text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
  
      (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Benefits 
  and Economic Welfare Improvement Act of 2010''.
      (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
  follows:
  
  Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
  Sec. 2. Military transition program.
  Sec. 3. Waiver of claim development period for claims under laws 
                              administered by Secretary of Veterans 
                              Affairs.
  Sec. 4. Tolling of timing of review for appeals of final decisions of 
                              Board of Veterans' Appeals.
  Sec. 5. Exclusion of certain amounts from determination of annual 
                              income with respect to pensions for 
                              veterans and surviving spouses and children 
                              of veterans.
  Sec. 6. Extension of authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
                              obtain certain income information from 
                              other agencies.
  Sec. 7. VetStar Award program.
  Sec. 8. Increase in amount of pension for Medal of Honor recipients.
  Sec. 9. Compliance with Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.
  
  SEC. 2. MILITARY TRANSITION PROGRAM.
  
      (a) In General.--Chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code, is 
  amended by inserting after section 4114 the following new section:
  ``Sec. 4115. Military transition program
      ``(a) Establishment; Eligibility.--(1) Subject to the availability 
  of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
  and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and 
  Training shall jointly carry out a program of training to provide 
  eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market.
      ``(2) For purposes of this section, the term `eligible veteran' 
  means any veteran whom the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines--
              ``(A) is not otherwise eligible for education or training 
          services under this title;
              ``(B) has not acquired a marketable skill since being 
          separated or released from service in the Armed Forces;
              ``(C) was discharged under honorable conditions; and
              ``(D)(i) has been unemployed for at least 90 days during 
          the 180-day period preceding the date of application for the 
          program established under this section; or
              ``(ii) during such 180-day period received a maximum hourly 
          rate of pay of not more than 150 percent of the Federal minimum 
          wage.
      ``(b) Apprenticeship or On-the-Job Training Program.--The program 
  established under this section shall provide for payments to employers 
  who provide for eligible veterans a program of apprenticeship or on-
  the-job training if--
              ``(1) such program is approved as provided in paragraph (1) 
          or (2) of section 3687(a) of this title;
              ``(2) the rate of pay for veterans participating in the 
          program is not less than the rate of pay for nonveterans in 
          similar jobs; and
              ``(3) the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
          Employment and Training reasonably expects that--
                      ``(A) the veteran will be qualified for employment 
                  in that field upon completion of training; and
                      ``(B) the employer providing the program will 
                  continue to employ the veteran at the completion of 
                  training.
      ``(c) Payments to Employers.--(1) Subject to the availability of 
  appropriations for such purpose, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
  Veterans' Employment and Training shall enter into contracts with 
  employers to provide programs of apprenticeship or on-the-job training 
  that meet the requirements of this section. Each such contract shall 
  provide for the payment of the amounts described in paragraph (2) to 
  employers whose programs meet such requirements.
      ``(2) The amount paid under this section with respect to any 
  eligible veteran for any period shall be 50 percent of the wages paid 
  by the employer to such veteran for such period. Wages shall be 
  calculated on an hourly basis.
      ``(3)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B)--
              ``(i) the amount paid under this section with respect to a 
          veteran participating in the program established under this 
          section may not exceed $20,000 in the aggregate or $1,666.67 
          per month; and
              ``(ii) such payments may only be made during the first 12 
          months of such veteran's participation in the program.
      ``(B) In the case of a veteran participating in the program on a 
  less than full-time basis, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
  Veterans' Employment and Training may extend the number of months of 
  payments under subparagraph (A) and proportionally adjust the amount of 
  such payments, but the aggregate amount paid with respect to such 
  veteran may not exceed $20,000 and the maximum number of months of such 
  payments may not exceed 24 months.
      ``(4) Payments under this section shall be made on a quarterly 
  basis.
      ``(5) Each employer providing a program of apprenticeship or on-
  the-job training pursuant to this section shall submit to the Assistant 
  Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training on a quarterly 
  basis a report certifying the wages paid to eligible veterans under 
  such program (which shall be certified by the veteran as being correct) 
  and containing such other information as the Assistant Secretary may 
  specify. Such report shall be submitted in the form and manner required 
  by the Assistant Secretary.
      ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each fiscal year 
  for which the program is carried out.
      ``(e) Reporting.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
  coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
  Employment and Training, shall include a description of activities 
  carried out under this section in the annual report prepared submitted 
  under section 529 of this title.
      ``(f) Termination.--The authority to carry out a program under this 
  section shall terminate on September 30, 2016.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
  such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
  4114 the following new item:
  
  ``4115. Military transition program.''.
      (c) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Subsection (a)(1) of section 3034 
  of such title is amended by striking ``and 3687'' and inserting ``3687, 
  and 4115''.
      (2) Subsections (a)(1) and (c) of section 3241 of such title are 
  each amended by striking ``section 3687'' and inserting ``sections 3687 
  and 4115''.
      (3) Subsection (d)(1) of section 3672 of such title is amended by 
  striking ``and 3687'' and inserting ``3687, and 4115''.
      (4) Paragraph (3) of section 4102A(b) of such title is amended by 
  striking ``section 3687'' and inserting ``section 3687 or 4115''.
      (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
  effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of 
  this Act.
  
  SEC. 3. WAIVER OF CLAIM DEVELOPMENT PERIOD FOR CLAIMS UNDER LAWS 
                ADMINISTERED BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
  
      (a) In General.--Section 5101 of title 38, United States Code, is 
  amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
      ``(d)(1) If a claimant submits to the Secretary a claim that the 
  Secretary determines is a fully developed claim, the Secretary shall 
  provide--
              ``(A) the claimant with the opportunity to waive any claim 
          development period otherwise made available by the Secretary 
          with respect to such claim; and
              ``(B) expeditious treatment to such claim.
      ``(2) If a person submits to the Secretary any written notification 
  sufficient to inform the Secretary that the person plans to submit a 
  fully developed claim and, not later than one year after submitting 
  such notification submits to the Secretary a claim that the Secretary 
  determines is a fully developed claim, the Secretary shall provide 
  expeditious treatment to the claim.
      ``(3) If the Secretary determines that a claim submitted by a 
  claimant as a fully developed claim is not fully developed, the 
  Secretary shall provide such claimant with the notice described in 
  section 5103(a) within 30 days after the Secretary makes such 
  determination.
      ``(4) For purposes of this section:
              ``(A) The term `fully developed claim' means a claim--
                      ``(i) for which the claimant--
                              ``(I) received assistance from a veterans 
                          service officer, a State or county veterans 
                          service organization, an agent, or an attorney; 
                          or
                              ``(II) submits, together with the claim, an 
                          appropriate indication that the claimant does 
                          not intend to submit any additional information 
                          or evidence in support of the claim and does 
                          not require additional assistance with respect 
                          to the claim; and
                      ``(ii) for which the claimant or the claimant's 
                  representative, if any, each signs, dates, and submits 
                  a certification in writing stating that, as of such 
                  date, no additional information or evidence is 
                  available or needs to be submitted in order for the 
                  claim to be adjudicated.
              ``(B) The term `expeditious treatment' means, with respect 
          to a claim for benefits under the laws administered by the 
          Secretary, treatment of such claim so that the claim is fully 
          processed and adjudicated within 90 days after the Secretary 
          receives an application for such claim.''.
      (b) Appeals Form Availability.--Subsection (b) of section 5104 of 
  such title is amended--
              (1) by striking ``and (2)'' and inserting ``(2)''; and
              (2) by inserting before the period at the end the 
          following: ``, and (3) any form or application required by the 
          Secretary to appeal such decision''.
      (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
  apply with respect to claims submitted on or after the date of the 
  enactment of this Act.
  
  SEC. 4. TOLLING OF TIMING OF REVIEW FOR APPEALS OF FINAL DECISIONS OF 
                BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS.
  
      (a) In General.--Section 7266(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
  is amended--
              (1) by striking ``In order'' and inserting ``(1) Except as 
          provided in paragraph (2), in order''; and
              (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
      ``(2)(A) The 120-day period described in paragraph (1) shall be 
  extended upon a showing of good cause for such time as justice may 
  require.
      ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, it shall be considered good 
  cause if a person was unable to file a notice of appeal within the 120-
  day period because of the person's service-connected disability.''.
      (b) Applicability.--
              (1) In general.--Paragraph (2) of section 7266(a) of such 
          title, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to a notice of 
          appeal filed with respect to a final decision of the Board of 
          Veterans' Appeals that was issued on or after July 24, 2008.
              (2) Reinstatement.--Any petition for review filed with the 
          Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims that was dismissed by such 
          Court on or after July 24, 2008, as untimely, shall, upon the 
          filing of a petition by an adversely affected person filed not 
          later than six months after the date of the enactment of this 
          Act, be reinstated upon a showing that the petitioner had good 
          cause for filing the petition on the date it was filed.
  
  SEC. 5. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN AMOUNTS FROM DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL 
                INCOME WITH RESPECT TO PENSIONS FOR VETERANS AND 
                SURVIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF VETERANS.
  
      (a) Certain Amounts Paid for Reimbursements and for Pain and 
  Suffering.--Paragraph (5) of section 1503(a) of title 38, United States 
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
              ``(5) payments regarding--
                      ``(A) reimbursements of any kind (including 
                  insurance settlement payments) for--
                              ``(i) expenses related to the repayment, 
                          replacement, or repair of equipment, vehicles, 
                          items, money, or property resulting from--
                                      ``(I) any accident (as defined in 
                                  regulations which the Secretary shall 
                                  prescribe), but the amount excluded 
                                  under this subclause shall not exceed 
                                  the greater of the fair market value or 
                                  reasonable replacement value of the 
                                  equipment or vehicle involved at the 
                                  time immediately preceding the 
                                  accident;
                                      ``(II) any theft or loss (as 
                                  defined in regulations which the 
                                  Secretary shall prescribe), but the 
                                  amount excluded under this subclause 
                                  shall not exceed the greater of the 
                                  fair market value or reasonable 
                                  replacement value of the item or the 
                                  amount of the money (including legal 
                                  tender of the United States or of a 
                                  foreign country) involved at the time 
                                  immediately preceding the theft or 
                                  loss; or
                                      ``(III) any casualty loss (as 
                                  defined in regulations which the 
                                  Secretary shall prescribe), but the 
                                  amount excluded under this subclause 
                                  shall not exceed the greater of the 
                                  fair market value or reasonable 
                                  replacement value of the property 
                                  involved at the time immediately 
                                  preceding the casualty loss; and
                              ``(ii) medical expenses resulting from any 
                          accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss (as 
                          defined in regulations which the Secretary 
                          shall prescribe), but the amount excluded under 
                          this clause shall not exceed the costs of 
                          medical care provided to the victim of the 
                          accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss; and
                      ``(B) pain and suffering (including insurance 
                  settlement payments and general damages awarded by a 
                  court) related to an accident, theft, loss, or casualty 
                  loss, but the amount excluded under this subparagraph 
                  shall not exceed an amount determined by the Secretary 
                  on a case-by-case basis;''.
      (b) Certain Amounts Paid by States and Municipalities as Veterans 
  Benefits.--Section 1503(a) of title 38, United States Code, is 
  amended--
              (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (10);
              (2) by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12); and
              (3) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new 
          paragraph (11):
              ``(11) payment of a monetary amount of up to $5,000 to a 
          veteran from a State or municipality that is paid as a 
          veterans' benefit due to injury or disease; and''.
      (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
  shall apply with respect to determinations of income for calendar years 
  beginning after October 1, 2011.
  
  SEC. 6. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
                OBTAIN CERTAIN INCOME INFORMATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES.
  
      Section 5317 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
  striking ``September 30, 2011'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
  
  SEC. 7. VETSTAR AWARD PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
  establish an award program, to be known as the ``VetStar Award 
  Program'', to annually recognize businesses for their contributions to 
  veterans' employment.
      (b) Administration.--The Secretary shall establish a process for 
  the administration of the award program, including criteria for--
              (1) categories and sectors of businesses eligible for 
          recognition each year; and
              (2) objective measures to be used in selecting businesses 
          to receive the award.
      (c) Veteran Defined.--In this section, the term ``veteran'' has the 
  meaning given that term in section 101(2) of title 38, United States 
  Code.
  
  SEC. 8. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF PENSION FOR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.
  
      Section 1562(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
  striking ``$1,000'' and inserting ``$2,000''.
  
  SEC. 9. COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTORY PAY-AS-YOU-GO ACT OF 2010.
  
      The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 
  with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by 
  reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO 
  Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
  Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, 
  
  
                
  
  provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on 
  passage.
  
              Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 2010.
  
              Attest:
  
                                              LORRAINE C. MILLER,
  
                                                                   Clerk.
target: Veterans Benefits and Economic Welfare Improvement Act of 2010 - (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training to carry out a joint training program to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market. Makes eligible for such program any veteran who: (1) is not otherwise eligible for education or training services through the VA; (2) has not acquired a marketable skill since being separated or released from military service; (3) was discharged under honorable conditions; and (4) has been unemployed for at least 90 days during the 180-day period preceding program application, or, during such 180-day period, received a maximum hourly pay rate of not more than 150% of the federal minimum wage. Allows for payments to employers for the provision of apprenticeship or on-job training under such program. Authorizes appropriations. Terminates the program at the end of FY2016.
  
  (Sec. 3) Allows a VA benefits claimant to waive any claim development period upon submission of a fully developed claim, and requires the Secretary to provide expeditious treatment of such a claim. Requires the Secretary to notify a claimant of a non-fully developed claim within 30 days after that determination. Directs the Secretary, in denying a benefit, to include in a notice of that decision any form or application required to appeal the decision.
  
  (Sec. 4) Extends the 120-day time limit for the filing of a notice of appeal of a final decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals for such time as justice may require, upon a showing of good cause. Applies such extension retroactively to final Board decisions issued on or after July 24, 2008.
  
  (Sec. 5) Excludes from annual income, for purposes of eligibility for VA pension benefits for veterans and their surviving spouses and children: (1) reimbursements for expenses resulting from any accident, theft or loss, or casualty loss, or medical expenses or pain and suffering related to such accidents or losses; and (2) payments of up to $5,000 paid by a state or municipality as a veterans' benefit due to injury or disease.
  
  (Sec. 6) Extends through FY2015 VA authority to obtain veterans' income verification information from the Commissioner of Social Security or the Secretary of the Treasury.
  
  (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to establish the VetStar Award Program to recognize annually businesses for their contribution to veterans' employment.
  
  (Sec. 8) Increases from $1,000 to $2,000 the special monthly pension for Medal of Honor recipients.
  
  (Sec. 9) Requires the budgetary effects of this Act to be determined by reference to the latest statement titled "Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation" for this Act, provided such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
feat_title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a transition program for new veterans, to improve the disability claim system, and for other purposes.