I
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4532
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 26, 2019
Mr. O'Halleran (for himself, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Gallego) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make certain grants to assist nursing homes for veterans located on tribal lands.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Nursing Home Care for Native American Veterans Act
.
Grants for State homes located on tribal lands
State home defined
Section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting or Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304))
after (other than a possession)
.
Payments to State homes
Section 1741 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
In this subchapter, the term State means each of the several States and each Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
.
State home construction
In general
Section 8131(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting includes each Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) but
before does not
.
Conforming amendment
Section 8132 of such title is amended by striking several
.
Additional legislative or administrative action
Consultation with Indian tribes
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult with Indian tribes to determine if any legislative or administrative action is necessary to modify the State home program to function efficiently in support of State homes operated by Indian tribes pursuant to the amendments made by this section.
Report to Congress
Not later than 90 days after completing consultations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report recommending legislative action that the Secretary considers appropriate to modify the State home program described in such paragraph in light of those consultations.
Modifications
Not later than 180 days after completing consultations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make any modifications to regulations implementing the State home program, for which legislative action is not necessary, as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of those consultations.
Technical support and assistance
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide technical support and assistance to Indian tribes in carrying out the State home program at State homes operated by Indian tribes pursuant to the amendments made by this section.
Definitions
In this section:
Appropriate committees of Congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate; and
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
Indian tribe
The term Indian tribe has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
State home
The term State home has the meaning given that term in section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code.
State home program
The term State home program means the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs for which payments are made under subchapter V of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and assistance is provided under subchapter III of chapter 81 of such title.