Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/1175

124 STAT. 1149 PUBLIC LAW 111–163—MAY 5, 2010 ‘‘(1) noncompliance by the individual is due to cir- cumstances beyond the control of the individual; or ‘‘(2) the Secretary determines that the waiver or suspension of compliance is in the best interest of the United States. ‘‘(d) OBLIGATION AS DEBT TO UNITED STATES.—An obligation to repay the Secretary under this section is, for all purposes, a debt owed the United States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 does not discharge a person from such debt if the discharge order is entered less than five years after the date of the termination of the agreement or contract on which the debt is based.’’. (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The tables of chapters at the beginning of title 38, and of part V, are each amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 74 the following new item: ‘‘75. Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professionals Edu- cational Assistance Program ................................................................... 7501’’. (c) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement chapter 75 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 303. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ON ALTERNATIVES FOR EXPANDING CARE FOR VETERANS IN RURAL AREAS. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may, through the Director of the Office of Rural Health, carry out dem- onstration projects to examine the feasibility and advisability of alternatives for expanding care for veterans in rural areas, which may include the following: (1) Establishing a partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate care for veterans in rural areas at critical access hospitals (as designated or certified under section 1820 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4)). (2) Establishing a partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate care for veterans in rural areas at community health centers. (3) Expanding coordination between the Department of Vet- erans Affairs and the Indian Health Service to expand care for Indian veterans. (b) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—The Secretary shall ensure that the demonstration projects carried out under subsection (a) are located at facilities that are geographically distributed through- out the United States. (c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact- ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report on the results of the demonstration projects carried out under subsection (a) to— (1) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and each fiscal year thereafter. 38 USC 1703 note. Deadline. 38 USC 7501 note. Determination.