[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9742 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9742

   To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring 
               provisions of law, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 20, 2024

   Mrs. Sykes (for herself, Mr. Takano, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Caraveo, Mr. 
  Cartwright, Mr. Mrvan, Ms. Perez, and Ms. Budzinski) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
  Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring 
               provisions of law, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Extension of Department of Veterans 
Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2024''.

                          TITLE I--HEALTH CARE

SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR 
              HOSPITAL CARE AND NURSING HOME CARE.

    Section 1710(f)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 
2025''.

SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME CARE TO 
              CERTAIN VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.

    Section 1710A(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF EXPANSION OF RURAL ACCESS NETWORK FOR GROWTH 
              ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS.

    Section 2(d) of the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act 
of 2021 (Public Law 117-21; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended by 
striking ``2024'' and inserting ``2025''.

SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VETERANS ACCESS TO 
              COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS THROUGH 
              ANIMAL THERAPY, AGRITHERAPY, SPORTS AND RECREATION 
              THERAPY, ART THERAPY, AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH PROGRAMS.

    Section 203(d)(1) of the Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care 
Improvement Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-171; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is 
amended by striking ``for a three-year period beginning on the 
commencement of the pilot program'' and inserting ``until September 30, 
2025''.

SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR JOINT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL FACILITY 
              DEMONSTRATION FUND.

    Section 1704(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2573), as most recently 
amended by section 104 of division E of the Continuing Appropriations 
and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-180; 
136 Stat. 2137), is amended by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2025''.

                       TITLE II--MEMORIAL AFFAIRS

SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF ENTITLEMENT TO MEMORIAL HEADSTONES AND MARKERS 
              FOR COMMEMORATION OF VETERANS AND CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.

    Section 2306(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``October 1, 2024'' both places it appears and inserting 
``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO BURY REMAINS OF CERTAIN SPOUSES AND 
              CHILDREN IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES.

    Section 2402(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``October 1, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 203. AUTHORITY FOR USE OF FLAT GRAVE MARKERS AT SANTA FE NATIONAL 
              CEMETERY, NEW MEXICO.

    Section 2404(c)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a period at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(F) in the case of Santa Fe National Cemetery, New 
        Mexico, the Secretary may provide for flat grave markers in any 
        section of such cemetery in which flat markers were in use on 
        December 22, 2023.''.

                        TITLE III--HOMELESSNESS

SEC. 301. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALLY 
              ADAPTED HOUSING FOR DISABLED VETERANS RESIDING 
              TEMPORARILY IN HOUSING OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER.

    Section 2102A(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
              ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 2108(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR HOMELESS 
              WOMEN VETERANS AND HOMELESS VETERANS WITH CHILDREN 
              REINTEGRATION GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 2021A(f)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``2024'' and inserting ``2025''.

SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FOR 
              SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) General Treatment.--Section 2031(b) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting 
``September 30, 2025''.
    (b) Additional Services at Certain Locations.--Section 2033(d) of 
such title is amended by striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting 
``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 305. EXTENSION OF FUNDING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE 
              SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN 
              PERMANENT HOUSING.

    (a) In General.--Section 2044(e)(H) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``2024'' and inserting ``2025''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--Section 2044(e) of such title is amended 
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (H) as paragraphs (1) 
through (8), respectively.

SEC. 306. EXTENSION OF FUNDING FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS 
              WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

    Section 2061(d)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``2024'' and inserting ``2025''.

                      TITLE IV--OTHER AUTHORITIES

SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES.

    Section 111A(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF TESTIMONIAL SUBPOENA AUTHORITY OF INSPECTOR 
              GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    Section 312(d)(7)(A) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``May 31, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN REGIONAL OFFICE IN THE 
              REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.

    Section 315(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 404. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY FOR MONTHLY 
              ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE FOR DISABLED VETERANS TRAINING IN 
              PARALYMPIC AND OLYMPIC SPORTS PROGRAM.

    Section 322 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``the United States Olympic Committee'' 
        each place it appears and inserting ``the United States Olympic 
        & Paralympic Committee'';
            (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``Veterans Benefits 
        Administration'' and inserting ``Veterans Health 
        Administration''; and
            (3) in subsection (d), by amending paragraph (4) to read as 
        follows:
    ``(4) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
subsection the following:
            ``(A) For each of fiscal years 2010 through 2023, 
        $2,000,000.
            ``(B) For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027, 
        $2,500,000.''.

SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR REPORT ON EQUITABLE RELIEF 
              PROVIDED DUE TO ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR.

    Section 503(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in the 
second sentence, by striking ``December 31, 2024'' and inserting 
``December 31, 2025''.

SEC. 406. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES.

    The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``November 15, 2031'' each place it 
appears and inserting ``November 29, 2031''.

SEC. 407. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY.

    Section 8118(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 408. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 
              OF THE DEPARTMENT.

    Section 7103 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans 
Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-315) 
is amended by striking ``for fiscal year 2022 and each of the next 
three subsequent fiscal years'' and inserting ``for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2029''.
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