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Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013

Public Law 113-37 · H.R. 1412 · 113th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Barack Obama (D) on Sep 30, 2013 · Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor: Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO-6)

Cosponsors (1): Rep. Mark Takano

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 402 yea, 0 nay402–0
  • SenateUnanimous consent
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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) Authorizes specified appropriations for the period October 1-December 31, 2013, to pay a monthly assistance allowance to a veteran with a disability invited by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to compete for a slot on, or selected for, the Paralympic Team for any month in which the veteran is training or competing in any event sanctioned by the USOC, or who is residing at a USOC, training center.

Extends for the same period the authorization for grants to USOC for an integrated adaptive sports program for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.

Applies the same grant authorization, in the same manner and to the same degree as to the USOC, to: (1) the American Samoa National Olympic Committee, (2) the Guam National Olympic Committee, (3) the Comite Olimpico de Puerto Rico, and (4) appropriate entities representing the interests of the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.

Extends through FY2014 a veteran's liability for copayments of $10 for every day the veteran receives hospital care and of $5 for every day he or she receives nursing home care.

Extends through FY2014 the right of the United States to recover or collect from a third party reasonable charges for care or services for a non-service-connected disability of a veteran with a service-connected disability who is entitled to care (or payment of the expenses of care) under a health-plan contract.

Extends through FY2014 the authority of the Secretary of Labor for homeless veterans reintegration programs, and of the same Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract for referral and counseling services for veterans at risk of homelessness who are transitioning from certain institutions.

Extends through FY2015 the authorization of appropriations for comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.

Extends through FY2014 the availability of funds for: (1) financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing, and (2) the grant program for homeless veterans with special needs.

Extends through FY2014 specially adapted housing assistance for a disabled veteran whose permanent and total service-connected disability causes difficulty with ambulating. Limits to 30 applications during FY2014 approval of such assistance for any such disabled veterans who served in the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001.

Extends through FY2014 the authority to calculate, for liquidation purposes, the net value of real property securing a defaulted guaranteed housing or small business loan to a veteran.

Amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 to extend through FY2014 the pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing assistance to veterans receiving regular or intensive mental health services and other intensive health care services in order to obtain child care while receiving such services.

(Sec. 3) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV (Temporary Assistance to Needy families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act to revive for a specified 180-day period the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) with VA information for comparison with information in the National Directory of New Hires about individuals applying for or receiving needs-based veterans pension benefits, parents' dependency and indemnity compensation, veterans health care services, or compensation based on 100% unemployability.

Authorizes for the same 180-day period the authority of the VA Secretary to terminate, deny, suspend, or reduce any of such veterans benefits or services, with respect to an applicant or recipient under age 65, by reason of information obtained from the HHS Secretary, but only if the VA Secretary takes appropriate steps to verify independently information relating to the individual's employment and employment income.

(Sec. 4) Makes this Act effective on October 1, 2013, except for the authorization of appropriations for monthly assistance for disabled veterans invited to compete for a slot on, or selected for, the Paralympic Team, which shall be effective September 30, 2013.

Deems ratified any VA actions undertaken before enactment of this Act under the authorities extended by this Act, if this Act is not enacted on or before September 30, 2013.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 113th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 402 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

402 yea0 nay29 present or did not vote

ProEstablishmentAnti
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(180)

Republicans who voted yea(222)

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 490 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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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.

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Related bills

1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.

  • S. 1216Related bill

    Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 32 actions.

  1. Sep 30, 2013Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 113-37.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Sep 28, 2013FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. Sep 27, 2013Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 0 (Roll no. 491).House roll call 491
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Miller (FL) moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments.
  8. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  9. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendments to H.R. 1412.
  10. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 0 (Roll no. 491).House roll call 491
  11. Sep 24, 2013FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  12. Sep 23, 2013FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
  13. CommitteeCommittee · Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
  14. May 22, 2013CommitteeCommittee · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  15. May 21, 2013FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  16. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 164).House roll call 164
  17. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  18. FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  19. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1412.
  20. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  21. FloorFloor · Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  22. May 17, 2013CalendarCalendar · Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 39.
  23. CommitteeCommittee · Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 113-64.
  24. May 8, 2013CommitteeCommittee · Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  25. CommitteeCommittee · Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  26. Apr 25, 2013CommitteeCommittee · Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
  27. CommitteeCommittee · Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  28. Apr 10, 2013CommitteeCommittee · Subcommittee Hearings Held.
  29. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
  30. CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

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Amendments

2 amendments offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.

  • S.Amdt. 1965SenateSen. Bernie SandersD-VT· offered Sep 23, 2013Agreed to

    To amend the title.

    Sep 23, 2013: Amendment SA 1965 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to

  • S.Amdt. 1964SenateSen. Bernie SandersD-VT· offered Sep 23, 2013Agreed to

    In the nature of a substitute.

    Sep 23, 2013: Amendment SA 1964 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to
Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

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Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.