Veterans' Administration Programs Extension Act of 1978
Public Law 95-520 · H.R. 5029 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 26, 1978 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. David Satterfield (D-VA-3)
Cosponsors (24): Rep. John Hammerschmidt, Rep. Herbert Roberts,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
(House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments)
Veterans' Administration Programs Extension Act - Extends the authority of the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to operate in the Philippines to September 30, 1981, and extends the authority of the Administrator to enter into contracts to provide certain medical services in the Philippines to Commonwealth Army veterans and new Philippine Scouts to fiscal year 1981.
Extends to December 31, 1981, the authority of the Administrator to provide hospital care through private facilities in certain areas outside the continental United States. Makes such authority permanent for Alaska and Hawaii. Expands such authority to include medical services which will obviate the need for hospital admission.
Requires the Administrator to furnish a report to the Congress and the President by February 1, 1980, concerning Veterans' Administration hospital and medical care in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Amends the Veterans' Administration Physician and Dentist Pay Comparability Act of 1975 to extend special salary payments to doctors and dentists working for the Veterans' Administration through fical year 1981.
Authorizes supplemental grants for fiscal year 1979 to assist in the establishment of new State medical schools operated in conjunction with Veterans' Administration facilities.
Extends the authority to make veterans readjustment appointments of Vietnam era veterans to the Federal Government through September 30, 1981.
Raises the maximum level for such appointments from GS-5 to GS-7. Provides than any disabled Vietnam era veteran shall be eligible for such appointments without regard to the number of years of education.
Grants to any veteran entitled to veterans' disability compensation the right to file a complaint with the Veterans' Employment Service of the Department of Labor against any Federal contractor whom he or she believes has discriminated against such veteran in employment matters because such veteran is handicapped.
Authorizes the appropriation for fiscal year 1979 of $5,000,000 to implement the Veterans' and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act of 1978.
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. 15 actions.
- Oct 26, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-520.
- Oct 25, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 15, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 14, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Oct 13, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments.
- May 26, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 15, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Apr 5, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Apr 4, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Mar 23, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Mar 14, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Veterans' Affairs Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.