{"format":1,"id":"118-hr-8371","congress":118,"number":"H.R. 8371","kind":"bill","group":"bills","title":"Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act","title_source":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","official_title":"To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes."},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Housing our Military Veterans Effectively Act of 2024"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","title":"Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act"},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill","title":"EHR Program RESET Act of 2024"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill","title":"Housing our Military Veterans Effectively Act of 2023"}],"outcome":"passed_house","law_number":null,"introduced":"2024-05-14","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2024-11-18","vote":{"id":"118-2024-h466","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended","title":"Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act","result":"Passed","yea":389,"nay":9,"present":0,"not_voting":34,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2024/roll466.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"na","date":null,"vote":null}},"president":{"status":"na","date":null},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"Received in the Senate.","date":"2024-11-19"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2024-05-14","stage":"Introduced in House","blocks":[{"k":"h","t":"Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act"},{"k":"p","t":"This bill addresses various programs, benefits, and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including those related to health care, educational assistance, home loans, homelessness, and disability and memorial affairs."},{"k":"p","t":"Among other elements, the bill"},{"k":"li","t":"modifies the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program, including by providing protections for care agreements between veterans and clinicians;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"increases the expenditure cap for non-institutional care alternatives to nursing home care;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"provides certain support to family caregivers under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"modifies the administration of certain educational assistance programs and benefits, including by removing the expiration on a surviving spouse’s entitlement under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"expands the Native American Direct Loan program by allowing Native American veterans to refinance other existing mortgage loans on the same property if certain conditions are met;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"requires the VA to provide a burial and funeral allowance for certain veterans who die prior to October 1, 2026, in a home or other setting at which the veteran was receiving VA hospice care (if such care was directly preceded by VA hospital or nursing home care);","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"temporarily increases the maximum rate of per diem payments provided by the VA to entities that furnish services and transitional housing to homeless veterans;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"authorizes a program to modernize the electronic health record and other relevant health information technology systems of the VA; and","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"addresses various oversight and reporting matters.","d":1}],"words":249},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Amends laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on community care, home- and community-based services, education, employment, home loans, disability and burial benefits, homeless veteran services, and Department oversight.","cites":[{"label":"Sec. 101","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H9C6F69D651424286A73CD41DD5C580C3"},{"label":"Sec. 120","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-HA9AB45B3460D4D49BF233BA381928F99"},{"label":"Sec. 201","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H52C9F9B9087E4C59948BD3A102E386B7"},{"label":"Sec. 231","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H42C155E176EC4ABAB822EC0393142C0E"},{"label":"Sec. 301","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H96DED4DE452A4F1D8AD918F5E9A292A4"},{"label":"Sec. 402","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H4E83B0E6CFB548C6991597F9F47DDC6F"},{"label":"Sec. 501","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-HAEF157011058486781BF03AEB3259836"}]},"core_areas":["Veterans Community Care Program eligibility, outreach and quality standards","Home- and community-based services and family caregiver support","Department of Veterans Affairs health care pay, dental care and staffing","Educational assistance and oversight of educational institutions","Reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services","Direct housing loans for Native American veterans","Disability examinations, claims processing and burial allowance","Per diem payments and assistance for homeless veterans","Department of Veterans Affairs oversight, reporting and security"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Requires the Secretary to implement section 1703(d)(1)(E) of title 38 for a two-year period so that the determination of eligibility for community care is final and is made by the veteran and the veteran's referring clinician.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 101","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H9C6F69D651424286A73CD41DD5C580C3"}},{"text":"Amends section 1720C(d) of title 38 to change the cost limit for noninstitutional alternatives to nursing home care from 65 percent to 100 percent, and lets the Secretary exceed 100 percent for veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a spinal cord injury, or a similar condition.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 120","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-HA9AB45B3460D4D49BF233BA381928F99"}},{"text":"Authorizes the Secretary to award grants for mental health support to family caregivers of veterans, and authorizes $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 122","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H689E00C906164686948AD712E8E4A6E7"}},{"text":"Adds optometrists to the market pay rules for Department physicians, podiatrists and dentists, and lets the Secretary waive pay limitations for recruiting or retaining certain health care personnel, with no more than 300 waivers.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 142","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-HA1B92282492A4BDD8423543B78386C5A"}},{"text":"Requires the Secretary to publish a National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, starting not later than 18 months after enactment and by September 30 of each year after that.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 149","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H743CD7D022984224B8758B1A8205BE5B"}},{"text":"Treats certain children and spouses of a person who dies of a service-connected disability within 120 days after discharge as covered for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2025 and before October 1, 2027.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 201","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H52C9F9B9087E4C59948BD3A102E386B7"}},{"text":"Amends the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act provisions to bar retaliatory action, set conditions for injunctive relief, add liquidated damages, and require attorney fees awards to those who prevail.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 221","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H1047FBB9D3A84DFEBFBE11B6B8DD9E0D"}},{"text":"Allows the Secretary to make direct loans to Native American veterans to refinance existing mortgage loans not made under section 3762, on the same dwelling, if listed conditions are met.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 231","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H42C155E176EC4ABAB822EC0393142C0E"}},{"text":"Treats a veteran who dies at home or in another setting while receiving Department hospice care, when it directly followed Department hospital or nursing home care, as eligible under section 2303(a)(2)(A) of title 38, for deaths from 180 days after enactment through September 30, 2026.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 301","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H96DED4DE452A4F1D8AD918F5E9A292A4"}},{"text":"Raises a maximum per diem rate for services to homeless veterans from 115 percent to 133 percent through September 30, 2027, and lets the Secretary waive the maximum, up to 200 percent of a stated rate, for fiscal years 2025 through 2027.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 402","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H4E83B0E6CFB548C6991597F9F47DDC6F"}}],"unexpected":[{"category":"off_subject","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 154","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H6F706EA16177432B9D5DDE630A985831"},"heading":"Authorization of appropriations to support initiatives for mobile mammography services for veterans","effect":"Authorizes $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 for the Office of Women's Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand women veterans' access to mobile mammography initiatives, mammography equipment, and outreach.","amount":"$5,000,000","quote":"There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 for the Office of Women’s Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs"},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 223","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-HDB3BB60CC87B4C66A657494A29EE6BE8"},"heading":"Warrior Training Advancement Course","effect":"Beyond a report on the Warrior Training Advancement Course, directs the Secretary of the Interior to set up a two-year pilot program employing veterans in positions related to conservation and resource management at the Department of the Interior.","amount":null,"quote":"shall establish a pilot program under which veterans are employed by the Federal Government in positions that relate to the conservation and resource management activities of the Department of the Interior."},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 503","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H32640ED6C1B84C4BAFA4CC600BC85161"},"heading":"Modification of certain housing loan fees","effect":"Changes the end date in the VA housing loan fee table from November 29, 2031 to June 9, 2034, extending the fee schedule that applies until then.","amount":null,"quote":"The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “November 29, 2031” each place it appears and inserting “June 9, 2034”."}]},{"category":"narrow_beneficiary","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 142","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-HA1B92282492A4BDD8423543B78386C5A"},"heading":"Modification of pay limitation for physicians, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists of Department of Veterans Affairs","effect":"Among other pay changes, lets the Secretary pay retroactive compensation to covered employees whose authorized pay from January 8, 2006 through December 31, 2017 was deferred to a later calendar year because it would have exceeded an annual cap.","amount":null,"quote":"The period specified in this paragraph is the period beginning on January 8, 2006, and ending on December 31, 2017."},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 144","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H1016AA339FF04E1DBB40851F9C78C6C5"},"heading":"Pilot program to furnish dental care from the Department of Veterans Affairs to certain veterans diagnosed with ischemic heart disease","effect":"Creates a two-year pilot program furnishing dental care to enrolled veterans who have an ischemic heart disease diagnosis and are not otherwise eligible for VA dental care, in not more than four States chosen by the Secretary.","amount":null,"quote":"The Secretary shall select not more than four States in which to carry out the pilot program."},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 212","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H8A51E5FA5A624E11AD23301C083275D4"},"heading":"Department of Veterans Affairs high technology program","effect":"Creates a high technology education program capped at 4,000 participants a year, and lets an online high technology program bypass the independent study limit if its provider has held a contract for at least five years and its graduates' employment rate is 65 percent or higher.","amount":null,"quote":"that has been provided to covered individuals (as defined in subsection (h)(1) of such section) under such contract for a period of at least five years;"},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 214","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H84585CDF96614E3BA8073765FC3502C4"},"heading":"Payment of VA educational assistance via electronic fund transfer to a foreign institution of higher education","effect":"Requires VA to update its payment system within 90 days to allow electronic fund transfer of educational assistance to a foreign institution of higher education that has no employer identification number or domestic bank account.","amount":null,"quote":"to a foreign institution of higher education that— (1) provides an approved course of education to an eligible recipient of such assistance; and (2) does not have—"}]},{"category":"named_funding","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 232","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-HFC358F6CDE724DB195BD1AA2D9D0A2AD"},"heading":"Native community development financial institution relending program","effect":"Creates a Secretary loan program for Native community development financial institutions to relend to Native American veterans on trust land, with loans bearing one percent interest, and allows up to $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 from the housing loan account.","amount":"$5,000,000","quote":"in fiscal year 2025, not more than $5,000,000; and"}]},{"category":"place_specific_amount","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 143","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H2EF31016C9624FC1B5983CD95D2C3FE0"},"heading":"Reimbursement of ambulance cost for care for certain rural veterans","effect":"Requires payment or reimbursement of ambulance transport costs, up to a cumulative maximum of $46,000 per veteran, for covered veterans at locations 100 or more miles from the nearest VA medical center and in areas rated 10 or higher under the rural-urban commuting areas system; ends September 30, 2026.","amount":"$46,000","quote":"The maximum cumulative amount covered under this section for a covered veteran is $46,000."},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 302","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H9E636EB0DBE84D6E94AD27BCA6E33BC8"},"heading":"Authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to States and Indian Tribes to improve outreach to veterans","effect":"Creates a VA grant program for States and Indian Tribes to improve veteran outreach, requires at least five percent of grant funds go to Indian Tribes, and authorizes $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027.","amount":"$10,000,000","quote":"the Secretary shall ensure that not less than five percent is used to make grants to Indian Tribes."},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 402","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H4E83B0E6CFB548C6991597F9F47DDC6F"},"heading":"Per diem payments provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for services furnished to homeless veterans","effect":"Raises the per diem payment cap for homeless veteran services from 115 percent to 133 percent through September 30, 2027, lets the Secretary waive the maximum up to 200 percent for fiscal years 2025 through 2027 for up to 50 percent of recipients, and caps payments at 12,000 per year.","amount":null,"quote":"the Secretary may waive the maximum rate for per diem payments under clause (i)(II)(aa)(BB) or (ii) and, subject to the availability of appropriations, provide such payments at a rate that does not exceed 200 percent"}]},{"category":"selective_carve_out","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 107","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-HA9036C9DF0CB4F7BA841EA071745AC43"},"heading":"Strategic plan on value-based health care system for Veterans Health Administration; pilot program","effect":"Directs the Secretary to set up a working group on value-based care and a strategic plan, and states that the federal advisory committee chapter of title 5 does not apply to that working group.","amount":null,"quote":"Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the working group established under paragraph (1)."},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 120","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-HA9AB45B3460D4D49BF233BA381928F99"},"heading":"Increase of expenditure cap for noninstitutional care alternatives to nursing home care","effect":"Raises the cost cap for noninstitutional care alternatives from 65 percent to 100 percent, and lets the Secretary allow costs above 100 percent for veterans with certain named conditions.","amount":null,"quote":"A veteran described in this subparagraph is a veteran with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a spinal cord injury, or a condition the Secretary determines to be similar to such conditions."},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 201","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H52C9F9B9087E4C59948BD3A102E386B7"},"heading":"Temporary expansion of eligibility for Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship","effect":"For terms starting between August 1, 2025 and October 1, 2027, treats the child or spouse of a person who died of a service-connected disability within 120 days of discharge as eligible for the Fry Scholarship.","amount":null,"quote":"who dies from a service-connected disability during the 120-day period immediately following the day on which the person was discharged or released from duty as a member of the Armed Forces"},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 209","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H6AF8EB0EABD144CEBFB08CD73EB8F17B"},"heading":"Modification of rules for approval of commercial driver education programs for purposes of educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs","effect":"Exempts certain commercial driver education programs at a branch of an educational institution from an existing approval rule, if the program is licensed and meets branch-location or one-year operating conditions, with annual reporting and Secretary authority to withhold the exemption.","amount":null,"quote":"a commercial driver education program is exempt from paragraph (1)(B) for a branch of an educational institution if"},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 301","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-H96DED4DE452A4F1D8AD918F5E9A292A4"},"heading":"Burial allowance for certain veterans who die at home while in receipt of hospice care furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs","effect":"Treats veterans who die at home while receiving VA hospice care, after VA hospital or nursing home care, as eligible for burial allowance, only for deaths from 180 days after enactment until October 1, 2026.","amount":null,"quote":"This section shall apply with respect to deaths that occur— (1) on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) before October 1, 2026."}]},{"category":"political_name","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 1","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh#toc-HD491F19B116043649F8940CBB9BB2BC3"},"heading":"Short title; table of contents","effect":"Gives the Act a short title that includes the name of a named person, Senator Elizabeth Dole.","amount":null,"quote":"Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act"}]}],"version":{"type":"Engrossed in House","date":"2024-11-18","rule":"passed","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text/eh"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-10-01","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8371/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/118-hr-8371.png","v":"da7a90145d2e","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 8371, 118th Congress: Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. House: 389 Yea, 9 Nay. Outcome: Passed House, 18 Nov 2024."}}