Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 11, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Veterans Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 - (Sec. 4) Establishes in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration (VEOA), headed by an Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity, to administer VA programs of economic opportunity assistance to veterans and their dependents and survivors. Requires VEOA to administer: (1) vocational rehabilitation and employment programs, (2) educational assistance programs, (3) veterans' housing loan and related programs, and (4) veterans' small business programs. Limits the aggregate number of full-time equivalent employees authorized for the Veterans Benefit Administration and VEOA for FY2014-FY2015.

(Sec. 6) Extends through FY2018 VA homeless veterans reintegration programs (job training, counseling, and placement services to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force).

(Sec. 7) Expands the eligibility of children for educational assistance under the VA post-9/11 educational assistance program to include the child of a person who, on or after September 11, 2001, is awarded the Purple Heart for an injury and dies as a result of that injury within 31 days after discharge or release from active-duty service.

(Sec. 8) Allows individuals to elect to convert their educational assistance to the post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program if, as of August 1, 2009, they meet specified conditions with respect to their entitlements and elections under the all-volunteer force educational assistance program or certain other educational assistance programs for professional military, selected reserve, or reserve component members. Conditions such post-9/11 program eligibility on the individual meeting the requirements for the post-9/11 program as of the date of election.

Sets forth transitional rules with respect the transfer or revocation of entitlements from a previous assistance program after an election to convert to the post-9/11 program. Requires certain assistance to remain available to individuals under their previous program if it is not available under the post-9/11 program.

Authorizes the VA Secretary to make an alternative election on behalf of an individual who submits an election on or after October 1, 2014, that the Secretary determines is against the individual's interests. Allows such individual, during the subsequent 30-day period, to modify or revoke the alternative selection.

(Sec. 9) Amends veterans' educational assistance program reporting requirements under which enrolled veterans (or eligible persons) and educational institutions must report enrollment information to the Secretary. Requires individuals and educational institutions participating in the post-Vietnam era and post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance programs to report to the Secretary such enrollment and any updates on interruption or termination of education (thereby making the enrollment reporting requirements for the post-Vietnam and post-9/11 programs consistent with other veterans' educational programs).

Defines "educational institution" to permit the inclusion of groups, districts, or consortiums of separately accredited educational institutions located in the same state that are organized in a manner facilitating the centralized reporting by veterans and educational institutions of their participation in the post-Vietnam era and post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance programs.

(Sec. 10) Extends through FY2018 VA authority to collect a fee from each individual obtaining an additional VA-guaranteed housing loan.

(Sec. 11) Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow a court to stay for a specified period (generally, one year after the event occurred for which an individual became covered) proceedings in an action to enforce an obligation on real or personal property secured by a mortgage against: (1) a servicemember who is or was eligible for hostile fire or imminent danger pay during a period of military service, (2) a servicemember placed on convalescent status, (3) a veteran who was medically discharged and retired, or (4) the surviving spouse of a member who died during military service. Requires such court to stay such proceedings upon a request by such individual. Prohibits the sale, foreclosure, or seizure of the subject property during such period, except upon a court order or pursuant to an agreement authorized under such Act. Requires the individual to notify the mortgagee, trustee, or other creditor of such coverage. Provides a criminal penalty for violations of the sale or foreclosure prohibitions and increases current civil penalties for mortgage violations under the Act. Prohibits an individual from being denied or refused credit solely by reason of eligibility for relief under this section.

(Sec. 12) Requires a servicemember-mortgagor who does not reside in the mortgage-secured residence due to military relocation and who inquires about, or applies for, a refinancing to be considered to occupy such residence during the period of the relocation.

(Sec. 13) Requires each lending institution acting as a creditor to such servicemember, veteran, or surviving spouse to designate an employee responsible for ensuring the institution's compliance with requirements of such Act. Requires any such institution that had prior annual assets of $10 billion or more to maintain on its primary website a toll-free number for information concerning such requirements.

(Sec. 14) Requires a custody order that was in effect immediately before a court renders a temporary child custody order based solely on a deployment or anticipated deployment of a parent-servicemember to be reinstated upon the servicemember's return,, unless the court finds that such reinstatement is not in the child's best interest. Prohibits a court from considering the absence of a servicemember due to deployment, or the possibility of deployment, as the sole factor in determining a child's best interest. Requires the appropriate court, in any case where state law applicable to child custody proceedings provides a higher standard of protection to the rights of a deploying servicemember, to apply the higher standard. Defines a deployment for purposes of this section as one lasting more than 60 and up to 540 days for which dependent travel to the location is not authorized or permitted.

measure amended reported house september summary version repeated veterans economic opportunity act sec establishes department_of_veterans_affairs veterans economic opportunity administration headed secretary veterans economic opportunity administer programs economic opportunity assistance veterans dependents survivors requires administer vocational rehabilitation employment programs educational assistance programs veterans housing loan related programs veterans small business programs limits aggregate number time equivalent employees authorized veterans benefit administration fy2014 fy2015 sec extends fy2018 homeless veterans reintegration programs job training counseling placement services expedite reintegration homeless veterans labor force sec expands eligibility children educational assistance educational assistance program include child person september awarded purple heart injury dies result injury days discharge release active duty service sec allows individuals elect convert educational assistance veterans educational assistance program august meet specified conditions respect entitlements elections volunteer force educational assistance program certain educational assistance programs professional military selected_reserve reserve component members conditions program eligibility individual meeting requirements program date election sets forth transitional rules respect transfer revocation entitlements previous assistance program election convert program requires certain assistance remain available individuals previous program available program authorizes secretary alternative election behalf individual submits election october secretary determines individual interests allows individual subsequent day period modify revoke alternative selection sec amends veterans educational assistance program reporting requirements enrolled veterans eligible persons educational institutions report enrollment information secretary requires individuals educational institutions participating post vietnam era veterans educational assistance programs report secretary enrollment updates interruption termination education making enrollment reporting requirements post vietnam programs consistent veterans educational programs defines educational institution permit inclusion groups districts consortiums separately accredited educational institutions located state organized manner facilitating centralized reporting veterans educational institutions participation post vietnam era veterans educational assistance programs sec extends fy2018 authority collect fee individual obtaining additional guaranteed housing loan sec amends servicemembers_civil_relief_act allow court stay specified period generally year event occurred individual covered proceedings action enforce obligation real personal property secured mortgage servicemember eligible hostile fire imminent danger pay period military service servicemember placed convalescent status veteran medically discharged retired surviving spouse member died military service requires court stay proceedings request individual prohibits sale foreclosure seizure subject property period court order pursuant agreement authorized act requires individual notify mortgagee trustee creditor coverage provides criminal penalty violations sale foreclosure prohibitions increases current civil penalties mortgage violations act prohibits individual denied refused credit solely reason eligibility relief section sec requires servicemember mortgagor reside mortgage secured residence military relocation inquires applies refinancing considered occupy residence period relocation sec requires lending institution acting creditor servicemember veteran surviving spouse designate employee responsible ensuring institution compliance requirements act requires institution prior annual assets billion maintain primary website toll free number information concerning requirements sec requires custody order effect immediately court renders temporary child custody order based solely deployment anticipated deployment parent servicemember reinstated servicemember return court finds reinstatement child best interest prohibits court considering absence servicemember deployment possibility deployment sole factor determining child best interest requires appropriate court case state law applicable child custody proceedings provides higher standard protection rights deploying servicemember apply higher standard defines deployment purposes section lasting days dependent travel location authorized permitted


Summary:
Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013 - Extends the following Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and services through FY2014: (1) homeless veterans reintegration programs, (2) referral and counseling services for veterans at risk of homelessness who are transitioning from certain institutions (including penal institutions), (3) financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing, and (4) a grant program for homeless veterans with special needs.

Extends the following VA programs and services through 2014: (1) treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans, (2) housing assistance for homeless veterans, and (3) the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.

helping homeless veterans act extends following department_of_veterans_affairs programs services fy2014 homeless veterans reintegration programs referral counseling services veterans risk homelessness transitioning certain institutions including penal institutions financial assistance supportive services low income veteran families permanent housing grant program homeless veterans special needs extends following programs services treatment rehabilitation seriously mentally ill homeless veterans housing assistance homeless veterans advisory_committee homeless veterans


Summary:
Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2013 - Defines a "covered individual" as a Vietnam resident who is affected by health issues related to Agent Orange exposure which took place between January 1, 1961, and May 7, 1975, or who lives or had lived in or near geographic areas in Vietnam that continue to contain high levels of Agent Orange, or who is affected by such health issues as the child or descendant of such resident.

Directs the Secretary of State to provide assistance: (1) to address the health care needs of covered individuals, (2) to institutions in Vietnam that provide health care to such individuals, (3) to repair and rebuild substandard homes in Vietnam for covered individuals and their families, and (4) to remediate geographic areas of Vietnam that contain high levels of Agent Orange.

Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide assistance to support research relating to health issues of individuals affected by Agent Orange.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) make grants to appropriate public health organizations and Vietnamese-American organizations to conduct a broad health assessment of Vietnamese-Americans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange and their children or descendants; and (2) establish centers in U.S. locations where large populations of Vietnamese-Americans reside to provide assessment, counseling, and treatment for conditions related to Agent Orange exposure.

Amends veterans benefits provisions to provide benefits to the children of male (currently only female) Vietnam veterans who are affected by certain birth defects. Requires the VA Secretary to require any health care provider with whom the Secretary enters into a contract for the provision of health care to such children to provide the VA access to the medical records of such children for research into the intergenerational effects of Agent Orange exposure.

victims agent orange relief_act defines covered individual vietnam resident affected health issues related agent orange exposure took place january lives lived near geographic areas vietnam continue contain high levels agent orange affected health issues child descendant resident directs secretary state provide assistance address health_care needs covered individuals institutions vietnam provide health_care individuals repair rebuild substandard homes vietnam covered individuals families remediate geographic areas vietnam contain high levels agent orange directs secretary secretary veterans_affairs provide assistance support research relating health issues individuals affected agent orange requires secretary health_and_human_services hhs grants appropriate public health organizations vietnamese american organizations conduct broad health assessment vietnamese americans exposed agent orange children descendants establish centers locations large populations vietnamese americans reside provide assessment counseling treatment conditions related agent orange exposure amends veterans benefits provisions provide benefits children male currently female vietnam veterans affected certain birth defects requires secretary require health_care provider secretary enters contract provision health_care children provide access medical records children research effects agent orange exposure


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Extends a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program of counseling and care and services for veterans for sexual trauma that occurred during active duty or active duty for training to veterans who experienced such trauma during inactive duty training.

measure amended introduced summary version repeated extends department_of_veterans_affairs program counseling care services veterans sexual trauma occurred active duty active duty training veterans experienced trauma inactive duty training


Summary:
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a task force to assess retention and training of claims processors and adjudicators that are employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other federal agencies.

Directs the task force to:

 identify key skills required by claims processors and adjudicators throughout the federal government; identify reasons for employee attrition from claims processing positions; develop a government-wide strategic and operational plan for promoting employment of veterans in claims processing positions; establish performance measures to assess such plan and its implementation and revise such plan as appropriate; coordinate with educational institutions to develop training and educational programs to prepare members of the Armed Forces for such employment; identify and coordinate offices of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the VA to provide information about, and promotion of, available claims processing positions to members of the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life and to veterans with disabilities; and establish performance measures to evaluate the task force's effectiveness.

directs secretary veterans_affairs establish task_force assess retention training claims processors employed department_of_veterans_affairs federal agencies directs task_force identify key skills required claims processors federal_government identify reasons employee attrition claims processing positions develop government wide strategic operational plan promoting employment veterans claims processing positions establish performance measures assess plan implementation revise plan appropriate coordinate educational institutions develop training educational programs prepare members armed_forces employment identify coordinate offices department_of_defense dod provide information promotion available claims processing positions members armed_forces transitioning civilian life veterans disabilities establish performance measures evaluate task_force effectiveness


Summary: Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act - Amends the definition of "spouse" for purposes of veterans' benefits provisions to require an individual to be considered a spouse if the marriage of the individual is valid in the state in which the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any state, if the marriage is valid in the place in which the marriage was entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a state. Includes as a state the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. territories and possessions.

veteran spouses equal treatment act_-_amends definition spouse purposes veterans benefits provisions require individual considered spouse marriage individual valid state marriage entered case marriage entered outside state marriage valid place marriage entered marriage entered state includes state district_of_columbia commonwealths puerto_rico northern_mariana_islands territories possessions


Summary: Expedited Hiring for VA Trained Psychiatrists Act of 2013 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to appoint a psychiatrist who completes a residency at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility to a VHA health care position immediately after such residency, without regard to civil service or classification laws, if: (1) the psychiatrist meets the qualifications established in regulations prescribed for the position, and (2) such position has been unfilled for at least 35 days.

expedited hiring trained psychiatrists act authorizes secretary veterans_affairs appoint psychiatrist completes residency veterans_health_administration vha facility vha health_care position immediately residency regard civil service classification laws psychiatrist meets qualifications established regulations prescribed position position days


Summary:
Veterans Access to Timely Medical Appointments Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement a standardized policy to ensure that veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system are able to schedule: (1) primary care medical appointments within 7 days of the date requested, and (2) specialty care medical appointments within 14 days of the date requested.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) ensure that such policy will provide reliable data regarding the length of time that veterans are waiting for such appointments, (2) issue detailed guidance to the directors of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks to ensure the consistent implementation of such policy, (3) ensure that only VA employees who have completed required training are allowed to schedule medical appointments, and (4) assess the resources of each Network every 180 days to determine the Network's ability to meet such scheduling requirements.

Requires the Secretary to direct each VA medical center to provide oversight of telephone access and implement the best practices outlined in the VA telephone systems improvement guide, including practices to ensure that: (1) calls are answered in a timely manner and patient messages will have a return call within 24 hours, and (2) a call center at each such center is properly staffed to meet the needs of the veteran population served.

Directs the Inspector General of the VA to submit an annual report on the Secretary's progress in implementing this Act.

veterans access timely medical appointments act_-_directs secretary veterans_affairs implement standardized policy ensure veterans enrolled department_of_veterans_affairs health_care system able schedule primary care medical appointments days date requested specialty care medical appointments days date requested directs secretary ensure policy provide reliable data length time veterans waiting appointments issue detailed guidance directors veterans_integrated_service_networks ensure consistent implementation policy ensure employees completed required training allowed schedule medical appointments assess resources network days determine network ability meet scheduling requirements requires secretary direct medical center provide oversight telephone access implement best practices outlined telephone systems improvement guide including practices ensure calls timely manner patient messages return hours center center properly staffed meet needs veteran population served directs inspector_general submit annual report secretary progress implementing act


Summary:
Veterans Education Transparency Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide to any veteran or person who receives educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary the option of making such person's relevant records maintained by the Secretary, including information about the amount of educational assistance to which the person is entitled, available through an Internet website to the educational institution that provides the course of education in which the person is enrolled.

Directs the Secretary to take steps to ensure that: (1) such educational institution agrees that such records will be made available only for the purpose of counseling the person in making decisions related to his or her education, and (2) no unauthorized person is given access to any such record.

veterans education transparency act_-_directs secretary veterans_affairs provide veteran person receives educational assistance laws administered secretary option making person relevant records maintained secretary including information educational assistance person entitled available internet website educational institution provides course education person enrolled directs secretary steps ensure educational institution agrees records available purpose counseling person making decisions related education unauthorized person given access record


Summary: Military Reserve Jobs Act - Grants hiring preferences for federal employment to members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who: (1) have successfully completed officer candidate training or entry level and skill training and have incurred, or are performing, a 6-year commitment with a reserve component (3 point preference); (2) have completed at least 10 years of service with a reserve component and have earned at least 50 retirement points per year (4 point preference); or (3) are retired from service in a reserve component and are eligible for, but have not yet begun receiving, retired pay for non-regular service (5 point preference). Extends the appeals process for veterans employed by the Veterans Health Administration for violations of preference rights.

military reserve jobs_act grants hiring preferences federal employment members reserve component armed_forces successfully completed officer candidate training entry level skill training incurred performing year commitment reserve component point preference completed years service reserve component earned retirement points year point preference retired service reserve component eligible begun receiving retired pay non regular service point preference extends appeals process veterans employed veterans_health_administration violations preference rights


Summary: Fairness for America's Heroes Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to exempt veterans, until January 1, 2015, from the penalty for failure to maintain minimum essential health care coverage. Defines a "veteran," for purposes of this Act, as an individual who served on active duty (other than active duty for training) and who has been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.

fairness america heroes act amends_the_internal_revenue_code amended patient_protection affordable care act exempt veterans january penalty failure maintain minimum essential health_care coverage defines veteran purposes act individual served active duty active duty training discharged released conditions dishonorable


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Reestablishes the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through December 31, 2019. (The Committee terminated on December 31, 2006.)

measure amended introduced summary version repeated reestablishes professional certification licensure advisory_committee department_of_veterans_affairs december committee terminated december


Summary: Makes eligible for beneficiary travel through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a veteran whose travel to a specialized outpatient or residential program at a VA facility is in connection with treatment or care for military sexual trauma.

makes eligible beneficiary travel department_of_veterans_affairs veteran travel specialized outpatient residential program facility connection treatment care military sexual trauma


Summary: Requires a state, as a condition for receipt of a grant or contract from the Department of Labor for support of disabled veterans' outreach specialists and local veterans' employment representatives, to: (1) establish a program that issues a license or credential to a veteran without requiring any training or apprenticeship if such veteran receives a satisfactory score on completion of an examination administered by that state and has at least 10 years of experience in a military occupational specialty that is similar to the civilian occupation for which such license or credential is required; and (2) submit a report each year on the exams administered that includes the number of veterans who completed such exams and a description of the results of such exams, disaggregated by occupational field.

requires state condition receipt grant contract department_of_labor support disabled veterans outreach specialists local veterans employment representatives establish program issues license credential veteran requiring training apprenticeship veteran receives satisfactory score completion examination administered state years experience military occupational specialty similar civilian occupation license credential required submit report year exams administered includes number veterans completed exams description results exams disaggregated occupational field


Summary:
Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act - Authorizes the appropriate federal official (either the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Secretary of the Army) to reconsider a decision to inter or honor the memory of a person in the National Cemetery Administration or in Arlington National Cemetery upon receiving information that such person may have committed a federal or state capital crime but was not convicted by reason of unavailability for trial due to death or flight to avoid prosecution.

Requires the appropriate federal official, upon finding, after an opportunity for a hearing, that the person committed but was not convicted of such crime, to provide notice to the individual's next of kin or other authorized person. Allows such next of kin or other person 60 days to file a notice of disagreement, which shall be decided in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe. Authorizes the appropriate federal official, when a decision becomes final, to disinter the remains or remove the memorial headstone.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs: (1) to disinter the remains of Michael LaShawn Anderson from Fort Custer National Cemetery (Michigan); (2) to notify his next of kin of the impending disinterment; and (3) upon disinterment, to relinquish the remains to the next of kin or, if the next of kin of record in unavailable, arrange for the appropriate disposition of the remains.

dawn respect national cemeteries act_-_authorizes appropriate federal official secretary veterans_affairs secretary army reconsider decision inter honor memory person national_cemetery_administration arlington national cemetery receiving information person committed federal state capital crime convicted reason trial death flight avoid prosecution requires appropriate federal official finding opportunity hearing person committed convicted crime provide notice individual kin authorized person allows kin person days file notice disagreement shall decided accordance regulations secretary defense shall prescribe authorizes appropriate federal official decision final remains remove memorial headstone directs secretary veterans_affairs remains michael fort national cemetery michigan notify kin impending relinquish remains kin kin record unavailable arrange appropriate disposition remains


Summary: Includes among the circumstances under which the federal government shall not be entitled to recover a portion of the value of state home facilities that received a grant for, but that the state has ceased to operate for, furnishing domiciliary or nursing home care to veterans the provision by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) of a contract or grant for veterans' residential care in such facilities.

includes circumstances federal_government shall entitled recover portion value state home facilities received grant state ceased operate furnishing domiciliary nursing home care veterans provision secretary veterans_affairs contract grant veterans residential care facilities


Summary: Benefits Fairness for Filipino Veterans Act of 2013 - Provides that, with respect to eligibility for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of Filipino veterans who are lawful U.S. residents, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not determine that such a person is not an individual residing in the United States solely because the person is outside the United States for any period of less than one year.

benefits fairness filipino veterans act provides respect eligibility benefits department_of_veterans_affairs filipino veterans lawful residents secretary veterans_affairs determine person individual residing united_states solely person outside united_states period year