Union Calendar No. 124
116th CONGRESS 1st Session |
[Report No. 116–164]
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to the specially adapted housing program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
June 26, 2019
Mr. Bilirakis (for himself, Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee, and Mr. Levin of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
July 22, 2019
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 26, 2019]
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to the specially adapted housing program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Ryan Kules Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019”.
SEC. 2. Priority in award of specially adapted housing grants to seriously ill veterans.
(a) In general.—Section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(b) Definition of seriously ill veteran.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—By not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—
(2) APPLICABILITY.—The definition of “seriously ill veteran” as determined under paragraph (1) shall apply for purposes of such subsection (d) beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives the definition of such term as so determined.
SEC. 3. Increase in amounts of assistance provided.
(a) Increase of number of grants per veteran.—Section 2102(d)(3) of such title is amended by striking “three” and inserting “six”.
(b) Increase in number of applications authorized to be approved.—Section 2101(a)(4) of such title is amended by striking “30 applications” and inserting “120 applications”.
(c) Increase in maximum amount of assistance for adaptation to veteran’s residence.—Section 2102(b)(2) of such title is amended by striking “$12,000” and inserting “$19,733”.
(d) Increase in aggregate amount of assistance for acquisition of housing with special features.—Section 2102(d)(1) of such title is amended by striking “$63,780” and inserting “$98,492”.
(e) Increase in aggregate amount of assistance for adaptations to veterans’ residences.—Section 2102(d)(2) of such title is amended by striking “$12,756” and inserting “$19,733”.
(f) Effective date and application.—The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2020. The amendments made by subsections (c) and (d) shall apply with respect to individuals who have not received the maximum amount of assistance under section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, before such date.
SEC. 4. Provision of additional amounts of specially adapted housing assistance for certain veterans.
Section 2102 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(f) (1) Notwithstanding the aggregate amounts specified in subsection (d), a covered veteran may apply for and receive an additional amount of assistance under subsection (a) or (b) of section 2101 of this title in an amount that does not exceed half of the amount specified in subsection (d).
SEC. 5. Improvement to work-study allowance program.
(a) Payment of allowance.—Subsection (a) of section 3485 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “Individuals” and inserting “In accordance with paragraph (4), individuals”;
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:
“(4) (A) The Secretary shall carry out this section by providing to educational institutions an annual amount for the institution to use in paying work-study allowance under paragraph (1) to individuals enrolled at the institution.
“(B) With respect to an educational institution that participated in the work-study program under this section during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the Secretary shall determine the annual amount to provide to the educational institution under subparagraph (A) as follows:
“(i) For the academic year beginning August 1, 2020, the amount shall be the total amount the Secretary paid under this section to individuals enrolled at such educational institution during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018.
“(ii) Except as provided by subparagraph (D)(ii), for each academic year beginning on or after August 1, 2021, the amount shall be the total amount the educational institution paid under this section for work-study allowance to individuals enrolled at such educational institution during the previous academic year in which individuals participated in the work-study program.
“(C) With respect to an educational institution that did not participate in the work-study program under this section during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the Secretary shall determine the annual amount to provide to the educational institution under subparagraph (A) as follows:
“(i) For the first academic year in which the educational institution participates in the work-study program beginning on or after August 1, 2020, the amount shall be an amount the Secretary determines appropriate based on amounts provided to similar educational institutions pursuant to subparagraph (B).
“(ii) Except as provided by subparagraph (D)(ii), for each academic year occurring after the academic year specified in clause (i), the amount shall be the total amount the educational institution paid under this section for work-study allowance to individuals enrolled at such educational institution during the previous academic year in which individuals enrolled at such educational institution participated in the work-study program.
“(D) (i) Except as provided in clause (ii), if the Secretary provides an annual amount to an educational institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) that is more than the total amount the educational institution pays to individuals under paragraph (1), the educational institution shall return to the Secretary the unpaid amount and the Secretary shall transfer such amount into the general fund of the Treasury.
“(ii) If the annual amount provided to an educational institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) is more, but less than 25 percent more, than the total amount the educational institution pays to individuals under paragraph (1), and the educational institution plans to participate in the work-study program under this section during the subsequent academic year, the educational institution may retain the amount of the overpayment if the educational institution notifies the Secretary of the amount of the overpayment and the intention of the educational institution to retain such amount. Any amount retained by an educational institution under this clause may only be used by the educational institution to provide work-study allowance to individuals enrolled at the educational institution.
SEC. 6. Expansion of eligibility for Fry Scholarship to children and spouses of certain deceased members of the Armed Forces.
(a) In general.—Subsection (b) of section 3311 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new paragraphs (10) and (11):
“(10) An individual who is the child or spouse of a person who, on or after September 11, 2001, dies in line of duty while serving on duty other than active duty as a member of the Armed Forces.
(b) Applicability date.—The amendments made by subsection (a) apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2020.
(c) Conforming amendments.—
(1) Subsection (f) of such section is amended by striking “paragraph (9)” each place it appears and inserting “paragraphs (9), (10), and (11)”.
(2) Section 3322 of such title is amended—
(A) in subsection (e), by striking both “sections 3311(b)(9) and 3319” and inserting “section 3319 and paragraph (9), (10), or (11) of section 3311 of this title”;
SEC. 7. Treatment of certain preparatory courses as programs of education for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs.
(a) In general.—Chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3315A the following new section:
Ҥ 3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or national tests
“(a) In general.—An individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter shall also be entitled to payment for a preparatory course for a licensing or certification test that is required or used to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession.
“(b) Amount.—The amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a course described in subsection (a) is the lesser of—
(b) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3315A the following new item:
“3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or national tests.”.
(c) Conforming amendments.—Section 3532(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
SEC. 8. Adjustment of loan fees.
Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking the loan fee table and inserting the following:
| “Type of loan | Active duty veteran | Reservist | Other obligor |
| (A)(i) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2020) | 2.15 | 2.40 | NA |
| (A)(ii) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before October 1, 2027) | 2.30 | 2.30 | NA |
| (A)(iii) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2027, and before October 1, 2029) | 2.15 | 2.15 | NA |
| (A)(iv) Initial loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2029) | 1.40 | 1.40 | NA |
| (B)(i) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2020) | 3.30 | 3.30 | NA |
| (B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before October 1, 2027) | 3.60 | 3.60 | NA |
| (B)(iii) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 2027, and before October 1, 2029) | 3.30 | 3.30 | NA |
| (B)(iv) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 2029) | 1.25 | 1.25 | NA |
| (C)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down (closed before January 1, 2020) | 1.50 | 1.75 | NA |
| (C)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before October 1, 2027) | 1.65 | 1.65 | NA |
| (C)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down (closed on or after October 1, 2027, and before October 1, 2029) | 1.50 | 1.50 | NA |
| (C)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down (closed on or after October 1, 2029) | 0.75 | 0.75 | NA |
| (D)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down (closed before January 1, 2020) | 1.25 | 1.50 | NA |
| (D)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before October 1, 2027) | 1.40 | 1.40 | NA |
| (D)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2027, and before October 1, 2029) | 1.25 | 1.25 | NA |
| (D)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2029) | 0.50 | 0.50 | NA |
| (E) Interest rate reduction refinancing loan | 0.50 | 0.50 | NA |
| (F) Direct loan under section 3711 | 1.00 | 1.00 | NA |
| (G) Manufactured home loan under section 3712 (other than an interest rate reduction refinancing loan) | 1.00 | 1.00 | NA |
| (H) Loan to Native American veteran under section 3762 (other than an interest rate reduction refinancing loan) | 1.25 | 1.25 | NA |
| (I) Loan assumption under section 3714 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| (J) Loan under section 3733(a) | 2.25 | 2.25 | 2.25”. |
SEC. 9. Authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist blind veterans who have not lost use of a leg in acquiring specially adapted housing.
Section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B)(ii)—
(A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking “due to—” and inserting “due to blindness in both eyes, having central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a standard correcting lens. For the purposes of this clause, an eye with a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees shall be considered as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less.”; and
Amend the title so as to read: “A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to the specially adapted housing program and educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.”.
Union Calendar No. 124 | |||||
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[Report No. 116–164] | |||||
A BILL | |||||
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to the specially adapted housing
program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. | |||||
July 22, 2019 | |||||
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,
and ordered to be printed |