Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends and 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.

Highlights:

• Amends and 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 (Title I-V, Sec. 101-542).

• Amends administration of the Veterans Community Care Program by providing protections for care agreements between veterans and clinicians (Title I, Sec. 101-113).

• Increases the expenditure cap for non-institutional care alternatives to nursing home care (Title I, Sec. 120).

• Authorizes certain support to family caregivers under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (Title I, Sec. 125).

• Amends administration of certain educational assistance programs and benefits by removing the expiration on a surviving spouse’s entitlement under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Title II, Sec. 201).

• 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 (Title II, Sec. 231).

• 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) (Title III, Sec. 301).

• Increases the maximum rate of per diem payments provided by the VA to entities that furnish services and transitional housing to homeless veterans temporarily (Title IV, Sec. 402).

• Authorizes a program to modernize the electronic health record and other relevant health information technology systems of the VA and addresses various oversight and reporting matters (Title VI, Sec. 601-603).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text