[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3936 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3936
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 22, 2016
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program under which the Secretary carries out Veteran Engagement Team
events where veterans can complete claims for disability compensation
and pension under the laws administered by the Secretary, 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 ``Veteran Engagement Teams Act'' or
``VET Act''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VETERAN
ENGAGEMENT TEAM EVENTS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Pilot program.--Beginning not later than October 1,
2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a 3-
year pilot program under which the Secretary shall carry out
events, to be known as ``Veteran Engagement Team events''. The
Secretary shall ensure that such events are carried out--
(A) during the first year during which the
Secretary carries out the pilot program, at least once
a month in a location within the jurisdiction of each
of 10 regional offices of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, including at least 2 regional offices in each
of the 5 districts of the Veterans Benefits
Administration under the organization of such
Administration in effect as of the date of the
enactment of this Act; and
(B) during each of the second and third years
during which the Secretary carries out the pilot
program, at least once a month in a location within the
jurisdiction of each of 15 regional offices of the
Department, including at least 3 regional offices in
each such district.
(2) Veteran engagement team events.--During each Veteran
Engagement Team event, the Secretary shall provide assistance
to veterans in completing and adjudicating claims for
disability compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United
States Code, and for pension under chapter 15 of such title.
The Secretary shall ensure that--
(A) all Veteran Engagement Team events occur during
the normal business hours of the sponsoring regional
office;
(B) the events are carried out at different
locations within the jurisdiction of each regional
office and at least 50 miles from any regional office;
(C) a sufficient number of physicians (to be
available for opinions only), veteran service
representatives and rating veteran service
representatives, and other personnel are available at
the events to initiate, update, and finalize the
completion and adjudication of claims;
(D) veterans service organizations have access to
the events for purposes of providing assistance to
veterans; and
(E) a veteran who is unable to complete and
adjudicate a claim at an event is informed of what
additional information or actions are needed to
finalize the claim.
(b) Location.--In selecting locations for Veteran Engagement Team
events under this section, the Secretary shall--
(1) coordinate with veteran service organizations and State
and local veterans agencies; and
(2) seek to select locations that are community-based and
easily accessible.
(c) Transfer of Personnel.--
(1) Physicians.--The Secretary may not permanently transfer
any physician employed by the Veterans Health Administration
for the purpose of staffing a Veteran Engagement Team event.
(2) Payment of salaries.--Any amount payable to an employee
of the Department for work performed at a Veteran Engagement
Team event is payable only from amounts otherwise available for
the payment of the salary of the employee. No additional
amounts are authorized to be appropriated under this section
for the payment of salaries for Department employee.
(d) Other Authorities.--In carrying out the pilot program under
this section, the Secretary may--
(1) coordinate with States, local governments, nonprofit
organizations, and private sector entities to use facilities to
host Veteran Engagement Team events for no or minimal costs;
and
(2) accept, on a without compensation basis, services
provided by non-Department physicians in rendering medical
opinions relating to claims for compensation and pension.
(e) Customer Satisfaction Surveys.--In carrying out the pilot
program under this section, the Secretary shall collect and analyze
information about the customer satisfaction of veterans who have
received assistance at an Veteran Engagement Team event.
(f) Reports.--Not later than April 30, 2017, and annually
thereafter beginning on October 1, 2017, for the duration of the
program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
implementation and effectiveness of the events. Such report shall
include--
(1) the number and types of claims completed and
adjudicated at the events;
(2) the number and types of claims for which assistance was
sought at the events that were not completed or adjudicated at
the events and the reasons such claims were not completed or
adjudicated; and
(3) an analysis of the customer satisfaction of veterans
who have received assistance at an event based on the
information collected under subsection (e).
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION TO LIMITATION ON AWARDS AND BONUSES.
Section 705 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act
of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 703 note) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 705. LIMITATION ON AWARDS AND BONUSES PAID TO EMPLOYEES OF
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
``The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the aggregate
amount of awards and bonuses paid by the Secretary in a fiscal year
under chapter 45 or 53 of title 5, United States Code, or any other
awards or bonuses authorized under such title or title 38, United
States Code, does not exceed the following amounts:
``(1) With respect to fiscal year 2017, $250,000,000.
``(2) With respect to each of fiscal years 2018 through
2024, $360,000,000.''.
Passed the House of Representatives June 21, 2016.
Attest:
KAREN L. HAAS,
Clerk.