H.R. 675 — what changed

added The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in section 101(b), as increased under that section, not later than the date on which the matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be published by reason of a determination made under section 215(i) of such Act during fiscal year 2016.

added Section 7253(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “January 1, 2013” and inserting “January 1, 2020”.

added Paragraph (1) of section 7257(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

added “(1)

added “(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.

added “(B)

added “(i) A recall-eligible judge may request that the chief judge recall the recall-eligible judge for a period of service of not less than 90 days (or the equivalent).

added “(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—

added “(I) sufficient work to assign such recall-eligible judge during the period of recalled service; or

added “(II) sufficient resources to provide to such recall-eligible judge appropriate administrative and office support.

added “(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).”

added “(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.”

added Section 7297 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(p)

added “(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.

added “(2) In this subsection, the term covered judge means any of the following:

added “(A) A judge in regular active service.

added “(B) A retired judge who is a recall-eligible retired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of section 7257 of this title.

added “(C) A retired judge who would be a recall-eligible retired judge pursuant to subsection (a) of section 7257 but for—

added “(i) meeting the aggregate recall service requirements under subsection (b)(3) of such section; or

added “(ii) being permanently disabled as described by subsection (b)(4) of such section.”

added Section 7253(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “district courts” and inserting “courts of appeals”.

added Section 7253(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

added “(B) are 64 years of age or under and have at least three years remaining in term of office; and”

added “(2)

added “(A) In any case in which there is no judge of the Court in regular active service who meets the requirements under paragraph (1), the judge of the Court in regular active service who is senior in commission and meets subparagraph (A) or (B) and subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) shall act as the chief judge.

added “(B) In any case under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph in which there is no judge of the Court in regular active service who meets subparagraph (A) or (B) and subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1), the judge of the Court in regular active service who is senior in commission and meets subparagraph (C) shall act as the chief judge.”

added “5127. Interim payments of compensation benefits

added “(a) In general—In the case of a claim described in subsection (b), prior to adjudicating the claim, the Secretary shall make interim payments of monetary benefits to the claimant based on any disability for which the Secretary has made a decision or, with respect to such a disability that is not compensable, notify the claimant of the rating relating to such disability. Upon the adjudication of the claim, the Secretary shall pay to the claimant any monetary benefits awarded to the claimant for the period of payment under section 5111 of this title less the amount of such benefits paid to the claimant under this section.

added “(b) Claim described—A claim described in this subsection is a claim for disability compensation under chapter 11 of this title (including a claim regarding an increased rating)—

added “(1) the adjudication of which requires the Secretary to make decisions with respect to two or more disabilities; and

added “(2) for which, before completing the adjudication of the claim, the Secretary makes a decision with respect to a disability that would result in the payment of monetary benefits to the claimant upon the adjudication of the claim.”

added “(D) The estate of the veteran (unless the estate will escheat).”

added “145. Veterans Day

added “The President shall issue each year a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day in honor of the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the Nation, beginning at—

added “(1) 3:11 p.m. Atlantic standard time;

added “(2) 2:11 p.m. eastern standard time;

added “(3) 1:11 p.m. central standard time;

added “(4) 12:11 p.m. mountain standard time;

added “(5) 11:11 a.m. Pacific standard time;

added “(6) 10:11 a.m. Alaska standard time; and

added “(7) 9:11 a.m. Hawaii-Aleutian standard time.”