Legis Daily

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

USA115th CongressS-2248| Senate 
| Updated: 12/31/2018
Jon Tester

Jon Tester

Democratic Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (2)
Dean Heller (Republican)Tom Udall (Democratic)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 This bill updates various Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and programs in areas including education, transition assistance, and civil relief. The bill makes a number of changes to educational benefits. Among the changes, the bill adjusts assistance limits for veterans participating in a VA vocational rehabilitation program who are called to active reserve duty in certain instances. The bill also requires the VA to electronically provide documentation verifying the amount of their housing stipend to recipients of Post-9/11 educational assistance and requires the VA to disapprove courses of education at educational institutions that have certain payment policies in place. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to make prompt payments of educational assistance funding and to provide information on whether a postsecondary education institution requires a covered individual to take certain actions to stay enrolled pending a receipt of educational assistance. Finally, the bill updates the basic housing allowance amounts for veterans enrolled in high technology programs pursuant to the VA pilot program. The bill makes changes regarding memorial affairs for veterans, including requiring the VA to furnish, when requested, headstones or markers for the unmarked graves of any eligible individuals (including those whose remains are unavailable) buried in a veterans cemetery owned by a tribal organization or on land owned by or held in trust for a tribal organization. The bill amends several sections of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, including to allow (1) a surviving spouse of a deceased servicemember who died while in military service to terminate a lease without penalty within one year of the servicemember's death; (2) the spouse of a servicemember to elect to use the same residence as the servicemember for the purposes of taxation and voting; and (3) a servicemember to terminate a commercial mobile, telephone exchange, internet access or programming service contract after the service member receives military orders to a location that does not support such contracts. With regard to transition assistance, the bill requires the VA to identify and publish a list of community-based programs operated by nonprofit entities that provide transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are retired, separated, or discharged. The bill addresses a variety of VA administrative issues. Specifically, the bill directs the VA to prohibit employees who have knowingly misused VA purchase cards from serving as purchase card holders or approving officials. The bill also requires the VA to make changes to its information technology systems so that changes to information about a person's dependent is reviewable and revisable by that person. Under the bill, the VA must submit certain documents to Congress related to the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program. In addition, the VA must develop a standard letter to be provided to individuals who owe debts to the VA and to develop a method by which individuals can elect to receive such notice electronically. The bill also makes several other changes to a variety of VA programs, projects, and benefits. Specifically, the bill authorizes specific major medical facility projects and requires VA medical facility directors to submit plans to improve facilities. The bill expands eligibility for homeless veterans reintegration programs to other veterans, including include veterans who are transitioning from being incarcerated and others. The VA must award contracts to multiple regional prime vendors instead of a single nationwide prime vendor for the Medical Surgical Prime Vendor program; and Finally, the bill requires the VA to report on the feasibility and advisability of expanding access to dental care for eligible veterans.

Bill Text Versions

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5 versions available

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Timeline
Dec 19, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Dec 19, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 1, 2018
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S1321)
Mar 1, 2018
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S1321)
Mar 1, 2018
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1321)
Mar 1, 2018
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1321)
Mar 5, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mar 5, 2018
Received in the House.
Mar 5, 2018
Held at the desk.
Dec 10, 2018
Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 10, 2018
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9794-9802)
Dec 10, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2248.
Dec 10, 2018
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9794-9798)
Dec 10, 2018
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9794-9798)
Dec 10, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 11, 2018
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Dec 19, 2018
Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2248 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7896)
Dec 19, 2018
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2248 by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7896)
Dec 20, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 27, 2018
Presented to President.
Dec 31, 2018
Signed by President.
Dec 31, 2018
Became Public Law No: 115-407.
  • December 19, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 19, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 1, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S1321)


  • March 1, 2018
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S1321)


  • March 1, 2018
    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1321)


  • March 1, 2018
    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1321)


  • March 5, 2018
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • March 5, 2018
    Received in the House.


  • March 5, 2018
    Held at the desk.


  • December 10, 2018
    Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • December 10, 2018
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9794-9802)


  • December 10, 2018
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2248.


  • December 10, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9794-9798)


  • December 10, 2018
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9794-9798)


  • December 10, 2018
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 11, 2018
    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.


  • December 19, 2018
    Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2248 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7896)


  • December 19, 2018
    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2248 by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7896)


  • December 20, 2018
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 27, 2018
    Presented to President.


  • December 31, 2018
    Signed by President.


  • December 31, 2018
    Became Public Law No: 115-407.

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 115-3657: To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain burial benefits for spouses and children of veterans who are buried in tribal cemeteries, and for other purposes.
Cemeteries and funeralsIndian lands and resources rightsMonuments and memorialsVeterans' organizations and recognition

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

USA115th CongressS-2248| Senate 
| Updated: 12/31/2018
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 This bill updates various Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and programs in areas including education, transition assistance, and civil relief. The bill makes a number of changes to educational benefits. Among the changes, the bill adjusts assistance limits for veterans participating in a VA vocational rehabilitation program who are called to active reserve duty in certain instances. The bill also requires the VA to electronically provide documentation verifying the amount of their housing stipend to recipients of Post-9/11 educational assistance and requires the VA to disapprove courses of education at educational institutions that have certain payment policies in place. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to make prompt payments of educational assistance funding and to provide information on whether a postsecondary education institution requires a covered individual to take certain actions to stay enrolled pending a receipt of educational assistance. Finally, the bill updates the basic housing allowance amounts for veterans enrolled in high technology programs pursuant to the VA pilot program. The bill makes changes regarding memorial affairs for veterans, including requiring the VA to furnish, when requested, headstones or markers for the unmarked graves of any eligible individuals (including those whose remains are unavailable) buried in a veterans cemetery owned by a tribal organization or on land owned by or held in trust for a tribal organization. The bill amends several sections of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, including to allow (1) a surviving spouse of a deceased servicemember who died while in military service to terminate a lease without penalty within one year of the servicemember's death; (2) the spouse of a servicemember to elect to use the same residence as the servicemember for the purposes of taxation and voting; and (3) a servicemember to terminate a commercial mobile, telephone exchange, internet access or programming service contract after the service member receives military orders to a location that does not support such contracts. With regard to transition assistance, the bill requires the VA to identify and publish a list of community-based programs operated by nonprofit entities that provide transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are retired, separated, or discharged. The bill addresses a variety of VA administrative issues. Specifically, the bill directs the VA to prohibit employees who have knowingly misused VA purchase cards from serving as purchase card holders or approving officials. The bill also requires the VA to make changes to its information technology systems so that changes to information about a person's dependent is reviewable and revisable by that person. Under the bill, the VA must submit certain documents to Congress related to the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program. In addition, the VA must develop a standard letter to be provided to individuals who owe debts to the VA and to develop a method by which individuals can elect to receive such notice electronically. The bill also makes several other changes to a variety of VA programs, projects, and benefits. Specifically, the bill authorizes specific major medical facility projects and requires VA medical facility directors to submit plans to improve facilities. The bill expands eligibility for homeless veterans reintegration programs to other veterans, including include veterans who are transitioning from being incarcerated and others. The VA must award contracts to multiple regional prime vendors instead of a single nationwide prime vendor for the Medical Surgical Prime Vendor program; and Finally, the bill requires the VA to report on the feasibility and advisability of expanding access to dental care for eligible veterans.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
5 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Dec 19, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Dec 19, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 1, 2018
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S1321)
Mar 1, 2018
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S1321)
Mar 1, 2018
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1321)
Mar 1, 2018
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1321)
Mar 5, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mar 5, 2018
Received in the House.
Mar 5, 2018
Held at the desk.
Dec 10, 2018
Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 10, 2018
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9794-9802)
Dec 10, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2248.
Dec 10, 2018
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9794-9798)
Dec 10, 2018
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9794-9798)
Dec 10, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 11, 2018
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Dec 19, 2018
Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2248 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7896)
Dec 19, 2018
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2248 by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7896)
Dec 20, 2018
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 27, 2018
Presented to President.
Dec 31, 2018
Signed by President.
Dec 31, 2018
Became Public Law No: 115-407.
  • December 19, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 19, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 1, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S1321)


  • March 1, 2018
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S1321)


  • March 1, 2018
    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1321)


  • March 1, 2018
    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1321)


  • March 5, 2018
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • March 5, 2018
    Received in the House.


  • March 5, 2018
    Held at the desk.


  • December 10, 2018
    Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • December 10, 2018
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9794-9802)


  • December 10, 2018
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2248.


  • December 10, 2018
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9794-9798)


  • December 10, 2018
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9794-9798)


  • December 10, 2018
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 11, 2018
    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.


  • December 19, 2018
    Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2248 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7896)


  • December 19, 2018
    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2248 by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7896)


  • December 20, 2018
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 27, 2018
    Presented to President.


  • December 31, 2018
    Signed by President.


  • December 31, 2018
    Became Public Law No: 115-407.
Jon Tester

Jon Tester

Democratic Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (2)
Dean Heller (Republican)Tom Udall (Democratic)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 115-3657: To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain burial benefits for spouses and children of veterans who are buried in tribal cemeteries, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Cemeteries and funeralsIndian lands and resources rightsMonuments and memorialsVeterans' organizations and recognition