,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #beac  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #bf1 #bjbc ,mr4  
,te/] 7= himself & ,mr4 ,moran7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
improve b5efits adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4  
#a4 ,%ort title2 table ( cont5ts  7a7   
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,vet]ans ,b5efits ,improvem5t ,act (    
#bjbc4  7b7 ,table ( cont5ts ,! table ( 
cont5ts = ?is ,act is z foll[s3  ,sec4  
#a4 ,%ort title2 table ( cont5ts4 ,sec4 
#b4 ,def9itions4 ,,title ,i--,bo>d (    
,vet]ans' ,appeals matt]s ,sec4 #aja4   
,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals int]n%ip     
program4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,pilot program on  
e/abli%m5t ( ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals 
honors program4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,report on  
improv+ access to ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'     
,appeals telehe>+s4 ,,title             
,,ii--,m$ical disability exam matt]s    

,sec4 #bja4 ,improv+ requirem5t to      
publi% disability b5efit que/ionnaire   
=ms ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4    
,sec4 #bjb4 ,report on improv+ m$ical   
disability exam9ations = vet]ans :o live
 abroad4 ,sec4 #bjc4 ,dep>tm5t (        
,vet]ans ,affairs requirem5t =          
communication by contractors provid+    
cov]$ m$ical disability exam9ations )   
p]sons recogniz$ by p[] ( attorney =    
prep>ation1 pres5tation1 & prosecution (
 claims4 ,sec4 #bjd4 ,dep>tm5t (        
,vet]ans ,affairs outrea* reg>d+ contact
 in=mation = contractors provid+ cov]$  
m$ical disability exam9ations4 ,,title  
,,iii--,o!r matt]s ,sec4 #cja4 ,report  
on support+ gov]nm5tal vet]ans s]vice   
(fic]s4  #b4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3   
7#a7 ,claimant ,! t]m claimant has !    
mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section #eajj ( title
 #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#b7        
,dep>tm5t ,! t]m ,dep>tm5t means !      
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7#c7    
,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y means !      
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  ,i ,bo>d

 ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals matt]s  #aja4     
,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals int]n%ip     
program  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #ga ( title
 #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by  
add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new section3     
#gaad4 ,int]n%ip program ,! ,secret>y   
%all e/abli% a competitive int]n%ip     
program )9 ! ,dep>tm5t = ! purpose (    
provid+ an opportunity = high-a*iev+    
/ud5ts at law s*ools accr$it$ by !      
,am]ican ,b> ,association to ga9        
exp]i5ce ) ! ,bo>d4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical    
am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+ 
( *apt] #ga ( su* title is am5d$ by add+
 at ! end ! foll[+ new item3  #gaad4    
,int]n%ip program4  4  7c7 ,deadl9e ,!  
,secret>y %all e/abli% ! int]n%ip       
program requir$ by section #gaad ( su*  
title1 z add$ by subsection 7a71 n lat] 
?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (   
?is ,act4  #ajb4 ,pilot program on      
e/abli%m5t ( ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals 
honors program  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] 
?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (   
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a    

pilot program to assess ! feasibility & 
advisability ( e/abli%+ a competitive   
honors program )9 ! ,dep>tm5t = !       
purpose ( recruit+ high-a*iev+ law s*ool
 /ud5ts1 rec5t law s*ool graduates1 &   
entry-level attorneys = employm5t ) !   
,bo>d4  7b7 ,duration ,! ,secret>y %all 
c>ry out ! pilot program requir$ by     
subsection 7a7 dur+ ! n9e-ye> p]iod     
beg9n+ on ! date ( ! e/abli%m5t ( !     
pilot program4  7c7 ,honors program     
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,"u ! pilot program       
requir$ by subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y  
%all c>ry out a competitive honors      
program z describ$ 9 su* subsection4    
7#b7 ,priority consid]ation ,! ,secret>y
 %all give priority consid]ation 9      
application = ! honors program to       
individuals :o successfully complete !  
int]n%ip program e/abli%$ "u section    
#gaad ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 
z add$ by section #aja7;a74  7#c7 ,/ud5t
 loan repaym5t b5efits  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,!
 ,secret>y %all provide /ud5t loan      
repaym5t b5efits "u section #ecgi (     

title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to ea*   
p>ticipant 9 ! pilot program :o is      
eligible = /ud5t loan repaym5t b5efits  
"u su* section4  7,b7 ,b> co/s ,9       
addition to /ud5t loan repaym5t b5efits 
"u subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,secret>y %all   
provide ea* p>ticipant 9 ! pilot program
 reimbursem5t = co/ (--  7i7 enrollm5t 9
 a c\rse design$ to prep>e an individual
 = lic5sure to practice law 9 a ,/ate2 &
  7ii7 sitt+ = a b> exam9ation 9 a      
,/ate4  7,c7 ,agreem5ts ,! ,secret>y    
%all ent] into an agreem5t ) ea*        
p>ticipant 9 ! pilot program :o w       
receive b5efits describ$ 9 subp>agraph  
7,a71 9 accordance ) su* section4  7,d7 
,commitm5t ,an agreem5t describ$ 9      
subp>agraph 7,c7 %all include a         
requirem5t t ! p>ticipant w rema9 9 !   
s]vice ( ! ,dep>tm5t = a p]iod ( n less 
?an ?ree ye>s1 unless involunt>ily      
sep>at$1 9 accordance ) subsection 7c7 (
 su* section4  7#d7 ,pr(essional        
developm5t activities  7,a7 ,assignm5t (
 m5tors ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date

 on :i* an individual beg9s p>ticipat+ 9
 ! pilot program requir$ by subsection  
7a71 ! ,secret>y %all assign !          
p>ticipant a m5tor :o is a manag]ial    
employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t outside !        
p>ticipant's *a9 ( comm&4  7,b7         
,assignm5ts to ,(fice ( ,g5]al ,c\nsel  
7i7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all provide  
ea* p>ticipant 9 ! pilot program at lea/
 "o assignm5t )9 ! ,(fice ( ,g5]al      
,c\nsel ( ! ,dep>tm5t t includes full-"t
 legal responsibilities 9 ord] to fur!r 
! pr(essional developm5t ( ! p>ticipant4
  7ii7 ,p]iod ( assignm5t ,an assignm5t 
provid$ "u clause 7i7 %all be = a p]iod 
( n less ?an #abj days & n m ?an #ahj   
days1 or long] at ! discretion ( !      
,secret>y4  7,c7 ,o!r rotational        
assignm5ts  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y   
may provide a p>ticipant 9 ! pilot      
program "o or m o!r %ort-t]m rotational 
assignm5ts4  7ii7 ,p]iod ( assignm5t ,an
 assignm5t provid$ "u clause 7i7 %all be
 = a p]iod ( n less ?an #cj days & n m  
?an #ahj days1 at ! discretion ( !      

,secret>y4  7d7 ,p]iodic reports  7#a7  
,reports requir$ ,n lat] ?an ?ree ye>s  
aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y fir/     
accepts a p>ticipant into ! honors      
program c>ri$ out "u subsection 7c77#a7 
& n less frequ5tly ?an once e ?ree ye>s 
!reaft] = ! duration ( ! pilot program1 
! ,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committee 
on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & !    
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report on !   
f9d+s ( ! ,secret>y ) respect to ! pilot
 program4  7#b7 ,cont5ts ,ea* report    
submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all include !
 foll[+3 7,a7 ,! f9d+s ( ! ,secret>y )  
respect to ! feasibility & advisability 
( e/abli%+ a competitive honors program 
z describ$ 9 subsection 7a74  7,b7 ,su* 
recomm5dations z ! ,secret>y may h =    
legislative or adm9i/rative action to   
improve recruitm5t & ret5tion ( /aff at 
! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals4  7,c7 ,an 
acc\nt+ ( ! co/s incurr$ by ! ,f$]al    
,gov]nm5t 9 c>ry+ out subsection 7c74   
7,d7 ,an assessm5t ( ! rates ( ret5tion 

( p>ticipants 9 ! pilot program comp>$  
to o!r employees ( ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans'  
,appeals4  #ajc4 ,report on improv+     
access to ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals    
telehe>+s  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ahj
 days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is    
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !      
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on improv+ access to he>+s be=e !
 ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals held by     
picture & voice transmission4  7b7      
,cont5ts ,! report requir$ by subsection
 7a7 %all include ! foll[+3 7#a7        
,recomm5dations on ! feasibility &      
advisability ( reimburs+ vet]ans =      
exp5ses incurr$ = travel f ! home ( a   
vet]an to ! location at :i* a he>+ be=e 
! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals is held by 
picture & voice transmission1 if !      
,secret>y det]m9es t travel to su*      
location is reasonably necess>y = su* a 
he>+4  7#b7 ,recomm5dations on          
e/abli%m5t ( pilot programs to assess ! 

feasibility & advisability ( us+ o!r    
me?ods t c\ld improve vet]an access to  
he>+s be=e ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals 
held by picture & voice transmission f a
 vet]an's home4  7#c7 ,su* o!r          
recomm5dations to improve access to     
he>+s be=e ! ,bo>d ( ,vet]ans' ,appeals 
held by picture & voice transmission z !
 ,secret>y may receive f /akehold]s4    
,,ii ,m$ical disability exam matt]s     
#bja4 ,improv+ requirem5t to publi%     
disability b5efit que/ionnaire =ms (    
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,section  
#eaja7;d7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph       
7#a77;,a71 by /rik+ 2 & & ins]t+ 81     
includ+ 7except z provid$ 9 p>agraph    
7#d77;,a77--  7i7 all disability b5efit 
que/ionnaire =ms available to p]sonnel (
 ! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration &      
contract$ p]sonnel = ! completion (     
comp5sation & p5sion exam9ations2 &     
7ii7 all fact%eets available to su*     
p]sonnel to in=m completion ( su*       
exam9ations2 &  2 &  7#b7 by add+ at !  

end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#d7 7,a7 ,!
 ,secret>y may exclude f publication "u 
clauses 7i7 & 7ii7 ( p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 
any =m describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b7 ( ?is
 p>agraph t ! ,secret>y det]m9es c\ld n 
reasonably be complet$ to a cl9ically   
acceptable /&>d by someone n an employee
 or a contractor ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7,b7 ,a
 =m describ$ 9 ?is subp>agraph is a =m  
t-- 7i7 0 9 effect aft] ,janu>y #a1     
#bjbj2  7ii7 is curr5t2 &  7iii7 has n  
be5 publi%$ "u p>agraph 7#a74  7,c7 ,=  
ea* =m exclud$ "u subp>agraph 7,a71 !   
,secret>y %all-- 7i7 li/ ! =m on ! same 
int]net website z ! =ms publi%$ "u      
p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 ) an indication t !  
=m has be5 exclud$2 &  7ii7 provide )   
su* li/+ a ju/ification = su* exclusion4
  4  #bjb4 ,report on improv+ m$ical    
disability exam9ations = vet]ans :o live
 abroad ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date (
 ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all
 submit to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on   
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          

,repres5tatives a report on ! ef=ts ( ! 
,secret>y to provide reimbursem5t = a   
vet]an's travel to a ,dep>tm5t facility 
or a facility ( a ,dep>tm5t-contract$   
provid]1 reg>dless ( :e!r ! facility is 
inside or outside ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 :5   
su* travel is incid5t to a s*$ul$       
comp5sation & p5sion exam9ation4  #bjc4 
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs requirem5t
 = communication by contractors provid+ 
cov]$ m$ical disability exam9ations )   
p]sons recogniz$ by p[] ( attorney =    
prep>ation1 pres5tation1 & prosecution (
 claims  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 ea* contract   
ent]$ into by ! ,secret>y aft] ! date ( 
! enactm5t ( ?is ,act = ! provision by a
 contractor ( a cov]$ m$ical disability 
exam9ation1 ! ,secret>y %all include a  
requirem5t t e communication f a        
contractor to a vet]an reg>d+ ! s*$ul+ (
 a cov]$ m$ical disability exam9ation be
 contemporane\sly transmitt$ to ! p]son 
recogniz$ by a p[] ( attorney execut$ "u
 sections #eijb1 #eijc1 & #eijd ( title 
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 = !           

prep>ation1 pres5tation1 & prosecution (
 claims4  7b7 ,communication ,!         
,secret>y %all provide ea* contractor   
describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 ) contact     
in=mation necess>y to comply ) su*      
subsection4  7c7 ,def9ition ,9 ?is      
section1 ! t]m cov]$ m$ical disability  
exam9ation means a m$ical exam9ation t !
 ,secret>y det]m9es necess>y = !        
purposes ( adjudicat+ a b5efit "u *apt] 
#aa or #ae ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code4  #bjd4 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs outrea* reg>d+ contact         
in=mation = contractors provid+ cov]$   
m$ical disability exam9ations ,n lat]   
?an #abj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t (  
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs %all1 9 p>tn]%ip ) vet]ans     
s]vice organizations & su* o!r          
/akehold]s z ! ,secret>y consid]s       
relevant & appropriate1 implem5t an     
in=mative outrea* program = vet]ans     
reg>d+ ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,contact         
in=mation = contractors provid+ cov]$   
m$ical disability exam9ations1 includ+ !

 telephone numb]s f :i* su* contractors 
may contact vet]ans4  7#b7 ,! requirem5t
 = vet]ans to provide p]sonally         
id5tifiable in=mation :5 contact$ by su*
 contractors 9 ord] to v]ify _! id5tity4
  ,,iii ,o!r matt]s  #cja4 ,report on   
support+ gov]nm5tal vet]ans s]vice      
(fic]s  7a7 ,report ,n lat] ?an "o ye>  
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act &   
aft] consult+ vet]ans s]vice            
organizations & su* o!r /akehold]s z !  
,secret>y consid]s relevant &           
appropriate1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to 
! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !  
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on improv+ ! support by !        
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs (         
gov]nm5tal vet]ans s]vice (fic]s4  7b7  
,elem5ts ,! report submitt$ "u          
subsection 7a7 %all include ! foll[+3   
7#a7 ,enhanc$ access to sy/ems ,an      
assessm5t ( ! feasibility & curr5t      
te*nical limitations ( provid+          
gov]nm5tal vet]ans s]vice (fic]s enhanc$

 access to c]ta9 ,dep>tm5t sy/ems to    
bett] s]ve vet]ans ^? gov]nm5tal s]vice 
(fic]s may n h au?orization to repres5t4
  7#b7 ,int]gov]nm5tal liaisons ,an     
assessm5t z to :e!r ! ,dep>tm5t w\ld    
b5efit f ! e/abli%m5t or designation (  
an (fice or work+ gr\p )9 ! ,dep>tm5t to
 s]ve z an int]gov]nm5tal liaison betwe5
 ! ,dep>tm5t & gov]nm5tal vet]ans s]vice
 (fic]s4  7#c7 ,o!r ,any o!r            
recomm5dations to improve h[ ! ,dep>tm5t
 monitors1 coord9ates )1 or provides    
support to gov]nm5tal vet]ans s]vice    
(fic]s4  7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3
  7#a7 ,gov]nm5tal vet]ans s]vice (fic] 
,! t]m gov]nm5tal vet]ans s]vice (fic]  
means an employee ( a ,/ate1 c\nty1     
municipal1 or ,tribal gov]nm5t-- 7,a7 :o
 is accr$it$ by at lea/ "o vet]ans      
s]vice organization to s]ve z a vet]ans 
s]vice (fic]2 &  7,b7 ^: prim>y         
responsibilities include work+ z su* an 
(fic]4  7#b7 ,vet]ans s]vice            
organization ,! t]m vet]ans s]vice      
organization means an organization      

recogniz$ by ! ,secret>y = !            
repres5tation ( vet]ans "u section #eijb
 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4