50 USC app. 535a. Such reports shall not be required to include a description of interim results on the work under the study. (2) FINAL REPORT.-The contract shall require the Institute of Medicine to submit to the Secretary, and to appropriate committees of Congress, a final report on the study by not later than December 31, 2012. The final report shall include such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Institute considers appropriate in light of the results of the study. (d) FUNDING.-The Secretary shall provide the Institute of Medicine with such funds as are necessary to ensure the timely completion of the study required under subsection (a). (e) DEFINITIONS.-In this section: (1) The term "appropriate committees of Congress" means(A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives. (2) The term "Persian Gulf War" has the meaning given that term in section 101(33) of title 38, United States Code. (3) The term "Post 9/11 Global Operations theaters" means Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other theater in which the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is awarded for service. SEC. 805. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF CONTRACTS FOR CEL- SERVICEMEMBERS. SERVICE (a) IN GENERAL.-Title III of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 531 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 305 the following new section: "SEC. 305A. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF CONTRACTS FOR CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE. "(a) IN GENERAL.-A servicemember who receives orders to deploy outside of the continental United States for not less than 90 days or for a permanent change of duty station within the United States may request the termination or suspension of any contract for cellular telephone service entered into by the servicemember before the date of the commencement of such deployment or permanent change if the servicemember's ability to satisfy the contract or to utilize the service will be materially affected by such deployment or permanent change. The request shall include a copy of the servicemember's military orders. "(b) RELIEF.-Upon receiving the request of a servicemember under subsection (a), the cellular telephone service contractor concerned shall "(1) grant the requested relief without imposition of an early termination fee for termination of the contract or a reactivation fee for suspension of the contract; or "(2) in the case that such servicemember is deployed outside the continental United States as described in subsection (a), permit the servicemember to suspend the contract at no charge until the end of the deployment without requiring, whether as a condition of suspension or otherwise, that the contract be extended. "(c) CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE DEFINED.-In this section, the term 'cellular telephone service' has the meaning given the term 'commercial mobile service' in section 332(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)).". (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.-The table of contents for that Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 305 the following new item: "Sec. 305A. Termination or suspension of contracts for cellular telephone service.". SEC. 806. CONTRACTING GOALS AND PREFERENCES FOR VETERANOWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS. Section 8127 is amended (1) by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as subsections (k) and (1), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following new subsection (j): "(j) APPLICABILITY OF REQUIREMENTS TO CONTRACTS.—(1) If after December 31, 2008, the Secretary enters into a contract, memorandum of understanding, agreement, or other arrangement with any governmental entity to acquire goods or services, the Secretary shall include in such contract, memorandum, agreement, or other arrangement a requirement that the entity will comply, to the maximum extent feasible, with the provisions of this section in acquiring such goods or services. “(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to supersede or otherwise affect the authorities provided under the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.).". SEC. 807. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF INTEREST RATE LIMITATION Section 207 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 527) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections: “(e) PENALTY.-Whoever knowingly violates subsection (a) shall be fined as provided in title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. "(f) PRESERVATION OF OTHER REMEDIES. The penalties provided under subsection (e) are in addition to and do not preclude any other remedy available under law to a person claiming relief under this section, including any award for consequential or punitive damages.". SEC. 808. FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION OF SUNSET PROVISION FOR Subsection (e) of section 544 is amended by striking "December 31, 2009" and inserting "December 31, 2014". SEC. 809. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO (a) AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE.-Subchapter II of chapter 5 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: “§ 532. Authority to advertise in national media "The Secretary may purchase advertising in national media outlets for the purpose of promoting awareness of benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, including promoting awareness of assistance provided by the Secretary, including assistance for programs to assist homeless veterans, to promote veteran-owned small businesses, and to provide opportunities for employment in 38 USC 8127. 38 USC 2306. 38 USC 2306 note. the Department of Veterans Affairs and for education, training, compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation, and healthcare benefits, and mental healthcare (including the prevention of suicide among veterans).". (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.-The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 531 the following: "532. Authority to advertise in national media.". SEC. 810. MEMORIAL HEADSTONES AND MARKERS FOR DECEASED (a) IN GENERAL.-Section 2306(b)(4)(B) is amended by striking "an unremarried surviving spouse whose subsequent remarriage was terminated by death or divorce" and inserting "a surviving spouse who had a subsequent remarriage”. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.-The amendment made by this section shall apply to deaths occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. Approved October 10, 2008. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY-S. 3023: SENATE REPORTS: No. 110-449 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs). Sept. 16, considered and passed Senate. Sept. 24, considered and passed House, amended. |