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Latest Action: 04/12/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4440-4441)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain housing benefits to disabled members of the Armed Forces, to expand certain benefits for disabled veterans with severe burns, and for other purposes. 4/12/2007--Introduced. Veterans' Housing Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in the case of a member of the Armed Forces determined to have a total disability permanent in nature which was incurred or aggravated in the line of active duty, to furnish home improvements and structural alterations for the member for the disability while the member is hospitalized or receiving outpatient care, medical services, or treatment, if the Secretary determines that the member is likely to be discharged or released from the Armed Forces for such disability. Authorizes the provision of specially adapted housing assistance for: (1) disabled veterans whose disability is due to a severe burn injury; and (2) disabled members residing [...]

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Latest Action: 09/23/2008 - Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

Bill Text
An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance veterans' insurance and housing benefits, to improve benefits and services for transitioning servicemembers, and for other purposes. 4/24/2008--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 - Title I: Insurance Matters - (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to grant level-premium, term life insurance to each veteran less than 65 years old who has a service-connected disability and who seeks such insurance, with a maximum coverage amount of $50,000. Reduces the coverage amount by 80% once the veteran turns 70 and prohibits charging a premium in such a case. (Sec. 102) Allows administrative costs of the Service-Disabled Veterans' Insurance program to be paid through premiums. (Sec. 103) Includes all (currently, only certain active-duty) members of the Individual Ready Reserve under the Servicemembers' [...]

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Latest Action: 01/30/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

Bill Text
To amend the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for Social Security disability and the 24-month waiting period for Medicare benefits in the cases of individuals with disabling burn injuries.

1/24/2007--Introduced.

Social Security and Medicare Improved Burn Injury Treatment Access Act of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to direct the Commissioner of Social Security to waive the application of the five-month Social Security disability waiting period in cases of individuals with disabling burn injuries.

Eliminates the 24-month Medicare disability waiting period in cases of individuals with disabling burn injuries.

Latest Action: 02/14/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance and improve insurance, housing, labor and education, and other benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. 2/14/2008--Introduced. Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008 - Revises veterans' insurance benefits matters to: (1) direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to grant level-premium term life insurance to certain service-disabled veterans; (2) increase the maximum amount of supplemental service disabled veterans' insurance for totally disabled veterans; (3) provide retroactive traumatic injury coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program for certain members of the Armed Forces who incurred a traumatic injury in the line of duty; (4) provide for the designation of a recipient of funds for traumatic injury coverage when the member is mentally incapacitated or experiencing an extended loss of consciousness; and (5) increase the maximum loan guarantee amount under the veterans' [...]

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Latest Action: 10/29/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to provide adjustments in payment to certain hospitals under the Medicaid program.

10/29/2007--Introduced.

Urban Health Care Delivery Act of 2007 - Revises requirements for adjustments in payments made by a state under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act for inpatient hospital services furnished by a disproportionate share hospital (DSH).

Provides that DSH payment adjustments made by a state to a state- or local government- owned or operated hospital providing up to 450 inpatient beds, and meeting certain other criteria, shall be made without regard, and in addition, to the standard DSH allotment limitation on federal financial participation. Caps such adjustments at 175% of the costs of furnishing such services.

Prescribes criteria for such a hospital, including operation of a community mental health center, a burn center serving the entire state, and a Level I trauma center with at least 100,000 encounters per year.

Latest Action: 09/27/2008 - Hearings Held by Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Prior to Introduction and Referral (05/15/2007)..

Bill Text
A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes. 5/8/2008--House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment.    (There are 3 other summaries) American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - Title I: FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention - FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008 - Subtitle A: Homeownership Retention - (Sec. 112) Amends the National Housing Act (NHA) to create the Refinance Program Oversight Board, which shall establish and oversee a program for insuring homeownership retention mortgages. Instructs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to insure any homeownership retention mortgage covering a one- to four-family residence made to pay or prepay outstanding obligations under an existing mortgage on the residence. Sets forth mortgagor eligibility criteria, including mortgagor certification that: (1) the residence is the only residence [...]

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Latest Action: 10/19/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Bill Text
To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a National Trauma Institute.

9/26/2007--Introduced.

National Trauma Institute Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a National Trauma Institute in San Antonio, Texas.

States that the Institute shall: (1) develop medical technologies to improve injury prevention and diagnosis, survival, and quality of life for victims of trauma and burn injury; and (2) implement a multidisciplinary, multi-center collaborative research effort, including coordination of trauma research carried out at Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, University Hospital, the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, and Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas.

Latest Action: 05/21/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update at least once every six years the plans and specifications for specially adapted housing furnished to veterans by the Secretary.

5/20/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries)

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 15, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make available to veterans eligible for specially adapted housing assistance for disabled veterans, without cost to the veterans, a handbook containing appropriate designs for specially adapted housing.

Requires the Secretary, at least every six years, to update the handbook to take into account any new or unique disabilities, including vision impairments, impairments specific to the upper limbs, and burn injuries.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 05/21/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update at least once every six years the plans and specifications for specially adapted housing furnished to veterans by the Secretary.

5/20/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries)

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 15, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make available to veterans eligible for specially adapted housing assistance for disabled veterans, without cost to the veterans, a handbook containing appropriate designs for specially adapted housing.

Requires the Secretary, at least every six years, to update the handbook to take into account any new or unique disabilities, including vision impairments, impairments specific to the upper limbs, and burn injuries.

Latest Action: 02/14/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance and improve insurance, housing, labor and education, and other benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. 2/14/2008--Introduced. Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008 - Revises veterans' insurance benefits matters to: (1) direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to grant level-premium term life insurance to certain service-disabled veterans; (2) increase the maximum amount of supplemental service disabled veterans' insurance for totally disabled veterans; (3) provide retroactive traumatic injury coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program for certain members of the Armed Forces who incurred a traumatic injury in the line of duty; (4) provide for the designation of a recipient of funds for traumatic injury coverage when the member is mentally incapacitated or experiencing an extended loss of consciousness; and (5) increase the maximum loan guarantee amount under the veterans' [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 10/29/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to provide adjustments in payment to certain hospitals under the Medicaid program.

10/29/2007--Introduced.

Urban Health Care Delivery Act of 2007 - Revises requirements for adjustments in payments made by a state under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act for inpatient hospital services furnished by a disproportionate share hospital (DSH).

Provides that DSH payment adjustments made by a state to a state- or local government- owned or operated hospital providing up to 450 inpatient beds, and meeting certain other criteria, shall be made without regard, and in addition, to the standard DSH allotment limitation on federal financial participation. Caps such adjustments at 175% of the costs of furnishing such services.

Prescribes criteria for such a hospital, including operation of a community mental health center, a burn center serving the entire state, and a Level I trauma center with at least 100,000 encounters per year.

Latest Action: 10/19/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Bill Text
To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a National Trauma Institute.

9/26/2007--Introduced.

National Trauma Institute Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a National Trauma Institute in San Antonio, Texas.

States that the Institute shall: (1) develop medical technologies to improve injury prevention and diagnosis, survival, and quality of life for victims of trauma and burn injury; and (2) implement a multidisciplinary, multi-center collaborative research effort, including coordination of trauma research carried out at Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, University Hospital, the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, and Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas.

Latest Action: 09/27/2008 - Hearings Held by Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Prior to Introduction and Referral (05/15/2007)..

Bill Text
A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes. 5/8/2008--House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment.    (There are 3 other summaries) American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - Title I: FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention - FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008 - Subtitle A: Homeownership Retention - (Sec. 112) Amends the National Housing Act (NHA) to create the Refinance Program Oversight Board, which shall establish and oversee a program for insuring homeownership retention mortgages. Instructs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to insure any homeownership retention mortgage covering a one- to four-family residence made to pay or prepay outstanding obligations under an existing mortgage on the residence. Sets forth mortgagor eligibility criteria, including mortgagor certification that: (1) the residence is the only residence [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 09/23/2008 - Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

Bill Text
An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance veterans' insurance and housing benefits, to improve benefits and services for transitioning servicemembers, and for other purposes. 4/24/2008--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 - Title I: Insurance Matters - (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to grant level-premium, term life insurance to each veteran less than 65 years old who has a service-connected disability and who seeks such insurance, with a maximum coverage amount of $50,000. Reduces the coverage amount by 80% once the veteran turns 70 and prohibits charging a premium in such a case. (Sec. 102) Allows administrative costs of the Service-Disabled Veterans' Insurance program to be paid through premiums. (Sec. 103) Includes all (currently, only certain active-duty) members of the Individual Ready Reserve under the Servicemembers' [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 04/12/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4440-4441)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain housing benefits to disabled members of the Armed Forces, to expand certain benefits for disabled veterans with severe burns, and for other purposes. 4/12/2007--Introduced. Veterans' Housing Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in the case of a member of the Armed Forces determined to have a total disability permanent in nature which was incurred or aggravated in the line of active duty, to furnish home improvements and structural alterations for the member for the disability while the member is hospitalized or receiving outpatient care, medical services, or treatment, if the Secretary determines that the member is likely to be discharged or released from the Armed Forces for such disability. Authorizes the provision of specially adapted housing assistance for: (1) disabled veterans whose disability is due to a severe burn injury; and (2) disabled members residing [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 01/30/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

Bill Text
To amend the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for Social Security disability and the 24-month waiting period for Medicare benefits in the cases of individuals with disabling burn injuries.

1/24/2007--Introduced.

Social Security and Medicare Improved Burn Injury Treat