In the nature of a substitute.

1. Replaces the bill's text with a full substitute

   Replaces the full textEverything after the enacting clause

   In H.R. 91 · Referred in Senate

   SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

   This Act may be cited as the "[struck: Veteran's I.D.][inserted: Veterans Identification] Card Act[inserted: 2015]".

   SEC. 2. VETERANS IDENTIFICATION CARD.

   (a) Findings.--Congress [struck: finds][inserted: makes] the following[inserted: findings]:

   (1) [struck: Currently][inserted: Effective on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act], veteran identification cards [struck: are][inserted: were] issued to veterans who have either completed the statutory [struck: time-in- service ][inserted: time-in-service ]requirement for retirement from the Armed Forces or who have received a medical-related discharge from the Armed Forces.

   (2) [struck: A ][inserted: Effective on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, a ]veteran who [struck: has ]served a minimum obligated time in service, but who [struck: does][inserted: did] not meet the criteria described in paragraph (1), [struck: does][inserted: did] not receive a means of identifying the veteran's status as a veteran other than using the [struck: official DD- 214 ][inserted: Department of Defense form DD-214 ]discharge papers of the veteran.

   (3) Goods, services, and promotional activities are often offered by public and private institutions to veterans who demonstrate proof of service in the military, but it is impractical for a veteran to always carry [struck: official ][inserted: Department of Defense form ]DD-214 discharge papers to demonstrate such proof.

   (4) A general purpose veteran identification card made available to [struck: a veteran who does not meet the criteria described in paragraph (1) ][inserted: veterans ]would be useful to [struck: such veteran in order to ]demonstrate the status of the [struck: veteran][inserted: veterans] without having to carry and use official [inserted: Department of Defense form ]DD-214 discharge papers.

   (5) [struck: The ][inserted: On the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, the ]Department of Veterans Affairs [struck: has][inserted: had] the infrastructure in place across the United States to produce photographic identification cards and accept a small payment to cover the cost of these cards.

   (b) Provision of Veteran Identification Cards.--Chapter 57 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 5705 the following new section:

   "Sec. 5706. Veterans identification card

   "(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall issue an identification card described in subsection (b) to [struck: any covered ][inserted: each ]veteran who--

   "(1) requests such card;

   Struck: "(2) was discharged from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions;

   "([struck: 3][inserted: 2]) presents a copy of [struck: the DD-214 ][inserted: Department of Defense ]form [inserted: DD-214 ]or other official document from the official military personnel file of the veteran that describes the service of the veteran; and

   "([struck: 4][inserted: 3]) pays the fee under subsection (c)(1).

   "(b) Identification Card.--An identification card described in this subsection is a card [inserted: issued to a veteran ]that--

   "(1) displays a photograph of the [struck: covered ]veteran;

   "(2) displays the name of the [struck: covered ]veteran;

   "(3) explains that such card is not proof of any benefits to which the veteran is entitled to;

   "(4) contains an identification number that is not a social security number; and

   "(5) serves as proof that such veteran--

   "(A) [struck: honorably ]served in the Armed Forces; and

   "(B) has a [struck: DD-214 ][inserted: Department of Defense ]form [inserted: DD-214 ]or other official document in the official military personnel file of the veteran that describes the service of the veteran.

   "(c) Costs of Card.--(1) The Secretary shall charge a fee to each veteran who receives an identification card issued under this section, including a replacement identification card.

   "(2)(A) The fee charged under paragraph (1) shall equal [struck: an][inserted: such] amount [struck: that][inserted: as] the Secretary determines is necessary to issue an identification card under this section.

   "(B) In determining the amount of the fee under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that the total amount of fees collected under paragraph (1) equals an amount necessary to carry out this section, including costs related to any additional equipment or personnel required to carry out this section.

   "(C) The Secretary shall review and reassess the determination under subparagraph (A) during each [struck: 5-year][inserted: five-year] period in which the Secretary issues an identification card under this section.

   "(3) Amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited in an account of the Department available to carry out this section. Amounts so deposited shall be--

   "(A) merged with amounts in such account;

   1 unchanged paragraphHide unchanged text

   "(B) available in such amounts as may be provided in appropriation Acts; and

   "(C) subject to the same conditions and limitations as amounts otherwise in such account.

   "(d) Effect of Card on Benefits.--(1) An identification card issued under this section shall not serve as proof of any benefits that the veteran may be entitled to under this title.

   "(2) A [struck: covered ]veteran who is issued an identification card under this section shall not be entitled to any benefits under this title by reason of possessing such card.

   "(e) Administrative Measures.--(1) The Secretary shall ensure that any information collected or used with respect to an identification card issued under this section is appropriately secured.

   "(2) The Secretary may determine any appropriate procedures with respect to issuing a replacement identification card.

   "(3) In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall coordinate with the National Personnel Records Center.

   "(4) The Secretary may conduct such outreach to advertise the identification card under this section as the Secretary considers appropriate.

   "(f) Construction.--This section shall not be construed to affect identification cards otherwise provided by the Secretary to veterans enrolled in the health care system established under section 1705(a) of this title.[inserted: ".]

   Struck: "(g) Covered Veteran Defined.--In this section, the term 'covered veteran' means a veteran who--

   Struck: "(1) is not entitled to retired pay under chapter 1223 of title 10; and

   Struck: "(2) is not enrolled in the system of patient enrollment under section 1705 of this title.".

   (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5705 the following new item:

   "5706. Veterans identification card.".

   (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

   Struck: Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2015.

   Original wording

   Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:

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As printed