Public Law 98-77, the Emergency Veterans' Job Training Act of 1983, established an emergency program of job training assistance to relieve unemployment among Korean conflict and Vietnam era veterans. This program was subsequently amended by Public Law 98-543, improving and extending the program by six months. On February 28, 1985, this program was closed to veterans seeking to initially apply for participation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that in January 1985 more than 440,000 Vietnam era veterans were still unemployed and estimates are that as many as 200,000 Korean conflict veterans may be unemployed. The Committee recommends that eligible veterans be given until December 31, 1985 to apply for this program in order to maximize its effectiveness. No additional funding is being sought at this time.

The Veterans Readjustment Appointment (VRA) program allows eligible Vietnam era veterans to be appointed noncompetitively to a Federal civilian job which leads to competitive status and career or career-conditional tenure upon satisfactory completion of 2 years of service and education or training.

Under current law, a non-disabled veteran of the Vietnam era does not qualify as a VRA appointee if he or she has over 14 years of education. Additionally, the maximum grade level for VRA appointments is GS-9. Because most Vietnam era veterans have now enhanced their education and gained experience in the work force, the Committee recommends that the 14 year educational limit be eliminated and the maximum grade level be increased to GS-11. Legislation to accomplish these changes was passed by the House in the 98th Congress but rejected by the Senate. The Committee believes these improvements in the VRA program are necessary and appropriate.

The number of persons eligible for health care from the VA has grown over the past year from an estimated 10.7 million at the beginning of 1984 to an estimated 12.1 million at the beginning of 1985. An estimated 4.2 million eligible veterans are over the age of 65. A report by the VA on caring for these older veterans clearly sets forth the challenge of providing such veterans with appropriate health care. Many of the programs which will be of greatest utility in providing these veterans with health care are only provided by the VA following hospitalization of a veteran. The Committee expects to report legislation which will deal with several important issues in this area. The legislation is discussed below.

The concept of respite care is generally accepted as a more humane and efficient method of treating certain terminally ill patients in appropriate circumstances. It permits a hospital to discharge a patient to the patient's home with the understanding that care at the hospital can be provided on an emergent basis or when the care giver at home requires assistance. Explicit authority to provide such care in VA medical facilities would clarify the VA's authority to provide such care and would also reduce the demand for acute and intermediate care beds by veterans who could be cared for in their homes if respite care is available.

A non-service-connected veteran's eligibility for outpatient care at VA medical facilities is generally restricted to post hospital care or care needed to obviate admission to a hospital. In some instances, this results in a veteran being maintained in a VA nursing home or domiciliary bed in order to provide necessary care to complete treatment. In other cases, a veteran is admitted to a VA hospital bed from a nursing home bed or from a hospital-based home care program in order to make the veteran eligible for admission to a community nursing home at VA expense. These practices place a needless burden on acute and intermediate care beds, and should be eliminated.

Authorization for an expansion of the VA's Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center program is also expected to be reported, along with modifications to the authorization for per diem payments to State Homes providing nursing home care to veterans. Both of these measures are expected to permit the VA to better meet the demand for health care from the older veteran.

Apart from the Committee's focus on caring for the older veteran, the Committee expects to consider legislation to extend the VA's authority to contract for care in halfway houses and other community-based treatment facilities for veterans suffering from alcohol or drug dependence or abuse disabilities. The Committee is also expected to consider an Administration-requested measure to enhance recruitment and retention of graduate and student nurse technicians by the VA. Neither of these measures is expected to result in additional costs.

Chapter 21 of title 38, U.S.C., establishes two separate adapted housing grant programs for disabled veterans. The larger grant provides up to a maximum of $35,500 to certain service-connected disabled veterans to acquire a suitable housing unit or to make the necessary renovations in a home already owned. Under current law, veterans are eligible for the specially adapted housing "wheelchair" grant if they have a compensable permanent and total service-connected disability; (1) due to loss or loss of use of both lower extremities; or (2) which involves blindness in both eyes having only light perception plus loss or loss of use of one lower extremity; or (3) due to loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with (a) residuals of organic disease or injury or (b) loss of or loss of use of one upper extremity which so affects the functions of balance of propulsion as to preclude locomotion without resort to a wheelchair. The other housing grant provides up to a maximum of $6,000 to certain service-connected disabled veterans who have suffered blindness in both eyes or the anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands to make necessary adaptations to their homes.

Unlike the $35,500 housing grant, those eligible for the $6,000 grant cannot use it to acquire a suitable home which already has the necessary adaptations. This bill corrects this discrepancy and treats both categories of disabled veterans equally. technical amendment and has no cost. It does not affect eligibility requirements for the grant.

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