119-s2853

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2853 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2853

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

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 September 17 (legislative day, September 16), 2025

 Mr. Moran (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
 Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain authorities 
and requirements relating to health care and benefits furnished by the 
 Department of Veterans Affairs, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``VA Extenders Act 
of 2025''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
 TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

Sec. 101. Extension of authority for collection of copayments for 
 hospital care and nursing home care.

Sec. 102. Extension of requirement to provide nursing home care to 
 certain veterans with service-connected 
 disabilities.

Sec. 103. Extension of Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide 
 Prevention Grant Program.

Sec. 104. Extension of funding for expansion of Rural Access Network 
 for Growth Enhancement Program.
 TITLE II--BENEFITS

Sec. 201. Extension of requirement for quarterly briefings on 
 administration of authorities relating to 
 determinations regarding presumptions of 
 service connection based on toxic exposure.

Sec. 202. Extension of requirement relating to restoration of 
 entitlement to educational assistance in 
 cases of closure or disapproval of 
 educational institutions.

Sec. 203. Extension of temporary clarification of licensure 
 requirements for contractor medical 
 professionals to perform medical disability 
 examinations for the Department of Veterans 
 Affairs under pilot program for use of 
 contract physicians for disability 
 examinations.

Sec. 204. Extension of authority to maintain regional office in 
 Republic of Philippines.
 TITLE III--HOUSING

Sec. 301. Extension of authorization of appropriations for homeless 
 women veterans and homeless veterans with 
 children reintegration grant program.

Sec. 302. Extension of authority for treatment and rehabilitation for 
 seriously mentally ill and homeless 
 veterans.

Sec. 303. Extension of funding for financial assistance for supportive 
 services for very low-income veteran 
 families in permanent housing.

Sec. 304. Extension of funding for grant program for homeless veterans 
 with special needs.

Sec. 305. Extension of authority to provide assistance for specially 
 adapted housing for disabled veterans 
 residing temporarily in housing owned by a 
 family member.

Sec. 306. Extension of authority for specially adapted housing 
 assistive technology grant program.

Sec. 307. Improvements to Partial Claim Program of the Department of 
 Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 308. Government Accountability Office reports on Partial Claim 
 Program of the Department of Veterans 
 Affairs and other matters.
 TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 401. Extension of subpoena authority of Inspector General of 
 Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 402. Extension of requirement for annual report on use of 
 authority to provide equitable relief.

Sec. 403. Extension of authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
 transport individuals to and from 
 facilities of Department of Veterans 
 Affairs.

Sec. 404. Extension of authority relating to vendee loan program.

Sec. 405. Extension of authority for transfer of real property.

 TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

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, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 
2026''.

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, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF STAFF SERGEANT PARKER GORDON FOX SUICIDE 
 PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM.

 

Section 201

    (j) of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental 
Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-171; 38 U.S.C. 
1720F note) is amended by striking ``the date that is three years after 
the date on which the first grant is awarded under this section'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF FUNDING FOR EXPANSION OF RURAL ACCESS NETWORK 
 FOR GROWTH ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.

 

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 ``2025'' and inserting ``2026''.

 TITLE II--BENEFITS

SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR QUARTERLY BRIEFINGS ON 
 ADMINISTRATION OF AUTHORITIES RELATING TO DETERMINATIONS 
 REGARDING PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE CONNECTION BASED ON 
 TOXIC EXPOSURE.

 

Section 202

    (b)

    (2) of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson 
Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 
(Public Law 117-168) is amended by striking ``On a quarterly basis 
during the two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
this Act,'' and inserting ``On a quarterly basis during the period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on 
December 31, 2026''.

SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT RELATING TO RESTORATION OF 
 ENTITLEMENT TO EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN CASES OF CLOSURE 
 OR DISAPPROVAL OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

 

Section 3699
            (c) (2)
            (C) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 
2026''.

SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY CLARIFICATION OF LICENSURE 
 REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACTOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO 
 PERFORM MEDICAL DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS FOR THE 
 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS UNDER PILOT PROGRAM FOR 
 USE OF CONTRACT PHYSICIANS FOR DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS.

 

Section 2002

    (a)

    (4) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. 
Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 
116-315; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by striking ``five years'' and 
inserting ``six years''.

SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN REGIONAL OFFICE IN 
 REPUBLIC OF PHILIPPINES.

 

Section 315

    (b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

 TITLE III--HOUSING

SEC. 301. 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 ``2025'' and inserting ``2026''.

SEC. 302. 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, 2025'' and inserting 
``September 30, 2026''.

    (b) Additional Services at Certain Locations.--

Section 2033
            (d) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``September 30, 
2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF FUNDING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE 
 SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN 
 PERMANENT HOUSING.

 

Section 2044

    (e)

    (8) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2026''.

SEC. 304. 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 ``2025'' and inserting ``2026''.

SEC. 305. 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 ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

SEC. 306. 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, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

SEC. 307. IMPROVEMENTS TO PARTIAL CLAIM PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
 VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Clarification of Relationship to Other Powers of Secretary.--

Section 3720

    (h) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``of subsection

    (a) '' and all that follows through the period at the 
end and inserting ``of subsection

    (a) in conjunction with the purchase 
of a loan under 

section 3732

    (a)

    (2) of this title unless the Secretary 
determines the purchase would be made consistent with 

section 3732
            (d) of this title.''.

    (b) Administration of Partial Claim Program.--

Section 3737 of such 
title is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (b)

    (2) , by striking ``first lien 
 guaranteed loan for such property'' and inserting ``amount of 
 indebtedness under the guaranteed loan that the Secretary does 
 not purchase''; and

    (2) in subsection
            (c) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (2)
        (B)
            (ii) , by striking ``120 
 days'' and inserting ``180 days''; and
        (B) by amending paragraph

    (3) to read as follows:
 ``

    (3) An amount paid to the holder of a loan as a partial claim--
 ``
        (A) shall not alter the guaranty calculation specified by 
 

section 3703 of this title;
 ``
        (B) shall be included, for the purpose of a liquidation 
 sale, in the same manner as any other advance allowed by the 
 Secretary; and
 ``
            (C) shall not be claimed under the guaranty or increase 
 the Secretary's cost of acquisition of the property securing 
 the defaulted loan.''.
            (c) Requirements of Loan Holder.--Section
            (d) (1) of such section is 
amending by inserting ``and servicing the loan'' after ``documents''.
            (d) Default and Foreclosure.--Subsection

    (e) of such section is 
amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking ``an 
 individual who'' and all that follows through the 
 period at the end and inserting the following: ``a 
 borrower who defaults on a partial claim shall be 
 liable to the Secretary for any loss suffered by the 
 Secretary with respect to such default, and such loss 
 may be recovered in the same manner as any other debt 
 due the United States. The Secretary shall not restore 
 housing loan entitlement under 

section 3702

    (b) of this 
 title until such loss is repaid in full.''; and
        (B) by amending subparagraph
        (B) to read as 
 follows:
 ``
        (B) The Secretary may charge administrative costs, fees, and 
interest, as appropriate, with respect to any default under a partial 
claim in a manner similar to the interest and administrative costs 
charged under 

section 5315 of this title.''; and

    (2) by amending paragraph

    (2) to read as follows:
 ``

    (2) Notwithstanding 

section 2410 of title 28, a non-judicial sale 
of real property to satisfy a loan guaranteed under this chapter shall 
discharge the property from a partial claim interest held by the 
Secretary, provided that the holder of the guaranteed loan conducts the 
non-judicial sale and distributes the sale proceeds, if any, in 
accordance with the State or local law where such property is 
situated.''.

    (e) Guidance in Advance of Regulations.--Subsection

    (h) of such 
section is amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (h) Guidance in Advance of Regulations.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the Secretary may, before prescribing 
regulations, issue administrative guidance with respect to the Partial 
Claim Program under this section and the loss mitigation options 
prescribed under 

section 3732
            (d) of this title, including any 
additional terms, conditions, and requirements the Secretary determines 
necessary.''.

SEC. 308. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORTS ON PARTIAL CLAIM 
 PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND OTHER 
 MATTERS.

    (a) Annual Reports.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter until the 
 Partial Claim Program terminates, the Comptroller General of 
 the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' 
 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
 the House of Representatives a report.

    (2) Elements.--Each report required by paragraph

    (1) shall 
 include, for the period covered by the report and disaggregated 
 by quarter, the following:
        (A) Key data on the performance of the Partial 
 Claim Program, including--
            (i) the number of partial claims filed and 
 approved; and
            (ii) the redefault and foreclosure rates of 
 loans for which a partial claim was made.
        (B) A comparison of the data described in 
 subparagraph
        (A) with data on the performance of other 
 loss mitigation options provided by the Department of 
 Veterans Affairs.
            (C) The number of housing loans insured, 
 guaranteed, or made by the Secretary of Veterans 
 Affairs under chapter 37 of title 38, United States 
 Code.
            (D) The number of applications for housing loan 
 benefits under such chapter denied.
        (E) The number of housing loans insured, 
 guaranteed, or made by the Secretary under such chapter 
 refinanced under 

section 3710

    (a)

    (8) or 3712 of title 
 38, United States Code.
        (F) The number of veterans who owe a payment on a 
 mortgage associated with a loan insured, guaranteed, or 
 made by the Secretary under such chapter that is at 
 least--
            (i) 60 days late; and
            (ii) 90 days late.

    (b) Assessment.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than one year before the Partial 
 Claim Program terminates, the Comptroller General shall--
        (A) conduct an assessment of the benefits and 
 challenges of the Partial Claim Program; and
        (B) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
 the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
 the House of Representatives a report on the findings 
 of the Comptroller General with respect to that 
 assessment.

    (2) Considerations.--In conducting the assessment required 
 by paragraph

    (1) , the Comptroller General shall consider the 
 following:
        (A) The characteristics of borrowers for whom a 
 partial claim was made compared to the characteristics 
 of borrowers provided other loss mitigation options by 
 the Department of Veterans Affairs.
        (B) The performance of loans guaranteed under 
 chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code, following 
 various loss mitigation actions.
            (C) The information the Department considered in 
 determining whether a borrower would benefit from a 
 partial claim compared to other loss mitigation 
 options.
            (D) The costs to taxpayers of the Partial Claim 
 Program compared to the costs of other loss mitigation 
 options provided by the Department.
        (E) Any similarities and differences in the 
 Department's administration and use of the Partial 
 Claim Program compared to the Department's 
 administration and use of the COVID-19 Veterans 
 Assistance Partial Claim Payment program established 
 under subpart F of part 36 of title 38, Code of 
 Regulations.
        (F) The information the Department learned from the 
 COVID-19 Veterans Assistance Partial Claim Payment 
 program and the extent to which those lessons learned 
 were applied to the Partial Claim Program.
        (G) The types of information the Department 
 collected to monitor the performance and effectiveness 
 of the Partial Claim Program and how the Department 
 used that information to make any needed adjustments to 
 the program.
        (H) How the use by the Department of partial claims 
 compares to the use of partial claims by other Federal 
 housing agencies, including, for each partial claim 
 program--
            (i) the volume of loans for which partial 
 claims have been made;
            (ii) the results for borrowers (including 
 redefault and foreclosure rates); and
            (iii) the costs to taxpayers.
            (c) Partial Claim Program Defined.--In this section, the term 
``Partial Claim Program'' means the Partial Claim Program of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs carried out under 

section 3737 of title 
38, United States Code.

 TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF SUBPOENA AUTHORITY OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF 
 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

 

Section 312
            (d) (7)
        (A) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

SEC. 402. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL REPORT ON USE OF 
 AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE RELIEF.

 

Section 503
            (c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2025'' and inserting ``December 31, 2026''.

SEC. 403. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
 TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM FACILITIES OF 
 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

 

Section 111A

    (a)

    (2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

SEC. 404. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOAN PROGRAM.

 

Section 3733

    (a)

    (8) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph
        (A) , by striking 
 ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''; 
 and

    (2) in subparagraph
            (C) , by striking ``September 30, 2025'' 
 and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

SEC. 405. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY.

 

Section 8118

    (a)

    (5) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.
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