Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Reform Act”.
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Reform Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the temporary expansion of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, to ensure that judges of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims may enroll in the Federal Employee Group Life Insurance program, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Extending temporary expansion of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Section 7253(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “January 1, 2013” and inserting “January 1, 2020”.
Sec. 3 Recall of retired judges of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Paragraph (1) of section 7257(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
“(1)
“(A) The chief judge may recall for further service on the Court a recall-eligible retired judge in accordance with this section. Such a recall shall be made upon written certification by the chief judge that substantial service is expected to be performed by the retired judge for such period, not to exceed 90 days (or the equivalent), as determined by the chief judge to be necessary to meet the needs of the Court.
“(B)
“(i) A recall-eligible judge may request that the chief judge recall the recall-eligible judge for a period of service not to exceed 90 days (or the equivalent).
“(ii) The chief judge shall approve a request made by a recall-eligible judge pursuant to clause (i) unless the chief judge certifies, in writing, that the Court does not have—
“(I) sufficient work to assign such recall-eligible judge during the period of recalled service; or
“(II) sufficient resources to provide to such recall-eligible judge appropriate administrative and office support.
“(iii) At any time during the period of recalled service of a judge who is recalled pursuant to clause (i), the chief judge may terminate such recalled service if the chief judge makes a written certification described in clause (ii).”
Sec. 4 Life insurance program relating to judges of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
In general— Section 7281 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(j) For purposes of chapter 87 of title 5, a judge who is in regular active service and a judge who is retired under section 7296 of this title or under chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 shall be treated as an employee described in section 8701(a)(5) of title 5.”
Effective Date— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any payment made on or after the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 5 Voluntary contributions to enlarge survivors' annuity
Section 7297 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(p)
“(1) A covered judge who makes an election under subsection (b) may purchase, in three-month increments, up to an additional year of service credit for each year of Federal judicial service completed, under the terms set forth in this section.
“(2) In this subsection, the term covered judge means any of the following:
“(A) A judge in regular active service.
“(B) A retired judge who is a recall-eligible retired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of section 7257 of this title.
“(C) A retired judge who would be a recall-eligible retired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of section 7257 but for—
“(i) meeting the aggregate recall service requirements under subsection (b)(3) of such section; or
“(ii) being permanently disabled as described by subsection (b)(4) of such section.”
Sec. 6 Salaries of judges of United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Section 7253(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “district courts” and inserting “courts of appeals”.