-
Cost Estimate
October 26, 2016
H.R. 5099 would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to accept up to five donations of real property such as land or facilities from nonfederal entities for a pilot program to construct VA facilities. Any such donated property would need to meet a requirement for capital improvements that VA had previously identified as necessary to provide services or benefits to veterans. The department could help finance such a project using any amounts that had been appropriated for that project before it entered into an agreement with the nonfederal entity.
-
Cost Estimate
October 25, 2016
Military personnel can retain their residences or domiciles for purposes of state and local taxation and voter registration when they leave a state if that move, and any subsequent moves, are made in compliance with military orders. Under the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, spouses of service members can retain their states of residency if they move and reside with the service member; they cannot use the service members’ states of residency for taxation or voting purposes unless they can independently establish entitlement according to state laws. H.R.
-
Cost Estimate
October 24, 2016
Enacting S. 2921 would affect several benefit programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including those providing education, housing, and burial benefits. On net, those changes would decrease direct spending by $3.9 billion over the 2017-2026 period.
-
Cost Estimate
October 13, 2016
H.R. 5399 would require physicians employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report unethical health care practices that take place at VA medical facilities to the appropriate state licensing authority within five days of occurrence. The bill also would require VA to inform physicians of that responsibility.
-
Cost Estimate
October 13, 2016
H.R. 4757 would modify burial programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and would make certain deceased veterans eligible for Presidential Memorial Certificates. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4757 would increase direct spending by $36 million over the 2017-2026 period. Pay-as-you-go procedures apply because enacting the legislation would affect direct spending. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues.
-
Cost Estimate
October 13, 2016
H.R. 5600 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a one-year pilot program to treat a limited number of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, chronic pain, or opiate addiction by using Magnetic eResonance Therapy technology (MeRT technology). The bill also would require VA to report to the Congress on the results of that pilot program. MeRT technology is a customized neurological treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain tissue.
-
Cost Estimate
October 12, 2016
H.R. 4150 would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer alternative work schedules (above or below 80 hours on a biweekly basis) to physicians or physician assistants (PAs) who work for VA on a full-time basis, provided that the total work hours in a calendar year do not exceed 2,080. Physicians and PAs would not be eligible for overtime pay for the hours worked in accordance with an alternative work schedule. VA reports that implementing this bill would not affect the amount of compensation paid to those employees.
-
Cost Estimate
October 12, 2016
H.R. 5047 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include information on articulation agreements when it provides educational and vocational counseling to veterans. Articulation agreements are arrangements between institutions of higher learning regarding how those institutions will grant academic credit for course work pursued at other such institutions. CBO expects that if the bill were enacted, VA would provide veterans with the required information as part of its regular counseling services.
-
Cost Estimate
September 29, 2016
H.R. 4138 would grant the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the authority to recoup from an employee any relocation expenses paid on behalf of that employee if VA determines that such repayment is appropriate. Affected employees would have to be provided with a notice of recoupment and an opportunity for a hearing conducted by another agency of the federal government. Under current law, VA has the authority to recoup such payments from an employee only if VA has determined that such employee has been paid incorrectly.
-
Cost Estimate
September 23, 2016
H.R. 5162 would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to disclose certain medical information to nondepartment entities that provide hospital care or medical treatment to veterans who are enrolled in VA’s healthcare system. Under current law, VA cannot release information related to certain medical issues, such as drug abuse, without a signed authorization from the patient.
-
Cost Estimate
September 22, 2016
H.R. 5392 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop a quality assurance document that would identify performance metrics and objectives to improve the effectiveness of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). The VCL is a toll-free number that provides confidential support to veterans and their family members 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. VA also would be required to develop a plan to ensure that each call to the VCL is answered in a timely fashion. VA would be required to submit both the document and the plan to the Congress within 180 days of the bill’s enactment.
-
Cost Estimate
September 22, 2016
H.R. 3216 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to examine any veteran who requests care at an emergency department of a VA medical facility and who is enrolled in VA’s health care system. Further, if such a veteran was determined to have an emergency medical condition, the facility would be required to provide treatment to stabilize the veteran or to transfer the veteran to another medical facility that could provide such treatment.
-
Cost Estimate
September 13, 2016
Estimate of direct spending for H.R. 5985
-
Cost Estimate
September 9, 2016
H.R. 4782 would modify several programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including veterans’ disability and burial benefits. H.R. 4782 also would create a pilot program intended to help veterans apply for VA benefits and would reserve burial plots at Arlington National Cemetery for recipients of the Medal of Honor. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4782 would, on net, decrease direct spending by $312 million over the 2017-2026 period. Pay-as-you-go procedures apply because enacting the legislation would affect direct spending.
-
Cost Estimate
September 9, 2016
Enacting S. 425 would reduce benefits provided under certain education programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) while expanding eligibility under those programs for some beneficiaries. The bill also would increase the amount of the pension paid to Medal of Honor recipients. On net, those changes would decrease direct spending by $4.1 billion over the 2017-2026 period.
-
Cost Estimate
August 19, 2016
H.R. 5178 would reduce the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for recipients of certain education benefits that are administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also would increase the total amount of education benefits that are available under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In total, the bill would reduce net direct spending by $18 million over the 2017-2026 period, CBO estimates.
Pay-as-you-go procedures apply because enacting the legislation would affect direct spending. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues.
-
Cost Estimate
August 2, 2016
H.R. 3471 would modify a program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that assists eligible veterans with purchasing automobiles and having those vehicles adapted to accommodate the veterans’ disabilities. The bill also would authorize VA to employ hearing aid specialists and would require VA to prepare an annual report documenting the access of veterans to hearing health services sponsored by VA. In total, CBO estimates that implementing H.R.
-
Cost Estimate
July 29, 2016
H.R. 3286 would require the Department of Labor (DOL) to establish the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, within one year of enactment, to annually recognize businesses for their efforts to employ veterans. CBO expects that establishing and implementing the program would require DOL staff to develop award criteria, solicit applications for the program, review nominations, and select winners. Award recipients would be recognized with gold or platinum medallions based on the number of veterans they employ and their efforts to hire and train veterans.
-
Cost Estimate
July 20, 2016
H.R. 5458 would allow certain individuals who are automatically eligible for TRICARE, which is the health benefits program of the Department of Defense, to elect to be temporarily ineligible for that benefit. Making that election would allow those individuals to contribute to health savings accounts (HSAs), which are tax-advantaged accounts used to pay health expenses. Under current law, individuals eligible for TRICARE cannot make contributions to HSAs. The new election allowed under H.R. 5458 would not apply to individuals serving on active duty.
-
Cost Estimate
June 28, 2016
H.R. 3974 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year pilot program that would provide educational assistance to veterans training to be physician assistants (PAs) for the department. CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $36 million over the 2017-2021 period, subject to appropriation of the necessary amounts.
-
Cost Estimate
June 10, 2016
S. 2943 would authorize appropriations totaling an estimated $603.9 billion for the military functions of the Department of Defense (DoD), for certain activities of the Department of Energy (DOE), and for other purposes. In addition, S. 2943 would prescribe personnel strengths for each active-duty and selected-reserve component of the U.S. armed forces. CBO estimates that appropriation of the authorized amounts would result in outlays of $587.8 billion over the 2017-2021 period.
-
Cost Estimate
May 23, 2016
H.R. 5229 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in collaboration with the Department of Labor and the Department of Defense, to conduct a study that would evaluate the effectiveness of programs that assist members separating from the armed forces in making a successful transition to civilian life. The study would focus on the outcomes of such programs for women veterans, veterans with disabilities, and other groups of minority veterans. Within 18 months of enactment, VA would be required to submit a report to the Congress regarding their findings from the study.
-
Cost Estimate
May 23, 2016
Within 120 days of enactment, H.R. 3956 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and implement a plan to hire directors at each VA medical center that lacks a permanent director. The bill also would require VA to submit semiannual reports to the Congress on the remaining vacant positions. VA reports that it has such a plan in place and is working aggressively to hire new directors.
-
Cost Estimate
May 23, 2016
H.R. 2460 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into provider agreements or contracts with State Veterans Homes (SVHs) to provide adult day health care (ADHC) to veterans with severe service-connected disabilities at rates above VA’s current per-diem rates. SVHs are facilities that offer nursing home care, domiciliary care, or ADHC primarily to veterans. Those facilities are operated by state governments, but do receive some of their funding from the federal government.
-
Cost Estimate
May 23, 2016
H.R. 3715 would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to allow interment, funeral, and memorial services to be performed on weekends (other than federal holidays) at national cemeteries under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In addition, the bill would require that any grants provided under the Veterans Cemetery Grant Program (VCGP) to state cemeteries be conditioned on those cemeteries also allowing such weekend burials.
-
Cost Estimate
May 20, 2016
H.R. 5286 would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into leases for 18 medical facilities and enhanced-use leases to provide supportive housing for veterans. The bill also would modify disability compensation for veterans by rounding payments down to the next lower dollar and authorizing payments to veterans who have lost certain organs. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5286 would reduce net direct spending by $846 million over the 2017-2026 period (see Table 1). Because enacting the bill would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply.
-
Cost Estimate
May 17, 2016
H.R. 3484 would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to lease property at the department’s medical campus in Los Angeles to developers who would construct supportive housing and rehabilitation facilities for homeless veterans. Once occupied, the housing would receive operating subsidies from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). VA personnel would provide a variety of services on an ongoing basis to resident veterans. CBO believes that constructing housing in that manner is a governmental activity that should be recorded in the federal budget.
-
Cost Estimate
May 17, 2016
H.R. 1769 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a national center to conduct research on health conditions affecting descendants of veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their service in the armed forces. The bill also would create an advisory board to oversee and provide support to the center. CBO estimates that implementing those provisions would cost $74 million over the 2017-2021 period, subject to appropriation of the necessary amounts.
-
Cost Estimate
May 17, 2016
S. 2127 would modify several personnel and administrative procedures at federal agencies—some of which would be specific to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—and would require two reports. CBO estimates that implementing S. 2127 would cost $3 million over the 2017-2021 period; that spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting S. 2127 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
-
Cost Estimate
May 11, 2016
H.R. 4909 would authorize appropriations totaling an estimated $603.3 billion for the military functions of the Department of Defense (DoD), for certain activities of the Department of Energy (DOE), and for other purposes. In addition, H.R. 4909 would prescribe personnel strengths for each active-duty and selected-reserve component of the U.S. armed forces. CBO estimates that appropriation of the authorized amounts would result in outlays of $587 billion over the 2017-2021 period.
![Search Search](/congress114th/20161108194113im_/https://www.cbo.gov/sites/all/themes/cboflex/images/search-icon.png)