119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5420

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:

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 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—

(1) - in subsection (j), 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"; and

(2) - in subsection (p), by striking "2025" 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".

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".

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.

(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.

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".

119-HR5420

VA Extenders Act of 2025