  7ii7 #bj1jjj4  7iii7 #cj1jjj4 
7iv7 #dj1jjj4  7v7 ,in accordance with  
subparagraph 7,b71 a maximum amount     
greater than #dj1jjj4  7,b7 ,the        
,secretary may establish a maximum      
amount to be insured under paragraph    
7#a7 that is greater than #dj1jjj if the
 ,secretary-- 7i7 determines that such  
maximum amount and the premiums for such
 amount-- 7,i7 are administratively and 
actuarially sound for the insurance     
program under paragraph 7#a72 and       
7,,ii7 will not result in such program  
operating at a loss2 and  7ii7 publishes
 in the ,federal ,register1 and submits 
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
 of the ,senate and the ,committee on   
,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of    
,representatives1 such maximum amount   
and determination4  7#e7 7,a7 7i7       

,insurance granted under this section   
shall be on a nonparticipating basis and
 all premiums and other collections     
therefor shall be credited directly to a
 revolving fund in the ,treasury of the 
,united ,states4  7ii7 ,any payments on 
such insurance shall be made directly   
from such fund4  7,b7 7i7 ,the          
,secretary of the ,treasury may invest  
in and sell and retire special          
interest-bearing obligations of the     
,united ,states for the account of the  
revolving fund under subparagraph 7,a74 
7ii7 ,such obligations issued for that  
purpose shall-- 7,i7 have maturities    
fixed with due regard for the needs of  
the fund2 and  7,,ii7 bear interest at a
 rate equal to the average market yield 
7computed by the ,secretary of the      
,treasury on the basis of market        
quotations as of the end of the calendar
 month preceding the date of issue7 on  
all marketable interest-bearing         
obligations of the ,united ,states then 
forming a part of the public debt which 

are not due or callable until after the 
expiration of four years from the end of
 such calendar month2 except that where 
such average market yield is not a      
multiple of one-eighth of one per       
centum1 the rate of interest of such    
obligation shall be the multiple of     
one-eighth of one per centum nearest    
such market yield4  7#f7 7,a7           
,administrative support financed by the 
appropriations for ,general ,operating  
,expenses1 ,department of ,veterans     
,affairs and ,information ,technology   
,systems1 ,department of ,veterans      
,affairs for the insurance program under
 paragraph 7#a7 shall be paid from      
premiums credited to the fund under     
paragraph 7#e74  7,b7 ,such payment for 
administrative support shall be         
reimbursed for that fiscal year from    
funds that are available on such        
insurance after claims have been paid4  
7b7 ,eligibility ,a veteran is eligible 
to enroll in the insurance program under
 subsection 7a77#a7 if the veteran has a

 service-connected disability1 without  
regard to-- 7#a7 whether such disability
 is compensable under chapter #aa of    
this title2 or  7#b7 whether the veteran
 meets standards of good health required
 for other life insurance policies4  7c7
 ,enrollment and waiting period  7#a7   
,an eligible veteran may enroll in the  
insurance program under subsection      
7a77#a7 at any time4  7#b7 ,the life    
insurance policy of a veteran who       
enrolls in the insurance program under  
subsection 7a77#a7 does not go into     
force unless-- 7,a7 a period of two     
years elapses following the date of such
 enrollment2 and  7,b7 the veteran pays 
the premiums required during such       
two-year period4  7#c7 7,a7 ,if a       
veteran dies during the two-year period 
described in paragraph 7#b71 the        
,secretary shall pay to the beneficiary 
of the veteran the amount of premiums   
paid by the veteran under this section1 
plus interest4  7,b7 ,the ,secretary--  
7i7 for the initial year of the         

insurance program under subsection      
7a77#a7-- 7,i7 shall set such interest  
at a rate of one percent2 and  7,,ii7   
may adjust such rate during such year   
based on program experience1 except that
 the interest rate may not be less than 
zero percent2  7ii7 for the second and  
each subsequent year of the program1    
shall calculate such interest at an     
annual rate equal to the rate of return 
on the revolving fund under subsection  
7a77#e7 for the calendar year preceding 
the year of the veteran's death1 except 
that the interest rate may not be less  
than zero percent2 and  7iii7 on an     
annual basis1 shall publish on the      
internet website of the ,department the 
average interest rate calculated under  
clause 7ii7 for the preceding calendar  
year4  7d7 ,premiums  7#a7 ,the         
,secretary shall establish a schedule of
 basic premium rates by age per #aj1jjj 
of insurance under subsection 7a77#a7   
consistent with basic premium rates     
generally charged for guaranteed        

acceptance life insurance policies by   
private life insurance companies4  7#b7 
,the ,secretary may adjust such schedule
 after the first policy year in a manner
 consistent with the general practice of
 guaranteed acceptance life insurance   
policies issued by private life         
insurance companies4  7#c7 ,section     
#aiab of this title shall not apply to  
life insurance policies under subsection
 7a77#a71 and the ,secretary may not    
otherwise waive premiums for such       
insurance policies4  7e7 ,beneficiaries 
7#a7 ,a veteran who enrolls in the      
insurance program under subsection      
7a77#a7 may designate a beneficiary of  
the life insurance policy4  7#b7 ,if a  
veteran enrolled in the insurance       
program under subsection 7a77#a7 does   
not designate a beneficiary under       
paragraph 7#a7 before the veteran dies1 
or if a designated beneficiary          
predeceases the veteran1 the ,secretary 
shall determine the beneficiary in the  
following order3 7,a7 ,the surviving    

spouse of the veteran4  7,b7 ,the       
children of the veteran and descendants 
of deceased children by representation4 
7,c7 ,the parents of the veteran or the 
survivors of the parents4  7,d7 ,the    
duly appointed executor or administrator
 of the estate of the veteran4  7,e7    
,other next of kin of the veteran       
entitled under the laws of domicile of  
the veteran at the time of the death of 
the veteran4  7f7 ,claims  7#a7 ,if the 
deceased veteran designated a           
beneficiary under subsection 7e77#a7--  
7,a7 the designated beneficiary is the  
only person who may file a claim for    
payment under subsection 7g7 during the 
one-year period beginning on the date of
 the death of the veteran2 and  7,b7 if 
the designated beneficiary does not file
 a claim for the payment during the     
period described in paragraph 7#a71 or  
if payment to the designated beneficiary
 within that period is prohibited by    
,federal statute or regulation1 a       
beneficiary described in subsection     

7e77#b7 may file a claim for such       
payment during the one-year period      
following the period described in       
subparagraph 7,a7 as if the designated  
beneficiary had predeceased the veteran4
  7#b7 ,if the deceased veteran did not 
designate a beneficiary under subsection
 7e77#a71 or if the designated          
beneficiary predeceased the veteran1 a  
beneficiary described in subsection     
7e77#b7 may file a claim for payment    
under subsection 7g7 during the two-year
 period beginning on the date of the    
death of the veteran4  7#c7 ,if1 on the 
date that is two years after the date of
 the death of the veteran1 no claim for 
payment has been filed by any           
beneficiary pursuant to paragraph 7#a7  
or 7#b71 and the ,secretary has not     
received notice that any such claim will
 be so filed during the subsequent      
one-year period1 the ,secretary may make
 the payment to a claimant whom the     
,secretary determines to be equitably   
entitled to such payment4  7g7 ,payments

  7#a7 ,in a case described in          
subsection 7f7-- 7,a7 in paragraph      
7#a77;,a71 the ,secretary shall pay the 
designated beneficiary not later than   
#ij days after the designated           
beneficiary files a complete and valid  
claim for payment2  7,b7 in paragraph   
7#a77;,b7 or 7#b71 the ,secretary shall 
make any payment not later than one year
 after the end of the period described  
in the applicable such paragraph1 if the
 ,secretary receives a complete and     
valid claim for payment in accordance   
with the applicable such paragraph2 or  
7,c7 in paragraph 7#c71 the ,secretary  
shall make any payment not later than   
one year after the end of the period    
described in such paragraph1 if the     
,secretary receives a complete and valid
 claim for payment4  7#b7 ,in a case    
where the ,secretary has not made an    
insurance payment under this section    
during the applicable period specified  
in paragraph 7#a7 by reason of a        
beneficiary not yet having filed a      

claim1 or the ,secretary not yet making 
a determination under subsection        
7f77#c71 the ,secretary may make the    
payment after such applicable period4   
7#c7 ,notwithstanding section #aiag of  
this title1 the ,secretary shall make an
 insurance payment under this section in
 a lump sum4  7#d7 ,the ,secretary may  
not make an insurance payment under this
 section if such payment will escheat to
 a ,state4  7#e7 ,any payment under this
 subsection shall be a bar to recovery  
by any other person4  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 #aibb;,a the following new item3
  #aibb;,b4 ,service-disabled veterans  
insurance4  4  7b7 ,sunset of previous  
program and transition  7#a7 ,s-,,dvi   
,section #aibb of such title is amended 
by adding at the end the following new  
subsection3  7d7 7#a7 ,the ,secretary   
may not accept any application by a     
veteran to be insured under this section

 after ,december #ca1 #bjbb4  7#b7 7,a7 
,during the period beginning ,january   
#a1 #bjbc1 and ending ,december #ca1    
#bjbe1 a veteran who is insured under   
this section may elect to instead be    
insured under section #aibb;,b of this  
title based on the age of the veteran at
 the time of such election4  7,b7 7i7 ,a
 veteran who elects under subparagraph  
7,a7 to be insured under section        
#aibb;,b of this title shall be subject 
to the two-year waiting period specified
 in subsection 7c7 of such section4     
7ii7 ,if the veteran dies during such   
period1 the ,secretary shall pay the    
beneficiary under this section1 and1 if 
applicable1 under section #aibb;,a1 plus
 the amount of premiums paid by the     
veteran under such section #aibb;,b1    
plus interest4  7#c7 ,except as provided
 by paragraph 7#b77;,b71 a veteran may  
not be insured under this section and   
section #aibb;,b simultaneously4  4     
7#b7 ,supplemental ,s-,,dvi ,section    
#aibb;,a7b7 of such title is amended by 

adding after the period at the end the  
following3 ,the ,secretary may not      
accept any such application after       
,december #ca1 #bjbb4 ,except as        
provided by section #aibb7;d77#b77;,b71 
a veteran may not have supplemental     
insurance under this section and be     
insured under section #aibb;,b          
simultaneously44  7c7 ,conforming       
amendments ,chapter #ai of such title is
 amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading  
of section #aibb1 by striking ,service  
and inserting ,legacy service2  7#b7 in 
the section heading of section #aibb;,a1
 by striking ,supplemental and inserting
 ,legacy supplemental2 and  7#c7 in the 
table of sections at the beginning of   
such chapter by striking the items      
relating to sections #aibb and #aibb;,a 
and inserting the following new items3  
#aibb4 ,legacy service disabled         
veterans' insurance4 #aibb;,a4 ,legacy  
supplemental service disabled veterans' 
insurance for totally disabled veterans4
  4  #dji4 ,publication and acceptance  

of disability benefit questionnaire     
forms of ,department of ,veterans       
,affairs  7a7 ,in general ,section #eaja
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is
 amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating        
subsection 7d7 as subsection 7e72 and   
7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7c7  
the following new subsection 7d73  7d7  
7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall publish in a 
central location on the internet website
 of the ,department disability benefit  
questionnaire forms of the ,department  
for the submittal of evidence from      
non-,department medical providers       
regarding a disability of a claimant4   
7#b7 ,subject to section #fajc of this  
title1 if the ,secretary updates a form 
described in paragraph 7#a71 the        
,secretary shall-- 7,a7 accept the      
previous version of the form filed by a 
claimant if-- 7i7 the claimant provided 
to the non-,department medical provider 
the previous version of the form before 
the date on which the updated version of
 the form was made available2 and  7ii7 

the claimant files the previous version 
of the form during the one-year period  
following the date the form was         
completed by the non-,department medical
 provider2  7,b7 request from the       
claimant any other information that the 
updated version of the form requires2   
and  7,c7 apply the laws and regulations
 required to adjudicate the claim as if 
the claimant filed the updated version  
of the form4  7#c7 ,the ,secretary may  
waive any interagency approval process  
required to approve a modification to a 
disability benefit questionnaire form if
 such requirement only applies by reason
 of the forms being made public4  4  7b7
 ,reports by ,inspector ,general of the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,not  
less frequently than once each year     
through #bjbc1 the ,inspector ,general  
of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs
 shall submit to ,congress a report on  
the findings of the ,inspector ,general 
with respect to the use of the forms    
published under section #eaja7;d77#a7 of

 such title1 as added by subsection 7a74
  7c7 ,initial form ,the ,secretary of  
,veterans ,affairs shall begin carrying 
out section #eaja7;d77#a7 of such title1
 as added by subsection 7a71 by         
publishing1 as described in such        
section1 the form described in such     
section that was in effect on ,january  
#a1 #bjbj4  7d7 ,alternate process  7#a7
 ,assessment and report ,subject to     
paragraph 7#b71 not later than #ahj days
 after the date of the enactment of this
 act1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 assess
 the feasibility and advisability of    
replacing disability benefit            
questionnaire forms that are used by    
non-,department medical providers to    
submit to the ,secretary evidence       
regarding a disability of a claimant for
 benefits under laws administered by the
 ,secretary1 with another consistent    
process that considers evidence equally1
 whether provided by a ,department or a 
non-,department medical provider2 and   
7,b7 submit to ,congress-- 7i7 a report 

on the findings of the ,secretary with  
respect to the assessment conducted     
under subparagraph 7,a72 and  7ii7 a    
plan to replace the disability benefit  
questionnaire forms as described in     
subparagraph 7,a74  7#b7 ,requirements  
,the ,secretary may only determine under
 paragraph 7#a77;,a7 that replacing the 
forms described in such paragraph is    
feasible and advisable if the ,secretary
 certifies that-- 7,a7 it is in the best
 interest of veterans to do so2  7,b7   
the replacement process would include   
all the medical information needed to   
adjudicate a claim for benefits under   
laws administered by the ,secretary2 and
  7,c7 the new process will ensure that 
all medical information provided will be
 considered equally1 whether it is      
provided by a ,department medical       
provider or a non-,department medical   
provider4  7#c7 ,implementation  7,a7   
,in general ,subject to subparagraph    
7,b71 if the ,secretary determines under
 paragraph 7#a77;,a7 that replacing the 

forms as described in such paragraph is 
feasible and advisable1 the ,secretary  
shall1 not later than two years after   
the date on which the ,secretary submits
 the report under paragraph             
7#a77;,b77i71 replace the forms as      
described in paragraph 7#a77;,a74  7,b7 
,reports by ,inspector ,general of the  
,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,if   
the ,secretary replaces the forms under 
subparagraph 7,a71 the ,inspector       
,general of the ,department of ,veterans
 ,affairs shall1 not less frequently    
than once each year1 submit to ,congress
 a report on the process that replaced  
such forms that ascertains whether the  
process properly protects veterans4  7e7
 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this 
section or section #eaja7;d7 of such    
title1 as added by subsection 7a71 may  
be construed to require the ,secretary  
to develop any new information          
technology system or otherwise require  
the ,secretary to make any significant  
changes to the internet website of the  

,department4  #daj4 ,preference for     
offerors employing veterans  7a7 ,in    
general ,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #ha 
of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is 
amended by adding after section #habh   
the following new section3  #habi4      
,preference for offerors employing      
veterans  7a7 ,preference  7#a7 ,in     
awarding a contract for the procurement 
of goods or services1 the ,secretary may
 give a preference to offerors that     
employ veterans on a full-time basis4   
7#b7 ,the ,secretary shall determine    
such preference based on the percentage 
of the full-time employees of the       
offeror who are veterans4  7b7          
,enforcement penalties for              
misrepresentation  7#a7 ,any offeror    
that is determined by the ,secretary to 
have willfully and intentionally        
misrepresented the veteran status of the
 employees of the offeror for purposes  
of subsection 7a7 may be debarred from  
contracting with the ,department for a  
period of not less than five years4     

7#b7 ,if the ,secretary carries out a   
debarment under paragraph 7#a71 the     
,secretary shall-- 7,a7 commence        
debarment action against the offeror by 
not later than #cj days after           
determining that the offeror willfully  
and intentionally misrepresented the    
veteran status of the employees of the  
offeror as described in paragraph 7#a72 
and  7,b7 complete debarment actions    
against such offeror by not later than  
#ij days after such determination4  7#c7
 ,the debarment of an offeror under     
paragraph 7#a7 includes the debarment of
 all principals in the offeror for a    
period of not less than five years4  4  
7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of   
sections at the beginning of chapter #ha
 of such title is amended by inserting  
after the item relating to section #habh
 the following new item3  #habi4        
,preference for offerors employing      
veterans4  4  #daa4 ,elimination of     
period of eligibility for training and  
rehabilitation for certain veterans with

 service-connected disabilities  7a7 ,in
 general ,section #cajc of title #ch1   
,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7
 in subsection 7a71 by striking or 7e7  
and inserting 7e71 or 7g72 and  7#b7 by 
adding at the end the following new     
subsection3  7g7 ,subsection 7a7 shall  
not apply to a veteran who was          
discharged or released from active      
military1 naval1 or air service on or   
after ,january #a1 #bjac4  4  7b7       
,conforming amendment ,section #f7;c7 of
 the ,student ,veteran ,coronavirus     
,response ,act of #bjbj 7#acd ,stat4    
#fcc2 ,public ,law #aaf-adj7 is amended 
by striking paragraph 7#a74  #dab4      
,clarification of termination of leases 
of premises and motor vehicles of       
servicemembers who incur catastrophic   
injury or illness or die while in       
military service  7a7 ,catastrophic     
injuries and illnesses ,paragraph 7#d7  
of section #cje7;a7 of the              
,servicemembers ,civil ,relief ,act 7#ej
 ,u4,s4,c4 #ciee7;a771 as added by      

section #ede of the ,national ,defense  
,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year   
#bjbj 7,public ,law #aaf-ib71 is amended
 to read as follows3  7#d7 ,catastrophic
 injury or illness of lessee  7,a7      
,termination ,if the lessee on a lease  
described in subsection 7b7 incurs a    
catastrophic injury or illness during a 
period of military service or while     
performing covered service1 during the  
one-year period beginning on the date on
 which the lessee incurs such injury or 
illness-- 7i7 the lessee may terminate  
the lease2 or  7ii7 in the case of a    
lessee who lacks the mental capacity to 
contract or to manage his or her own    
affairs 7including disbursement of funds
 without limitation7 due to such injury 
or illness1 the spouse or dependent of  
the lessee may terminate the lease4     
7,b7 ,definitions ,in this paragraph3   
7i7 ,catastrophic injury or illness ,the
 term catastrophic injury or illness has
 the meaning given that term in section 
#dci7;g7 of title #cg1 ,united ,states  

,code4  7ii7 ,covered service ,the term 
covered service means 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  7b7 ,deaths         
,paragraph 7#c7 of such section is      
amended by striking ,the spouse of the  
lessee and inserting ,the spouse or     
dependent of the lessee4  #dac4         
,clarification of delivery of notice of 
termination of leases of premises and   
motor vehicles for purposes of relief   
under ,servicemembers ,civil ,relief    
,act  7a7 ,in general ,section          
#cje7;c77#b7 of the ,servicemembers     
,civil ,relief ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4      
#ciee7;c77#b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in     
subparagraph 7,b71 by striking or at the
 end2  7#b7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by    
striking the period and inserting 2 or2 
and  7#c7 by adding at the end the      
following new subparagraph3  7,d7 by    
electronic means1 including-- 7i7 the   

direct delivery of material to an       
electronic address designated by the    
lessor 7or the lessor's grantee7 or the 
lessor's agent 7or the agent's grantee72
  7ii7 the posting of material to a     
website or other internet or            
electronic-based information repository 
to which access has been granted to the 
lessee1 the lessor 7or the lessor's     
grantee71 or the lessor's agent 7or the 
agent's grantee72 and  7iii7 other      
electronic means reasonably calculated  
to ensure actual receipt of the material
 by the lessor 7or the lessor's grantee7
 or the lessor's agent 7or the agent's  
grantee74  4  7b7 ,effective date ,the  
amendments made by subsection 7a7 shall 
apply to delivery of notice of lease    
terminations on or after the date the   
enactment of this ,act4  #dad4          
,technical correction regarding         
extension of lease protections for      
servicemembers under stop movement      
orders in response to local1 national1  
or global emergency  7a7 ,in general    

,section #cje7;b7 of the ,servicemembers
 ,civil ,relief ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4     
#ciee7;b771 as amended by ,public ,law  
#aaf-aeh1 is further amended-- 7#a7 in  
paragraph 7#a77;,c77ii71 by striking    
,secretary of ,defense and inserting    
,secretary concerned2 and  7#b7 in      
paragraph 7#b77;,c77ii71 by striking    
,secretary of ,defense and inserting    
,secretary concerned4  7b7 ,retroactive 
application ,the amendments made by this
 section shall apply to stop movement   
orders issued on or after ,march #a1    
#bjbj4  #dae4 ,termination of contracts 
for telephone1 multichannel video       
programming1 or internet access service 
by certain individuals under            
,servicemembers ,civil ,relief ,act     
,section #cje;,a7a7 of the              
,servicemembers ,civil ,relief ,act 7#ej
 ,u4,s4,c4 #cief7;a77 is amended by     
adding at the end the following new     
paragraph3  7#d7 ,additional individuals
 covered ,for purposes of this section1 
the following individuals shall be      

treated as a servicemember covered by   
paragraph 7#a73 7,a7 ,a spouse or       
dependent of a servicemember who dies   
while in military service or a spouse or
 dependent of a member of a reserve     
component of the ,armed ,forces who dies
 while performing duty described in     
subparagraph 7,c74  7,b7 ,a spouse or   
dependent of a servicemember who incurs 
a catastrophic injury or illness 7as    
that term is defined in section #dci7;g7
 of title #cg1 ,united ,states ,code71  
if the servicemember incurs the         
catastrophic injury or illness while in 
military service or performing duty     
described in subparagraph 7,c74  7,c7 ,a
 member of a reserve component of the   
,armed ,forces performing military      
service or 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  #daf4 ,extension of 
certain employment and reemployment     

rights to members of the ,national      
,guard who perform ,state active duty   
,section #dcjc of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in     
paragraph 7#ac71 by inserting ,state    
active duty for a period of #ad days or 
more1 ,state active duty in response to 
a national emergency declared by the    
,president under the ,national          
,emergencies ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #afja  
et seq471 ,state active duty in response
 to a major disaster declared by the    
,president under section #dja of the    
,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief 
and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db    
,u4,s4,c4 #eagj71 after full-time       
,national ,guard duty12  7#b7 by        
redesignating paragraph 7#ae7 as        
paragraph 7#af72 and  7#c7 by inserting 
after paragraph 7#ad7 the following new 
paragraph 7#ae73  7#ae7 ,the term ,state
 active duty means training or other    
duty1 other than inactive duty1         
performed by a member of the ,national  
,guard of a ,state-- 7,a7 not under     

section #ejb of title #cb or under title
 #aj2  7,b7 in service to the ,governor 
of a ,state2 and  7,c7 for which the    
member is not entitled to pay from the  
,federal ,government4  4  #dag4         
,repayment of misused benefits  7a7 ,in 
general ,section #fajg7;b7 of title #ch1
 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended--    
7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking ,in 
any case in which a fiduciary described 
in paragraph 7#b7 and inserting ,in any 
case not covered by subsection 7a7 in   
which a fiduciary2  7#b7 by striking    
paragraph 7#b72 and  7#c7 by            
redesignating paragraph 7#c7 as         
paragraph 7#b74  7b7 ,application ,the  
amendments made by subsection 7a7 shall 
apply with respect to any determination 
by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs 
made on or after the date of the        
enactment of this ,act regarding the    
misuse of benefits by a fiduciary4      
#dah4 ,study regarding the accessibility
 of websites of the ,department of      
,veterans ,affairs to individuals with  

disabilities  7a7 ,study ,not later than
 #ahj days after the date of the        
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs shall conduct a   
study of all websites of the ,department
 of ,veterans ,affairs to determine     
whether such websites are accessible to 
individuals with disabilities in        
accordance with section #ejh of the     
,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi      
,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d74  7b7 ,report  7#a7   
,in general ,not later than #ij days    
after completing the study under        
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall    
submit to ,congress a report on such    
study4  7#b7 ,elements ,the report      
required by paragraph 7#a7 shall include
 the following3 7,a7 ,a list of each    
website described in subsection 7a7 that
 is not accessible to individuals with  
disabilities in accordance with section 
#ejh of the ,rehabilitation ,act of     
#aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d74  7,b7 ,for
 each website identified in the list    
under paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 a description

 of the barriers to bringing such       
website into compliance with the        
requirements of section #ejh of the     
,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi      
,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d71 including barriers   
relating to staffing2 and  7ii7 the plan
 of the ,secretary to bring such website
 into compliance with the requirements  
of such section4  7c7 ,website defined  
,in this section1 the term website      
includes the following3 7#a7 ,a file    
attached to a website4  7#b7 ,a         
web-based application4  7#c7 ,a kiosk at
 a medical facility of the ,department  
of ,veterans ,affairs1 the use of which 
is required to check in for scheduled   
appointments4  #dai4 ,determination of  
budgetary effects ,the budgetary effects
 of this ,act1 for the purpose of       
complying with the ,statutory           
,pay-,as-,you-,go ,act of #bjaj1 shall  
be determined by reference to the latest
 statement titled ,budgetary ,effects of
 ,,paygo ,legislation for this ,act1    
submitted for printing in the           

,congressional ,record by the ,chairman 
of the ,senate ,budget ,committee1      
provided that such statement has been   
submitted prior to the vote on passage4 
,december #h1 #bjbj,reported with an    
amendment