H.R. 4285House116th Congress (2019-2021)Enacted

Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2019

Introduced September 11, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 8:11 AM UTC

The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2019 extends a number of VA programs and authorizations that were set to end on September 30, 2019. It pushes those deadlines to September 30, 2020 (or, for one program, through fiscal year 2021) and makes a few technical edits to the law. The changes affect veterans receiving loans, travel assistance, supportive housing services, and the VA’s regional office in Manila, as well as clarifying some definitions in the statutes.

Key Provisions

  • Extends the authority for Vendee loans (VA loan program) from September 30, 2019 to September 30, 2020.
  • Extends the authority for operating the VA regional office in Manila, Philippines, to September 30, 2020.
  • Extends financial assistance for supportive services for very‑low‑income veteran families in permanent housing to cover fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021.
  • Extends a temporary expansion of payments and allowances for beneficiary travel related to care at VA Vet Centers to September 30, 2020.
  • Makes a series of technical corrections to the text of Title 38, including punctuation fixes and clarifying the definitions of “major medical facility project” (projects over $20 million) and “major medical facility lease” (leases with average annual rent over $1 million).

Legislative Activity

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15 earlier actions
Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 116-61.

September 30, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 11, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

September 11, 2019

HouseFloor

Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

September 17, 2019 • 4:37 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7729-7732)

September 17, 2019 • 4:37 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4285.

September 17, 2019 • 4:37 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

September 17, 2019 • 4:59 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7767-7768)

September 18, 2019 • 1:52 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 1 (Roll no. 535).(text: CR 9/17/2019 H7729-7730)

September 18, 2019 • 2:02 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 1 (Roll no. 535). (text: CR 9/17/2019 H7729-7730)

September 18, 2019 • 2:02 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

September 18, 2019 • 2:02 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate, read twice.

September 19, 2019

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5632)

September 23, 2019

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

September 24, 2019

President

Presented to President.

September 30, 2019

Became Law

Signed by President.

September 30, 2019

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 116-61.

September 30, 2019

Bill Text

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One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America

At the First Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen

H. R. 4285

AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2019.

2.

Extension of authority relating to vendee loans

Section 3733(a)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking September 30, 2019 and inserting September 30, 2020; and

(2)

in subparagraph (C), by striking September 30, 2019, and inserting September 30, 2020,.

3.

Extension of authority for operation of Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines

Section 315(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking September 30, 2019 and inserting September 30, 2020.

4.

Extension of authority for financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing

Section 2044(e)(1)(G) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking fiscal year 2019 and inserting each of fiscal years 2019 through 2021.

5.

Extension of temporary expansion of payments and allowances for beneficiary travel in connection with veterans receiving care from vet centers

Section 104(a) of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–154; 126 Stat. 1169), as most recently amended by section 109 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–251; 132 Stat. 3169), is amended by striking September 30, 2019 and inserting September 30, 2020.

6.

Technical amendments

Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:

(1)

In section 714(e)(2)(B), by striking to the refer and inserting to refer.

(2)

In section 1725A(c), by inserting a comma after a contract.

(3)

In section 3313(g)(3)(B)(ii), by inserting a comma after for books.

(4)

In section 3321(a)(1), by striking January, and inserting January.

(5)

In section 3683—

(A)

by striking (b) (b) and inserting (b);

(B)

by striking (c) (c) and inserting (c); and

(C)

by striking (d) (d) and inserting (d).

(6)

In section 3699(b), by striking this paragraph and inserting this subsection.

(7)

In section 7462(b)(4)(A), by inserting notice after written.

(8)

In section 7696(c)(1), by striking ). and inserting a period.

(9)

In section 8104(a), by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following new paragraph (3):

(3)

For purposes of this subsection:

(A)

The term major medical facility project means a project for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical facility involving a total expenditure of more than $20,000,000, but such term does not include an acquisition by exchange, nonrecurring maintenance projects of the Department, or the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a shared Federal medical facility for which the Department’s estimated share of the project costs does not exceed $20,000,000.

(B)

The term major medical facility lease means a lease for space for use as a new medical facility at an average annual rent of more than $1,000,000.

.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.