A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain authorities relating to the administration of veterans laws, and for other purposes.
Public Law 102-291 · S. 2378 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on May 20, 1992 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Sen. Alan Cranston (D-CA)
Cosponsors (1): Sen. Arlen Specter
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Extends through March 31, 1994, the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs to operate a regional office in the Philippines. Ratifies any action taken by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in maintaining such regional office during the period between October 1, 1991, and the date of enactment of this Act.
Extends from January 31 to December 31, 1992: (1) a temporary program of trial work periods and voluntary vocational rehabilitation evaluations for veterans receiving disability compensation at the total disability rate; (2) a program of vocational training for non-service-disabled veterans who are awarded a needs-based pension through the Department; and (3) the protection of Department health-care eligibility for a veteran whose entitlement to pension is terminated due to the receipt of income from work or training. Makes such extensions effective as of January 31, 1992.
Ratifies specified actions taken by the Secretary with respect to such programs during the period beginning on February 1, 1992, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act.
Extends from three to four years after its establishment the period during which a nonprofit corporation established at a Department medical center for medical research purposes must achieve recognition as a tax-exempt entity under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Extends through December 31, 1992, the authorized period for establishing such nonprofit corporations. Ratifies certain actions taken by the Secretary with respect to dissolving or establishing such nonprofit corporations during the period between October 1, 1991, and the date of enactment of this Act.
Amends the Veterans' Health-Care Amendments of 1986 to extend through FY 1992 a required annual report from the Secretary to the Congress on the furnishing of hospital care.
Authorizes the Secretary to issue or approve the issuance of, and to guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on, certificates evidencing an interest in a pool of mortgages made in connection with the sale of properties acquired by the Department under the housing loan guaranty program. Prohibits the guarantee of payment with respect to certificates issued or approved after December 31, 1992.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.
- May 20, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-291.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- May 13, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- May 7, 1992FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Montgomery asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- Apr 30, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Mar 20, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.