Public Law 95–476

Subsection (a) of section 1802 is amended—

Subsection (b) of such section is amended—

Subsection (a)(1) of section 1803 is amended by striking out “World War II or Korean conflict veteran” and inserting in lieu thereof “veteran eligible for benefits under this chapter”.

Subsection (c) of such section is amended—

by striking out clause (6) in subsection (a) and inserting in lieu thereof the following new clause:

“(6)“(6)

To purchase a one-family residential unit in a condominium housing development or project, if such development or project is approved by the Administrator under criteria which the Administrator shall prescribe in regulations.”;

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by inserting after such clause the following new clause:

“(7)“(7)

To improve a dwelling or farm residence owned by the veteran and occupied by the veteran as the veteran’s home through the installation of a solar heating system, a solar heating and cooling system, or a combined solar heating and cooling system or through the application of a residential energy conservation measure.”; and

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by adding at the end of such section the following new subsection:

“(d)“(d)

For the purposes of subsection (a)(7) of this section:

“(1)“(1)

The term ‘solar heating’ has the meaning given such term in section 3(1) of the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5502(1)) and, in addition, includes a passive system based on conductive, convective, or radiant energy transfer.

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“(2)“(2)

The terms ‘solar heating and cooling’ and ‘combined solar heating and cooling’ have the meaning given such terms in section 3(2) of the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5502(2)) and, in addition, include a passive system based on conductive, convective, or radiant energy transfer.

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“(3)“(3)

The term ‘passive system’ includes window and skylight glazing, thermal floors, walls, and roofs, movable insulation panels (when in conjunction with glazing), portions of a residential structure that serve as solar furnaces so as to add heat to the structure, double-pane window insulation, and such other energy-related components as are determined by the Administrator to enhance the natural transfer of energy for the purpose of heating or heating and cooling a residence.

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“(4)“(4)

The term ‘residential energy conservation measure’ means—

“(A)“(A)

caulking and weatherstripping of all exterior doors and windows;

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“(B)“(B)

furnace efficiency modifications limited to—

“(i)“(i)

replacement burners, boilers, or furnaces designed to reduce the firing rate or to achieve a reduction in the amount of fuel consumed as a result of increased combustion efficiency,

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“(ii)“(ii)

devices for modifying flue openings which will increase the efficiency of the heating system, and

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“(iii)“(iii)

electrical or mechanical furnace ignition systems which replace standing gas pilot lights;

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“(C)“(C)

clock thermostats;

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“(D)“(D)

ceiling, attic, wall, and floor insulation;

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“(E)“(E)

water heater insulation;

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“(F)“(F)

storm windows and doors;

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“(G)“(G)

heat pumps; and

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“(H)“(H)

such other energy conservation measures as the Administrator may identify for the purposes of this clause.”.

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Section 1810(c) is amended by striking out “$17,500”

38 USC 1810.

and inserting in lieu thereof “$25,000”.

Section 1818 is amended—

The item relating to section 1818 in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 37 is amended to read as follows:

Subsections (a) and (b) of section 1819 are amended to read as follows:

“(a)“(a)

(1)(1)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any loan to a veteran eligible for the benefits of this chapter, if made pursuant to the provisions of this section, may be guaranteed if such loan is for one of the following purposes:

“(A)“(A)

To purchase a lot on which to place a mobile home already owned by the veteran.

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“(B)“(B)

To purchase a single-wide mobile home.

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“(C)“(C)

To purchase a single-wide mobile home and a lot on which to place such home.

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“(D)“(D)

To purchase a double-wide mobile home.

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“(E)“(E)

To purchase a double-wide mobile home and a lot on which to place such home.

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“(2)“(2)

A loan for any of the purposes described in paragraph (1) of this subsection may include an amount determined by the Administrator to be appropriate to cover the cost, of necessary preparation of a lot already owned or to be acquired by the veteran, including the costs of installing utility connections and sanitary facilities, of paving, and of constructing a suitable pad for the mobile home.

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“(3)“(3)

Any loan made for the purposes described in clause (C) or (E) of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be considered as part of one loan. The transaction may be evidenced by a single loan instrument or by separate loan instruments for (A) that portion of the loan which finances the purchase of the mobile home, and (B) that portion of the loan which finances the purchase of the lot and the necessary preparation of such lot.

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“(b)“(b)

(1)(1)

Use of entitlement under this section for the purchase of a mobile home unit shall preclude the use of remaining entitlement for the purchase of an additional mobile home unit until the unit which secured the loan has been disposed of by the veteran or has been destroyed by fire or other natural hazard.

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“(2)“(2)

The Administrator shall restore entitlement to all loan guaranty benefits under this chapter for the veteran when the conditions

38 USC 1802.

prescribed in section 1802(b) of this title have been met.”.

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Subsection (d) of such section is amended to read as follows:

38 USC 1802.

“(d)“(d)

(1)(1)

The maturity of any loan guaranteed under this section shall not be more than—

“(A)“(A)

fifteen years and thirty-two days, in the case of a loan for the purchase of—

“(i)“(i)

a lot;

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“(ii)“(ii)

a single-wide mobile home; or

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“(iii)“(iii)

a single-wide mobile home and a lot; or

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“(B)“(B)

twenty years and thirty-two days, in the case of a loan for the purchase of—

“(i)“(i)

a double-wide mobile home; or

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“(ii)“(ii)

a double-wide mobile home and a lot.

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“(2)“(2)

Nothing in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall preclude the Administrator, under regulations which the Administrator shall prescribe, from consenting to necessary advances for the protection of the security or the holders lien, to a reasonable extension of the term of such loan, or to a reasonable reamortization of such loan.”.

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Clause (4) of subsection (e) of such section is amended to read as follows:

“(4)“(4)

the amount of the loan to be paid by the veteran is not in excess of the amount determined to be reasonable, based upon—

“(A)“(A)

with respect to any portion of the loan to purchase a new mobile home, such cost factors as the Administrator considers proper to take into account;

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“(B)“(B)

with respect to any portion of the loan to purchase a used mobile home, the reasonable value of the property, as determined by the Administrator;

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“(C)“(C)

with respect to any portion of the loan to purchase a lot, the reasonable value or such lot, as determined by the Administrator; and

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“(D)“(D)

with respect to any portion of the loan to cover the cost of necessary site preparation, an appropriate amount, as determined by the Administrator;”.

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Such section is further amended by striking out subsection (g) and by redesignating subsections (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), and (n) as subsections (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), and (m), respectively.

Subsection (h) of such section (as redesignated by subsection (e) of this section) is amended (1) by inserting “(1)” before “No loan”, (2) by striking out the third sentence of such subsection, and (3) by addin" at the end thereof the following new paragraph:

“(2)“(2)

(A)(A)

For the purpose of assuring compliance with the standards

Inspection.

prescribed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Administrator shall from time to time inspect the manufacturing process of manufacturers of mobile homes sold to veterans utilizing assistance under this chapter. For the purpose stated in the preceding sentence and for the additional purpose of monitoring safety factors involved in the installation of mobile homes purchased through the utilization of assistance under this chapter, the Administrator shall from time to time conduct random onsite inspections of mobile homes purchased through the utilization of such assistance.

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“(B)“(B)

The Administrator may, with the agreement of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, delegate to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development the duty of the Administrator under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph to inspect the manufacturing process of manufacturers of mobile homes, but any such delegation shall be subject to an agreement that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, upon the request of the Administrator, shall promptly provide the Administrator with the complete results of any inspection made by the Secretary pursuant to such delegation. The Administrator shall have the right to withdraw any delegation under the preceding sentence at any time and in whole or in part.”.

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Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the amendments made by this title shall take effect on October 1, 1978.

The amendment made by clause (1) of section 104 of this title shall take effect on July 1, 1979, except with respect to the authority to prescribe regulations for the implementation of such amendment, which shall be effective on the date of the enactment of this Act.

by inserting “and the criteria established under subsection (g) of this section” before the period at the end of subsection (a);

in subsection (c)—

in subsection (d)(1)—

by striking out paragraph (3) of subsection (e) and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

Report to congressional committees.

“(3)“(3)

The Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress not later than December 31 of each year a report on the current results of the continuing review required by subsection (g)(1) of this section to be made regarding the default experience with respect to loans made under this section and any steps being taken to reduce default rates on such loans. Such report shall include in maximum feasible detail—

“(A)“(A)

data regarding the cumulative default experience, and the default experience during the preceding fiscal year, with respect to such loans;

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“(B)“(B)

data regarding the default experience and default rate at each educational institution (i) with respect to loans made under this section in connection with accelerated payments under section 1682A of this title, and (ii) with respect to other loans

38 USC 1682A.

made under this section; and

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“(C)“(C)

comparisons of the collective default experience and default rates with respect to such loans at all such institutions to the default experience and default rates with respect to such loans at each such institution.”;

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by striking out “1701(1)” in subsection (f)(3) and inserting in lieu thereof “1701(a)(1)”; and

by adding after subsection (f) the following new subsection:

“(g)“(g)

(1)(1)

The Administrator shall conduct, on a continuing basis, a review of the default experience with respect to loans made under this section.

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“(2)“(2)

(A)(A)

To ensure that loans are made under this section on the

Regulations.

basis of financial need directly related to the costs of education, the Administrator may, by regulation, establish (i) criteria for eligibility for such loans, in addition to the criteria and requirements prescribed by subsections (c) and (d) of this section, in order to limit eligibility for such loans to eligible veterans and eligible persons attending educational institutions with relatively high rates of tuition and fees, and (ii) criteria under which the Administrator may prescribe a repayment period for certain types of loans made under this section that is shorter than the repayment period otherwise applicable under subsection (d)(1)(A) of this section. Criteria established by the Administrator under clause (i) of the preceding sentence may include a minimum amount of tuition and fees that an eligible veteran or eligible person may pay in order to be eligible for such a loan (except that any such criterion shall not apply with respect to a loan for which the veteran is eligible as a result of an extension of the period of eligibility of such veteran for loans under this section provided for by section 1662 (a)(2) of this title).

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“(B)“(B)

In prescribing regulations under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Administrator shall take into consideration information developed in the course of the review required by paragraph (1) of this subsection.

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“(C)“(C)

Regulations may be prescribed under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph only after opportunity has been afforded for public comment thereon.”.

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Subsection (b) of section 903 is amended to read as follows:

38 USC 903i.

“(b)“(b)

In addition to the benefits provided for under section 902 of

38 USC 902.

this title and subsection (a) of this section, in the case of a veteran who is eligible for a burial allowance under such section 902, or under such subsection, and who is not buried in a national cemetery or other cemetery under the jurisdiction of the United States—

“(1)“(1)

if such veteran is buried (without charge for the cost of a plot or interment) in a cemetery, or a section of a cemetery, that (A) is used solely for the interment of persons eligible for burial in a national cemetery, and (B) is owned by a State or by an agency or political subdivision of a State, the Administrator shall pay to such State, agency, or political subdivision the sum of $150 as a plot or interment allowance for such veteran; and

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“(2)“(2)

if such veteran is buried in a cemetery, or a section of a cemetery, other than as described in clause (1) of this subsection, the Administrator shall pay a sum not exceeding $150 as a plot or interment allowance to such person as the Administrator prescribes, except that if any part of the plot or interment costs of a burial to which this clause applies has been paid or assumed by a State, an agency or political subdivision of a State, or a former employer of the deceased veteran, no claim for such allowance shall be allowed for more than the difference between the entire amount of the expenses incurred and the amount paid or assumed by any or all of the foregoing entities.”.

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Section 906 is amended by adding at the end thereof

38 USC 906.

the following new subsections:

“(c)“(c)

A headstone or marker furnished under subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be of any material, including but not limited to marble, granite, bronze, or slate, requested by the person entitled to request such headstone or marker if the material requested is determined by the Administrator (1) to be cost effective, and (2) in a case in which the headstone or marker is to be placed in a national cemetery, to be aesthetically compatible with the area of the cemetery in which it is to be placed.

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“(d)“(d)

In lien of furnishing a headstone or marker under subsection (a)(2) or (b) of this section, the Administrator, in the Administrator’s discretion, having due regard for the circumstances in each case, may reimburse the person entitled to request such headstone or marker for the actual costs incurred by or on behalf of such person in acquiring a non-Government headstone or marker for placement in any cemetery other than a national cemetery in connection with the burial or memorialization of the deceased individual. Reimbursement under the preceding sentence may be made only upon the request of the person entitled to request the headstone or marker and may not be_ made in an amount in excess of the average actual cost, as determined by the Administrator, of headstones and markers furnished under subsections (a) and (b) of this section.”.

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Section 902 is amended—

by striking out “designed” in the first sentence and inserting in lieu thereof “designated”; and

by inserting “map, record,” in the second sentence after “document,”.

Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made by this title shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

The amendment made by section 202(a) of this title shall take effect on October 1, 1978.