S. 2853

119 S2853 IS: VA Extenders Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-09-17
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
  II
  119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
  S. 2853
  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.
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.
I
Health care matters
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
II
Benefits
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
III
Housing
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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.
  .
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.
IV
Other matters
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .