Public Law 113–175: To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

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PUBLIC LAW 113–175—SEPT. 26, 2014
128 STAT. 1901
Public Law
113–175
113th Congress
An Act
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sept. 26, 2014

[H.R. 5404]

  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa­tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014.
SECTION 1.

38 USC 101 note.

SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a)

Short Title.—

This Act may be cited as the “
Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014
”.
(b)

Table of Contents.—

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. 
Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. 
References to title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 3. 
Scoring of budgetary effects.
TITLE I—
EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH CARE
Sec. 101. 
Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Sec. 102. 
Extension of authority for pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces.
Sec. 103. 
Extension of authority for pilot program on assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care.
Sec. 104. 
Extension of authority to make grants to veterans service organizations for transportation of highly rural veterans.
Sec. 105. 
Extension of requirement for report on activities of Department of Defense-Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program Office.
Sec. 106. 
Extension of authority for the performance of medical disabilities examinations by contract physicians.
Sec. 107. 
Extension of authority for collection of copayments for hospital care and nursing home care.
Sec. 108. 
Extension of authority for recovery from third parties of cost of care and services furnished to veterans with health-plan contracts for non-service-connected disability.
TITLE II—
EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS
Sec. 201. 
Extension of current funding level for comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.
Sec. 202. 
Extension of authority for homeless veterans reintegration programs.
Sec. 203. 
Extension of authority to provide referral and counseling services for certain veterans at risk of homelessness.
Sec. 204. 
Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation services for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans.
Sec. 205. 
Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for homeless veterans.
Sec. 206. 
Extension of authority to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.
Sec. 207. 
Extension of authority for grant program for homeless veterans with special needs.
Sec. 208. 
Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
TITLE III—
EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS
Sec. 301. 
Extension of authority for the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education.128 STAT. 1902
Sec. 302. 
Extension of authority for calculating net value of real property at time of foreclosure.
Sec. 303. 
Extension of authority relating to vendee loans.
TITLE IV—
OTHER EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER MATTERS
Sec. 401. 
Extension of authority to transport certain individuals to and from Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
Sec. 402. 
Extension of authority for operation of the Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines.
Sec. 403. 
Extension of requirement to provide reports to Congress regarding equitable relief in the case of administrative error.
Sec. 404. 
Extension of authority for Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.
Sec. 405. 
Extension of authority for temporary expansion of eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans with disabilities causing difficulty ambulating.
Sec. 406. 
Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers.
Sec. 407. 
Extension of authority for agreement with National Academy of Sciences.
Sec. 408. 
Health professionals education debt reduction.
Sec. 409. 
Amendments to Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014.
SEC. 2.

REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

  Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3.

SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

  The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled “Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation” for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
TITLE I—

EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HEALTH CARE

SEC. 101.

EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME CARE TO CERTAIN VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.

  Section 1710A(d)

38 USC 1710A.
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“December 31, 2015”.
SEC. 102.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON COUNSELING IN RETREAT SETTINGS FOR WOMEN VETERANS NEWLY SEPARATED FROM SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES.

(a)

Extension of Authority.—

Subsection (d) of section 203 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1143; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note)
is amended
to read as follows:
“(d)

Termination.—

The authority to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2015.”
.
(b)

Authorization of Appropriations.—

Subsection (f) of such section
is amended
by
striking
“fiscal years 2010 and 2011” and
inserting
“fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2015”.128 STAT. 1903
SEC. 103.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PILOT PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS RECEIVING HEALTH CARE.

(a)

Extension of Authority.—

Subsection (e) of section 205 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1144; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note)
is amended
to read as follows:
“(e)

Termination.—

The authority to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2015.”
.
(b)

Authorization of Appropriations.—

Subsection (h) of such section
is amended
by
striking
“2014” and
inserting
“2015”.
SEC. 104.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS TO VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF HIGHLY RURAL VETERANS.

  Section 307(d) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1154; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note)
is amended
by
striking
“2014” and
inserting
“2015”.
SEC. 105.

EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTERAGENCY PROGRAM OFFICE.

  Section 1635(h)(1) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 460; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note)
is amended
by
striking
“2014” and
inserting
“2015”.
SEC. 106.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL DISABILITIES EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.

  Section 704(c) of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–183; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note)
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“December 31, 2015”.
SEC. 107.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR HOSPITAL CARE AND NURSING HOME CARE.

  Section 1710(f)(2)(B)

38 USC 1710.
is amended
by
striking
“September 30, 2014” and
inserting
“September 30, 2015”.
SEC. 108.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY FROM THIRD PARTIES OF COST OF CARE AND SERVICES FURNISHED TO VETERANS WITH HEALTH-PLAN CONTRACTS FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY.

  Section 1729(a)(2)(E)
is amended
by
striking
“October 1, 2014” and
inserting
“October 1, 2015”.
TITLE II—

EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS

SEC. 201.

EXTENSION OF CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL FOR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

  Section 2013(7)
is amended
by
striking
“$150,000,000” and
inserting
“$250,000,000”.128 STAT. 1904
SEC. 202.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS.

  Section 2021(e)(1)(F)

38 USC 2021.
is amended
by
striking
“2014” and
inserting
“2015”.
SEC. 203.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE REFERRAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.

(a)

Extension of Authority.—

Subsection (d) of section 2023
is amended
by
striking
“September 30, 2014” and
inserting
“September 30, 2015”.
(b)

Technical Amendment.—

Subsection (c)(3) of such section
is amended
by
striking
“enter into contracts” and
inserting
“make grants”.
SEC. 204.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS.

(a)

General Treatment.—

Section 2031(b)
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“September 30, 2015”.
(b)

Additional Services at Certain Locations.—

Section 2033(d)
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“September 30, 2015”.
SEC. 205.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

  Section 2041(c)
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“September 30, 2015”.
SEC. 206.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING.

  Section 2044(e)(1)(E)
is amended
by
striking
“fiscal years 2013 and 2014” and
inserting
“fiscal years 2013 through 2015”.
SEC. 207.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

  Section 2061(d)(1)
is amended
by
striking
“2014” and
inserting
“2015”.
SEC. 208.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS.

  Section 2066(d)
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“December 31, 2015”.
TITLE III—

EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO BENEFITS

SEC. 301.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE VETERANS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.

  Section 3692(c)
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“December 31, 2015”.
SEC. 302.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR CALCULATING NET VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AT TIME OF FORECLOSURE.

  Section 3732(c)(11)
is amended
by
striking
“October 1, 2014” and
inserting
“October 1, 2015”.128 STAT. 1905
SEC. 303.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS.

  Section 3733(a)(7)

38 USC 3733.
is amended
—
(1)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking
“September 30, 2014” and
inserting
“September 30, 2015”; and
(2)
in subparagraph (C), by
striking
“September 30, 2014,” and
inserting
“September 30, 2015,”.
TITLE IV—

OTHER EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY AND OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 401.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSPORT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES.

  Section 111A(a)(2)
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“December 31, 2015”.
SEC. 402.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE IN MANILA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.

  Section 315(b)
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“September 30, 2015”.
SEC. 403.

EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE REPORTS TO CONGRESS REGARDING EQUITABLE RELIEF IN THE CASE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR.

  Section 503(c)
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“December 31, 2015”.
SEC. 404.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY VETERANS.

  Section 544(e)
is amended
by
striking
“December 31, 2014” and
inserting
“December 31, 2015”.
SEC. 405.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES CAUSING DIFFICULTY AMBULATING.

  Section 2101(a)(4)
is amended
—
(1)
in subparagraph (A), by
striking
“September 30, 2014” and
inserting
“September 30, 2015”; and
(2)
in subparagraph (B), by
striking
“fiscal year 2014” and
inserting
“each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015”.
SEC. 406.

38 USC 3684 note.

RESTORATION OF PRIOR REPORTING FEE MULTIPLIERS.

  During

Time period.

Applicability.

 the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the second sentence of section 3684(c) shall be applied—
(1)
by substituting “$9” for “$12”; and
(2)
by substituting “$13” for “$15”.
SEC. 407.

EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

  Section 3(i) of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–4; 105 Stat. 13; 38 U.S.C. 1116 note)
is amended
by
striking
“October 1, 2014” and
inserting
“December 31, 2015”.128 STAT. 1906
SEC. 408.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION DEBT REDUCTION.

  Section 7683

38 USC 7683.
is amended
—
(1)
by
striking
subsection (a) and
inserting
the following new subsection:
“(a)

In General.—

Education debt reduction payments under the Education Debt Reduction Program shall consist of—
“(1)
payments to individuals selected to participate in the program of principal and interest on loans described in section 7682(a)(2) of this title; or
“(2)
payments for the principal and interest on such loans of such individuals to the holders of such loans.”
;
(2)
in subsections (b) and (c), by
striking
“payments to” both places it appears and
inserting
“payments to or for”; and
(3)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by
striking
“made to” and
inserting
“made to or for”; and
(B)
in paragraph (2)(A), by
striking
“payable to that” and
inserting
“payable to or for that”.
SEC. 409.

AMENDMENTS TO VETERANS ACCESS, CHOICE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2014.

(a)

Expanded Availability of Hospital Care and Medical Services.—

Section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note)
is amended
—
(1)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)(A), by
inserting
“provide the veteran an appointment that exceeds the wait-time goals described in such subsection or” before “place such”; and
(B)
in paragraph (2), by
inserting
“(or other digital channel)” after “website”;
(2)
in subsection (d)(1)(A), by
adding
at the end the following new sentences:

Contracts.

 “An agreement entered into pursuant to this subparagraph may not be treated as a Federal contract for the acquisition of goods or services and is not subject to any provision of law governing Federal contracts for the acquisition of goods or services. Before entering into an agreement pursuant to this subparagraph, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with the requirements of this section, furnish such care and services to such veterans under this section with such entities pursuant to sharing agreements, existing contracts entered into by the Secretary, or other processes available at medical facilities of the Department.”;
(3)
in subsection (l)(1), by
inserting
“a copy of” before “any medical record”; and
(4)
by
adding
at the end the following new subsection:
“(t)

Waiver of Certain Printing Requirements.—

Section 501 of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply in carrying out this section.”
.
(b)

Collaboration Between VA and Indian Health Service.—

Section 102 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note)
is amended
—128 STAT. 1907
(1)
in subsection (b), by
striking
“The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish” and
inserting
the following: “The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Indian Health Service shall jointly establish and implement”;
(2)
in subsection (c), by
adding
at the end the following new paragraph:
“(3)

Contracts.

Entering into an agreement between the Department and the Indian Health Service described in paragraph (2)(A) with respect to the effect of such agreement on the priority access of any Indian to health care services provided through the Indian Health Service, the eligibility of any Indian to receive health services through the Indian Health Service, and the quality of health care services provided to any Indian through the Indian Health Service.”
; and
(3)
by
striking
subsection (d).
(c)

Prompt Payment.—

Section 105 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note)
is amended
—
(1)
in subsection (a), by
striking
“section 1315” and
inserting
“part 1315”;
(2)
in subsection (b)(2), by
striking
“chapter 39” and
inserting
“chapter 39 of title 31”; and
(3)
in subsection (d), by
striking
“required by subsection (b)” and
inserting
“required by subsection (c)”.
(d)

Improvement of Access to Mobile Vet Centers.—

Section 204 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note)
is amended
—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by
inserting
“and readjustment counseling services” after “other health care”; and
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (B), by
inserting
“and events” after “locations”; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (C), by
inserting
“and outreach contacts” after “appointments”; and
(2)
in subsection (b)(2)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by
inserting
“and readjustment counseling” after “telemedicine services”; and
(ii)
in clause (iii), by
inserting
“and outreach contacts” after “appointments”;
(B)
in subparagraph (B), by
inserting
“and readjustment counseling” after “health care services”; and
(C)
in subparagraph (E), by
striking
“mobile vet centers and”.
(e)

Improved Transparency.—

Section 206(b) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note)
is amended
—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by
striking
“comprehensive database” and
inserting
“comprehensive, machine-readable data set”;
(2)
in paragraph (3), by
striking
“notice in the database of the reason” and
inserting
“notice of the reason”; and
(3)
in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), by
striking
“database” each place it appears and
inserting
“data”.
(f)

Information on Credentials.—

Section 207 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–128 STAT. 1908 146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note)
is amended
by
striking
“successor database” each place it appears and
inserting
“successor data set”.
(g)

Report on Staffing Shortages.—

Section 301(b)(3) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146)

128 Stat. 1785.
is amended
—
(1)

Time period.

in subparagraph (A), by
striking
“Not later” and all that follows through “2019” and
inserting
the following: “On October 1 of each year beginning in 2015 and ending in 2019”; and
(2)
in subparagraph (B)—
(A)
in clause (iii), by
striking
“at each” and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting
the following: “or guidelines of the Department with respect to determining the ratio of residents to staff supervising residents.”; and
(B)
by
striking
clause (v) and
inserting
the following new clause:
“(v)
Efforts of the Department, as of the date of the submittal of the report, to recruit and retain medical residents to work for the Veterans Health Administration as full-time employees.”
.
(h)

Project ARCH.—

Section 403(j) of the Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–387; 38 U.S.C. 1703 note)
is amended
—
(1)
by
striking
“In carrying out” and
inserting
“Notwithstanding any provision of law relating to the use of competitive procedures in entering into contracts, in carrying out”; and
(2)
by
inserting
“under this section” after “make use of contracts entered into”.
(i)

Clarification of Approval of Courses of Education Provided by Public Institutions of Higher Learning and In-State Tuition Rate for Veterans.—

Paragraph (1) of section 3679(c)
is amended
to read as follows:
“(1)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and subject to paragraphs (3) through (6), the Secretary shall disapprove a course of education provided by a public institution of higher learning if the institution charges tuition and fees for that course for covered individuals who are pursuing the course with educational assistance under chapter 30 or 33 of this title while living in the State in which the institution is located at a rate that is higher than the rate the institution charges for tuition and 128 STAT. 1909 fees for that course for residents of the State in which the institution is located, regardless of the covered individual’s State of residence.”
.
Approved September 26, 2014.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5404:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014):

Sept. 16, considered and passed House.

Sept. 18, considered and passed Senate.

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