Senate Appropriations Committee Issues Report on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2018 (Part 3 of 6)
NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 1,163,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,163,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Native American veteran housing loan program is authorized by 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, section 3761 to provide direct loans to Native American veterans living on trust lands. The loans are available to purchase, construct, or improve homes to be occupied as veteran residences or to refinance a loan previously made under this program in order to lower the interest rate. The principal amount of a loan under this authority generally may not exceed
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends
GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES,
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 2,844,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,910,000,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The General Operating Expenses,
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends
Disability Claims Processing.--The Committee has not only fully funded the budget request for claims processing in recent years, but has provided increases above the budget requests for hiring and training claims processors, bolstering the migration to electronic claims processing systems, and addressing the increasing backlog of appeals at the
Financial Hardship and Bankruptcy.--The Committee continues to support
Women Veterans Participation Rates.--The Committee directs
State Accrediting Agency Oversight.--The Committee is concerned current laws and regulations related to conflicting interests may be inadequate to identify conflicts of interest that can develop through the provision of meals or de minimus gifts to officers of State Accrediting Agencies. The Department is directed to conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of 38 U.S.C. 3683 and 38 CFR 21.4005 in preventing conflicts of interests and submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
State Approving Agencies.--Under the G.I. Bill and the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-377, 38 U.S.C. Ch. 36 sec. 3670)
Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot.--Section 506 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38 U.S.C. 523 note) established the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot [RVCP] at
Assessment of GI Bill Utilization.--The Committee notes the Department's responsibility to provide GI bill benefits to servicemembers as they transition to civilian life and status as a veterans, however the Committee believes there is an opportunity to increase utilization of these benefits. To better understand the current utilization and drive future decisions regarding educational benefits to veterans, the Committee directs the Department to conduct a comprehensive assessment to accurately account the number of veterans utilizing their educational benefits. The first report should analyze fiscal years 2010 to 2017, but thereafter, the Committee directs the Department to submit an annual report that tracks outcomes for Post-9/11 GI bill benefits. The report should include: the number of veterans who qualify for either a partial or the full GI bill benefit; veteran use of the GI bill benefit among the total number of eligible veterans; veteran use or transfer of unused GI bill benefit to dependents; use of the GI bill benefit toward 4-year, 2-year, and vocational educational and training programs, and distinguish the programs; the average dollar amount of usage; and an aggregate graduation rate, loan default rate, and average indebtedness by degree program, type of degree, and field of study. Additionally, the Department is encouraged to make an effort to gather data on the jobs attained after graduation, specifically whether those jobs can be reasonably said to be in the field of study identified in the students' education plans. The Department is directed to submit the first report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Education Benefits.--The Committee is concerned about the levels of overpayments and improper payments being paid to GI Bill beneficiaries. The Committee directs
Education Data Collection and Sharing.--The Committee wants for both students and
Reforms to Expedite the Appeals Process.--The Committee directs the Secretary to fully implement the GAO's recommendation to improve the timeliness of
Home Loan Counseling.--The Committee remains concerned about the percentage of veteran homeowners that are not using the
Benefits for Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities.--The Committee notes that many veterans are eligible for a full discharge of their Federal student loan debt due to a service-connected disability, but have not received the benefits
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Advance appropriations, 2018............................ 66,385,032,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 3,290,000,000
Committee recommendation, 2018.......................... 3,689,262,000
Budget estimate, advance appropriations, 2019........... 70,699,313,000
Committee recommendation, advance appropriations, 2019.. 70,700,000,000
ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW
The
The Parking Program provides funds for the construction, alteration, and acquisition (by purchase or lease) of parking garages at
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
In fiscal year 2017, the Committee provided
For fiscal year 2018, the Committee recommends an additional
Education Debt Reduction Program.--The Department is directed provide a breakdown of spending by
Veteran Medical Debt.--The Committee is concerned that despite the Department's efforts to streamline administrative burdens of the Veterans Choice Program,
Cross Government Credentialing of VA Healthcare Providers.--In order to better facilitate active recruitment of individuals who served in the healthcare field for the
West Los Angeles Master Plan.--While the Committee is encouraged by recent progress made at the West Los Angeles VA Campus, the Committee continues to be concerned that approximately 3,000 veterans remain homeless in the
Corporate Planning and High Performing Networks.--Various documents published by VHA, such as the Blueprint for Excellence and the fiscal year 2016 Annual
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Advance appropriations, 2018............................ 44,886,554,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 1,031,808,000
Committee recommendation, 2018.......................... 1,923,000,000
Budget estimate, advance appropriations, 2019........... 49,161,165,000
Committee recommendations, advance appropriations, 2019. 49,161,000,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Medical Services account provides for medical services for eligible enrolled veterans and other beneficiaries in
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
In fiscal year 2017, the Committee provided an advance appropriation of
The Committee recommendation also includes an advance appropriation of
RURAL ACCESS TO CARE
ORH has played a major role in
TELEHEALTH SERVICES
Telehealth.--The Committee held an oversight hearing on
PREVENTING VETERAN SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE
Preventing Veteran Suicide.--The Committee is encouraged that the Secretary of
For years, the Department has received from this Committee above budget request amounts for suicide prevention programs, yet veteran suicide rates remain steady year after year. While additional and targeted funding increases are important, the Committee remains concerned that more should be done to prevent veterans from taking their lives. To that end, the Committee held an oversight hearing on
According to data compiled by the
The Committee remains concerned about the alarming prevalence of suicide among rural veterans as they are more likely than urban veterans to commit suicide. The Committee urges
Veteran Crisis Line.--The Committee continues to be greatly concerned with the continued high rate of suicide among veterans and the growing mental health needs of veterans. Based on that concern, the Committee held an oversight hearing on
Suicide Data Report.--The Department's Suicide Data Report, 2012, was an important step in understanding the prevalence, distribution, and risk factors for suicide. The Committee further directs the Secretary to conduct a new study on the prevalence of suicide among veterans, which shall include an assessment of the data provided by each State and an identification of which States should increase or improve data reporting to the Department.
Magnetic EEG/EKG-Guided Resonance Therapy.--The Committee understands Magnetic EEG/EKG-guided Resonance Therapy [MERT] has successfully treated veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD], Traumatic Brain Injuries [TBI], chronic pain, and opiate addiction. Recent non-significant risk and non- invasive clinical trials and pilot studies have produced promising results in the evolution of MERT treatment. The Committee encourages
Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors.--The Committee remains concerned about the number of veterans committing suicide each day, and is particularly concerned that of the 20 per day, 14 have not had contact with the Department. In an effort to increase the number of mental health providers at the Department able to provide care, the Committee encourages the Department to increase efforts to hire more Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors [LPMHCs] and Marriage and Family Therapists [MFTs]. The Committee recognizes the Department has attempted to create qualification standards to permit the employment of LPMHCs and MFTs, however, the Committee is aware obstacles remain, given that there are still thousands of vacancies in mental healthcare delivery positions. The Committee strongly urges
Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.--One in five veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder have a substance abuse disorder, and the
The Committee is aware that patient outcomes at university- based medical clinics are a viable option for providing PTSD treatment to veterans and have shown great preliminary successes. As such, the Committee directs the Department to conduct a study to determine whether this model of care presents an opportunity to provide the best patient care to veterans. The Department is directed to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Other Than Honorable Discharge.--The Committee remains concerned that for many veterans with other-than-honorable discharges, the misconduct that precipitated that discharge may have been related to in-service mental health issues. After service in combat or other high-stress environments, or after experiencing military sexual trauma, service members may undergo behavioral changes stemming from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, major depressive disorder, and operational stress. Behavioral changes may result in injuries, which superiors often do not recognize as symptoms of mental health conditions, but instead attribute to bad character. The Committee is pleased
WOMEN'S HEALTH
Women Veterans.--Women represent 15.5 percent of today's active duty force and 19 percent of our
Female Primary Care and Mental Healthcare Providers.--The Committee urges
Intimate Partner Violence Program.--The VA Intimate Partner Violence Program expands
ASSISTING HOMELESS VETERANS AND PREVENTING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS
Assessing Homelessness in Rural Areas.--The Committee remains concerned about the fidelity of data on homeless and at-risk veterans in rural areas and directs the Department to identify more precise ways to obtain better and more accurate data for veterans in these areas. The Committee encourages
Homeless Veterans Prevention Programs.--The Committee remains strongly supportive of
Legal Assistance for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program.--The Committee notes that university law schools are willing to work with veterans on a pro-bono basis to provide legal assistance. This can result in additional benefits such as training law students in veteran disability law and legal skills critical to providing advocacy within the
Continues with Part 4 of 6
Senate Appropriations Committee Issues Report on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2018 (Part 5 of 6)
Rep. Ruiz Introduces Bill to Improve Cost Sharing Subsidies
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