In the Senate of the United States,
October 7, 2009.
Amendment:
That the bill from the House of Representatives
(H.R. 1037) entitled An Act to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability
of expanding the scope of certain qualifying work-study activities under title
38, United States Code.
, do pass with the following
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
Short title; table of contents
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of
2009
.
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Reference to title 38, United States Code.
TITLE I—Insurance matters
Sec. 101. Increase in amount of supplemental insurance for totally disabled veterans.
Sec. 102. Adjustment of coverage of dependents under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.
Sec. 103. Expansion of individuals qualifying for retroactive benefits from traumatic injury protection coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.
Sec. 104. Consideration of loss of dominant hand in prescription of schedule of severity of traumatic injury under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.
Sec. 105. Enhancement of veterans' mortgage life insurance.
TITLE II—Compensation and pension matters
Sec. 201. Cost-of-living increase for temporary dependency and indemnity compensation payable for surviving spouses with dependent children under the age of 18.
Sec. 202. Eligibility of veterans 65 years of age or older for service pension for a period of war.
Sec. 203. Clarification of additional requirements for consideration to be afforded time, place, and circumstances of service in determinations regarding service-connected disabilities.
Sec. 204. Extension of reduced pension for certain veterans covered by Medicaid plans for services furnished by nursing facilities.
Sec. 205. Enhancement of disability compensation for certain disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses and disabled veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 206. Commencement of period of payment of original awards of compensation for veterans retired or separated from the uniformed services for catastrophic disability.
Sec. 207. Applicability of limitation to pension payable to certain children of veterans of a period of war.
Sec. 208. Payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before September 30, 1999.
TITLE III—Readjustment and related benefit matters
Sec. 301. Repeal of limitation on number of veterans enrolled in programs of independent living services and assistance.
Sec. 302. Eligibility of disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces with severe burn injuries for automobiles and adaptive equipment.
Sec. 303. Enhancement of automobile assistance allowance for veterans.
Sec. 304. Payment of unpaid balances of Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteed loans.
TITLE IV—Employment and reemployment rights of members of the Uniformed Services
Sec. 401. Waiver of sovereign immunity under the 11th Amendment with respect to enforcement of USERRA.
Sec. 402. Clarifying the definition of
successor in interest.
Sec. 403. Clarifying that USERRA prohibits wage discrimination against members of the Armed Forces.
Sec. 404. Requirement that Federal agencies provide notice to contractors of potential USERRA obligations.
Sec. 405. Comptroller General of the United States study on effectiveness of Federal programs of education and outreach on employer obligations under USERRA.
Sec. 406. Technical amendments.
TITLE V—Burial and memorial matters
Sec. 501. Increase in certain burial and funeral benefits and plot allowances for veterans.
TITLE VI—Other matters
Sec. 601. National Academies review of best treatments for Gulf War Illness.
Sec. 602. Extension of National Academy of Sciences reviews and evaluations regarding illness and service in Persian Gulf War.
Sec. 603. Extension of authority for regional office in Republic of the Philippines.
Sec. 604. Aggregate amount of educational assistance available to individuals who receive both survivors' and dependents educational assistance and other veterans and related educational assistance.
Sec. 605. Technical correction.
Reference 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.
Insurance matters
Increase in amount of supplemental insurance for totally disabled veterans
Section 1922A(a) is amended by striking
$20,000
and inserting $30,000
.
Adjustment of coverage of dependents under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
Clause (ii) of section 1968(a)(5)(B) is amended to read as follows:
in the case of a member of the Ready Reserve of a uniformed service who meets the qualifications set forth in subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(5) of this title, 120 days after separation or release from such assignment; or
in the case of any other member of the uniformed services, 120 days after the date of the member's separation or release from the uniformed services; or
.
Expansion of individuals qualifying for retroactive benefits from traumatic injury protection coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
In general
Paragraph (1) of section 501(b) of the
Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006 (Public Law
109–233; 120 Stat. 414; 38 U.S.C. 1980A note) is amended by striking ,
if, as determined by the Secretary concerned, that loss was a direct result of
a traumatic injury incurred in the theater of operations for Operation Enduring
Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom
.
Conforming amendment
The heading of such section is amended by
striking in Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2010.
Consideration of loss of dominant hand in prescription of schedule of severity of traumatic injury under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
In general
Section 1980A(d) is amended—
by striking Payments under
and inserting (1) Payments under
; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
As the Secretary considers appropriate, the schedule required by paragraph (1) may distinguish in specifying payments for qualifying losses between the severity of a qualifying loss of a dominant hand and a qualifying loss of a nondominant hand.
.
Payments for qualifying losses incurred before date of enactment
In general
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe in regulations mechanisms for payments under section 1980A of title 38, United States Code, for qualifying losses incurred before the date of the enactment of this Act by reason of the requirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of such section (as added by subsection (a)(2) of this section).
Qualifying loss defined
In this subsection, the term qualifying loss means—
a loss specified in the second sentence of subsection (b)(1) of section 1980A of title 38, United States Code; and
any other loss specified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to the first sentence of that subsection.
Enhancement of veterans' mortgage life insurance
In general
Section 2106(b) is amended by striking
$90,000
and inserting $150,000, or $200,000 after January
1, 2012,
.
Effective date
The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2010.
Compensation and pension matters
Cost-of-living increase for temporary dependency and indemnity compensation payable for surviving spouses with dependent children under the age of 18
Section 1311(f) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by inserting (as
increased from time to time under paragraph (4))
after
$250
;
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph (4):
Whenever there is an increase in benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) as a result of a determination made under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)), the Secretary shall, effective on the date of such increase in benefit amounts, increase the amount payable under paragraph (1), as such amount was in effect immediately prior to the date of such increase in benefit amounts, by the same percentage as the percentage by which such benefit amounts are increased. Any increase in a dollar amount under this paragraph shall be rounded down to the next lower whole dollar amount.
.
Eligibility of veterans 65 years of age or older for service pension for a period of war
In general
Section 1513 is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking by
section 1521
and all that follows and inserting by subsection
(b), (c), (f)(1), (f)(5), or (g) of that section, as the case may be and as
increased from time to time under section 5312 of this title.
;
by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection (b):
The conditions in subsections (h) and (i) of section 1521 of this title shall apply to determinations of income and maximum payments of pension for purposes of this section.
.
Applicability
The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to any claim for pension filed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Clarification of additional requirements for consideration to be afforded time, place, and circumstances of service in determinations regarding service-connected disabilities
In general
Subsection (a) of section 1154 is amended to read as follows:
The Secretary shall include in the regulations pertaining to service-connection of disabilities the following:
Provisions requiring that, in each case where a veteran is seeking service-connection for any disability, due consideration shall be given to the places, types, and circumstances of such veteran's service as shown by—
such veteran's service record;
the official history of each organization in which such veteran served;
such veteran's medical records; and
all pertinent medical and lay evidence.
Provisions generally recognizing circumstances in which lay evidence consistent with the place, conditions, dangers, or hardships associated with particular military service does not require confirmatory official documentary evidence in order to establish the occurrence of an event or exposure during active military, naval, or air service.
The provisions required by section 5 of the Veterans' Dioxin and Radiation Exposure Compensation Standards Act (Public Law 98–542; 98 Stat. 2727).
.
Regulations
In general
Not later than 210 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promulgate regulations to implement section 1154(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
Interim regulations
In the case that the Secretary is unable to promulgate final regulations under paragraph (1) on or before the date that is 210 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate interim regulations on or before such date to be in effect until such time as the Secretary promulgates final regulations.
Extension of reduced pension for certain veterans covered by Medicaid plans for services furnished by nursing facilities
Section 5503(d)(7)
is amended by striking September 30, 2011
and inserting
April 30, 2016
.
Enhancement of disability compensation for certain disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses and disabled veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury
Veterans Suffering Anatomical Loss of Hands, Arms, or Legs
Section 1114 is amended—
in subsection (m)—
by striking at a level, or with
complications,
and inserting with factors
; and
by striking at levels, or with
complications,
and inserting with factors
;
in subsection (n)—
by striking at levels, or with
complications,
and inserting with factors
;
by striking so near the hip as
to
and inserting with factors that
; and
by striking so near the shoulder and
hip as to
and inserting with factors that
; and
in subsection (o), by striking so
near the shoulder as to
and inserting with factors
that
.
Veterans with service-Connected disabilities in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury
In general
Such section is further amended—
in subsection (p), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; and
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Subject to section 5503(c) of this title, if any veteran, as the result of service-connected disability, is in need of regular aid and attendance for the residuals of traumatic brain injury, is not eligible for compensation under subsection (r)(2), and in the absence of such regular aid and attendance would require hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care, the veteran shall be paid, in addition to any other compensation under this section, a monthly aid and attendance allowance equal to the rate described in subsection (r)(2), which for purposes of section 1134 of this title shall be considered as additional compensation payable for disability. An allowance authorized under this subsection shall be paid in lieu of any allowance authorized by subsection (r)(1).
.
Conforming amendment
Section 5503(c) is amended by striking
in section 1114(r)
and inserting in subsection (r) or (t)
of section 1114
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on August 31, 2010.
Commencement of period of payment of original awards of compensation for veterans retired or separated from the uniformed services for catastrophic disability
Commencement of period of payment
Subsection (a) of section 5111 is amended—
by inserting (1)
after
(a)
;
in paragraph (1), as designated by
paragraph (1) of this subsection, by striking in subsection (c) of this
section
and inserting in paragraph (2) of this subsection and
subsection (c)
; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
In the case of a veteran who is retired or separated from the active military, naval, or air service for a catastrophic disability or disabilities, payment of monetary benefits based on an award of compensation based on an original claim shall be made as of the date on which such award becomes effective as provided under section 5110 of this title or another applicable provision of law.
In this paragraph, the term catastrophic disability, with respect to a veteran, means a permanent, severely disabling injury, disorder, or disease that compromises the ability of the veteran to carry out the activities of daily living to such a degree that the veteran requires personal or mechanical assistance to leave home or bed, or requires constant supervision to avoid physical harm to self or others.
.
Effective date
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to awards of compensation based on original claims that become effective on or after that date.
Technical correction regarding waiver of retired pay
Section 5305 is
amended by striking section 1414
and inserting sections
1212(d)(2) and 1414
.
Applicability of limitation to pension payable to certain children of veterans of a period of war
Section 5503(d)(5) is amended—
by inserting (A)
after
(5)
; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
The provisions of this subsection shall apply with respect to a child entitled to pension under section 1542 of this title in the same manner as they apply to a veteran having neither spouse nor child.
.
Payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before September 30, 1999
Section
1318(b)(3) is amended by striking who died after September 30,
1999,
.
Readjustment and related benefit matters
Repeal of limitation on number of veterans enrolled in programs of independent living services and assistance
In general
Section 3120 is amended—
by striking subsection (e); and
by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (e).
Conforming amendment
Subsection (a) of such section is amended
by striking described in subsection (f)
and inserting
described in subsection (e)
.
Eligibility of disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces with severe burn injuries for automobiles and adaptive equipment
Eligibility
Paragraph (1) of section 3901 is amended—
in subparagraph (A)—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking in subclause (i), (ii), or (iii) below
and inserting
in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this subparagraph
;
and
by adding at the end the following new clause:
A severe burn injury (as determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary).
; and
in subparagraph (B), by striking
subclause (i), (ii), or (iii) of clause (A) of this paragraph
and inserting clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of subparagraph
(A)
.
Stylistic amendments
Such section is further amended—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking chapter—
and inserting chapter:
;
in paragraph (1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A),
by striking means—
and inserting means the
following:
;
in subparagraph (A)—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking any veteran
and inserting Any
veteran
;
in clauses (i) and (ii), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; and
in clause (iii), by striking ;
or
and inserting a period; and
in subparagraph (B), by striking any
member
and inserting Any member
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2010.
Enhancement of automobile assistance allowance for veterans
Increase in amount of allowance
Subsection (a) of
section 3902 is amended by striking $11,000
and inserting
$22,500 (as adjusted from time to time under subsection
(e))
.
Annual adjustment
Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Effective on October 1 of each year (beginning in 2011), the Secretary shall increase the dollar amount in effect under subsection (a) to an amount equal to 80 percent of the average retail cost of new automobiles for the preceding calendar year.
The Secretary shall establish the method for determining the average retail cost of new automobiles for purposes of this subsection. The Secretary may use data developed in the private sector if the Secretary determines the data is appropriate for purposes of this subsection.
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2010.
Payment of unpaid balances of Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteed loans
Section 3732(a)(2) is amended—
by striking Before suit
and
inserting (A) Before suit
; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
In the event that a housing loan guaranteed under this chapter is modified under the authority provided under section 1322(b) of title 11, the Secretary may pay the holder of the obligation the unpaid balance of the obligation due as of the date of the filing of the petition under title 11 plus accrued interest, but only upon the assignment, transfer, and delivery to the Secretary (in a form and manner satisfactory to the Secretary) of all rights, interest, claims, evidence, and records with respect to the housing loan.
.
Employment and reemployment rights of members of the Uniformed Services
Waiver of sovereign immunity under the 11th Amendment with respect to enforcement of USERRA
In general
Section 4323 is amended—
in subsection (b) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new paragraph:
In the case of an action against a State (as an employer) by a person, the action may be brought in the appropriate district court of the United States or State court of competent jurisdiction.
;
by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and
by inserting after subsection (h) the following new subsection (i):
Waiver of State sovereign immunity
A State’s receipt or use of Federal financial assistance for any program or activity of a State shall constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity, under the 11th amendment to the Constitution or otherwise, to a suit brought by—
a person who is or was an employee in that program or activity for the rights or benefits authorized the person by this chapter;
a person applying to be such an employee in that program or activity for the rights or benefits authorized the person by this chapter; or
a person seeking reemployment as an employee in that program or activity for the rights or benefits authorized the person by this chapter.
In this subsection, the term program or activity has the meaning given that term in section 309 of the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6107).
.
Application
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to—
any failure to comply with a provision of or any violation of chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, that occurs before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
all actions or complaints filed under such chapter 43 that are commenced after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Clarifying the definition of
successor in interest
In general
Section 4303(4) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
Whether the term successor in interest applies with respect to an entity described in subparagraph (A) for purposes of clause (iv) of such subparagraph shall be determined on a case-by-case basis using a multi-factor test that considers the following factors:
Substantial continuity of business operations.
Use of the same or similar facilities.
Continuity of work force.
Similarity of jobs and working conditions.
Similarity of supervisory personnel.
Similarity of machinery, equipment, and production methods.
Similarity of products or services.
The entity's lack of notice or awareness of a potential or pending claim under this chapter at the time of a merger, acquisition, or other form of succession shall not be considered when applying the multi-factor test under clause (i).
.
Application
The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to—
any failure to comply with a provision of or any violation of chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, that occurs before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
all actions or complaints filed under such chapter 43 that are pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Clarifying that USERRA prohibits wage discrimination against members of the Armed Forces
In general
Section 4303(2) is amended by striking
other than
and inserting including
.
Application
The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to—
any failure to comply with a provision of or any violation of chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, that occurs before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
all actions or complaints filed under such chapter 43 that are pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Requirement that Federal agencies provide notice to contractors of potential USERRA obligations
Civilian agencies
The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
Notice to contractors of potential obligations relating to employment and reemployment of members of the Armed Forces
Each contract for the procurement of property or services that is entered into by the head of an executive agency shall include a notice to the contractor that the contractor may have obligations under chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code.
.
Armed Forces
In general
Chapter 137 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
Notice to contractors of potential obligations relating to employment and reemployment of members of the armed forces
Each contract for the procurement of property or services that is entered into by the head of an executive agency shall include a notice to the contractor that the contractor may have obligations under chapter 43 of title 38.
.
Clerical amendment
The table of sections for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
2334. Notice to contractors of potential obligations relating to employment and reemployment of members of the armed forces.
.
Comptroller General of the United States study on effectiveness of Federal programs of education and outreach on employer obligations under USERRA
Study required
The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of Federal programs of education and outreach on employer obligations under chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code.
Contents of study
In carrying out the study required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall—
assess current practices and procedures of Federal agencies for educating employers about their obligations under chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code;
identify best practices for bringing the employment practices of small businesses into compliance with such chapter;
determine whether the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, the Small Business Administration, or other agencies could collaborate to develop a program to educate employers regarding their obligations under such chapter; and
determine the effect on recruitment and retention in the National Guard and Reserves of the failure of employers to meet their reemployment obligations under such chapter.
Report to Congress
Not later than June 30, 2010, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a), including the following:
The findings of the Comptroller General with respect to such study.
The recommendations of the Comptroller General for the improvement of education and outreach for employers with respect to their obligations under chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code.
Technical amendments
Amendment to Congressional Accountability Act of 1995
Section 206(b) of
the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1316(b)) is amended by
striking under paragraphs (1), (2)(A), and (3) of section 4323(c) of
title 38, United States Code
and inserting under section 4323(d)
of title 38, United States Code
.
Amendment to section 416 of title 3, United States Code
Section 416(b) of
title 3, United States Code, is amended by striking under paragraphs (1)
and (2)(A) of section 4323(c) of title 38
and inserting under
section 4323(d) of title 38
.
Amendment to section 4324 of title 38, United States Code
Section
4324(b)(4) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting before the
period the following: declining to initiate an action and represent the
person before the Merit Systems Protection Board
.
Burial and memorial matters
Increase in certain burial and funeral benefits and plot allowances for veterans
Increase in burial and funeral expenses for deaths in Department facilities
Section 2303(a)(1)(A) is amended
by striking $300
and inserting $745 (as increased from
time to time under subsection (c))
.
Increase in amount of plot allowances
Section 2303(b) is amended by striking
$300
each place it appears and inserting $745 (as
increased from time to time under subsection (c))
.
Annual adjustment
Section 2303 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the burial and funeral expenses under subsection (a) and in the plot allowance under subsection (b), equal to the percentage by which—
the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the increase is made, exceeds
the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).
.
Effective date
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after October 1, 2010.
Prohibition on cost-of-living adjustment for fiscal year 2011
No adjustments shall be made under section 2303(c) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (c), for fiscal year 2011.
Other matters
National Academies review of best treatments for Gulf War Illness
In general
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies to conduct a comprehensive review of the best treatments for Gulf War Illness.
Group of medical professionals
In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Institute of Medicine shall convene a group of medical professionals who are experienced in treating individuals diagnosed with Gulf War illness as follows:
Members of the Armed Forces who served during the Persian Gulf War in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.
Members of the Armed Forces who served in the Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters.
Reports
The contract required by subsection (a) shall require the Institute of Medicine to submit to the Secretary and to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the review required under subsection (a) not later than December 31, 2011. The final report shall include such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Institute considers appropriate in light of the results of the review.
Funding
The Secretary shall provide the Institute of Medicine with such funds as are necessary to ensure the timely completion of the review required under subsection (a).
Definitions
In this section:
Appropriate committees of Congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
Gulf War Illness
The term Gulf War Illness means a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome, that is defined by a cluster of signs or symptoms relating to service in the Persian Gulf War or Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters.
Persian Gulf War
The term Persian Gulf War has the meaning given that term in section 101(33) of title 38, United States Code.
Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters
The term Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters means Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other theater in which the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is awarded for service.
Extension of National Academy of Sciences reviews and evaluations regarding illness and service in Persian Gulf War
Review and evaluation of toxic drugs and illnesses associated with Persian Gulf War
Section 1603(j) of the Persian Gulf War
Veterans Act of 1998 (38 U.S.C. 1117 note) is amended by striking
October 1, 2010
and inserting October 1,
2015
.
Review and evaluation of available evidence regarding illness and service in Persian Gulf War
In general
Section 101(j) of the Veterans Programs
Enhancement Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–368; 112 Stat. 3321) is amended by
striking 11 years after
and all that follows through
under subsection (b)
and inserting on October 1,
2018
.
Conforming amendment
Section 1604 of the Persian Gulf War Veterans Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–277; 38 U.S.C. 1117 note) is repealed.
Extension of authority for regional office in Republic of the Philippines
Section 315(b) is amended by striking
December 31, 2009
and inserting December 31,
2011
.
Aggregate amount of educational assistance available to individuals who receive both survivors' and dependents educational assistance and other veterans and related educational assistance
Aggregate amount available
Section 3695 is amended—
in subsection (a)(4), by striking
35,
; and
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
The aggregate period for which any person may receive assistance under chapter 35 of this title, on the one hand, and any of the provisions of law referred to in subsection (a), on the other hand, may not exceed 81 months (or the part-time equivalent thereof).
.
Applicability
The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2010, and shall not operate to revive any entitlement to assistance under chapter 35 of title 38, United States Code, or the provisions of law referred to in section 3695(a) of such title, as in effect on the day before such date, that was terminated by reason of the operation of section 3695(a) of such title, as so in effect, before such date.
Revival of entitlement reduced by prior utilization of chapter 35 assistance
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of an individual whose period of entitlement to assistance under a provision of law referred to in section 3695(a) of title 38, United States Code (other than chapter 35 of such title), as in effect on September 30, 2010, was reduced under such section 3695(a), as so in effect, by reason of the utilization of entitlement to assistance under chapter 35 of such title before October 1, 2010, the period of entitlement to assistance of such individual under such provision shall be determined without regard to any entitlement so utilized by the individual under chapter 35 of such title.
Limitation
The maximum period of entitlement to assistance of an individual under paragraph (1) may not exceed 81 months.
Technical correction
Section 5503(c) is amended by striking
veterans'
and inserting veteran's
.
Secretary